IainF

I suggest the Riverview. It is right next to the Brekky creek hotel and on the right side of the city to get to the airport.
You can find it at http://www.wotif.com/Brisbane-Riverview-Hotel.html .
Cheers
Iain

QFeuro

Hi,

I stayed at the Hertiage (now rebadged Stamford Plaza) a few years back when I was working in Brisbane for a while. Very nice hotel, smaller than the other large chains, with a boutique hotel feel. Good proximity to the river, and the city. Enjoy Australia, I'll be back there soon after 2 years absence.

Cheers

KezzaKawasaki

Go for the Sheraton. Straight above Central Station (direct train from the airport) and they have a sensational breakfast buffet.

Their Club Floor is awesome.

I always stay here and have never been disappointed.

Hilton and Marriott do not compare.

------------------
NW Platinum Elite, SPG Platinum Preferred

tt7

Having lived in Brisbane for a couple of years and having re-visited a number of times since, I can only echo many of the suggestions already made.

Transportation

I haven't used the (relatively-new) train to the airport, as it always seems to me as cheap (and certainly a lot easier) to take a cab, if there are 2 or more of you. As QF WP pointed out, the train is A$11 each and a cab is about A$25. I'm not sure if there are discounted return tickets on the train but even if there are, you'll only save a couple of dollars by taking the train... not worth it, in my view. Far easier to just get a cab. Depending on where you stay, call 131 008 if one doesn't cruise by when you need it.

Hotels

Lots of good suggestions already made. I've stayed at the Marriott numerous times. All the others mentioned, some of which I've stayed at, are equally fine (Sheraton, Hilton, Royal On The Park, Heritage/Stamford Plaza etc. etc.). If the hotel is simply 'a bed for the night' and you're not going to get much chance to use any facilities, then there are plenty of other, cheaper alternatives rather than the 4*/5* chains. The suggestion to check Wotif is excellent - I've used them a number of times. There are a number of 'cheaper' (but perfectly acceptable) hotels on Wickham Terrace, (up behind the Roma Parklands/train station) - the Astor, the GoodEarth, the Metro Tower Mill. These are fine (I've stayed at all of them) and you can walk down the hill into town. They'll be half the price of the major chains.

Things To Do

I'd certainly echo -
1. Go for a walk in the Botanic Gardens and along the river.
2. Take a ride on the City Cat - fast catamaran up and down the river. Doesn't really matter which way you go - perhaps go upstream to the end of the run, where it'll turn around and immediately head back so you can get off where you got on. Nice views on the river and a pleasant way to spend an hour. Stand outside on the front and it'll blow away any cobwebs.....

Food
1. Ecco, close to the Marriott
2. Green Papaya on Stanley Street in the Gabba. A cab ride but well worth it if you like Vietnamese.
3. Brekky Creek Hotel - an experience!
4. Any of the chinese restaurants in Fortitude Valley. Walkable or a short cab ride, depending on where you're staying.

Whatever you do, enjoy the short stay - it's a great city.

Bundy Bear

The http://www.wotif.com/Search.jsp?region=11 is probably the best place to look for accomodation.

My picks.

Sheraton, if you can get the price under AUD $200.00, probably the best location to the city and transport being right above Central Station.

Novotel, next door to the Sheraton.

Holiday Inn.

Even if you aren't a member of a holiday chain become a member. I signed up for Priority Club and now have another 5000 QF points. It also makes the check in process easier, and it means that you might receive extra benenfits that a non member wouldn't get.

Don't stay near the airport, as Brisbane city is rather close and a nice place to walk around.

DCAview

Anyone have any experiences staying at the Conrad Treasury?

tt7

No .... haven't stayed there, though I've walked through the casino a couple of times. In a pretty good location, convenient to most things in town and a short walk over the Victoria Bridge to South Bank.

cejkwj

WOW - I never thought I would get so many responses.

Thanks to all. I have printed the thread to help make sure I read it all.

Thanks for the info about the Brekky Hotel -I looked at it on the web and it is a place we would like - we plan on having dinner there.

I also looked at the Dome Spa - I am a spa-goer but they don't open until 10 am - our plane leaves at 11:55 - but maybe I'll go the night before.

Once again, thank you for all the great information and websites - I hadn't found wotif before.

cejkwj

QF WP

Well then if you are interested in going to the Brekky Creek for a beer off the wood and a decent steak or seafood, then you may want to stay literally next door (200m) away in the Clarion Powerhouse Hotel.

