Overview
For a country of its size, Cambodia has a surprisingly good range of accommodation — from super cheap backpacker fare to six star style — and there’s something for most budgets in all the major tourist centres. Outside of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the beach areas of Sihanoukville and Kep, the range drops off considerably and in the minor provinces smaller hotels aimed at local (mostly business-orientated) travellers make up the bulk of the lodgings.
What should you expect for your money in Cambodia?
Cambodia’s two most popular destinations, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have some outstanding luxury hotels along with a fine selection of budget and mid range options. The top quality hotels are on par with any international hotel, but at the budget end, quality varies tremendously and spending a few dollars more can reap big dividends in the comfort stakes.
As a general rule, using Phnom Penh as an example, this is what budget travellers should expect for their money:
Under US$2: Gets you a grotty little room, perhaps with a fan if you’re lucky. The sheets, if there are any, will only be changed when you leave. Expect thin walls and dreary drapes and plan on spending as much time as possible outside. Shared cold water bathroom facilities are the norm.
US$2-$5: The higher end of this range may include a pokey little bathroom — more likely to have smelly piping than hot water. The room will be big enough for a clean bed with sheets and a couple of bags. It may have either a large ceiling fan or a small desktop one.
US$5-$10: Gets you a reasonable fan or basic air-con room. Your bed will have a clean mattress and sheets. Generally larger than the lower price range, these rooms often have a desk and chair. You might even get something slightly tasteful. Your own bathroom may have hot water.
US$10-$20: More comfortable with air-con, a comfortable bed and a clean, well-equipped bathroom. The room should be spacious and may have a few extras such as a bar fridge and cable TV. May be cleaned daily.
US$20+: The beginning of mid-range small hotels and guesthouses. As the price rises from here, expect more extras, such as TV with full cable, DVD player, balcony, breakfast and so on.
Do I need to make a reservation in advance?
For budget guesthouses, unless you have your heart set on a specific guesthouse, you don’t really need to make reservations in advance — especially if you don’t mind spending a bit of time looking around for a room. In the mid to upper range of resorts and hotels however, a reservation can be a good idea — particularly in Siem Reap, where the good places are often full, leaving a mass of generic charmless mid-range hotels. Outside of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, few places are geared up for taking reservations from non-Khmer speakers.
Active Travel Magazine reviews
Guesthouse and hotel reviews on Active Travel Magazine are independent and are written by our researchers who have visited, in person, every property we list. Unlike many travel websites, we do not allow the hotel or guesthouse to write the review and unlike some travel guide publishers, we do not accept any kind of discount, payment or other freebie in return for coverage — positive or negative. The links below lead directly to the accommodation section for some of the more popular destinations in Cambodia.
Recommend Cambodia hotel websites
– Battambang
– Kep & Knai Bang Chat hotel
– Kompong Thom & Kompong Cham hotel
– Phnom Penh Hotels- Ratanakiri hotel
– Siem Reap Hotels
– Sihanoukville Hotels
