Mondrian Gold Coast

I liked the location, the beautiful partial ocean view, and details like the automatic blinds, hidden TV, and super comfy bed. The room itself was comfortable, and it's a nice space, but we were disappointed with our stay at a place marketed as a luxury hotel. We paid a premium for a room that didn't match what we thought we'd booked. When we asked the concierge about it, she insisted the room was correct and said only six rooms have full ocean views, assigned to guests at random. That hadn't been explained when booking. None of my Accor Gold benefits, including late check-out, were offered either. I've stayed at many Accor hotels, and this was the worst service I've experienced. Paying that price for a room that doesn't meet the advertised expectations felt misleading, like false marketing. More photos would help guests know what to expect. Calling different rooms the “same room” felt misleading when the sizes, layouts, and views differ but the price is the same. Clearer communication and more transparency would make the experience feel luxurious. I won't be back anytime soon, since the price doesn't reflect the stay. There are better options at similar or better value, such as Crown Sydney.

The room was spacious, and those floor-to-ceiling windows gave us breathtaking views of the sunrise over the ocean. All the friendly staff deserve a shout-out, especially Alex and Sam, who went the extra mile to make our celebrations special. We had an incredible midweek stay at the Mondrian and couldn't fault anything. Dinner was delicious, the cocktails were lovely, and we enjoyed an early swim and a soak in the warm magnesium pool all to ourselves. Many thanks.

The room was excellent, with an awesome view, and we were upgraded. Food was good quality, and the dining and social areas felt lively without being so loud that you couldn't talk. The staff were knowledgeable, positive, friendly, and professional, the opposite of the smilebots we've encountered elsewhere. The one downside was a few persistent flies in the downstairs restaurant during the afternoon Valentine's dinch we enjoyed. The staff did their best to handle the problem.

The design is cool, the vibe is nice, the room layout is interesting, and the bedroom TV is good. But it wasn't worth it. My Accor platinum status was barely recognised, so don't count on an upgrade, early check-in, or late checkout, even if occupancy allows. At Lito, staff forgot our order on the first day. We waited 40 minutes until I prompted them to check. They offered empty apologies, but after wasting nearly 40 minutes, I expected more. The staff on the second day were much better and offered breakfast juices, which hadn't been offered on day one. Breakfast itself had a nice but very limited menu that didn't rotate, so by day three we were tired of it. Other items were available outside the hotel breakfast, but cost extra. They also charged us $6 for half an avocado with the frittata without making it clear on the menu or when we ordered. Apparently sides are free with eggs, but not with frittata, and the menu isn't clear about that at all. My Accor platinum status got me little beyond a bottle of wine on arrival, which is pretty standard across most average Accor hotels. We had a room on a low floor, the 7th. Several staff didn't seem to know what my welcome drinks redemption meant and had to ask a supervisor. When I requested late checkout, I got just two extra hours. They said they'd charge for any later checkout, even though there wasn't an occupancy issue. I've usually been fairly unassuming about my status, but after using it at 20+ hotels, this was the least acknowledged. The pool was nice, but at night it turned into a loud, rowdy bar that took away from the luxury feel. Near the magnesium plunge pools, a door staff use kept banging loudly and uncomfortably. And to make matters worse, I was mischarged for breakfast. I pointed it out on the bill, and they'll refund me. It makes me wonder how many guests they charge by mistake. We have a fairly low bar, but when we choose to splurge and pay a premium, we expect better.