4-Star Luxury Hotel for the Backpacker Price of $40/night!
The first thing you notice about Sokha Palace Siem Reap Hotel is just how pretty it is! The architect, painters, decorators and maintenance staff did a fabulous job (see my photos). The second thing you notice is how delicious the huge buffet is – including free espresso drinks. Third, you notice that the rooms are not only nice but that everything works well (aircon, hot water showers, refrigerator, wifi, and cable TV with news channels from a half dozen countries like CNN). Fourth, it is in a quiet location less than 15 minutes from Angkor Wat, and only a $2 tuktuk ride to Pub Street or anywhere else in Siem Reap.
But then you notice the best part: the outstanding hotel staff. For example, the Front Desk Manager Phyrun personally helped me when I could not make my room keycard work, and even brought me a bucket of ice. Originally I booked five nights during Chinese New Year with Trip.com discounts for $39/night, but he gave me a free upgrade from a garden view double with king bed to a pool view room. I liked it so much I wanted to extend, but the best I could find online was $41/night garden view, $51 for pool view. I asked Phyrun if I could get the upgrade again if I bought the $41 online, and he said no – but he smiled and said he would give it to me for $40/night the Khmer rate instead (normally $50 for barangs like me)!
The restaurant had other examples of great staff. Some days the restaurant is overflowing with several hundred guests, other days only a few dozen. Yet they maintain the quality and personal touch from the egg and soup station, to the bountiful buffet, to the waiters and waitresses that clear the tables. The Restaurant Manager Somedy and his Assistant Manager Chhaiya keep it all flowing smoothly. Even on the busiest day, waitress Chanthla took the time to show my Khmer friend’s elderly stepmom the way they fold the napkins. Today the espresso machine was not working for a while, so Chhaiya offered to have a waiter drive over to the sister hotel to bring me lattes. I repeatedly declined, but was very impressed by the excellent customer service attitude.
So the real beauty of this French chateau style hotel is its employees, including very efficient housekeeping and grounds staff. I checked out the “5-Star” Sokha Resort on the other side of its convention center, but did not like it half as much (especially for 70% more per night). Normally I would be afraid to write a review of a hotel that I like so much, but with 456 rooms I don’t have to worry about it being full. Do yourself a favor and stay here when in Siem Reap.
SSolo Male - Long Term Travel期望/現實:房間和照片都很近,你會得到你期望的差不多。牀是泡沫頂,還不錯。
安全性:一般安全。沒有保險箱,鑰匙附着在手鍊上,但位置和空間感覺安全。
衛生:總體不錯。可能要新鮮毛巾,但空間本身乾淨。
好客:相當好,每個人都會說英語,而且相當有能力。
社交氛圍:警告這是一家聚會旅館。音樂將播放到午夜,所以如果你想早點睡覺,你需要非常好的耳塞。有很多活動,有很多人可以社交,通常都是在21-22歲左右,但有年長和年輕的,一般是很好的人羣。組織活動的志願者們只是 OK 和做他們的工作,不是最熱心或熱情的,而是相當好的。
總體:包間性價比不錯。位置好看旅遊景點。注意不要通過旅舍預訂交通。看起來方便,但不是很好的體驗。你被一輛車接了起來,在鎮外下車,在路邊等着,沒有人說英語,擠進一輛裝有壞空調的貨車裏,沒有人說英語,貨車落後了大約一個小時,什麼時候到達金邊,這是一個躲躲閃閃的經歷,獨自進入另一輛麪包車,被送到下一個旅舍。這是一個不舒服的冒險,但我確實到達了安全,但如果我再次這樣做,我會通過一個更直接的責任提供商預訂運輸。