Hotels in Phnom Penh

There is a huge choice of accommodations in Phnom Penh, ranging from old, upscale gems to budget minihotels, to even a few small boutique properties. Although the choice is large, so is the disparity in quality within the same price range. While there are hotels and guesthouses scattered all over the city, the main concentrations are in the streets around the riverfront stretching from the Cambodiana to the boat pier for Siem Reap. The crisscross of streets stretching between here and Monivong Boulevard is home to dozens and dozens of places of varying prices and quality. Those on or near the river tend to be more expensive with the area around 178 Street and the Royal Palace forming the fashionable epicenter. The problem with this area is that although it is very central, it also suffers from the increasing insanity of traffic on the streets of Phnom Penh. It is unbelievably hectic as soon as you step out of your hotel. Boeung Keng Kang, the area south of Sihanouk Boulevard, with 51 Street as its central thoroughfare, offers a vastly more relaxed environment if you find your nerves jangling uncontrollably around the center of the city. You will find a whole slew of restaurants and midmarket hotels set in quieter surroundings than farther uptown. Increasingly there are boutique offerings springing up in this area, adding to the many midrange options. Whichever district you choose to explore, it pays to look around. Always ask about seasonal rates.