Road Lodge Gqeberha

My room had a strong cigarette smell, and the hallways were noisy, with both guests and staff running through them. The key cards also often failed because of problems with the door locks. There were no basics like shampoo or hand wash, and reception told me those weren’t included. There’s no room phone to call reception or the restaurant, either. When I booked or paid at reception, staff wouldn’t give me a receipt or invoice right away, which left me concerned about transparency. For what it costs, the hotel falls well short of what I expected, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for comfort, professionalism, or transparency.

We spent nearly two weeks at Road Lodge Port Elizabeth with our family, from 25 December 2025 to 8 January 2026. We’d travelled a long way hoping for a comfortable, restful stay, but much of the time went into reporting problems that should not have been there. The beds were unstable and uncomfortable, the kettles and pillows smelled unpleasant, and the air-conditioning in the rooms didn’t work. TVs and remotes had issues too, and our key cards often wouldn’t open the rooms. Breakfast was hit and miss, with the filter coffee machine often broken or out of beans. Staff were polite and apologetic, but nothing seemed to follow those apologies. Each time we raised an issue, we were told it would be looked into, then got no update or fix. After a while, it made us feel like a nuisance instead of paying guests. Each problem might sound small on its own, but together over a long, costly stay they point to poor maintenance and management oversight. I’m not writing this to get free meals or compensation. We weren’t taken seriously, and guests deserve to know what to expect. The experience has left us questioning the service standards and the property’s commitment to guest satisfaction.

I’m disappointed and feel like checking out right now. The pap I ordered was awful. When I asked to buy a side plate of chips, the guy the waitress called the manager flatly refused to sell me fries and told me to go buy some at the garage next door instead. What kind of service is that? I expected better.

The location works perfectly for me. I can leave my car in a safe parking spot and walk straight to the boardwalk next door. I love it, though the bathrooms are a bit tight.