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DIGS: We rundown some places to stay at Australia's Gold Coast

THE COMMONWEALTH Games takes place on Australia’s Gold Coast in 2018 and there are a few of us still trying to work out where exactly we are staying. We have found a few choices that may help you make up your mind...

HOLIDAY PARK CABINS

Holiday parks are the best option for families with young kids. Although they’re traditionally a budget option, they usually have a few different accommodation offerings – including some flashier choices – so people can pick and choose how much they want to spend.

Best of all, holiday parks have entertainment options like pools, games rooms and barbecue areas which are set up for groups, so all you need to do is turn up and settle in.

If your Gold Coast holiday is all about the theme parks, then Gold Coast Holiday Park is a crowd pleaser because it’s just a five-minute drive from Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet ‘n’ Wild, or a 15-minute drive from Dreamworld and White Water World.

HOLIDAY RENTAL

If you would prefer more privacy then you can find a holiday house that fits up to 16 people with Elite Holiday Homes. Although all their holiday houses are luxury properties, renting a house is a surprisingly affordable option if you’re splitting the cost and don’t mind sharing a kitchen.

You can also find a range of different holiday rentals through Vogue Holiday Homes and Gold Coast Holiday Homes. A holiday rental property like Opulence on Broadbeach, with seven bedrooms, a cinema, pool, spa and private sandy beach, should give your group room to spread out.

You can also access Elite Holiday Home’s holiday concierge services and let someone else organise your group activities for you. Alternatively, find more Gold Coast holiday houses to suit groups on booking sites like Stayz, Wimdu and Airbnb.

RESORT

If your group has a bit more cash to splash around then resorts like Sea World Resort & Water Park or O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in the hinterland offer a more luxurious experience with entertainment on tap.

Sea World Resort can accommodate your group in rooms of different sizes and keep everyone happy with easy access to Sea World and the waterpark as well as extra activities like dolphin discovery, a beauty salon and dinner shows.

If you like the sound of a resort but want somewhere a bit more low key, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in World Heritage listed Lamington National Park is a magical place to escape the crowds and enjoy nature.

There are some fun, educational activities available as well as a kids club, bar and fine dining room. The bird watching is fabulous. Everyone will enjoy the pool, spa and birds of prey encounter, while the flying fox and Segway tours will give you a fun family adventure in the rainforest.

HOTEL

If your group is more adult-oriented and seek a bit of indulgence, a hotel could be the best choice – and you can’t go wrong with the Sofitel on Broadbeach.

The luxurious rooms and suites are perfect for a weekend of pampering with shops, beach, restaurants and the monorail to Jupiter’s Casino on your doorstep.

APARTMENTS

Another good accommodation idea for groups is an apartment rental in a hotel or resort. That way everyone can rent an apartment to fit their needs and budget and meet by the pool or in the bar or restaurant.

Turtle Beach Resort has spacious one, two and three bedroom fully self-contained apartments. Resort facilities include four swimming areas with lagoon and lap pools, a waterslide, an adult-only retreat, mini golf, a playground, a fitness centre, a games room and barbecue areas.

Mantra Sun City also has one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses, many with private balconies and beautiful ocean or hinterland views.

This is a good option for families or people who want to save money by self-catering during the daytime, but still be within easy walking distance of beaches, restaurants and nightlife. Mantra Sun City offers all the facilities you would expect in a good hotel, as well as a fun pool with a water slide and separate spa pool.

For group accommodation, aim to book well ahead so you can get the perfect style to suit your group as it can be hard to fit groups in, especially during the Christmas and Easter school holidays.

Then, once the accommodation option you pic, you can guarantee your whole group will have fun because there is something for everyone here, from theme parks and adventure activities to natural experiences.

So your group holiday should create lasting memories for all the right reasons and make you look like a star.

Article courtesy of destinationgoldcoast.com

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