Meriton Suites Broadbeach, Gold Coast

The apartment has a useful kitchen with a cooker, kettle, oven and microwave combo, dishwasher, dishes, utensils, and pots and pans. There's a dedicated laundry cupboard with a dryer and sink, and Woolies is a short walk away. Cleaning is provided on days 3 and 7; soap and shampoo can be requested through reception or the QR code. There's also a 7/11 next door. I liked the thoughtful layout that separates the toilet door from the bed with the wardrobe. That solves one of my biggest hotel-room bugbears. The apartment itself is a good size, with a nice balcony and view, and 24-hour reception. For transport, Meriton is accessible from the back, but taxis and pickups are best at the front entrance. It's a flat five-minute walk, easy with luggage, to the big bus stop near Pacific Fair. Buses 777 and 700 are cheap, quick airport options, and the tram runs up and down the beach.

The team made a big effort to make my son feel special on his birthday, which I really appreciated. Service stood out, and the location was very convenient, so I'd stay again. The room was as expected, though the bed wasn't the most comfortable. The complimentary toiletries impressed me: the slippers, shower puff, and Kevin Murphy shampoo and conditioner were all high quality. The pool area could use an update. There was a heap of sand in the indoor spa. The water temperature was perfect, but the sauna could have been hotter. Parking was easy, at $12 per night, with plenty of spaces.

For three nights, the stay was comfortable, the staff were friendly, check-in was easy, and the room was clean. We liked the sauna too. We both drink coffee, so four pods in the room weren't quite enough; six would have meant one for each of us each morning. There was no housekeeping, which is good for the environment, so I was fine with that.

We stayed for a week and had everything we needed. The kitchen was immaculate and fully stocked with the utensils we used. The room was clean and very nice. Reception found us more comfortable pillows, and ordering extra amenities through the QR code was easy; they were delivered to the door.