Families Magazine – Brisbane Editor, Janine and her family stayed as guests of the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa in February 2021.
Disclaimer: We have written this review about our stay at this gorgeous hotel on the Gold Coast. We have not been paid to write this review, however we did receive two nights stay free of charge. As always, the views in this article are our own and completely honest. You can see what our kids thought about their stay in our Facebook Live post here. And you can watch our video review below.
Smack bang in the heart of Surfers Paradise you’ll find one of the most incredible swimming pools you’re likely to find! And that’s just one of the exciting features on offer at the freshly refurbished JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa. It is, to say the least, simply breath-taking.
We checked out what’s on offer so we could tell you why you need to put this place on your travel bucket-list. Read on for more …
All in the bed!! The kids and the adults LOVED the decadence of the huge comfy beds.
Our staycation at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa …
Located on Ferny Avenue in Surfers Paradise, the 304 room Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa boasts incredible views. Floor to ceiling windows throughout let you soak in the ocean vistas right around to the hinterland beyond.
While the adults took in the glorious sights, the kids had just one thing on their mind … that pool!
Reserved exclusively for the use of guests, JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa pool boasts waterfalls, caverns, tropical flora, non-stick sand (that is ‘a thing’ … who knew?) and some pretty great nooks for chilling out making this pool one definitely worth your time to check out.
Going one step further than regular resort pools – although they have that covered too … waterslide anyone? – you can also enjoy the beach-like gradual dip into a naturally filtered salt water lagoon – perfect for toddlers to dip in their toes.
The beautiful waterfalls provide a natural filter for the lagoon, which means that it’s not a chlorine-fest and you can share your swim with an array of tropical fish. Yes, fish! The kids LOVED this feature, they could float along in their goggles to see who could they spot. The resort’s fish-feeding session will resume as soon as we can get closer than 1.5 metres to each other to watch! 😉
We hired snorkel gear and the kids had a blast swimming with the fish in the pool.
The rooms
The JW Marriott Gold Coast has recently been refurbished and improved upon (if that is possible?) their elegant and stylish decor and facilities. Luxury is the best way to describe what we found upon entering the hotel and our rooms – we had two rooms – interconnecting: 1 King + 2 Doubles.
We loved the view from the balcony.
I adored the divine bathroom.
The kids were bang up for the pillow-top mattresses!
There was plenty of space for all of us and our gear, and even as a large family we were not tripping over each other.
It was my birthday and I was delighted when management sent up a special treat for me to share! #thoughtful
Dining at JW Marriott Gold Coast
The JW Marriott Gold Coast still offers a buffet and I would argue it is one of the best buffets on the Gold Coast. However, in these changing times, instead of self service, you are served by their staff. You can just tell them (or point to) what you would like and they pop it on your plate.
And trust me, their breakfast buffet *drools* is something to behold. You could almost spend the entire morning indulging in the fine foods on offer. For the kids they provided a great selection of fruits, cereals, juices, pastries and more. And for us, well you name it – they had it!
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast consisting of:
- Continental breakfast foods
- Hot breakfast foods
- Asian breakfast foods
Chapter & Verse Bar And Lounge International
Lounge amongst the palms. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Citrique Restaurant International
Reservations required.
We were able to enjoy the renowned seafood buffet! Enjoy the freshest seafood, sourced locally on the Gold Coast, at this award-winning restaurant. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Misono Japanese
Reservations required.
Misono showcases expert chefs preparing Japanese feasts on a teppan hot plate built into your table. It’s the ultimate in dining and entertainment. You may have to share a table with other guests, but it is a super-fun way to make new friends. Open for dinner.
Poolside with service from the Pavilion
Serving guest’s poolside, is the Pool Pavilion along with its eye-catching, retro food van. Vibrant street food created using local produce will be on the menu here, bringing a touch of dynamic Asia to the outdoor pool environment.
JW Market
Citrique’s elevation under the JW Marriott brand includes the addition of a signature JW Market; a café and marketplace that fosters authentic connections to locally crafted products and produce.
Savor by JW In-Room Dining
Savor by JW In-Room Dining is available to all hotel guests throughout the day, featuring a breakfast, day long dining and kids menu. Heroing local fresh produce, the in-room dining offerings are based on the Citrique and Chapter & Verse menus.
