Doc67 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:10 pm Is there any decent beach resort in Cambodia that doesn't require going to the islands and faffing about with boats and dragging cases along a beach?

Sihanoukville should be thriving with the new road getting you there (in relative safety) within 3 hours, but nobody seems to have a good word to say about the place. Is it really that fucked up?

In fact, is there anywhere you can even fly to from PP that lands you at a beach resort? The PP to Koh Samui and Phuket routes didn't last long and doesn't bode well for other choices being offered in the near future.

Sunset lounge in otres it nice, clean and F&D not overpriced. Don't know about the accommodation though but I almost guarantee it's nice. The owners are German

And no one having a good word to say about it comes from people not coming here for the past 5 years.

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Depends on whether you are into abudctions, extortion and street executions of Chinese people - if so, just wear all black outfit, drive a black Lexus/Range Rover for the day & join in!
But I haven't been since the invasion, so can't be sure sorry

There's a fair few decent resorts along the otres strip now I think about it. I think most are Khmer owned classy places, I wouldn't know the price.

I'd avoid Kep if I was you.. been there maybe 10 times.. takes me 30 mins to get bored and leave. Fucking. Boring.

Kampot is ok for 3 days. Between the 2, it has to be be KPT. Especially with the kids. Can visit keps 'secret' beach on a day trip if you wanted

Be careful taking kids to the coast in rainy season..
A local just drowned saving his son out in water. Tragic since there was a storm warning and fishing boats were told to stay in.
I lived and visited many times all of your choices.
I wouldn't go to any of them with kids.
Weather permitting...I would go to Koh Rong...
But, I have no wife or kids to consider.
Kep can be accessed from Kampot..get a boat weather permitting.. Bokor is not a kid place.
Kampot is as boring as it gets.
Find a nice safe hotel with kid friendly activities in the hotel...Have fun... enjoy being with family....

Kangaruchi wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:43 pm You may want to check out Nataya Roundhouse Coral Bay Resort, Kampot, it would seem to tick the boxes.
I stayed there a couple of times just after it opened, It's about 15 minutes out of Kampot heading to Snk.
If anyone stayed more recently an update would be great

I stayed here long ago as part of a work function. The grounds and pool were nice but I personally don’t like when places that are secluded or more than a few minutes from some action.

I used to stay at Saravoan Kep so I could walk across the street to the beach, rooms were smaller but location was nice. I also stayed at Knai Bang Chatt for a work function, that’s a bit on the higher end for costs but very nice grounds and Sailing Club for a meal.

Tara Lodge in Kep is one of those up the hill, but it’s closer to the main street not all the way up like Kep Lodge. Nice pool and run actively by a woman (or maybe a couple) from France.

I’d check them out https://www.booking.com/Share-IZer3X

For restos Kampot provides an arguably wider range and better value than Phnom Penh. From a recent visit -

Pizza at Cioccolatini's - Italian guys with wood burning oven outside. Maybe a little thick around the edges but an acceptable approximation for Asia $7.50

The recommended Simon's Indian - butter chicken was only average but the naan was a bit puffier than we usually get, $7.75 with a beer

Pork goulasch mit spaetzle at Petraschnitzel $6.50, a little gloomy - many places are struggling - but the food was good and the wine drinkable

Max's Italian was a bit of a disappointment. Affettato Misto was generous but a handful of black olives and butter with the bread would have improved it $10; spaghetti all'Amatriciana $6.25 - 125g of pasta but I'd rather have had 80g of better quality (La Molisana now available here). Cooked well i.e. correctly but the sauce lacked balance and was slightly mawkish. And they have to get a better house red than the Nero d'Avola. The ambiance was a bit rough.

L'Auberge du Soleil - a good fish a la Meuniere for $7, Shepherd's Pie (for the kids ?) a sensibly priced cheese plate, decent wine, lovely waitress, rostis, good breakfasts - what's not to like (maybe the coffee) ?

It says something that there were plenty more options I didn't get the chance to try. Tertulia (new owners) used to be good. And that pulled noodle place on the riverside that I think has moved, Ecran or something.

Snooky

The beaches imo are a great improvement and very clean with the jet ski mafia fenced out. So many places to choose from as well. There is a 300m stretch beachside along Occhiteul that has full sized restaurants that were always there and still thrive with good food choices - even the squid and lobster ladies still about.

I stayed a couple of times at Sok Sabay in Otres Village that may suit the OP - the riverfront rooms are large with a double and 2 bunks with a large outdoor balcony $35. Resort has an ok pool and the area is pretty peaceful. Coffee is awful.

