Utopia Seaside

Think twice before you book at Utopia Positive: Ocean view and close to beach Negative: We selected this Gold Coast apartment for its unbeatable location directly across from the beach with breathtaking ocean views — one of the most beautiful holiday spots in Australia. We booked for 6 people and even paid the extra cleaning fee for early check-in, expecting a clean, well-stocked, and relaxing stay. Sadly, the experience was deeply disappointing from the moment we arrived. The apartment was not properly cleaned: kitchen cupboards were dusty and unwiped, an ashtray contained a cigarette butt, the carpet hadn’t been vacuumed, and human hair was everywhere (including under the bin and vanity in the en-suite bathroom). We even found a tablet left behind by previous guests. For a 6-person booking, only 4 towels were provided — completely inadequate for our group. Additionally, all the soap, shampoo, conditioner, and cream dispensers in the bathrooms were empty, forcing us to buy our own basics right away. The plumbing was terrible: opening any tap caused loud rumbling in the pipes (sounding like a motorbike starting up), which disturbed us every morning. Three bedrooms had LED strip lighting in red/pink or white that could not be turned off, making it feel like sleeping in a nightclub with constant glow. We reached out to the booking team about the lights and other issues but got no real help — just a text saying we’d be charged for any call-out. We came to the Gold Coast to relax, not to deal with these ongoing frustrations, extra costs, and a lack of basic hospitality. The location and views are fantastic, but the cleanliness, maintenance, insufficient supplies, and poor communication made this stay far below expectations — especially at this price point and with the premium paid for early access. We won’t return without significant improvements, and we’d advise future guests to confirm cleaning standards, towel quantities, amenities stock, and maintenance issues in detail beforehand. Would not recommend.

Mostly great, just needs fine tuning. Positive: No air con in bedrooms. No spare key. Lack of organization for early check in.