Hotels in Phnom Penh
Weather, the best time to travel:
The lively, bustling city of Phnom Penh, once known as the ‘Pearl of Asia, is the capital of Cambodia. The lovely city is located at the confluence of the three rivers, Mekong, Bassac, and the Tonle Sap. The city has come a long way from its horrific past of the late 1970s and is now a thriving city. However, the influx is tourists itself, is in a large part due to its having a terrifying past, as well as because of its ancient architectural wonders like the impressive Royal Palace, museums, temples, and other structures.
Phnom Penh is located in the south of the country and is well served by the three rivers. It has an area of around 360 sq km and a huge population of around 17 million. It is covered by large tracts of rice fields and other vegetation plantations. The city has a warm and humid tropical climate. Tourists can visit the city at any time of the year, but the best time to visit is between November and April when there is very little rain.
Airport/nearby airport:
The Phnom Penh International Airport, PNH, the largest in the country, is located in the Pou Senchey area 10 km to the west of the city. This is the gateway for international travellers to the country.
A tourist has a few choices for getting to Phnom Penh from the airport. An airport taxi is the fastest mode and can take up to an hour or beyond to reach your hotel. Be prepared for some price haggling even though official prices are fixed. Private taxis charge more but are normally better ones. Tuk-Tuk is available at a far cheaper rate for getting to your hotel.
You can even take a moto, the back of a motorcycle, if you have very little luggage and at a far cheaper rate. However, the cheapest and the most convenient mode is the comfortable public transport bus which has been recently introduced.
Transportation:
Getting around Phnom Penh is mostly by the unique Tuk-Tuk, which is a covered three-wheeler. A few drivers can speak English which can be very helpful while moving around the city. An option for an independent mode of commute is to rent a motorcycle that is available on a daily, weekly, or even monthly rental basis.
Taxis are available for faster conveyance, and surprisingly, at times they might be cheaper than a Tuk-Tuk. Recently, the city has introduced public transport buses in a limited manner. These air-conditioned buses offer cheap and convenient travel.
How to get to Phnom Penh:
The Phnom Penh International Airport is connected to several destinations in China, Vietnam, Japan, Vietnam, Southeast Asian countries, and the Middle East, apart from within Cambodia itself. Jetstar Asia, Singapore Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Vietnamese Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Philipinnes airlines, All Nippon, and several Chinese airlines operate from this airport.
Jetstar Asia is the major carrier from Singapore and the fare might be exorbitantly high for a flight at short notice due to very limited availability of flights. For a flight beyond 45 days, the fares might see a dramatic fall to around SGD 100 at the lowest for a direct flight with Jetstar Asia which takes around 2 hours 15 minutes. There normally are about 8 direct flights from Singapore to Phnom Penh every day.
Hotel info, prices for different hotel range:
Hotels in Phnom Penh are relatively cheaper compared to other major tourist destinations in the world. The super luxurious 5-star hotels in the city are priced at around SGD 275 per night. Some of your choices are Rosewood Phnom Penh, Mona la Residence, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, and Sofitel Phokeerthra.
The luxury 4-star hotels like Pasteur 51 Hotel and Residence, Palace Gate Hotel and Residence, Naki Suites, and Pavillion offer rooms at an average price of SGD 100 per night.
Several affordable 3-star and 2-star category Phnom Penh hotels are available for those on a tighter budget. They provide a friendly, high-quality service, a convenient, and safe stay. These cheap hotels in Phnom Penh are available at a price starting from a low SGD 35 per night.
Phnom Penh Tourist Information:
Top Tourist Attractions in Phnom Penh:
We list out three out of the dozens of the most exciting and popular Phnom Penh attractions for your bucket list.
1. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
This is one of the top things to do in Phnom Penh. Some portions of this awesome royal palace are open to the public. The palace grounds house the Silver Pagoda and its magnificent silvery floor. This palace landmark dominates the skyline of the city and is still home to the royal family.
2. Cambodia National Museum
This is the largest museum in the country with more than 5000 artefacts, some dating back to the ancient Angkorian era. It represents collections related to the Hindu and Buddhist cultural and religious traditions and very informative. The compound has an attractive garden and a beautiful terracotta pavilion.
3. Choeung Ek Genocide Center
So much has been heard about the mass genocide indulged in by the pol pot regime that a visit to this centre can bring the reality of these horrors close to us. This is a memorial to the victims of the infamous killing fields and other areas. Beware that the sight of the around 5000 skulls from the actual killing fields in a glass case might horrify the faint-hearted.
Top Food Places in Phnom Penh:
1. The Russian Market is a great place for the ever-curious foodies. A food court is located in the centre of the market where you can get all kinds of delicious food. You can relish noodles, soups, Khmer Coffee, salads, and rice dishes in this area.
2 Orussey Market and Central markets are also places where you can find gastronomic delights with a great variety of recipes on offer. They contain food-courts that dish out a variety of delicacies to the thronging crowd of customers.
3 Street food in the city is available in plenty and is a favourite among tourists and locals alike. Great food is available on the Streets 13, 123, and 360 where various Asian recipes are dished out to the eager visitors.
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