Food and cocktails and awesome sunsets La Vogue skybar. Same street Invito has pretty good food. Samurai and Kukai very good reasonable price Japanese. Sunset Lounge good food also and coffee - would not swim near there tho. Pepe Artisan food was good as well. Fat Goose is a new place with strange pricing but eclectic menu. The Deck Tapas also good.

Main attraction the beaches? Also a day at Kbal Chhay waterfalls be a hit with the kids.

Kep

As others have mentioned it is a pretty quiet place during the week and especially at night.

The development is going gangbusters all over the province.

The new beach is what could be politely called scratchy but the original beach is pretty cool and freshly upgraded. The 'charm' of the Crab Market is destroyed by the new breakwater and the garish massive tv screen just installed. The walk up the newly paved National Park has some great views and lots of monkeys - watch out for the prevalent snakes. The Butterfly Garden is pleasant but underwhelming if not breeding time. Wat Samathi is well worth a visit.

The Wave at new Kep beach is interesting design but full of selfie tourists - service pretty slack considering the number of staff - and food is OK not awesome. Martini is great for the host and Italian food in a home garden setting. Kepina by the Sea is great for late afternoon beers with lovely views - also has Kep Natural for French food Thu-Sun nights. Majorelle, whilst a bit out of the way, can be fantastic eating if Rodolphe is on the ball. Beach House Hotel at Kep beach has great happy hour cocktails, sunsets, views and tasty food. Epi D'Or /Kep Deli is about to relocate to a beachfront location - awesome bakery products and food.

Kampot

Lets say you were in Kampot for 3-4 days so you want some activities? Try these:

Rent a moto or a tuktuk to Bokor Mountain National Park for spectacular views, historic buildings, casinos, temples and the most dramatic impact of development in a National Park you would never wish to see.
Good 4-5hr trip and tie it in with some of the most amazing Italian food at the owner of Ciao private house in the countryside.

Take a 30min meander down to Kep and have lunch at the Crab Market, check out the development of a new 3km beach, have a swim at Kep beach, checkout the disturbing abandoned villas since Pol Pot, take a walk thru the Kep National Park with lots of wildlife and have a beer at one of the sunset stalls where the sunsets over Bokor mountains and clear views across the Gulf to Phu Quoc island, take a boat across to Koah Tonsay AKA Rabbit Island for a swim and lunch, take the mangrove walk trail, or visit a really ornate cool monastery with great views វត្តសត្ថាធម្មវិហារ (វត្តភ្នំពោន)

Go up the river to the waterpark at Daung Te or right up to the Tada waterfalls with a huge fresh water pool.

Go rock climbing

Rent a bycycle and go over to the end of Fish island and catch the sunset relections on the salt fields

Take a sunset cruise up the river to see the fireflies

Have a lesson or rent a Hobie Cat yacht

Chill at any of the many riverside resorts upstream - about 4pm all the fishing boats will chug past

Get up 5am and visit the fresh fish market as the nights catch is unloaded

Eat,eat and eat at some of the finest food diversity in the country

Visit the world famous Pepper Plantations and take some home

Anlong Thom or Veal Pouch waterfalls

Take the train to PP passing thru ethereal countryside

Food in Kampot

Great fusion Khmer food and well priced - 1960
Kampot Seafood and Pepper for ambiance and consistent quality French food
Amandos Wooden House on the river - some of the best Italian in Cambodia
Auberge Soleil - swiss style food
Pita Pita - best kebabs and wraps - try the meatballs
Burgers - Laundry Cafe or Smashed Burgers
Zipang for Japanese
Titip - out of town - amazing French food cheep
Ciao - also a bit out of town - everything possible homemade - his anchovies are special with ravioli
Lemongrass cheap Thai style food
The tent stalls near the cloth market have some great cheap choices
Rikitikitavi - 241 cocktails 5-7 and good menu overlooking the river
Marina - homemade style Italian food
A'cicciotina wood fire pizza - next to Ice cream Palace
Should keep you occupied

hanno wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 4:55 pm I been and gone. Review coming soon. But thanks for all the tips.

Sorry for the tardiness - look forward to your review.

kgbagent wrote: ↑Wed Jul 05, 2023 4:35 pm

Kep


The new beach is what could be politely called scratchy but the original beach is pretty cool and freshly upgraded.

Even though the public beach development is supposedly completed according to the news, what I have heard from people owning land in that area, they are still supposed to bring more sand from islands there (it's bit rough in some places now) and plant trees to the public park area. After that, it should be pretty nice. Let's hope they do those still.