My boyfriend and I recently stayed here for our trip to a convention held nearby at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. Mardi Gras is a small, (I presume) family-run business; each apartment is individually owned by others. The apartments are non-serviced, so you will have to do your own dishes, cleaning and take rubbish out.

We had booked online using their website - the booking system used is eTourism Online. While we had no problems booking online, check-in became slightly confusing. Although the website states that the total deposit is $100 plus an extra amount (around $50 for us), only $50 was taken out. When asking why we had to pay extra than what we were originally told on their website, we discovered that Prue, one of the resident Managers (she was on the desk when we checked in), only takes the $100 at booking sometimes, and that the $100 deposit was no longer policy.

While this did throw our budget for our trip out immensely (we ended up having to borrow from friends to get through our weekend), this was only minor. We stayed in Apartment 27. It was decorated in a simple, slightly minimalist style, which impressed my boyfriend, who was expecting something dingy for the total amount we paid ($460 for four nights).

Everything uses keys, and the apartments themselves are really secure. There's also a swimming pool, spa and an barbecue that are available for use. Kitchens are stocked with cooking equipment, utensils, plates etc.

Because the apartments are individually owned, some of them look nicer than others - presumably their owners have put more work in. Things we noticed with ours were that repairs on tiles are easily noticed, and that one of the track blind panels had fallen out of its own accord while we were in the lounge room.

While there are better and slightly cheaper rooms in other hotels/apartments nearby, there's something good about staying with a small independent business. Everyone staying is friendly and relaxed, and you don't feel intimidated by anyone. I think we will stay here again when we are next at the Gold Coast.

Approximate cost: $115/night

My partner and I saw this place while we were walking back to where we were staying. What attracted us to this place was the food prices - The Peacock Inn are priced very similarly to Chinese take-away restaurants located in any suburb, as opposed to the ridiculous tourist pricing found in a lot of places in Broadbeach.

I ordered a chicken omelette and a steamed rice, and my partner ordered a large fried rice, all to take away. We waited outside, where a couple of tables had been set-up for those wanting outdoor dining. Our food took a little longer than expected - there were only two small groups dining inside, and they were already eating.

However, the wait was worth it. My omelette was fantastic, even though it could have done with a little more sauce. It tasted fresh and wasn't dripping in oil. My steamed rice was really good too - you could see all of the individual rice grains, and it didn't come out of its container in big clumps. Although I didn't get to taste any of the fried rice, it also looked like it wasn't dripping in oil, and my partner enjoyed eating it.

While this more than likely isn't the best Chinese food you can get at Broadbeach, when you consider the prices they charge against the prices a lot of other nearby places charge, it's worth it, especially if you're holidaying on a budget.

Approximate cost: $15

I came to The Aztec with my boyfriend and two of our friends, as the three of them had cravings for Mexican, and the place they had been to previously closed.

The service we received was faultless. We were seated very quickly, and there was a steady stream of waiters checking in on us while we decided on what to eat. Everyone was friendly, polite and professional!

The food, while not the best Mexican we've had, was tasty enough that we were satisfied. The smallish portion sizes are a little bit disappointing, considering what we paid (an average of $20 for mains) for them, but they were surprisingly filling. My boyfriend and one of out friends ordered burritos, which they enjoyed. The nachos looked disappointing - two circular layers of corn chips topped with a lot of sauce isn't exactly what one expects when ordering nachos. The quesadilla I ordered was slightly overcooked, and in between the amount of melted cheese and the chorizo, was really oily.

While I wouldn't necessarily go back during dinner as a first choice for Mexican, I would certainly return during lunch (when they have 1/2 price on mains), or on a Tuesday night where they have a buy one main, get one main free deal.

Approximate cost: $20

I joined a couple of weeks ago after being referred to My Survey through another website I'm a part of (funnily enough, for points towards being able to redeem a reward). I've already accrued enough points for $5 on my PayPal account, while I'm still struggling with the first website (where I've been a member for over a year) to get enough points for a PayPal deposit.

Like others have mentioned, you're not going to earn enough to quit your day job. But it's certainly enough for a treat, or to put towards some of the grocery shop. My only complaint is that the only details you get on a survey is in the notification e-mail - I got screened out of a survey as I used a browser that wasn't compatible with it, but didn't find out about it until I was screened, because I went directly through the website.

My friends and I come here on a regular basis to play Dungeons & Dragons - please note that Norita is not wheelchair friendly, as there is only stair access to get to them on Level 2.

While I don't know how busy they get later in the week and on weekends, on weeknights it's pretty quiet, so you won't have to compete over other conversations. While their food selection is pretty small, the price you pay for it is decent enough - the bulgogi is tasty, though it can also be a little wetter than what you're used to. The udong noodle soup can be hit and miss, but it's always edible. There has been a couple of times when my boyfriend has gone to order a lemon lime & bitters drink but has been told it's unavailable.

The staff that work here are friendly and polite, and go out of your way to make you feel comfortable. So even when you're told an item is unavailable, it's always done in a way that makes you feel better about the disappointment. The buzzer system they use for customers to grab their attention is really nice too.

We've never hired any board games at our visits here, but from what I can tell, some of the games seem to be in really poor condition from over use, but otherwise it looks like a nice enough selection. The same can be said for the cafe itself - it's nice enough for what you pay overall, but it's a little sad to see that unused items remain in sight.

Overall, if you like the idea of going out, having a casual meal and playing a wide variety of board games, then Norita is perfect for you. Otherwise, there are better places you could go and pay the same price for a larger selection of the same quality, if not better, food.

Approximate cost: $10

I walked in on Christmas Eve for an eyebrow and lip wax ($15), expecting Leah's Wax Works to be completely booked out. Instead, my name was taken down on a post-it note and I was asked to take a seat in the waiting area.

When my name was called, I was directed into one of the rooms by my waxist (whose name I didn't get), and told to lie down. The waxist left for several minutes, which felt like forever, before returning to do the waxing.

My lip was really well done. While my eyebrows cleaned up nicely, I felt like no effort was made to further define the shape. I would return to Leah's Wax Works if I needed waxing done at the last minute (especially for the price), but I'm still looking for a regular waxist.

IGA Marketplace is my closest supermarket, and so I regularly come here to do my grocery shopping. The trading hours are convenient (6am to midnight, 365 days of the year), and the staff are extremely friendly. Being a "concept" IGA supermarket, the focus is less on everyday brands, and more on premium, organic and specialist products and produce.

While there is a smaller range in terms of products you'd find in the likes of Coles and Woolworths, there's a lot more products that would be hard to find everywhere else. Prices on all items tend to be more expensive than Coles and Woolworths, but specials make up for this. There's a lower-than-average turnover on meat, dairy and vegetables, so you can also get good value on clearance specials.

If you're after the cheapest prices possible, IGA Marketplace is probably somewhere to avoid. However, if you really like your food, like trying new things and prefer high-quality ingredients, this is where you want to do your grocery shopping.

I popped in to grab some cream, probiotic drinks and a bottle of water. The selection this Coles has for cream and probiotic drinks is disappointing, and reflects the majority of their range and shop fittings. This store is long overdue for a makeover.

Having said that, I've found the customer service to be fantastic. Friendly, polite and quick without them making you feel like you're being rushed.