StayEasy Century City is an easy place to stay

In the peak of Cape Town's summer tourist season, Brian Berkman easily finds affordable accommodation.

Finding a genius design feature in a budget hotel is an unexpected benefit of lodging at StayEasy Century City in the Western Cape. The other benefit, aside from the competitive price, is that there is almost direct walking access to Canal Walk shopping and entertainment mall while your car remains parked safely at the hotel and without incurring parking charges.

Marketed as a budget property, people will select StayEasy, a Southern Sun hotel brand, primarily because of the reduced price. The no-frills reality includes not having a fridge in the room and quite limited cupboard space.

In-room amenities include a kettle, two mugs, instant coffee sachets and tea bags. The reception staff generously supplement the sachets available in the room.

Wi-fi is good and free. Some of the 175 rooms can accommodate up to three people, with the third on a sleeper couch, but most rooms have a double bed or two single-bed configurations.

The genius design feature is one bathroom door that can either close and lock the entire bathroom, or only close and lock the toilet cubicle allowing another to use the shower and basin while the toilet is occupied. Far too many hotels and, disappointedly often, even those at the higher end of the cost spectrum seem to ignore the need for bathroom privacy in favour of open-plan layouts.

ADEQUATE

Rooms are small but adequate. Airconditioning is available but the units are of the older generation that are much noisier than the modern ones.