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Dr. Barry Ferrier is a travel writer, academic and musician based in Byron Bay, Australia.
Website: doctorbaz.com
Music: johnnycashtribute.com.au
We were looking for somewhere nice to stay in Coolangatta on Queensland's Gold Coast, not far from the airport as we had an early morning flight to catch and found Mantra. The Mantra Hotel is an upmarket tower, right on the beach, so the location is fantastic and within walking distance of the main CBD. Restaurants, cinema, supermarket are all nearby. Plus it's only about a 10 minute drive to the Coolangatta International Airport.
Our three bedroom apartment (limit four people) featured self contained cooking with complete kitchen facilities, three tvs, two bathrooms (one ensuite) and a laundry. There were two King beds and one bedroom with two singles. It's always a bonus when traveling to be able to wash clothes without searching for the laundromat and it's awkwardness. Also an awesome balcony with a southern view looks out onto the beach on the 17th floor - and the views were just beautiful. The apartment was well laid out with privacy for each room, and is peacefully quiet. Some nice touches were detailed here and there in the decor. There is undercover secure parking and good security. The receptionist was very professional, friendly and informative and made us feel at ease. The hotel pool is positioned on such a superb beach with barely a soul in sight, making for a lovely private swimming day.
Coolangatta has a nice mix of upmarket meets olde worlde beach village. For a night out on the town, you'll find is a first class venue at the Twin Towns Club. Just a block from the Mantra, major international, and local artists play, along with heaps of local music around the clock. Coolangatta Hotel is a big rock venue and the local Greenmount Surf Club has a jazz band and cheap meals on a Wednesday night. There is excellent dining nearby. We chose the O Sushi Japanese restaurant and the food lived up to it's award winning reputation. The second meal we had was breakfast at Belakai which was also more than adequate, and right next door.
If you're exploring the main street there is a fascinating Antique market with a fascinating, quite mind boggling array of interesting olde worlde items well worth the view. Make sure you walk up to the lookout on the southern point, it's breathtaking and inspiring.
Recommended: All-in-all a totally satisfactory and good value stay. Loved staying at the Mantra and would like to book that room permanently!
Australian writer and composer Dr. Barry Ferrier has had a diverse career as a musician and academic. His vast experience as an entertainer and virtuoso musician has led him to travel extensively, performing across Europe, Scandinavia and the UK. He was a cast member of the original Jesus Christ Superstar, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, music director and composer for the international recognised mime group The Lindsay Kemp Company, opened at the Palais Theatre Melbourne for Ry Cooder, and was a member of chart-topping 80s Pop Group "The Ferrets". He has also travelled extensively in Australia and Asia as a documentary maker.
He has travelled with many leading celebrities including as band leader for the legendary US superstar Eartha Kitt and which has given him unique objective experience of 5 star accommodation.
As Assistant Professor of Multimedia and Australia's prestigious Bond University for several years and with 5 university degrees to his credit, he has vast experience as a writer. He is also an experienced copywriter with many years professional marketing and advertising experience.
Combining these diverse and creative experiences, he has developed a unique and highly entertaining travel writing style and strong analytic skills , and is a valued member of the Reviews International travel writing Team.
The Beach Suites is a very beautiful boutique hotel right in the heart of the famous holiday destination of Byron Bay, built to cater for people who can afford the best when staying in beautiful Byron. With absolute beach front that's a good start.
This high quality block of private apartments are owned by a celebrity and designed to cater for celebritys with a sense of prestige and privacy to go with it. In fact, they bill the Beach Suites as: "Byron Bay's most private beachfront luxury accommodation. The best of Byron with light filled and spacious rooms, quality furniture and fittings.
Two and three bedroom penthouse apartments with their own rooftop pool, Studio style rooms in a garden setting or Beachfront studios with their own private plunge pool and private front gates for direct beach access." This truly is stunning accommodation with great uninterrupted views to that famous beach across the road. The Apartment we stayed in was absolutely spot on clean and well maintained to perfection. Below is a shot taken from entrance to one of the ground floor garden apartments.
The in-apartment facilities are beyond what you would expect in a typical hotel - private washing machine, dryer, fully equipped kitchen etc. The roof top pool has to be a hit with any sane person - the ultimate in luxury. The pool has been carefully designed so that the glass pool fence creates a frame that exactly captures the beach scene - it is very cleverly done... and the poolside shower is a work of art , obviously a "one off" created by an artisan.
That's the amazing Byron Bay beach above. Well to get that close to the ocean you have to be able to afford staying at the Beach Suites without worrying about the price and I would say that this is totally 5 stars except there is no on-site restaurant, and as a guest paying $1500 per night I thought I could reasonably expect to go to the front desk and ask for restaurant recommendations. I was met with blank stares and "Oh I went to the xxx the other night and it was OK..." which made us laugh. I'd make a small suggestion - get a list together for guests not looking to cook!! but the Thai across the road became a favourite of ours and Byron certainly has a great range of food choices. The other possible negative to consider is that because of the central location, the Beach Suites are potentially quite noisy at night (especially when the bars and pubs close and the party crowd hits the street). Then again if you're young at heart you come to Byron for that party atmosphere.
That's the view from one of the penthouses above. Well sure, if it wasn't Byron, the price tag would scream "rip-off", but then again Byron Bay itself is a premium product and demand is high in this beautiful little town, hence the premium tag for staying in the iconic and laid-back establishment, and they do offer a lot for your money, particularly in value added extras and complimentary items such as wi-fi and secure undercover parking. This is a wonderfully built development, with owners obviously possessing impeccable style and good taste. The apartments don't need to be described in detail - they are as in the images only probably better. This would have to a great choice for that once in a lifetime honeymoon, offering days of bliss!
The housekeeping standards are great, with a complete detail each day. A fellow even comes in and cleans the balcony of sand and polishes the glass every day! Very good attention to detail.
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