The newest hotel on the Entebbe block, the Protea Entebbe is already getting excellent reviews. And deservedly so; it’s certainly the sleekest, most polished place to stay in the vicinity of the airport. In fact it’s right opposite the airport building, making it the ideal place to sleep before an early morning flight.

But it’s more than just a convenient place to sleep. The hotel sits right on Lake Victoria’s shores, affording lovely views of the water. There’s a large pool, a pool bar and plenty of sun loungers to go around. Inside the main building, the large lobby provides a cool and spacious escape from the sun. There’s also an adjacent gift shop, which does a good line in stylish and unusual souvenirs – I really liked the colorful wax print handbags.

The soundproofed rooms are spread out over two floors, with plenty of space between the doors. I stayed in a standard double room, which came with its own private balcony and a view out over the pool, terrace and Lake Victoria. All rooms have new and reliable air-conditioning units, as well as flatscreen televisions and soft lighting. The bathroom had a sleek, modern shower and a nice selection of miniature shampoos and shower gels. The bed was large and comfortable enough that I found it hard to leave the next morning.

The large restaurant offers an excellent breakfast buffet, and a similar deal for lunch – with a range of salads, cold quiches, hot options and great desserts. I tried the moussaka, which was served with a side salad, followed by a bowl of very good lemon sorbet. Staff are warm and welcoming, and the service here is very good indeed. Restaurant servers are accommodating, room service is speedy and everybody’s prepared to go the extra mile to make your stay a pleasant one.

And best of all, how many airport hotels have such pleasant views? Drifting off to sleep in a sleek, spacious room on the shores of Lake Victoria definitely beats most airport hotel experiences.