Hotels

Good Value Vacation Apartments -- Apartments make good sense for families and for any traveler who wants to self-cater to save money. Because the Gold Coast has a dramatic oversupply of apartments that stand empty except during school vacations, you can get a spacious modern unit with ocean views for the cost of a midrange hotel. Apartment-block developers got in quick to snag the best beachfront spots when the Gold Coast boomed in the 1970s, so apartment buildings, not hotels, have the best ocean views. The Gold Coast Booking Centre (tel. 1300/553 800; www.gcbc.com.au) is a centralized booking service that offers great deals on more than 1,200 apartments.

Book Ahead for Indy & Easter Madness! -- Most accommodations require a 1-week minimum stay during school holiday periods and a 4-day minimum stay at Easter. When the Gold Coast Indy car race takes over the town for 4 days in October, hotel rates skyrocket and most hostelries demand a minimum stay of 3 or 4 nights. Don't leave accommodations to the last minute! Contact the Gold Coast Tourism Bureau (tel. 07/5538 4419; www.verygc.com.au) to find out the exact dates.