Asia - Has anyone been to Sihanoukville, Cambodia?

Thinking of heading this way in the fall. Looking for people's experience, impressions.

thanks in advance

Why yes, I have. Here's a puff piece I wrote about it for JetStar's inflight magazine last year, so take it with a grain of salt:

Sihanoukville: The Rebirth of a Dream (http://extra.wikitravel.org/blog/jani/sihanoukville_rebirth_dream)

And here's Wikitravel's guide to Sihanoukville (http://wikitravel.org/en/Sihanoukville).

All in all, it's a laid back beach resort that's currently booming fast. The airport's now open and fielding a couple of flights per week from Siem Reap, so if you're in Cambodia it's a worthwhile detour -- but overall, in terms of value for money or variety in terms of activities, most of Thailand's beaches still beat it hands down.

I was there for a day and a night in transit from PP to Thailand through the Koh Kong area border crossing, arriving by sardine class share taxi and leaving by the classic, great 4 hour boat ride north along the coast.

I stayed at the Apsara guest house a block or so up from Serendipity beach for US$12 (recommended, Western toilet). Ate dinner at the forgettable Sea Dragon inland branch and breakfast, not included in my room rate, at the better Sea Dragon branch on the beach.

It was a Cambodia holiday weekend so lots of PP folks were around. It was the typical 3rd world beach experience, though the water didn't seem as if it was too polluted or sporting raw sewage outlets right in the beach area. (I went swimming and would again.) It's worth a night or two.

Where else will you be traveling?

I've been to Sihanoukville several times over the last five years or so.

It's OK, though I agree with jpatokal that Thailand's beaches are often nicer (depending on the beach, of course). Some of the beaches in Sihanoukville proper are pretty crowded and the victim of unregulated development -- Occheuteal, especially towards the northern / Serendipity end, is like this.

The Sokha hotel is supposed to have a nice beach (they restrict access) and to be a nice hotel (albeit somewhat bland / generic), though is expensive (and may not be great value for money) -- but I haven't been so I can't comment from personal experience.

That said, I've heard that access to the islands offshore is increasingly easy, and that many of those islands are great. Also, if you're willing to go a little off the beaten track, there are nice beaches if you head further south from Occheuteal, and also further south still at the sea entrance to Ream National Park.

All in all though, for seaside holidays in Cambodia, I prefer Kep (http://www.canbypublications.com/sihnoukville/kepintro.htm).

- Michael

The Sokha hotel is supposed to have a nice beach (they restrict access) and to be a nice hotel (albeit somewhat bland / generic), though is expensive (and may not be great value for money) -- but I haven't been so I can't comment from personal experience.
I stayed at Sokha (comped). It's a very, very generic beach resort hotel -- most facilities are perfectly OK, but it has no character whatsoever (you could be anywhere) and everything is wildly overpriced by Cambodian standards. The beach, though, is easily the nicest in Snooky.

I'd opt for the Independence "Boutique Resort and Spa" (ex-Hotel) instead, which if Asiarooms.com is to be believed (http://www.asiarooms.com/cambodia/sihanoukville/the_independence.html) is opening on June 8th. 　No idea about quality (the site only gives it three stars), but at least it's got some history behind it, and prices are half of what Sokha's charging.

I'd opt for the Independence "Boutique Resort and Spa" (ex-Hotel) instead, which if Asiarooms.com is to be believed (http://www.asiarooms.com/cambodia/sihanoukville/the_independence.html) is opening on June 8th. 　No idea about quality (the site only gives it three stars), but at least it's got some history behind it, and prices are half of what Sokha's charging.

I'd heard that the renovated Independence, on 7-chann beach, was due to open soon, though I'll believe the June 8th date when I've read or heard solid information that confirms it. Everything in Cambodia takes longer than planned, and opening targets are often missed...

But I'll keep an eye/ear out...that might be a good way to spend the upcoming long weekend.

- Michael

PS For an upscale place to stay in Kep, some friends just came back from http://www.Knai Bang Chatt (http://www.knaibangchatt.com/). They said it was wonderful.

I stayed at Sokha (comped). It's a very, very generic beach resort hotel -- most facilities are perfectly OK, but it has no character whatsoever (you could be anywhere) and everything is wildly overpriced by Cambodian standards. The beach, though, is easily the nicest in Snooky.


I stayed at Sokha Beach Resort in May and agree with the two previous postings. It is indeed very generic, overpriced and can be anywhere. Accommodations were mediocre and lack value.

Sihanoukville is only worth visiting if you need to decompress on the beach for a few days after traveling through the more interesting areas of Cambodia. The town itself has little in the way of attractions.

Great info so far. Thinking of making it a stop on my way from southern Thailand to Laos in Sept/Oct. Info from you FTer is more valuable that I'd find on the other forums. Much apreciated.

That Independence Hotel was something to see back in '97, when I did a daytrip from Phnom Penh. People were still stepping on old landmines in the area with some frequency back then. With the hotel, you could walk around and see one of the old ballrooms, the front desk, etc. With some imagination you could envision a nice place catering to French elite for only a very short time before getting shut down by war. It's a prime enough site that redevelopment is inevitable, but it was a memorable experience back then.

Looks like I will be there for a week or so in November.

It'd be great to meet up with other FTers while I'm there.

Did anyone here stay at the Independence yet? I'm debating between that and Sokha Beach resort for a few nights in October.

Another question, would it be feasible to make a late morning flight of Phnom Penh by going up via taxi in the early morning or should we plan on spending the final night before our departure in PP?

Another question, would it be feasible to make a late morning flight of Phnom Penh by going up via taxi in the early morning or should we plan on spending the final night before our departure in PP?

It's about a 4 or 4 1/2 hour drive. So, if you leave very early (say, 4:00 or 5:00 am) and you don't have any car problems or run into severe traffic jams (due to accidents, etc.), then you should be fine. If you want to be 100% safe though, I'd plan on heading up the afternoon before your flight.

- Michael