To attend a two day work conference at the Grand Chancellor, I arrived in the early morning to a surprisingly fresh and modern hotel (worlds apart from the Grand Chancellor I stayed at in Melbourne). I was impressed that my room was available for me to check into and was delighted to see that I had been given a room with a separate study/lounge! Rushing to register for the conference, I waited for what seemed like forever for the lift to arrive...
The day filled my head full of information and by the end, all the attendees (myself included) wanted to do was to return to their rooms for a rest before we met up for dinner. We all waited for the lift again and for what seemed like 10-15 minutes, and on arrival at my door, I discovered that my key didn't work so I had to return to reception after waiting for the lift to arrive again. It turns out that somebody else had been booked into my room so I had been moved to another room. They had called me and left a message but my phone had been on silent from the conference. Feeling a bit uncomfortable at being told that my luggage and items had been moved to the new room, I was presented with a packet of Ferraro Rocher and the promise of a nicer room.
Eventually, when I arrived at my new room, I was greeted with a lovely spa in the bathroom amongst the marble and soft white towelling. My luggage was there, along with my jacket but amusingly, someone had been left with a huge stack of my business cards in front of the tv. When I tried to switch on my own though, it didn't work well, and the buttons of the remote were unreadable so I had to call Reception to have someone come up and sort that out. Luckily, they arrived quickly enough that I still had a bit of time to unwind.
Later that night, when I returned from dinner, drink and a walk (at one of the many nearby restaurants and bars), I made sure to take advantage of the big spa that overlooked the television in the lounge, separated by a pane of glass. I think it's a great idea for people but something needs to be done to get the sound in the bathroom so they can actually watch movies from the comfort of the spa.
The views from the balcony were amazing at night, sunrise and at daylight. I loved the way the room and bathroom had been equipped and furnished, and the large roomy hallway and full-length mirrors away from the bed. I woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, ready for another jam-packed day. Be sure to stay at the Grand Chancellor if you're in town, but remember to bring your own shower cap and practice that patience when waiting for the lift!
Compare it to other Places I've Stayed at?
Setting up base camp at Frisco Serviced Apartments;
Docking at the Ridge on Leichhardt Hotel;
On an Easter Getaway at the Royal Pines Resort.
The Royal Pines Resort is a very impressive place to stay at, set on a world-class golf course. We had an Executive room on level 18, overlooking numerous trees and beautiful lakes set throughout the lush green lawns. Squeals of delight and laughter came from the pool and spas below and we pondered when we should join them. There were those huge air bubbles that people could climb in, and roll across the water but I think I would prefer the delight of warm jets of water in the luxurious large shower in the room later. Perhaps it was because of the Easter holidays, but the stand introducing the restaurants didn’t have the menus on hand so we waited for a long time for the staff to find and print the current menus. With a seafood buffet at Kalinda, Italian food at Trattoria Amici, Japanese at Arakawa, Fine Dining at Videre, and food and drinks at Tee’s Clubhouse and a few other bars, we had more than enough options to explore. The lifts even featured contemporary leather seating, placed at the right height just to lean against, and delicious green apples in a glass bowl can be located near the lift entrances! We only got to try some of the items on the Trattoria menu which we ate in our room one night and we never got a chance to enjoy all the lovely places to lounge at. This is definitely a place I would love to come back to stay at again.
State of confusion - I'm still trying to process it...Could I have gotten it all wrong? It just doesn't make sense. You brought up our past, You told me your plans for us and You were so nervous, waiting for hours just to hold my hand...
Read about past Hotels I've stayed at:
Setting up base camp at Frisco Serviced Apartment Hotel; and
Docking at the Ridge on Leichhardt Apartment Hotel, Brisbane.
After spending way too many dollars living in hotel rooms at Frisco and The Ridge on Leichhardt, feeling like I was bobbing around in the ocean, I concentrated my energies and time on finding a more permanent solution. I came across a cosy and funky little place where I felt an instant connection. It's also an architectural talking point as there are three internal windows but none to the outside. I applied to the Real Estate Agency that afternoon and was relieved and happy to be accepted to settle into this beautiful apartment.
