When you stay at the 207-room City Lodge V & A Waterfront Hotel, expect a democratic experience.

Every room is the same price; there are no executive suites so forget about upgrades; and you won’t be greeted by a porter, although if you need one, it will be available immediately.

“Everybody’s equal here,” General Manager Dean Samouilhan told me.

There may  not be a porter in the lobby, but what I did find is free coffee, rusks and muffins at reception — a welcome sight when I come in windswept from the gusty Cape Town weather.

Restaurant service is limited at the hotel — but don’t miss the excellent breakfast. It is worth going to, and at 120 rand for a full buffet, one of the less expensive hotel breakfasts. There’s no room service, but not everyone needs that. Let’s face it — you pay for all the things that make a hotel more luxurious, whether you use them or not. If you’re on a limited budget and don’t need the costly extras, this hotel is good value.

The shower in my room was noticeably well designed. My bed was very comfortable and I had an excellent night’s sleep. Who could ask for more?

Based in Johannesburg, the publicly held City Lodge Hotel Group is a local South African operation, and one of the country’s largest hotel groups. It owns 55 hotels in three countries, including 52 in South Africa and seven in Cape Town. Each one is independently run.

The City Lodge V & A Waterfront is one of the group’s older properties, built about 23 years ago before the waterfront was developed. It has a nautical theme and a small spa pool for guests.

The hotel is about a 10 minute walk from the V&A Waterfront, within walking distance of Cape Town’s central business district, near the N2 highway and 15 minutes from the airport.

“We build and own hotels, which is unlike a lot of hotel groups that simply manage other people’s hotels,” Samouilhan told me. “We are geared to a very different market. We don’t do stuff like portage. If we see you struggling, we’ll leave the desk to help you. We are unique. No porters, but there is a ramp where you can wheel your suitcase up. I have wheelchairs and crutches available.”

Sixty percent of the hotel guests are corporate travelers, and 40 percent are leisure,  Samouilhan said. During my stay at the hotel, I had a business interview scheduled. I was given free use of a hotel boardroom for the interview, and it was stocked with coffee and snacks. The room is available for all guests.

The City Lodge V & A is eco friendly, and uses LED lights throughout. It also uses chemicals that are eco friendly, and is accredited with Green Leaf, a green hotel certification program. This helps the bottom line, Samouilhan said.

Company wide, City Lodge has seen a 7 percent increase in hotel room occupancy in the last two years, according to Samouilhan. At the City Lodge V & A, occupancy has increased an amazing 25 percent.