The Best of Cambodia & Laos

No. 227 St. 19. & 023/222-280. www.thepavilion.asia. 20 units. $40–$75 double; $85 suite or pool
rooms. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar, Wi-Fi.
Royal Inn Hotel This is a tasteful option decorated in a muted colonial Indochina
style with plenty of dark wood and silk. The rooms have picture windows and large
balconies, and are well designed in terms of light and space. They are equipped with a
television and minibar, as well as an elegant writing desk. The stylish en suite bathroom
offers hot water shower and bathtub. The floors are gleaming polished wood. There is a
pleasant rooftop terrace ideal for breakfast or to watch the sunset. There is also Wi-Fi
throughout.
No. 128D8 Sothearos Blvd. & 023/214-824. Fax 023/214-972. www.royal-inn.net. 30 units. $28 standard
double; $38 superior double; $48 deluxe double; $66 junior suite; $70 executive suite. MC, V. Amenities:
Restaurant; bar; Internet; room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar.
Inexpensive
The Billabong This hotel attracts a laid-back group of travelers who want something
a little more luxe than the basic $15 backpacker deal. Everything is done in navy
blue and white and feels a bit like an old-fashioned cabana or low-key country club.
Rooms are basic, with navy sheets and red silk bed throws. Bathrooms do not have a
separate shower unit, but they are clean and tidy. Staff is ultra-friendly here and the
outdoor pool is an excellent little oasis after a day of touring the city. Spring for a room
with a poolside view—it’s worth the extra $3.
No. 5 St. 158. & 023/223-703. Fax 023/998-472. www.thebillabonghotel.com. 10 units. $36–$39 double;
$58 superior; $62 deluxe. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; Internet. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar.
Cyclo Hotel This spacious and friendly place near Psar Thmei has been conceived
with some thought to the building it is in. It is a ’60s-style house and indeed a
’60s-style concept in its spare but tasteful decor. Nothing is fancy or labored, and the
overall feel is one of space and light. It is firmly aimed at the lower end of the midrange
market, but with style and imagination. The rooms are large and the deluxe rooms have
excellent balconies from which you may view the vivid streets below. Jean-Pierre, the
owner, is provincial French and the place has the homey feel of a French country home.
The bar/restaurant next to reception is beautifully decorated with ocher tiles and dark
wood. With a very Provençal feel, it’s a good place to enjoy a glass of pastis. They do not
accept credit card payment as yet.
No. 50E St. 172. & 023/992-128. 10 units. $25 double; $35 deluxe double. Amenities: Restaurant; bar;
Internet. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar.
Golden Mekong Hotel This newly opened hotel at the back of the Royal Palace is
modest, tasteful, and well situated. The building is an old French town house and has
been converted with care. The rooms are plain in a pleasingly uncluttered fashion, but
what there is in the way of furnishing is well thought out. Being an old building, the
rooms are slightly dark. There is a small terrace at the front of the hotel although it is
hardly relaxing since one simply becomes witness to the ever-increasing madness of
Phnom Penh traffic.
No. 205A St. 19. & 023/211-721. www.goldenmekonghotel.com. 12 units. $17 double; $20 double
deluxe. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; Internet. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar.
The Last Home Guesthouse This long-running budget guesthouse is very much a
family affair. It is basic but clean, and the TV has all the channels you might need. The
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WHERE TO STAY