5 Best Motels on the Gold Coast Locals Wouldn’t Want You to Know
Going to the Gold Coast is an expensive trip; there’s no denying that. Even locals can often be heard grumbling about the ballooning prices of items and services here.
Unfortunately, tourists and visitors have it much worse.
From lodging to theme park admission fees, almost everything is jaw-droppingly expensive. You have to budget every item and service availed, or the trip could end on day one.
The only potential solution: the motels.
However, the good ones are often kept secret by locals to keep them away from the “loud and restless” tourists. So, how do you find them?
Lucky for you, our team set out to book a one-night stay at nearly all of the motels on the Gold Coast. We wanted to see which ones can help save your budget while still providing hotel-quality accommodations.
Here’s what we found.
How much does it cost to rent a motel room on the Gold Coast?
Renting a motel room on the Gold Coast has an average cost of $133 per night. The final charges can vary depending on the length of stay, additional services availed, and notice period given to the motel before booking a room.
1. La Costa Motel
Location: 127 Golden Four Dr, Bilinga
Contact: (07) 55992149, 0418746066
Hours: 24-hour self check-in
If you want to experience the best of the Gold Coast, starting your journey at La Costa Motel is a good first step.
Just minutes away from the airport, they offer guests hotel-quality service without all the unnecessary stress of facing the numerous hotel policies during reservations.
Although room reservation fees at La Costa are at the higher end of the average cost on the Gold Coast, it’s still considerably lower than booking a nearby Airbnb or hotel room.
Moreover, they continue to prove their value for the price with spotless and well-maintained facilities. This includes a working coffee machine, a salad bar, and clean restrooms.
Most rooms are also equipped with TVs (with streaming subscriptions) and amenities to keep everyone entertained. It adds a modern touch to the retro theme.
If there’s one negative thing we can point out about the hotel, it’s that we recommend guests bring their own earplugs and noise-canceling devices because most rooms lack soundproofing.
Outside noises are relatively rare on La Costa thanks to their staff regularly patrolling the premises. However, it’s better to still bring one since the sound of the wooden floor might be irritating for some.
Clean and comfortable
“Beautiful place, super quaint – clean and comfortable accommodation. Beautifully decorated with a generous breakfast basket in the room. I only stayed one night, however would definitely come back for a long stay next time.”
– Loren Elizabeth, Google Review
Cutest place ever
“Everything was spotlessly clean and well maintained. The coffee machine was a godsend in the morning, and [the] free breakfast was great. Also loved the well-stocked mini fridge. Loved that [it] was close to the beach, with very friendly staff knowledgable of the local area for recommendations.”
– Lily Lane, Google Review
2. Cheshire Cat Motel
Location: 1005 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Contact: [email protected], +61 428 938 343
Hours: Check-in: 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Check-out: until 11:00 AM
Want to experience a star-rated hotel accommodation without paying the full luxury price? Try booking a room at Cheshire Cat Motel near Palm Beach.
Homely yet still spacious, Cheshire Cat offers guests a feeling of home with its ’70s-inspired aesthetics. Even the pool was styled to invoke nostalgia for the old holiday inns in the tropics.
Despite the retro themes, rest assured that all furniture and amenities are updated to the current hospitality standards.
Best of all, the motel is just a minute’s walk away from Palm Beach and the nearby restaurants, tourist spots, and supermarkets.
Just a little heads-up: bigger cars might not fit the motel’s parking spot, so try to travel light or prepare extra money for the nearby carpark between Fifth Ave. and Cypress Terrace.
Non-tech savvies might also have a hard time finding their rooms since the motel has transitioned its reception table to automated services.
However, fear not because the motel is equipped with attentive staff to guide guests through any difficulties they may encounter during their stay.
We even saw how efficient and accommodating the management was when they helped us secure our items during check-in and check-out.
Absolutely adorable
“There’s nothing to fault, beautiful bathrooms, comfy beds, TV with Netflix at such an affordable price. Despite being on the Gold Coast highway it’s very peaceful and quiet. The plunge is lovely too. Couldn’t recommend this place more.”
– Angharad Jones, Google Review
Made us feel welcomed
“No stone has been left unturned in this delightful motel, the styling and attention to delay is ace. We stayed in the Bungalow which was lovely, spacious, and had everything we needed. The beach is a 2-minute walk, beach towels [are] provided, and outdoor shower to clean. The plunge pool is sweet and is a lovely afternoon spot.”
– Rebekah Swan, Google Review
3. Blue Heron Motel
Location: 2323 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Contact: [email protected], +61 7 5661 2326
Hours: Check-in and check-out: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Out of all the motels in Mermaid Beach, Blue Heron Motel remains the undisputed winner in terms of the quality of its service, accommodations, and even pricing.
We experienced firsthand how each penny spent went to make our stay in the motel comfortable and enjoyable.
Each room even has a coffee facility and bar fridge filled with affordable beverages. They’re even labeled with prices to help us budget our expenses.
