Hi Ho Beach Apartments on Broadbeach

We liked Hi Ho Holiday Apartments enough to stay twice. Staff are amazing, friendly and helpful, and the reception area is lovely. The pool and its surroundings were very well kept. Our comfortable third-level apartment looked over the park, with a view of the beach from the balcony. Everything was close by, and there was a new cafe next door with great coffee, food and friendly staff. It opened early and closed in the early afternoon.

The location is good for the price. The rooms are clean but old, with a spacious bedroom and a good-sized lounge, smart TV and free wifi. The dining suite was good and had ample space. The bathroom felt cramped and dated, with the toilet behind the door. The kitchen was okay, though the sink in the counter corner was hard to reach. A table took up most of the balcony, and it was far too big for the space.

Bed bugs in the sheets, fully grown ones. It was disgusting and nightmarish, ruined the holiday for me and my dad, and I had an allergic reaction bad enough to need hospital treatment. It took three weeks to get better. The manager, an older English man, acted as if it wasn't a big deal when we showed him. He didn't want to refund the night it happened, then said he'd cover the medical costs for the steroid creams. I had to see a doctor and go to hospital. We sent him the bills and never got a reply. I'm sure he'll reply here, but I don't believe him. This was the worst experience of my life. The hygiene was level zero. We had to find somewhere else to stay during high season, and spent $400 on medical bills as well.

Getting around was easy from here: Kurrawa Beach was a two-minute walk, supermarkets and nice restaurants were close, and the tram stop about seven minutes away connects to the theme parks and the rest of the Gold Coast. It's a hard-to-beat base if you're out exploring most of the time. I stayed six nights over the Easter school holidays, a peak period, for $1,850. For the apartment's quality, the value wasn't fantastic, though I understood given how busy the season was. Check-in on a public holiday was easy with the secure key safe. There was a key mix-up, though, and I had to change rooms the next day. Being woken by a knock at 7 AM to sort it out wasn't ideal. Paul from management handled it professionally and offered a bottle of wine and help with the move, which I appreciated. Staff were friendly, and the small pool was a nice touch. The apartment was basic and could use attention. The carpets were aged, the floor wasn't cleaned well, and cleanliness overall could improve. Hot water worked fine and everything else functioned without issues. Traffic noise was noticeable from the fifth floor, especially at night, so light sleepers should know that. For me, the location and convenience outweighed the smaller issues. I'd return, aiming for a quieter week and better rates, and hope they give the floors more attention.