Here's some information I would've appreciated knowing before I started:
- There aren't many furnished apartments that are available for rent in Brisbane City. Most are in Spring Hill or surrounding areas like Milton and Fortitude Valley.
- Always make phone calls to the agency advertising the rental property - they do not check/respond to their emails triggered by property websites.
- Real Estate Agents only advertise/organise the inspection dates and times once they have gained enough interest via contact on the phone.
- Furnished apartments are all shown during weekdays. Expect to take time off work. If you're asked to nominate an inspection time, set a time around your work hours and be firm as the agents may try to push you around to suit their own needs. I had an experience where they made it so difficult for me to change the time even though I just called five minutes earlier.
- Tenants only need to give 14 days of notice before they vacate the premises in QLD! So don't bother inspecting/applying for apartments that aren't available until a later date than that. It will cost you much more having to stay in a hotel room for a prolonged period than searching for another place.
- Forget looking at the Domain website - Brisbane tends to prefer the Real Estate website. It is updated with properties more often.
- A passport will come in handy when submitting tenancy applications - it will save you on trying to find enough points from other forms of ID.
- When you have agreed on lease agreement dates/pickup of keys, read the documentation carefully and prepare for agents who forget and fudge up the documents. I didn't think fast enough in response to the agent making up a lie on the spot so she wouldn't have to fix the paperwork. I had all the supporting emails - I just couldn't be bothered arguing and allowed her to charge me the extra day despite earlier agreements.
- Be extra diligent when filling in the Condition Report - test stoves, turn on taps, flush the toilet. Something will usually show up - maybe one of the stoves don't work, or water may leak from the ceilings or all over the floors after a shower. Maybe the toilet buttons get stuck. If anything comes up, at least you can start the process of repairs straight away - keep all emails and send photos!
I wanted to share my happiness with you and you finally initiated contact! You texted, you called, you tried to tell me so much at once. Slow down sweetheart - I'm here. But when we met, you brought along your safety blanket and I saw you controlling your body's natural instincts to fall into place with mine...
Looking for more Local Know-how? See:
Travelling with Translink, Brisbane City; and
Thursday Night is Soul'sa Night at Cloudland.
Frisco Serviced Apartments proved to be very popular so I moved
around the corner to The Ridge on Leichhardt for seven nights. Being the cheapest of all serviced apartments around, it lacked the comforts of free Internet access, a
sizeable wardrobe, a workable kitchen or an internal laundry. The daily costs of the hotels were high and I was even tempted to give in and sign up for one of the many leases available in the building, being so close to my daily travels at Central Station. However, with the humidity in Brisbane and the huge hill I had to climb daily, it encouraged me to find a more ideal and permanent place of residence quickly. Whilst here, I learnt that I preferred the views and sounds of the city as my company and was relieved that the hotel was accommodating enough to extend my stay until I was ready to leave.
Wake up every morning pining for your sweet morning kisses, this bed feels so
empty without you next to me. Miss your fingers in between mine.
I attended a Pain Management Support Group
through work and learnt how trauma can lead to anxiety and depression. Is this
what you’re going through? Is this what you can't reveal?
Want to know where to stay on the Gold Coast instead? Check out:
On an Easter Getaway at the Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast.
Enthused by what I thought might have been destiny, I bounded into the city with curiosity, wondering what would be. Frisco Serviced Apartments was to be my new home base for the first nine nights, offering the luxury of free WiFi, along with the necessities of my very own
bathroom, kitchen and laundry. A Woolworths supermarket situated across the
road offered convenient access to groceries. I was slightly disappointed to find its hours of opening were so short but that, I soon discovered, was a city-wide thing.
Being new to Brisbane, and experiencing the quietness of the location, it felt like I was on the outskirts of the city, yet I was close enough to walk to Central station, where I experienced travelling with Translink. For those who have a million things running through their mind, the pool and gym would probably act as a welcome distraction.
Wanted to climb back into your arms to feel safe again. I opened mine and waited...I know you're struggling with all the thoughts in your head but I promise you - I can make it better. I've always been able to make you laugh and love...
Want to find another Hotel? Read:
Docking at The Ridge on Leichhardt Apartment Hotel, Brisbane; and
On an Easter Getaway at the Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast.
