Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
week or more, or if you arrive during the week, even during the peak season. Pretty much all accommodation now offers
free wi-fi and most can make bus and tour bookings.
5
furnishings. So
me
ha
ve a/
c and hot water. There's also a
restaurant. Fan
$8
; a/c
$15
THE BEACHES
Many people arriving in Sihanoukville head straight to
Ochheuteal and Serendipity beaches. This is where you'll
find the best range of budget and mid-range
accommodation, with easy access to the bars, shops and
restaurants along Serendipity Beach Rd. Just north of
Ochheuteal and Serendipity, both Sokha Beach and
Independence Beach are immaculate, but have been
virtually requisitioned for the exclusive use of residents at
their respective namesake resorts. Otres Beach, south of
Ochheuteal, features a growing number of bungalow
resorts.
SERENDIPITY BEACH
★
Above Us Only Sky
T
089 822318,
W
aboveus
onlysky.net.
These cute bungalows are a firm favourite
for their spectacular, uninterrupted sea views and the
excellent sunset cocktail bar that sits at their base (see
p.256). Booking is essential to ensure one of the four
tastefully decorated a/c cabins, each with its own
veranda
. Pr
ices vary dramatically depending on the
season.
$50
Cloud 9
T
098 215166,
W
cloud9bungalows.com.
At the furthest reaches of Serendipity, these seven wooden
fan-cooled bungalows - some with stunning sea views -
sit dotted among the trees behind a beachfront restaurant-
bar (7am-10pm
), jus
tifiably famed for its delectable Thai
green curry ($6).
$45
SERENDIPITY BEACH ROAD
Beach Road Hotel
T
017 827677,
W
beachroad-hotel
.com.
Despite its proximity to the wildest bars, and
particularly its own popular sports bar out front, the a/c
rooms and pool area are impressively quiet
an
d refined.
Non-residents can lounge by the pool for $5.
$24
★
Coolabah Hotel
14 Mithona St
T
017 678218,
W
coolabah-hotel.com.
A range of stylish a/c rooms with
good mattresses and blackout curtains, the more expensive
with nice tiled terraces. There's also a pool with spa jets,
mouthwatering food (their
Sun
day roasts are renowned;
$6) and impeccable service.
$41
MoHaChai
T
034 933586,
W
mohachai.com.
Options
range from budget fan rooms from $5 in the low season, to
more comfortable a/c rooms with private terraces and TVs,
all with private bathrooms. Rooms are well presented and
the guesthouse prid
es
itself
on
its affordable restaurant
and top security. Fan
$6
; a/c
$20
★
OCHHEUTEAL BEACH
Cambodian Resort
Polowai St
T
034 934657,
W
cambodianresort.com.
A popular, clean and friendly
option, 200m from the beach. Each smart, well-appointed
a/c room looks out over the
lav
ish pool and bar area.
Service is taken very seriously.
$66
Makara Bungalows
1 Kanda St
T
034 933449,
W
makarabungalows.com.
At the more peaceful,
southern end of the beach, these clean, well-furnished a/c
bungalows are always busy. There's a swimming pool,
restaur
ant
and all tourist services, including motorbike
rental.
$30
Orchidee
23 Tola St
T
034 933639,
W
orchidee
-guesthouse.com.
Colourful orchids hang everywhere in
the shady courtyard of this deceptively large hotel. Rooms
are light and airy, with TV and a/c; bathrooms have hot
wate
r. The
re's a swimming pool, plus a quiet balcony sitting
area.
$20
Monkey Republic
T
012 490290,
W
monkeyrepublic.info.
The latest incarnation of this
popular backpackers' - a fire burned the building to the
ground (and those of its neighbours) in March 2013 - is a
slick enterprise with a range of sparkling en-suite fan
rooms (for up to four), plus newer a/c rooms with hot
water, and an inviting pub-style re
stau
rant with well-
stocked bar. No advance bookings. Fan
$8
Reef Resort
T
034 934281 or
T
012 315338,
W
reefresort.com.kh.
This classy boutique hotel right in
the thick of the action has fashionable a/c rooms, with
plenty of white linen and rattan furniture, set in blocks
around the swimming pool. The restaurant serves classic
American dishes, and there's a cocktail bar and pool table.
Rates dro
p by
up to a third in the low season. Breakfast
included.
$40
Rega Hibiscus Garden Bungalows
T
012 219505,
W
rega-guesthouse.com.
Just 30m from the beach,
rooms here, set around lovely, secluded gardens, are simple
but attractive, in muted shades with some period
INDEPENDENCE AND SOKHA BEACHES
Chez Claude
2 Thnou Beach Rd, on the hill between
Independence and Sokha beaches
T
034 900105,
W
claudecambodge.com.
En-suite accommodation in
individually designed wooden bungalows on an extremely
steep hill in an out-of-the-way location overlooking Sokha
Beach, with private balconies looking out to sea. The hotel
also
has
a Fr
ench
restaurant, and can arrange diving trips.
Fan
$30
; a/c
$40
Independence
Independence Beach
T
034 934300,
W
independencehotel.net.
Sympathetically restored to
its former glory, this impressive hotel towers above the
north end of Independence Beach. Known locally as
