Who doesn’t dream about sneaking away from their life and escaping reality just for a day or two? And, for that matter, who doesn’t dream about heading straight to the opulent Palazzo Versace for their break from the mundane? The good news is that, as Alli Grant recently discovered, you don’t have to be a millionaire to feel like a million dollars.

We have all done it – hypothesized about how we would spend our millions should we (or rather when we) win the lotto. Many of us know exactly what we would buy and where we would go, even though we rarely even purchase a lotto ticket (admittedly, that’s me!).
Being suddenly ‘rich’ would enable us to fulfil so many dreams – we could pay off our debts, travel the world, spoil our loved ones and live a life of luxury. Most importantly, we could focus on a ‘quality’ life. No more home brand cereal and toilet paper. We could afford the finer things.
But do you really need to be a millionaire to experience pure luxury and unparalleled quality? Thankfully, the answer is no. And I know just the place where you can enjoy a taste of the good life – albeit for a night or two.
Dear readers, I would like to introduce you to my newest best friend, the Palazzo Versace Hotel on the Gold Coast.  
It’s opulent, it’s luxurious, it’s quality personified. And, despite my initial concerns, it wasn’t at all as garish as I had anticipated. Yes it’s littered in Versace’s iconic Medusa, but that’s par for the course when staying in a Versace Hotel. In actual fact, it’s perfectly appointed – just the right amount of Gianni’s gregarious personality combined with understated elegance.
The Palazzo Versace screams money and attracts the rich and famous, but even every day Joes like my husband and me felt welcome and at home, even though we were only on leave from our baby boy for one night. It was the perfect getaway for new parents craving a little peace and quiet and a lot of luxury. If only we could have stayed longer!
The hotel is the ideal place for a special celebration such as a birthday or anniversary, even if you can’t afford this kind of opulence every day of the year. It’s well worth the splurge.
The Versace experience starts in the driveway … yes it’s impressive to behold, but it’s even more impressive when you realise that the mosaic in the driveway is the second largest pebble mosaic in the world and that it was created by five Italian master tilers of an average age of 65.
Car valet parked, of course, and bags whisked away by handsome, young men in black lycra shirts, we wander to the foyer where we are warmly met by Palazzo staff. The grand foyer is beyond impressive. It’s awe-inspiring.
The magnificent chandelier in the foyer once hung in the state library of Milan – it was purchased by Gianni to hang in one of his villas only he died before he could enjoy it. An additional support beam was built into the ceiling just to hold its staggering 750 kilogram weight. This massive chandelier has become a symbol of the hotel and a talking point in its own right.
But the experience itself far surpasses the impressive interior. Your Versace escape is completely personalised – we were even escorted to our room and given a tour along the way. The hallways are scattered with prints from Versace’s famous advertising campaigns and much of the artwork was shipped directly from his private collection.
We were treated to a superior suite overlooking one of the resort’s five swimming pools, all featuring a Romanesque feel – I could have been looking out over the baths in ancient Rome. I guess if you can’t nip off to Italy for a night or two this is the next best thing. The official spiel describes the hotel as ‘combining design features from the opulent palaces of Europe and the classical architecture of Roman times … combined with the highest level of decor and ambience creative by Europe’s eminent lifestyle brand, Versace’. I couldn’t have said it better myself!
The resort features 200 hotel rooms and suites as well as 72 two and three bedroom, self-contained luxury condominiums. What I would do to stay in one of those? Offer up my first born? Maybe …
Back to our room – you want for nothing at Versace, and although the resort is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, it’s far from dreary and dated. You can see the care and attention given to its constant refurbishment and maintenance, and this is certainly appreciated by the guests, many of who are repeat visitors.
All rooms feature a double spa bath (roomy and furnished with Versace goodies, of course), a private bar (with Versace crystal), tea and coffee making facilities and a turndown service.
For sleep-challenged guests, Versace offers a menu, yes a menu, of five different pillow types. Heaven for your head!
