Hotel conundrum

Here is the situation:

Going on our first family holiday to the GC later this month.
All very spur of the moment :)
My mum income ing also.

The issue is with the hotel choices.

Would you prefer

A) fabulous hotel, great location, great swimming pools-excellent children's facilities
Little bit more $$ than I was originally looking at.

B)cheaper hotel, still lovely, ok location, not as many children's facilities

It always comes down to the $$

I'm thinking that we would probably spend more downtime at the hotel using the facilities ie swimming pool
Than we have in the past (with no children)

Am I right, seasoned travellers with children?

I'd go the first option. We didn't go too far from our hotel facilities when DD was younger as we had to work around nap & feeding times. Now that she is older we can do more things out & about.

We always try to go for the serviced apartments with good facilities for kids.

If you'll miss the money, go the cheaper option. There are a billion things for kids to do on the gold coast and you might want to spend more on activities than your hotel.

I found it easier with little kids to have everything close. So for me with two kids under 3, the good hotel with more activities is the way to go.

Are you thinking the one with the ship in the swimming pool? Maybe Crowne something?

ETA: found it. Crown Towers Resort.

Looking at your DDs age, I'd be tempted to go the cheaper option. She will not be too fussed on the look of the pool and no doubt not that fussed on the activities (can she do many of them?).

But, then again, if this is a special holiday and you are looking for a spoil, then option #1 and never look back lol.

TBH my big thing would be to look at the facilities that you guys (the Big People) would prefer. Especially with your mum coming...ie, sneak away once DD is in bed and have a romantic dinner on the grounds could be a good thing to do etc.

I go camping so i don't mind roughing it even with kids BUT when we plan a weekend away we tend to choose somewhere with good kids facilities - more for the fact that some days while DP and I want to do very little we still have kids to keep entertained.

A great pool or child minding service (if you want alone time) is worth the extra $$ in my opinion and really it means you can save yourself some $$ by spending a day at the hotel rather than out on the town. IYKWIM.

Is there a huge difference in pricing? If it's say $100 total i'd go the more expensive option and enjoy some quiet time at the hotel.

I'd go the more expensive option, if you can swing it. You deserve it :D

We're off to the GC at the end of the month and staying at the Paradise Resort! It'll be our second visit there and initially we chose it because of the awesome location and kids facilities and I wouldn't change it for the world...Makes the stay so much more enjoyable when we had all those facilities to keep the kids occupied during our 'down time'!

If you can swing the more exxy option, go for it!

Thanks everyone!

We're staying at Crown Towers, should be lovely :)

I did look at paradise resort- but it was a little to kid friendly for me.
My DD is only 2 and I doubt she would have got the most out of it.
Definitely staying there next time though!

For things to do, so far I have:

Seaworld
Movieworld
Australia Zoo

Any other suggestions?

DH and I will get out a few nights for adult time (bliss!)
I want to go to Jupiters casino!

I would skip movieworld, unless you want to go as there is very little for little peoples to do there

Looks lovely Em! How exciting. When are you off?

Tend to agree with Movieworld, there's lots there for bigger people to sit and listen to/watch... Dreamworld might be better for DD, or even Wet n Wild if she's into the water and swimming?

There's a lovely park right on the water, between the main hwy and the water, which we spent an hour or so at after dinner one night.

It's going to be a long drive to Australia Zoo as well - tbh my kidlets got a bit bored there. Consider if its worth it.

Can't think of anything else right now...

ETA Currumbin Sanctuary is much closer than Aust Zoo and might be more fun - you get to feed the birds by hand :)

Wet n wild has a kids water play area or for free u can go to southport and take dd to the waterpark there is awesome

Thanks gals :)

Wet N Wild is on the same ticket as movie world and sea world- so def could do it also.

OP-
Off on the 23rd.

I'm a little scared of birds- so might give that a miss :)

We've stayed there a few times Em - it's fantastic!!

And they have a day spa onsite that rocks!!

Awesome!
I Definitely plan on utilizing that :)

We did MovieWorld, SeaWorld and paid the extra to go to Dreamworld - my kids are 4,3 and 17mths - so I'd be inclined to leave MovieWorld out if your pressed for time ;).

When we go back *THIS MONTH* (YAAAAAAAYYY)!!! We're going back to Dreamworld and then we'll probably just meander around the place and put the kids into the creche for some adult time !

Agree. Don't do movie world. But definatly Dreamworld - twice of u can!!!

Dreamworld? Really? Hey, we live here but we never take the kids to dreamworld. It's perfect for teenagers+ but I don't like it for little kids. Our favourite is seaworld.
Other than the theme parks, there is a fabulous kids park at broadbeach park. Broadwater parklands in southport has a fantastic playground and amazing water park for very little ones. Macintosh park in main beach has loads of pea****s strutting around and a great playground. There's a cafe in mermaid beach called Govs with a big backyard with massive sandpit and toys, a great place to relax. The best toddler playground of all is in Nobby Beach right next to the beach. Also, the beaches are just really great.

I think an angel fish dies every time someone visits the gold coast and only does the theme parks.

Edit: Australia zoo is hours away.

I agree that Seaworld is the best for Toddlers, although if you do go to Dreamworld and its a warm day, get a world pass so you can go between Whitewater World and Dreamworld - DS LOVED Wiggles Bay in Whitewater World, its great. I found Dreamworld to be a bit 'tired' whereas we could have filled a few days at Seaworld :)

And the Duck Bus (Cant remember what its called but its a bus that can go on land or sea), DS LOVED that too!!