The best accommodations Cambodia

Budget & Tips

Cambodia offers a wide choice of accommodation to suit all budgets. Prices are generally lower in the countryside than in the city. A bed in a dormitory in Phnom Penh will cost you around $5. For $12-$15, you'll get a private room with fan; expect to pay from $18-$20 for air-conditioning. For a 3-star hotel, room rates range from around $30 to $75. In the major cities, the range of boutique and luxury hotels has expanded, and spending several hundred dollars for a night is quite possible. Except in the countryside, most hotels now accept payment by international credit card.

Hotels

There's something to suit every taste and budget. Luxury and comfortable hotels are located in the main tourist areas: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang. And you'll find small, inexpensive hotels and guesthouses everywhere in the provinces. Comfort and cleanliness vary greatly from one establishment to another. Always visit the rooms first. If you're staying for several days, try to negotiate the price. It's important to know that prices can be negotiated, especially outside the high season, at much lower rates than those offered by the big Internet reservation centers.

- An air-conditioned room with a decent bathroom, comfortable furnishings, cable TV and minibar costs between $15 and $50, depending on the city, location and standard of the hotel.

- From $75 to $500 and more, very good comfort is guaranteed: swimming pool, fitness room, massage or sauna at home, satellite TV, wifi, air-conditioned minibus transfers, etc.

Guesthouses

A bed in a basic dormitory costs between $3 and $5. A ventilated room with shower costs between $5 and $8.

A ventilated room with toilet costs between $10 and $12. The same air-conditioned room costs between $15 and $20, minimum.

Youth hostels

There are very few youth hostels in Cambodia, less than a dozen or so. This is understandable, given the prices offered by guesthouses and hotels.

Camping

Inexpensive hotel accommodation is sufficient to satisfy tourist demand, and campsites are virtually non-existent. There are some near Sihanoukville, on the islands in the nearby bay. What's more, the weather conditions - heat and heavy rain - are not conducive to this type of accommodation. Not to mention mosquitoes, snakes, scorpions..

Agritourism - rural tourism

Rural tourism is still relatively underdeveloped in Cambodia. Only a few travel agencies specializing in ecotourism offer it. The lack of infrastructure and the language barrier are the two factors most penalizing a real boom.

To be booked

In the very high season (November-March), it's advisable to book well in advance, especially in very touristy places like Siem Reap or Phnom Penh.

What's very local

Hotels are not Cambodia's strong point, unless you're willing to pay the price. Before settling into any hotel (even a top-of-the-range one), we always advise you to visit several rooms if possible. Some have indeed suffered from damp and show signs of mould or deterioration. Renovations are only carried out in international luxury establishments.

For food lovers

Most hotels offer breakfast included in the room rate. They try to adapt to international tastes, and most of the time you'll find rather uninventive buffets... If you are offered the option, which is sometimes the case in guesthouses more than in mid-range hotels, try the local option - it's often better cooked than scrambled egg and bacon!

Smokers

Non-smoking is the rule, but smoking areas are easy to find. In general, all you have to do is step outside, either in front of the hotel or on the terrace. Some larger accommodations have smoking rooms, but you need to ask well in advance.

Tourist traps

Cambodia is a fairly safe country, but beware. There are plenty of bogus guides and touts offering their services, especially around tourist sites. Kindly but firmly refuse any unsolicited service.