For me though, it’s the little things that matter most – the personal touches really made our stay, from the creamy caramel fudge on our pillows to the sweet smelling oil burner, the fruit platter, Versace amenities and of course, the ‘his and hers’ miniature bottles of Versace cologne and perfume. Heaven! What a fabulous memento to take away with you – one sniff of the signature scent and I’m transported back to our luxurious room.
What is most impressive is the House of Versace’s commitment to excellence, quality and consistency. Each and every item in each and every room has been designed and or approved by Donatella herself (the late Gianni’s sister and head of his legacy). No expense has been spared – I’m told the plates in the resort’s silver service restaurant are worth $500 each … wholesale! Suffice to say I was extra careful when drinking my cup of tea the next morning in our room (out of Medussa-adorned fine bone china, no less) and we decided to give the silver service restaurant, Vanitas, a miss, but we did stick our heads in and check out the vibrant frescos. It’s no wonder so many men have proposed marriage in Vanitas; it’s utterly romantic.
While the hotel is located just a stone’s throw from a gaggle of award-winning restaurants at Marina Mirage (oh and fabulous shopping … more on that later), we decided to stay in and try one of Versace’s three restaurants. Decisions, decisions!
Would we partake in Palazzo’s famous seafood buffet at Il Barocco (also home to the best buffet breakfast in the history of civilization, incidentally)? Would we take in the views over the marina and enjoy a modern meal at Vie Bar + Restaurant? Or would we throw caution, and our credit cards, to the wind and live it up with a silver service spread at Vanitas? We chose Vie Bar + Restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the experience – the cocktails are a must. Speaking of cocktails, there’s a bar in the foyer of Palazzo, Le Jardin, great for a cup of tea or a pre (or post) dinner drink, with live music a feature.
Unfortunately, the weather was a little fresh on our stay, which was disappointing as we desperately wanted to dive into that pool. If diving isn’t your thing, you could wade in – Palazzo’s main pool features a man-made beach with sand from Surfers Paradise. The lagoon is 65 metres long and is heated to a comfortable 25 degrees, but even if the weather isn’t quite right for swimming, there’s always the day beds or cabanas, your own little poolside oasis complete with sheer curtains for extra privacy. We retired to a day bed with a few magazines in hand and wasted a few hours taking in the sun and doing absolutely nothing – bliss.  
If pampering is your thing, there’s always the Salus Per Aquum Spa – aptly named, we’re told, as it is located between the calm of the broadwater (complete with Palazzo’s own marina) and the vitality of the open sea. When we visited, the spa and indoor pool area was about to undergo a complete renovation. I guess we now have an excuse to go back – to check out the new and improved day spa, sauna, steam room, spa and indoor pool.
While I would have appreciated a massage, shopping was a little higher on my list and Marina Mirage never disappoints. That’s the beauty of Palazzo Versace – it’s perfectly positioned in Main Beach, close to Surfers Paradise, right next to the shopping Mecca that is Marina Mirage, and down the road from Seaworld – great for families.
Speaking of shopping, one of the resort’s key features would have to be The Versace Boutique, located within the hotel and offering up everything your Versace-loving heart could possibly desire; clothing, shoes, handbags (how I love their accessories!), dinnerware and soft furnishings. While I was tempted to make a purchase, I resisted, reminding myself of the wad of cash I had just handed over at Marina Mirage.
As the first and only fully branded fashion hotel in the world, the Versace experience is unparalleled, but not for long. Following the success of the Gold Coast venture, a second Palazzo Versace will soon open in Dubai. Now that’s a resort I’d like to visit.
We felt perfectly at home staying at Palazzo Versace, slotting in between holiday-making families, couples on romantic getaways and business men and women.
No one knew our bank balance (thank goodness) and we were all there with the same purpose – to enjoy a break from our realities and savour the Versace experience.
So if you’re looking for an opulent and memorable experience unlike any other, give my friend Palazzo Versace a call. You will be treated like a king and will leave feeling like a million dollars, no matter what your bank balance.