RACV Royal Pines Resort

The cheapest hotel rate isn’t always the best value. Debbie explains how to make the most of your stay at this Gold Coast gem.

The Gold Coast may be best known for its theme parks and active nightlife, but when looking to get away for a relaxing family holiday, I was drawn to the RACV Royal Pines Resort. Located nowhere near the hub of Surfer’s Paradise, or the theme parks, the Royal Pines is nestled in expansive grounds which are home to not one, but two golf courses.

We opted for a room on the newly refurbished executive floor and at $300 a night, it wasn’t the cheapest option, but certainly turned out to be value for money, and RACV members can enjoy a reduced rate. The room has two double beds, which is great for families or those looking to treat the grandchildren, and the one we chose had views over the hinterland. Even during school holidays, which is the time we visited, the resort wasn’t crowded and you really got a sense of space and somewhere to relax.

Spending $300 a night for space and a room with two double beds isn’t exactly value for money, but access to the executive lounge saved us a fortune. A full  buffet breakfast is served each morning and this is a great way to start the day. Grab a bottle of water from the fridge and you can keep yourself hydrated throughout the morning. Borrow a book from the library and make your way to the poolside or find a shady spot under a tree and watch the day slip away. Or surf the net all day with free wifi available in the lounge.

For keen golfers, nine holes, including golf cart hire will only cost you $25 and is a lovely way to see the grounds. But don’t forget to take your clubs or you’ll pay a further $25 for club hire. If golf isn’t your thing, then you can spend the day strolling around the impressive grounds.

No matter how you spend your days, save your appetite for evening drinks and nibbles. Served each night from 5.30 to 7pm, plates of pizza, sushi, seafood and snacks are provided and accompanied with beer, wine and soft drinks. We found that if we’d had a particularly large, or late lunch during the day, this was more than enough to enable us to skip dinner.

With tea, coffee and soft drinks available in the lounge throughout the day, there really wasn’t much need to for us to put our hands in our pockets during our stay.

For more information, visit RACV.com.au