Cambodia

[rikkitikki]

Not specifically about Phnom Penh but about the beach and island areas on the coast like Sihanoukville and others. How are they and the quality/safety? Any recommendations? Thanks. Pete

I must take a trip out to Sihanoukville 3 to 4 times per year to get out of the city. It's an easy drive from Phnom Penh, about 4.5 hours and never any police on the road. It is important to get out early and beat the traffic on the outbound trip. Once there there are a three main beach areas:

1. High End - Sokha Beach Resort - immaculate beaches, big swimming pools, great service but you must pay for it, about 140 / night. This beach is kept free of all "local sales people"

2. Middle of the road - There are some good little bugalow type mini resorts with AC. They are more remotely located and the beaches are generally not groomed. There are some sales people who will offer you weaving's, beach massage, etc but it will not be oppressive. Expect to spend 50-70$ a night.

3. Low end - non-aircon bungalows/shacks located on just about every beach in Sihanoukville, in the winter it is ok but way too hot in the summer in my opinion, about 15-25$ per night.

I have never felt unsafe in Sihanoukville and I often take the family to the main beach in the evening for sea side grilled barracuda and prawns at the small restaurants. A must do!

I have heard great things about

Star Island Resort and Queens Hill Resort (Middle of the road) but I have not stayed there personally.

If you don't mind a short walk to the happening beach then I can recommend Reef Resort for nice air con rooms and they have a great Mexican Restaurant.

If you are staying at the Sokha Resort you will not feel like you are even in Cambodia.

[PeteC]

Thanks, that is of interest to me as I'm in Rayong, not HH, and there may be a few more folks up-country who may have a need/desire to come over from time to time. I went to Poipet one Sunday and I can't say I'm looking forward to any future return to that particular town. Pete

[sandman67]

man the place must have changed so much since I was there in 99/00. It was a very very sleepy backwater with a bare handful of tourists and a tiny mostly French ex-pat community when I was there. It also had the only really good road in the whole country then as well.

Is it safe to take the train there now? Wasnt back then...a pocket of KR holdouts used to take pot shots at the passing carriages

[rikkitikki]

Yea, I don't know a single person who has utilized the train. Buses are the preferred mode of transit on the cheap ~ 7$ each way to the beach I believe. Last time I drove to Siem Reap I went to one of the off the beaten track temples, made a wrong turn somewhere and wound up driving down a rutted dirt road. I got turned around by some tooth deficient characters with AK's and ratty military type uniforms, so there I still certainly some shady areas around.

[PeteC]

You appear to be a golf lover RT, are there any courses around Phnom Phen, or anywhere in the country? Pete

[rikkitikki]

There is a great championship course in Siem Reap!

Near Phnom Penh we have of course Northbridge but it is private so we must drive about 40 minutes out of the city to two courses :

Cambodia Country Club and the Royal Course

Fees are:
Sat and Sun $45 walking $5-10 tip to the caddy
Weekdays only $35
Twilight 9 holes $25

These courses are not even close to the quality of the courses around HH, at least from the photos I have seen. Fairways are scarred and sandy, greens are hard as rocks and quite irregular but hey, it's 1000% better than my last post in Kuwait where you traipse around the desert with a chunk of turf to hit off of.