It's 10 minutes from the airport by taxi on the main arterial road, 10 minutes from the City (if you do go to the Spa)...

ozzie

Excellent. You'd call it a boutique hotel though, not very many rooms. I much prefer it to the Hilton ...

shillard

Good advice, outstanding establishment that lacks the wank-factor so prevalant in Sydney (Ottos, Icebergs, Establishment, Niel Perry's "find the food on the plate rocket and balsamic latte" toss of a milk-bar). Fantastic service and an excellent meal.

Decent wine list too (and not hideously overpriced).

eamus

Not sure if I am hijacking this thread, but would be grateful for some advice for our two night-er in September (2nd-4th). Basically:

-- bro lives in Newstead and we will want to visit him/wife/new kid
-- will have some time to ourselves to see Brisbane, so a handy location to Newstead access (train? taxi? bus?) and downtown probably seems sensible
-- am SPG gold so the Sheraton is worth thinking about because allegedly I get a free upgrade at check-in, but the rates are nothing special (spg.com offers us A$233 world travel rate, or A$196 prepaid which I generally dislike doing)
-- my American wife strongly prefers B&Bs and boutique hotels, so I found this place but have no idea where Upper Roma Street is - the ourbrisbane.com map thingy didn't know either - or how to get from there to Newstead sans voiture
-- OTOH I found the Royal on the Park for A$194 at a corporate breakfast rate on itn.net (incidentally I love a corporate breakfast as much as anyone, but have no idea whether proof is needed - anyone with experience of this sort of rate quote?)
-- comfort is important, perhaps more so than price, although ideally I would like to spend A$180-A$220/night
-- the starpoints at the Sheraton are great and I will take them, but that is near the bottom of the consideration list

Your posts make it seem that the Royal on the Park would be the best bet if it came in cheaper than the Sheraton, I like the look of the Stamford but they are at a premium price-wise, the Sheraton is OK but I am not sure that paying more for a possible upgrade and no breakfast (vs. ROTP) makes sense, and the B&B is the lucky long-shot. I am particularly interested in your thoughts about booking a corporate rate at itn.net when my company has no such deal. All help would be much appreciated.

tt7

Newstead is on the way into the city from the airport. Staying in the city and then just getting a cab to go see your brother should be no problem (and reasonably cheap <maybe A$10+ depending where you're coming from>).

Hotels - the B&B looks nice but.... Roma Street is up behind the train station and extends west out towards the suburbs. Not sure exactly where 436 Upper Roma Street is but I suspect it's out a little bit and possible far enough that it's not just a stroll into town (meaning it's half a mile/mile or so rather than 'out the door and you're in town').

Try looking at http://www.wotif.com.au for hotels. I've used their site a number of times. They have rooms two weeks in advance (so it depends how much 'uncertainty' you - or your wife - can handle) but they often have cheaper rooms than elsewhere and you can quickly get an idea of what's available and at what price (at least in the next two weeks). Their search results also have a map that shows you where all the hotels are. (You'll see "Roma Street Parklands" - big green area - Roma Street is below (south) that and extends west (left) - not sure how far out 436 is...)

tt7

[QUOTE=tt7]Hotels - the B&B looks nice but.... Roma Street is up behind the train station and extends west out towards the suburbs. Not sure exactly where 436 Upper Roma Street is but I suspect it's out a little bit and possible far enough that it's not just a stroll into town (meaning it's half a mile/mile or so rather than 'out the door and you're in town').[QUOTE]
Just looked again at the B&B website and realized it has a map which shows exactly where they are.... as I suspected, it's over to the west end of Roma Street. Nothing wrong with it but unless I was dead set on the place (or so cheap as to be irrestible), I'd prefer to be closer in to the city. Check the map at wotif and you'll get a sense of where the major hotels are in comparison to the B&B.

IainF

As per previous responses to BNE hotels, If your Bro lives in Newstead, then the Clarion Powerhouse in Breakfast Creek will be a short walk to Newstead. The only downside is that the Brekky Creek Hotel is in the middle and you may get a little distracted whilst on your way.
Just remember that Brisbane CBD is not to large and no matter where you stay, you can usually walk or get a cab for not too much $$$$$.
A ride from far side of the CBD to Newstead might cost you $9-10 approx.
I actually live in next suburb over from Newstead and walk into town all the time.

PLease PM me if you have any other queries. There is also many BNE FT'ers so one of us will usually have the right answer and are more than happy to help out where we can. We are always on the lookout for an excuse to have a BNE FT QP chapter meeting.