The Best of Cambodia & Laos

SWIMMING & FITNESS
Many top hotels have pools. If you wish to get wet in opulent surroundings, try the
Raffles Hotel Le Royal (p. 64). This beautiful place charges $20 weekdays and $30
weekends for nonguests to use the pool, sauna, and gym. The Villa Lanka (one of
Phnom Penh’s best midrange hotels; see p. 69) has a pool in gorgeous leafy surroundings
that is free of charge if you are eating or drinking. If you are not they charge $5 for adults
and $3 for children during the week. This goes up to $8 for adults and $5 for children
at the weekend. Parkway Health Club (113 Mao Tse Tung Blvd.; & 023/982-928) has
an indoor pool, sauna, and gym. Paddy’s Sports Center (635 National Rte. 5 near the
Japanese Bridge; & 012/217-877) charges an affordable $3 for the gym. They have
weights, treadmills, exercise bikes, and all the usual sweat-inducing contraptions.
GO-KARTING
You can find Kambol Go-Karting (National Rte. 4; & 012/232-332) just past the
airport. It can be great fun but carries the usual risks of the sport. If you go in rainy
season, you may well find yourself aquaplaning in a spin. They also have a fully equipped
bar and restaurant with a view from which you can watch your friends bashing into each
other gleefully.
GOLF
Given what a world-famous place nearby Thailand is for golf, engaging in the sport in
Cambodia on expensive and inferior courses makes little sense. If you can’t do without a
round, head to the Cambodia Golf and Country Club (National Rte. 4; & 023/363-
666). It costs $35 per round and club rental costs $10.
BOWLING
The Superbowl at Parkway Square (Parkway Sq., Mao Tse Tung Blvd.) is the only bowling
alley in town. Bowling is something of a chic activity among young Khmers. It costs
$9 per hour per lane, and $1 to rent shoes.
MASSAGE, SAUNAS & SPAS
There are massage places all over Phnom Penh, and all the bigger hotels have massage,
spa, and sauna facilities.
Amret Spa This international boutique spa is located in Boeung Keng Kang 1 district.
They offer massage, aromatherapy, body scrubs, wraps, facials, treatments, and
Jacuzzi tubs. Daily 9am–9pm. No. 3 St. 57. & 023/997-994.
Blue 7 Massage Offering a full range of massage services including foot and full
body massage in clean air-conditioned rooms. Powder and oil massage are both available.
Daily 9am–9pm. No. 10 St. 278. & 011/955-567. www.blue7massage.com.
La Cigale Bleue This traditional Khmer massage shop has three branches. They offer
oil, powder, body, foot, and four-hand massage. The facilities are air-conditioned. Call-in
hotel service. Daily 24 hr. No. 22 St. 94; & 016/789-618. No. 43A5 St. 86 (Boeung Kak Lake);
& 016/789-618. No. 33 St. 294 (in Boeung Keng Kang); & 016/789-618.
Sawasdee Massage The Sawasdee offers a wide selection of massage styles and types
including Thai, French, Japanese, Khmer, Hong Kong, oil, powder, body, foot massage
(reflexology,) health massages, and aromatherapy. They also have wraps, scrubs, Jacuzzi,
manicure, pedicure, and facials. Daily 9am–11pm. No. 6B St. 57; & 023/996-670.
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PHNOM PENH 5
PHNOM PENH ATTRACTIONS