A good question.
A local answer.

Prioritise a kitchen, laundry, reliable Wi-Fi and a supermarket route. Ask how often cleaning occurs and what the weekly rate includes.

A more central seat a few rows back may be preferable to the cheapest edge seat. For a dance or large-stage production, consider how much of the full stage you want visible.

Choose an activity based on your interests rather than expecting one food hall to anchor the day. The Valley's different streets feel quite different.

Choose accommodation by an easy, well-lit route to dinner and transport rather than a suburb name. Confirm lifts, step-free access and the exact bedding.

Plan the complete excursion as well as the fare. A trip to a zoo or coast may need a separate operator or transfer beyond the urban network.

Check recent reviews for air conditioning, noise and cleanliness, and confirm whether the rate includes parking or breakfast if needed.

Check the cruise ticket for the exact terminal. Compare a direct taxi or rideshare with a prebooked transfer, including pickup instructions and the full group price.

Set a daily amount for transport and attractions first, then look at current pub menus and lunch specials near your base. A happy-hour sign may cover drinks but not dinner.

Choose your top two trips rather than promising yourselves every zoo, island and theme park. Door-to-door travel can take much of a day even when attractions look close on a map.

Choose the hotel by your arrival time and what you want from the evening. Central Brisbane gives more dining and sightseeing choices; a terminal-side stay may simplify the morning.

Stay near the CBD or South Bank if daytime sights and river access dominate. Consider Fortitude Valley if its dining and evening scene is the main event, but inspect the exact street.

A self-guided riverside and heritage walk is a flexible fallback. Download a current map and plan a shaded break in warm weather.