South Africa’s Road Lodge chain is designed in cookie-cutter style. If you’ve stayed in one before, you’ll get a distinct sense of déjà vu as you enter the lobby here – furnishings are clearly bought in bulk, the layout rarely varies, and even the vending machines seem to stock the same snacks in the same order. That said, there are subtle differences to be found, and as Road Lodges go, this is a good one.

Rooms are uniform – a TV with a half-dozen channels, a bathroom sporting a loo, basin and shower, a bed that is roomy for one but a squeeze for two, and just enough space to set up a laptop on the desk and slide a small suitcase alongside. The outdoor swimming pool is a nice addition if you have some time to kill.

Some branches of this chain feature dated, floral décor, but PE airport’s Road Lodge feels like it was revamped in the not-too-distant past. Staff are friendly and helpful, and if you’re passing through PE en route to somewhere else, you can’t beat the location – in less than five minutes you can walk from the bed you woke up in to the check-in desk at the city’s diminutive airport. Breakfast – an adequate buffet offering – is available at an extra cost, but evening meals are not served in-house. If you don’t fancy dining on chocolate and chips from the vending machines, there is the option of fast food from the airport, delivered right to your bedroom door.

The Road Lodge is not a place you’d pick to spend your holiday, but if you’re here on a quick business trip, or you just need a place to sleep before an early flight out, it offers excellent, no-frills value.