Ramada by Wyndham Cobham

Ramada by Wyndham Cobham is a practical overnight stop with a dog rather than a destination in itself. It sits at the motorway services outside Cobham in Surrey, so it suits a long drive that needs breaking up, an early flight, or a night near the M25 where you would rather not leave the dog at home. The hotel takes up to two pets per room, and some guests with dogs have been coming back for years.

The pet fee is the thing to plan around. It is £20 per pet, per stay, and guests travelling with dogs say they were not told the amount before arriving, which left one feeling short-changed for what is a plain room with nothing laid on for the dog. Budget for it and you will not be caught out. There is also a sanitation charge if the room needs extra cleaning afterwards, and a longer stay with a pet can cost more, so it is worth a call to the hotel before booking anything beyond a night or two.

Inside, it is a straightforward three-star motorway hotel. Guests generally find the rooms clean and the beds comfortable, the staff friendly, breakfast better than expected, and parking free, which matters when you are unloading a dog and its kit. The corridors are a little worn in places, and some rooms are on the small side.

For walks, the services have food outlets on the doorstep and a green area behind the hotel that guests like. One owner found their room was the furthest from reception, which made the first stroll of the morning a longer trek than they wanted, so ask for a room near the entrance when you check in.

It suits drivers and airport travellers who want a cheap, easy night with their dog close to the motorway. If you want a hotel that makes a fuss of dogs, look elsewhere.