From the modern and spotless rooms to the clear blue pool outside, each facility is maintained properly to be available for guests at any time of the day.
The area is also surprisingly quiet for such a place near the beach.
While we had to pay separately for room cleaning because we only scheduled a one-night stay, the staff were happy to provide us with fresh towels for the shower and the pool before we even asked.
The motel also offers special seasonal deals during winter and summer, in time with the rush of visitors arriving on the Gold Coast.
Maybe it’s also due to its great accommodations for such low prices that the motel is often fully booked, especially during summer and holiday seasons.
Nonetheless, guests would find the Blue Heron’s accommodations more welcoming than the other affordable motels in the area.
Ticks all the boxes
“Rooms are modern and clean. Attention to detail happens here. It is quiet and well-located. A short walk in either direction, and you have great food choices. It [is] a 2 block stroll to the beach. And, although I haven’t used the pool, it is a lovely calming feature. Parking on site.”
– Daarma Wombat, Google Review
Outstanding motel for a low-cost
“It can be a little scary booking a low-budget hotel, but let me tell you just how surprisingly good this place is. The rooms are quiet, modern, and spotless. The beach is less than 500 meters away and the service is welcoming and happy.”
– Rob, Google Review
4. Gold Coast Airport Motel
Location: 95 Golden Four Dr, Bilinga
Contact: [email protected], +61 7 55366244
Hours: Everyday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
If there’s one way we can describe Gold Coast Airport Motel, it would be that it’s the perfect short-stay place for families and groups with children visiting the Gold Coast.
Just minutes away from the airport, the motel is situated in an area near the Tugun Skatepark, Kirra Beach, and several neighborhood parks in Coolangatta for children to explore.
Despite being a “what-you-pay-is-what-you-get” type of hotel, the rooms are spacious and soundproof enough to block out most of the noises from neighboring rooms.
The facilities might be a little dated but all are still working well. This includes the hot water and TV service.
That said, booking a reservation at Gold Coast Airport Motel as a person with a disability might not be the best choice.
Due to its proximity to the airport, the motel can often be crowded. As a result, they would only have limited rooms that can accommodate visitors with disabilities and other physical problems.
Several guests also shared with us during our stay at the motel that the staff sometimes used strong chemicals to clean the room.
While it wasn’t a problem for us, we can imagine how it could be quite a shocking introduction for those with sensitive noses.
Of course, guests are free to transfer rooms in case they’re unsatisfied with their current place. We even liked how eager the staff was to assist the guests with their already busy workloads.
Really good experience
“The rooms were clean and cozy, and the location was super handy. But the best thing was the customer service from Frank who was so caring.”
– Yiyi Xu, Google Review
Fantastic service
“Great communication, right from the initial booking until we checked in. Fantastic service, very accommodating. We were able to store our luggage very early on the day of check-in. Rooms are retro but have everything you need, [a] comfy bed, air-con, and plenty of space as we had a 1-year-old with us, motel helped us out with a portable cot.”
– Andy Williams, Google Review
5. Mysa Motel
Location: 1100 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Contact: [email protected], +61 407 467 976
Hours: Check-in: 2:00 PM; Check-out: 10:00 AM
Just a few steps away from the Cheshire Cat Motel, guests would find staying at the Mysa Motel a comfortable and satisfactory alternative to its more famous neighboring motel.
With close access to Palm Beach as well as local cafes and restaurants, guests wouldn’t have a hard time catching up on all the things the Gold Coast has to offer during their stay.
We also really liked how the whole place runs mostly from solar energy. This makes the whole motel sustainable and environment-friendly.
This is even reflected in the motel’s architecture, with its rooms designed to allow sunlight and air across the whole premise. Of course, there are window blinds available in case guests aren’t keen on the morning sunlight.
The building itself has also recently been renovated to bring all the modern conveniences like fully functional air conditioning and streaming service-equipped TVs to all guests.
If there’s one negative aspect we can point out during our stay at Mysa, it’s that the motel would benefit from an update to its complementary utensils and outdated furniture. This is primarily regarding the glasses and chair variety.
We were only afforded a few glasses since most of the motel’s fineries were coffee glasses. The bench chairs, while fitting to the motel’s retro aesthetics, don’t have much comfort to provide to weary butts.
Anyway, most of these are personal nitpicks to the motel—differences that most guests wouldn’t have any problem with because Mysa already has it covered.
Great for travelers
“Rooms are very aesthetic, beds are comfy, [and there are] no issues with shower pressure or heating/cooling. Loved that it runs on solar. The little extras in the room were such a nice touch!”
– Chloe Madeleine, Google Review
Absolutely loved it
“The accommodation has everything you need + nothing you don’t for a short stay in the awesome location of Palm Beach. Each trip we arrived [at] complimentary goodies on top of the already amazing selection of complimentary offerings, which made us feel very special.”
– Bek George, Google Review