I'm a fan of Airport West Westfield for the following reasons:…read more - It doesn't seem to get as busy as other major shopping centres, and even when it is busy the customers out here have been trained in the arts of not pissing you off and not getting in your way; basically most peeps are considerate, which is so helpful when you've got a five year old and a 14 month old in a pram. - Open late Thursday and Friday nights, and open all weekend until 5pm. - No where near as large as Highpoint or Chadstone, making it more convenient for mums, prams, wheelchairs etc as nearly everything you need is on the Ground floor. - Massive free car parking, with car parks all around the centre so you can park closest to where you're going to shop; as well as disabled parking spots there are also parking with pram spots - EXCELLENT! - All the major chains you've frustratingly grown to need; Coles, Aldi, Woolies, Target, KMart, Best and Less. - A satisfying mix of high end and high street fashion, kids shops, all the major (and most non-major) banks, cinema complex, hair and beauty salons, a large round circular food court offering take out and fresh food and fantastic toileting facilities including multiple parent rooms with TV's and playrooms. Everything you need and want in a more convenient and thoughtful centre. Especially great for the grocery shop with free parking directly out front of whichever shop you choose and extended trading hours.

Ive seen Westfield Airport West grow up with me since I was a young child (I was brought up in…read moreneighbouring Strathmore Heights). This shopping centre has got a lot of things right that a lot of shopping centres have got wrong! Lets look at them in point form: 1. The car park is enormous and completely surrounds the shopping centre - so you can park near the closest entrance to the particular shop you need. 2. It is virtually all on the ground floor, so you dont have to buggerize around with escalators and lifts 3. There is a pub in the carpark (Skyways Tavern) - albeit not a great one, but it has a TAB if you need to put a bet on... (thats what we do out this way!) 4. It actually has a Target unlike most of the shopping centres I usually go to. All in all its pretty good. The big negative though is that the food in the foodcourt is absolutely appalling!!!! I dont know why but I can never find anything very nice to eat in that place. If the food was better, Id consider giving the centre 4 stars, but without decent food it only gets 3...

Pretty good shopping centre I enjoyed it, Good location…read moreaswell. Good stores. calm and enjoyable.

As far as junk shops go, this is as good as it gets. It's not so much the range, because it stocks…read morethe same usual amount of 90% useless shit, most of it over-stacked on to the aisle floors. Although, I have found them fantastic for kids arts and crafts, from the usual cheap staplers, glues, pencils, paper - to wool and other materials, sparkly stick on thingy-mi-jigs, and bulk bags of all of that crap in one to make it easier for your dear self. Not to mention the cheap as chips costume jewellery. My daughter has LOVED it here. I love it more for Mary's cheery little Greek helper; a lovely old bubbly man who's enthusiasm and zest for life is infectious. He genuinely loves talking to people and he is by far the best customer service person I've met in a long time... the beauty is he isn't even trying. The first time I went here I tried to pay with EFT, it's one thing they don't have. Because he could see my daughter had grown attached to the hoop I was buying her, he let me take it with us while we went to get cash. AMAZING! He even guessed how pregnant I was, came close to the date I gave birth and guessed my unborn child would be a boy, which he is. It's just so darn nice to walk into a store and have someone work there who is really enjoying what they do, enjoys people and almost makes you feel like one of the family. Whenever I'm in the area I can't help but pop in and be made cheerful for the day, if not the week, by this delightful gentleman. Good for cheap kitchenware such as platters, mixing and salad bowls and individual cutlery pieces if you're in need of a top up. Also scored a great faux leather tote bag for $15, it was fake but it didn't look too bad, and allowed me to save for the D&G beauty I treasure I now.

This shop has everything from pet care to toys to tools and a fantastic lolly section…read more Plenty of greeting cards cheap craft supplies and fantastic decorations. Especially Xmas decorations! If you need something you can probably find it here and far cheaper than you would elsewhere. The staff are always friendly and I stop in here whenever I need something.

