How much of a step up is platinum from gold?

I have been silver for many years and gold last year courtesy of some Qantas status crossover. I cannot say I noticed much difference between gold and Silver.

This year, I am now close to gold already courtesy of an unexpected couple of weeks in Perth.

Most of my stays are Ibis/Mantra/Sebel. Some of them do not have restaurant and I am not aware of any that have a lounge, so I am undecided if the benefit of paying $360 is worth it for me as yet. Sebel Perth for example, has no bar or restaurant, so welcome drink is a bottle of water or coke etc......

Are the free breakfast any good?

Anyway, main point of confusion is:
If I decided to go for platinum courtesy of the ALL explorer, is the best time to buy that sometime between gold being achieved and year end? That way the 30 nights would take my tally to 60+ and then I have platinum until the end of next year?
 
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