Synchronised swimming

[WilSurf]

I am just curious and throwing it in the group.

Is there anyone into synchronised swimming?
My 10 y old daughter is doing it for the first year and she loves it.
Next year April she will go to the National Championship in Brisbane.
Her flight to Brisbane has been booked as they have found a cheap flight.

We are looking at going as a family and stay in Brisbane for a week.
What is a good hotel/appartment to stay?

Any ideas are welcome.
Date of championship is 11-14 April 2014.

[AdrianLR]

A friend's daughter was in the Australian Olympic team. Unfortunately best in Australia equates to last in the Olympics. The support the athletes get in Europe and Asia is miles ahead. For example, our team trained throughout winter in an outdoor pool on the Gold Coast and most ended up with colds, paid all their training and medical bills etc etc.

[WilSurf]

True.
My daughters club is now the number one in Australia but compared to others.......
They are training in an outdoor heated pool and so far no complaints.

[Kit_e_kat9]

We are looking at going as a family and stay in Brisbane for a week.
What is a good hotel/appartment to stay?

Any ideas are welcome.
Date of championship is 11-14 April 2014.

Good On your daughter!

I guess it depends on exactly Where In Brisbane the event will be held, as to where you'd like to set up shop WilSurf.  Are you able to provide us with more info?  I'm assuming you won't have a vehicle or will hire one?

Kit_e

[WilSurf]

I don't know what location yet.
Yes we have to rent a car in Brisbane.

[westvic]

just a thought....

When we do this sort of travel we usually look for cabin thingys at caravan parks. Pretty cheap, always got several cooking options, kids playground usually included, often a pool, and plenty of outside stuff.

Dont have any place to recommend (sorry) but have found this a big improvement on hotel/apartment in general as we always seem to enjoy the stay more than in a grassless concrete box.

All the best to your daughter too, I hope she enjoys herself and has some success as well.

[BernieS]

 You could check out Hotels.com. Search for hotels in Brisbane for the dates you require that'll give you a list along with distances, locations, ratings and reviews. Also Wotif.com is a good place to look for specials 6 months before your departure. The site only has 6 months of data up at a time. Make sure you ring the hotel you choose as well to get a price. Ask if they have any special deals for those dates.
Tripadvisor.com.au is another good place to look for hotel reviews and pricing as well.

[AdrianLR]

Another thought. .....

Our eldest two are quite sporty (triathlon and fencing) and we've traipsed around the country with them. I've found it much more enjoyable, as have the kids, if you stay at the "team hotel" if there is one. Particularly for you first event, there's lots to keep track of. When's the warmup start? Is there a separate entrance for competitors? Are we getting together for dinner afterwards? Trivial but it reduces the stress on you and the kids. Group rates are often quite good value. Also, competitions are quite draining physically and emotionally. Being able to socialise after returning to the hotel and "download the day" is beneficial all round (for competitors and supporters).

Off to Sydney for the fencing nationals in a couple of weeks. If your daughter continues, get ready to have an empty wallet

Adrian

[WilSurf]

Thanks Adrian.
The swimmers will go all together in one accommodation.
We will extend our stay and make it a short holiday.

[WilSurf]

More d etail as known.
The Nationals are being held at Brisbane Aquatic Centre at 1763 Old Cleveland Rd, Chandler QLD 4155 from the 10th till 13th April 2014.
We are thinking of going into a hotel close to the parks on the Gold Coast from the 13th, hire a car from the airport.
Now we need something closer to the Aquatic Centre.

[Kit_e_kat9]

This is a good site to visit:  http://www.caravanqld.com.au/parks/caravan-parks/region/parks.aspx?rId=1296&pType=Caravan

Most CVP's are going to be along the highway and therefore there will be extreme traffic noise to cope with.  Such as:
http://www.brisbanegateway.com.au/ - Rochedale South
http://www.aussiegardensvillage.com.au/ - this is one of 3 on Holmead Rd Mt Gravatt
http://www.nestleinn.com.au/ - Tingalpa

These are all quite close ...

Some "nice" ones on the GC itself where they say 30 - 45 minutes to BrisVegas ... Chandler Aq Ctr is only about 10 - 15 minutes off the highway depending on the time of day.

Kit_e

[WilSurf]

Just bought VIP passes for SeaWorld and the other parks. Buy 3, get 1 free.

Thanks Kit.
I did send an email to Greenacres.

[Kit_e_kat9]

Let me know if you'd like a "drive by" of it.

Kit_e

[noel_w]

Noice bit of land nearby you could pitch your tent but might be noisy in the morning.


http://www.brisbanegunclub.com/

[WilSurf]

We are flying in and go for a hotel or B&B.

[noel_w]

Sorry, tongue in cheek there. Is our local firing range... Is quite noisy on Saturday mornings and I wouldn't pop the head up too far. 
Is next door to Chandler swimming centre.

[WilSurf]

Bookings have been made:
Arriving at Birkdale B&B the 10th till 13th April.
Arriving at Gold Coast Holiday Park the 13th till 18th April.
Only thing to do is to wait for a discounted flight from Perth to Brisbane.
The tricky bit is, 2 adults and 1 child going east, 2 adults and 2 childeren going west.

Hopefully the prices will go down.

[Ynot]

Well done to your daughter!

I am not sure about the Birkdale B&B, haven't noticed it before (probably drive right past it a few days a week) but last weekend we took our new van to the Gold Coast Holiday Park.

Not a bad park, pool area is great and has a licensed cafe next to the pool that also does meals.

Very close to Movie World and The water park.

It is right on the freeway but you get used to the noise pretty quick and it just blends into the background.
Free pancakes on a Sunday morning which where the best my wife and daughter have had ( I skipped the pcs). Apparently free sausage sizzle Tuesday nights.

All up a friendly park, though I would probably only stay there if visiting the theme parks (it was just close to home for a maiden voyage).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[WilSurf]

Yep, we got the tickets for the parks already.
That's the reason of picking the Holiday Park.
Thanks for the heads up.

[WilSurf]

Everything sorted.
The price for the flights Perth - Brisbane didn't really drop, so I bought them last week.
I also rented a car from the airport.
There were 2 option: pay now or pay later.
With a difference of $200 I did the pay now option.
Brisbane, here we come (when it is time to go ofcourse)

[Garfish]

Everything sorted.
The price for the flights Perth - Brisbane didn't really drop, so I bought them last week.
I also rented a car from the airport.
There were 2 option: pay now or pay later.
With a difference of $200 I did the pay now option.
Brisbane, here we come (when it is time to go ofcourse)

The prices Perth to Brisbane barely change due to all he hi vis wearers on that route.   

[WilSurf]

It is time to fly.
My oldest daughter is flying to Brisbane tonight with the club, while we are following her tomorrow morning.
Comp start on Saturday in Chandler.

[westvic]

All the best to your daughter and good luck to the proud parents 

[WilSurf]

And it all paid off.
My daughters team came first. 

And she came 10th out of 27 girls.
Not bad for her first National after 1 year competitive training.

[AdrianLR]

Well done to your daughter and the "support crew"!!