This place takes your breath away before you even walk inside; the large glittery vases, lights and…read moredecorative mosaic balls are like magnets drawing you inside. If you are looking to add some grandeur with home wares and furnishings to your abode, The Natural House is sure to have something to your taste. I just love the range of products they stock with naturally crafted woods, from bamboo bordered wall mirrors, Buddha statues and small tables. The Natural House is known for its exquisite range of large floor vases; you can choose from natural wood varieties or the magnificent painted glass selection; which look as if a thousand pieces of beautifully painted glass have been painstakingly glued perfectly back together; the effect is amazing and those vases shine from every angle. Save your pennies and go in there to purchase a few items, the owner is lovely and is happy to drop the price if you're grabbing a few things; just don't be shy to ask.

At first glance Fantastic Variety may look just like your average junk store. Well, it is that,…read moreplus a little bit more. I've managed to decorate my home with some pieces from there that I've also seen in more prestigious home wares shops like Provincial Home Living and Homeart. The beauty is because the shop isn't pretty, and because the stock is just stacked together in bulk, you'll get the same item at Fantastic Variety for half the price. Last week I was pleased to pick up some bamboo sticks of different lengths and sizes to go into a large wooden vase that's been empty in my living room for about six months. The same pieces were at Homeart and would have cost me $10 more for the same amount. They've also currently got some lovely French pieces; old hat boxes and war style letter boxes with French art and war stamps printed on them. To accompany the collection, French Bordeaux clocks of assorted sizes are also in stock. From $10 to $20, similar decorative clocks are available at Provincial Home living for more than double the cost. And unlike most cheap rip offs, these collections at Fantastic Variety are pretty good, to the naked eye at least you can hardly tell the difference and they'll make your space look just as effective, particularly if you're decorating on a budget. Some of my other fave items here are the assorted varieties of Japanese hanging lanterns, as well as bamboo door runners. My husband has a unique collection of islander wooden masks, and the lanterns and door runner have really added to the effectiveness of our 'tribal room'. Since relocating to a bigger premises within the centre, I've noticed the range in store getting more stylish and of higher quality. The store owners have also gotten a lot better at merchandising their best stuff and so you can see the value of some of their pieces in the window displays which have been quite fetching of late. So, if you're in the mood for some interior decorating on a budget, check out Fantastic Variety first. The window displays might even give you some good ideas and at least you'll be able to cost compare if you do go elsewhere.

This Valley Girl haven is my choice in sourcing new seasons styles at affordable prices. Having…read moreother responsibilities and financial commitments makes it irresponsible of me to spend $100 on a pair of jeans or $300 on a cocktail dress these days, when Valley girl offer the same fashion forward finds at prices that wont break the bank or take the food from your table. Recently I've purchased a gorgeous off white, long sleeve, above the knee dress for $20! I actually got the idea from a Myer catalogue but couldn't justify $199 for something I'll probably wear three times this season and probably never again after that. My other recent faves include a high waisted light denim jacket for $25, a camouflage green shirt dress for $19 and a basic white tee for $5. Where I used to get high from the feeling of walking out of a high end Chapel st store with a pretentious looking shopping bag full of beautiful clothes, I now get the same feeling knowing I'm still wearing the same fashion forward trends I love, but spending 70% less. I'm now dealing with the guilt of realising I could have possibly been a successful property investor with the amount of money I've invested in designer wear!

When we arrived at the airport, my husband asked me if I wanted to try his favorite airport spot…read more Off we go! I love books, I love coffee : great combination! It's hidden behind the books so it's nice and quiet. Don't feel like you are in an airport. I browsed around in the book section while my tea cooled down. It's the secret spot of the pilots / air staff! They know where to go to avoid the crowds! My husband had a coffee and he loved it. I had a soy chai - it was good but not amazing. Overall great little find!

Books and coffee? I'm sold! A great alternative to the loud, crass food courts that are usually…read morefound in airports. The Toby's Estate coffee is a fairly easily blend to serve. It's hard to ruin it. This place won't blow your socks off but it will offer a decent coffee and a respite from the world.