Not all beach goers are deemed equal

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This was published 12 years ago

Not all beach goers are deemed equal

By Katherine Feeney
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Here's the thing about Australian shores. Body paranoia aside, everyone is equal on home beaches.

For this reason, the country's first full-service beach valet feels a little out of character. Sandy class systems prompting green eyes and hoity-toits just don't ring true blue.

Or so the dream goes.

But even sentimental blokes have learned to appreciate the finer things in life. Luxury has come to Australia, and we like it. Top-shelf retailers know this. Real estate agents survive because of it.

And the world's best brands in holiday-making are cashing in, big time - $700million big, in the case of Hilton Surfers Paradise, the first major hotel to hit Gold Coast in a decade.

After nearly three years development, Hilton arrived at the heart of Surfers in September with two towers of hotel and apartment accommodation, a full menu of leisure options - and the beach valet.

Available exclusively to guests, the service takes the leg work out of beach tripping. Forget wrestling with a sunshade or sunscreen scrambling – your personal attendants will see to this, and more. This is reward, no effort - simply turn up, kick back and enjoy the view from under a big, shady, Hilton-branded umbrella.

Returning you gaze are a few hundred fellow sunbathers, some less genially than others. Do you lap up the luxury or cringe for the lucky country? The choice is yours, the pleasure is Hilton's.

But this development was always going to be a game changer.

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The gracious design from the brains trust at the Buchan Group (Melbourne's Langham, Sheraton, and Intercontinental hotels) has managed to lift the height of the skyline without bruising the skin. A high street retail strip built into the complex at ground level will vastly improve the surrounding precinct, once the tenancies are filled.

Inside, the lobby is generous, dark and understated. This is not a multi-million dollar development keen to feature opulence, extravagance and glitz on the bill – an approach that fits with the grand designs of a redeveloping, Commonwealth Games bound Gold Coast.

The restraint continues in the accommodation upstairs. A spacious, two-bedroom, ocean-view unit boasts quality finishes, clean lines and all the amenities you'd expect from the big name in American hospitality. Functionality is the key luxury here. Beyond the generous balcony unfolds an open-plan dining, lounge and granite-benched kitchen. Flat-screens, robes, slippers, black-out curtains and Hilton 'serenity' beds add to the air-conditioned comfort plumped by a turn-down service and pillow menu.

Sweeping views of the beach and a fully-equipped kitchen make staying in with room service sorely tempting. Especially if the hard-partying Cavill Avenue strip just beyond the lobby's front doors leaves you cold. Self-catering gourmands may opt to entertain with provisions sourced from the hotel's Food Store downstairs, a European-style delicatessen with decent coffee and champagne by the glass. Excellent ice-cream and chocolate varieties, meats and cheeses make for easy DIY tasting plates great for in-room dining. They also do picnics, just right for a beach valet.

Holidaymakers inclined to leave kitchens untouched are also well catered to; good food and water is available the lounge bar Fix, all sultry, candled sex appeal. Happily, interesting glassware matches the liquid marvels offered on the well curated cocktail list, and the snack menu stretches from French fries to caviar. Such considerations marks Fix as more than just another standard issue hotel watering hole.

Similarly distinctive is Luke Mangan's Salt grill, though while the bar and hotel at large studied subtlety, the restaurant went for obvious wows. Mangan's name is everywhere; the crockery, the menus and on the lips of fairly decent wait staff – it's distracting, and disappointing, though the food and healthy wine list helps dull the pain. As do treatments from the eforea spa, or the conscientious food, beverage or sunscreen service metered out by smiling attendants at one of four beautifully landscaped pools.

In short, Hilton Surfers Paradise is a new brand of lucky country luxury.

The writer stayed as a guest of Hilton Surfers Paradise.

Trip notes

Where: Hilton Surfers Paradise, 6 Orchid Ave Surfers Paradise, Surfers Paradise (07) 5680 8000 www.hiltonsurfersparadise.com.au

Staying there: Two bedroom ocean view deluxe residence starting at $938 for Friday and Saturday night stay. Standard hotel rooms start at $259 per night. The valet service is available to guests. $100 buys three hours, with extra hours charged at $50.

Style statement: Hassle-free first-class service from sea to shining sea-view rooms.

Don't forget: To take advantage of the treatments available at the spa.

Shame about: The self-conscious references to the celebrity chef behind the hotel restaurant.

Kudos: Two-towers of assured comfort, entertainment and relaxation options in tones that suggest a new sort of surf's up.

Take: the kids and enjoy the space and amenities of the fully-equipped residences.

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