StarwoodGuy

I woke up on the morning of my departure from the Four Points Brisbane and had a workout in the small but adequate gym (so long as only 4 or 5 guests were present) and then did a walk around the city before having breakfast at the hotel which was quite good and then making my way on foot to the bus station. Getting from Brisbane to the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast is somewhat difficult in comparison to the public transit options offered in most cities in Australia. There is a train which goes to the Gold Coast and a different train service to the Sunshine Coast, but both take you in-land, meaning you then arrive and grab an Uber, taxi, or bus a rather long distance. I decided to avoid this by simply taking Greyhound Australia, with a direct service at a considerably lower price. I thought I was prepared that at forty I would be one of the oldest people on the bus but I was not prepared to be the only one without a backpack and clearly out of university. The bus trip at under and hour and half was amazingly efficient with a great wifi service and a funny amiable driver. I was fortunate to have the seat next to me empty so I was not cramped.

Upon arriving at the Gold Coast you could tell how much had been done for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, with light rail whizzing by, a new aquatic stadium and more cranes and towers then I have seen since Amazon started construction in Seattle. We were dropped off right in the heart of the Gold Coast at Surfers Paradise, but I had opted for the Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast, one of my favorite hotels from again around two decades earlier, so I grabbed an Uber for $8 to head up the beach a little rather then walk in the 32 degree celsius midday sun. Upon arrival at the hotel I was reminded why I loved it so much. The beautiful white lobby is bathed in light and looks out to the ponds and pool. I was greeted warmly and taken to my lovely suite with open access onto the ponds of the resort. I was given an upgrade to a lovely spa suite room with water access onto the resorts ponds. The room and atmosphere were immediately relaxing. I changed into board shorts and headed right out to the pool for the two nice free platinum drinks they gave me poolside before doing the walk to town. Since there is no Club Lounge they also provide breakfast and 500 bonus Starpoints and the restaurant and bar provide complimentary coffee, tea, and soft drinks to customers all day. The walk along the beach might be a little long for some, but there is a paved path off of the road as well if preferred which I took on my return, but if a taxi or cab is needed to get into the heart of Surfers Paradise it is around $10.00. I waled for an hour and a half an around the Cavill Mall at Surfers then on to Broadbeach before turning back through the art market on the pathway in Surfers and the rest of the way back to the hotel. Once back I took the Skybridge across to the famed Versace hotel and the marina on the other side with everything from a McDonalds to five-star water dining.

The next morning I woke up early and had a workout in the large gym complex run separately from the hotel but accessible by room key and immediately adjacent to the property with tennis courts, an outdoor lap-pool, a crossfit centre, and a good but somewhat dated weight room affected harshly by the sea air with some noticeable rust on the machines. I showered, had a wonderful breakfast at the hotel buffet, and then re-did the walk but just to Surfers before coming back and showering prior to checkout.

I am a little stuck with nostalgia regarding this hotel, and while it may not have the opulence of say the St. Regis Princeville or the Bali properties in Nusa Dua, this remains one of my absolute favorite Starwood hotels. The staff were excellent and the sunlight beaming off of the white building construction is breathtaking. One of my most highly recommended Starwood properties anywhere.

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Lobby

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Pond

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Pool

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Room

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Bathroom

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Room

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Bar

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Room Pond Access

Beach Outside Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast

Beach Outside Sheraton Mirage Gold Coas

Surfers Paradise

Broadbeach Sculpture

Surfers Paradise Mall

Surfers Paradise

Bridge from Sheraton to Mirage Mall

Versace Hotel at Mirage Mall

Marina at Mirage Mall

Sheraton Mirage Grounds at Night

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Sunrise....5:30am!

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Restaurant

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Buffet Breakfast

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast as Viewed from Beach

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Tennis Courts

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Gym Pool

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast Gym

I left the Four Points Perth in an Uber and headed to the airport passing by the old casino which was now flanked by new towers and the train expansion to the airport which is coming in the next few years. The same Qantas Club located up an escalator was still there twenty years later, but I opted for the new Business Lounge first which is always a quieter space. I had a light breakfast before heading up to see the Qantas Club to relive my youth and then boarded the A330 service. The Qantas pods are virtually identical and the meals and service once again exquisite for a domestic flight. My James Bond marathon continued.

Upon arrival in Brisbane I had purchased my ticket in advance for the Airtrain so it was an easy jump onto the train and into town, then a short ten minute walk to the Four Points Brisbane. Again here I had hoped to try the upcoming Sheraton or Westin properties, but both were still under construction, much the same as Perth. The Four Points was in a very central location in the heart of town and only two blocks from the water and the botanic gardens. The room and its modern business efficiency was similar to the property in Perth.
I had not been to Brisbane in years, so I was excited to walk around after dropping my bags. The river is an amazing heart to the city with a beach constructed above the river banks making it seem as though you were staying in a resort right on the water. On one side of the river you have the casino, on the others theatre and restaurants, it is truly an amazing river locale, and reminiscent to me of Vancouver with modern skyscrapers reaching to the water's edge and the nature located there. They proudly advertise that the neighboring Gold Coast will be hosting the Commonwealth games in a little over a month.
The next morning I did a longer walk around and went through the botanic gardens, small in comparison to Sydney, Perth or Melbourne, but in a wonderful location a few blocks from the hotel and again right on the river with mangroves right along the river's edge.
Brisbane is an amazing city. Sometime- and in my case- it is just a gateway to either the sleepier Sunshine Coast to the North of the city or the more lively Gold Coast to the South, but it is definitely worth a visit. The Four Points was inexpensive and again modern and business efficient. Highly recommended.