The final verdict
There’s just so much for families to see and do on the Gold Coast, having a home-base allowed us to really explore all that was on offer. And of course, that pool!
We loved our stay at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa and we’ll definitely be back for a longer staycation!
The nitty gritty
Family by JW
- Interactive program for kids and adults to promote engagement with guests
- A selection of activities pull from the themes of culinary, activeness and creativity
- Games Room/Activities centre
- Bookings essential, charges apply.
Parking:
- On-site parking – charges may apply
- Valet parking
- Off-site parking
- No parking for camper vans, marine craft, trailers and other large-size vehicles.
Accessibility:
- Accessible guest rooms have a 32 inch wide opening
- Fitness center entrance is accessible
- Main entrance is accessible
- Pathway to registration desk is accessible
- Registration desk is accessible
- Route to accessible guest rooms is accessible
- Spa entrance is accessible
- Business center entrance is accessible
- Hotel has on site accessible self-parking
- Meeting spaces are all accessible
- Pool entrances are all accessible
- Restaurants and lounges are all accessible
- Self-operating lifts or sloped entry are not available for pools
Internet Access:
- Guest rooms Wireless, Wired
- Complimentary High Speed: Check email + browse the Web
- Enhanced High Speed: Video chat, download large files + stream video for a fee
- Lobby and public areas: Complimentary Wireless, Wired
- Meeting rooms: Wireless, Wired
Services & Amenities
- All public areas non-smoking
- Babysitting
- Barber/Beauty shop
- Buffet breakfast,
- Cash machine/ATM
- Coffee/tea in-room
- Concierge desk=
- Continental breakfast, fee from: 35.00 AUD
- Evening turndown service
- Florist
- Foreign exchange
- Full American breakfast, fee from: 49.00 AUD
- Gift/newsstand
- Grab-n-Go breakfast, fee from: 4.50 AUD
- Hot breakfast, fee from: 49.00 AUD
- Housekeeping service daily
- Laundry on-site
- Laundry on-site, coin operated
- Mobility accessible rooms
- Newspaper delivered to room, on request
- Newspaper in lobby
- Room service
- Room service, 24-hour
- Valet dry-cleaning
- Virtual Concierge Available
To find out about JW Marriott’s Gold Coast upcoming family discount offers and promo code click here.
Hi Cheri,
Thank you for your enquiry. We most definitely do have Christmas lunch at our in-house seafood restaurant, Citrique.
Our Christmas Day lunch includes a buffet lunch featuring additional Christmas delicacies with a three hour premium beverage package and live entertainment. This is priced at $339 per person.
Should you have any further questions please feel free to contact the Resort on 07 5592 9800.
Best regards,
Do you have Xmas lunch and if so at what price
Thanks
Cheri
That looks like a lot of fun! The highlight for me to visit the place would probably be the beach/pool! 🙂 So gorgeous. xx
Jacq
jacqwritesworld.com
Definite highlight!
Wow- what a gorgeous place! I love the birthday treat- look at that grin!
He really was stoked!
Looks like a great resort for families. We’ll have to bookmark this for our next visit!
It really is. Your little explorers would love it x
This place looks incredible! Loving the pool area, looks like its on a tropical island.
Definitely feels like that too!
This looks like amazing fun. Hope you all had a blast.
We did! Sad for it to end.
Isn’t it funny how a new demands a new family getaway! This looks amazing ?! I would love to get there to check it out!
So worth a look. And Surfers Paradise is so family-friendly. There is just so much to do.
Wow! Sounds amazing! The idea of a pool with fish ks enough for me, I’m sold!
It was a bit odd at first, I was worried about my toddler hurting one of them, but they are pretty quick!
Great article! We’ve been back at work for 2 days and we now want to jump on a plane to Qld for a holiday.
I wonder if I could take my laptop and work by the pool?
This looks absolutely divine! Will definitely have to give it a try
It really was. The kids keep asking to go back. Is it mean if we go back without them? #datenight
Wow, that pool sounds amazing Rebel! We are looking for somewhere to stay this Feb. Must check this out ?
Definitely worth a look x
Looks like an amazing location and my kids would love that pool. Lovely to see accessible room info provided.
They so would! There are fish isn the lagoon pool! Real live fish swimming around with you – so fun!