I recently booked in for a sneaky little staycation at the Brisbane Marriott. I figured if it was good enough for US President Barack Obama when he was in town, it was most certainly good enough for little ol’ me.
Pretty much exactly as it sounds, a staycation is the kind of vacation where you don’t leave your town or city.
I’d been planning my visit for weeks; I was going to leave my laptop behind, switch off my phone (unheard of!), throw on a robe and slippers, order room service and watch movie after movie. Then, after a long, restful sleep, hit the buffet for breakfast before lazing by the pool until my appointment at the on site Dome Spa Retreat for a little pre-Christmas R&R.
What actually happened was that I dropped off my car and overnight bag before heading off to spend the day in the Somersby Polo Lounge at Polo in the City, danced most of the night away at Darling & Co, checked in at 11pm, showered and flopped face first across the king size bed (I totally starfished) and woke up hungover before eating ALL THE BACON at the buffet.
And it was glorious.
Because if you’re going to wake up hungover, there’s no better place to do it than in a big comfy bed, in 5 star hotel where you can order room service AND hit the buffet.
But take my word for it, jumping on the bed will make your hangover ten times worse.
Here are 5 reasons you should book a summer staycation at Brisbane Marriott:
The Dome Spa Retreat
Tucked away on the pool level of Brisbane’s Marriott Hotel, Dome Spa Retreat is the perfect way to pamper yourself and leave your skin feeling soft and supple this summer. Slip into a robe and slippers and enjoy a herbal tea or have a girls’ getaway and order the champagne high tea. I booked in for the Detox and Review package which is said to be “perfect for times of over-indulgence or when you’re just feeling a little sluggish” which included a full-body exfoliation to scrub away any dead skin cells and stimulate the skin before an invigorating full-body massage.
The pool
Pool. Sun lounges. Sunshine. What else do you need for the perfect summer getaway? How about a sauna, gym with river views and a jacuzzi? Grab a good book or load u your favorite tunes and settle in poolside for a chilled out day.
The buffet breakfast
Motion Bar & Grill was part of the hotel’s multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2011, and delivers a refreshing, modern restaurant and bar destination. On Friday and Saturday night’s they serve up an amazing seafood buffet, but for me, breakfast is where the magic happens. There’s an omelet station where you can watch the chefs at work, waffles made to order in five mouth-watering flavours (hello chocolate), pastries, juice and even Whisk & Pin gluten-free muesli!
Switch off and robe up
Sometimes all it takes is switching off from your devices to feel like you’ve been on holidays. Without the distractions of text messages, social media and emails, you can give your brain the mental detox it deserves and recharge your body and soul. So turn off your phone and give yourself the luxury of kicking back in a cozy robe and slippers, order up some room service and hit up the in-room movies for your very own in-room film festival.
Shopping
If shopping is on your agenda, Brisbane’s famous Queen St Mall, Wintergarden, Queens Plaza and The Myer Centre are all just a stone’s throw away with big name brands now including David Jones, Myer, Zara, H&M and Uniqlo. To get there you can wander along the Brisbane River through the Eagle Street Pier precinct or stroll through the city, which is what I did, stopping for some macarons from Le Bon Choix along the way. Or head back towards the Valley and check out Principessa, Bakery Lane, Eleven Rooftop Bar and the boutiques of James Street.
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- Champagne is always a good idea, especially when it’s accompanied by this view!
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- Marriott Brisbane.
