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I've been reading hotel reviews for Sihanoukville on Agoda, and the reviewers have all remarked that the beach is a slimy mess of garbage and that the Chinese have taken over. Is it even worth visiting?

otres is still ok, i think

No

its still on the mongas trail

It's a bit of a building site... The public beach (Otres 1 1/2) is ok. PPenhers have stopped coming so it's not terrible on a Saturday if you get there early enough for a tree. Otres 2 is a building site, too, but there are some more higher class hotels with nice beaches. The Honkeys seem to have mostly decamped to Otres village. Or there's the islands, just mind the buffalo.

if you intended going there for the "night life" i believe victory hill maintains the status quo of bygone years.
if this is your predilection best go Patts.
if beaches are your thing go to koh chang maybe or vung tau.

if none of the above- still plenty to do exploring the provinces.
i really liked stung treng.

cptrelentless wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:38 pm It's a bit of a building site... The public beach (Otres 1 1/2) is ok. PPenhers have stopped coming so it's not terrible on a Saturday if you get there early enough for a tree. Otres 2 is a building site, too, but there are some more higher class hotels with nice beaches. The Honkeys seem to have mostly decamped to Otres village. Or there's the islands, just mind the buffalo.

Translation -
It's a shit hole.

best-case scenario wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:57 am I've been reading hotel reviews for Sihanoukville on Agoda, and the reviewers have all remarked that the beach is a slimy mess of garbage and that the Chinese have taken over. Is it even worth visiting?

the main beach has been flattened, well the beach is still there but no bars/restaurants,
all the other beaches are ok, but most of the place is a big building site atm

best-case scenario wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:57 am I've been reading hotel reviews for Sihanoukville on Agoda, and the reviewers have all remarked that the beach is a slimy mess of garbage and that the Chinese have taken over. Is it even worth visiting?

No its not worth visiting Sihanoukville anymore.
1. Ochheuteal beach - Most of the expats bars have been knocked down and no one is looking after the beach. It is covered in rubbish etc.
2. Independence Beach - There are a handful of beach bars left but there are huge Chinese sky-scrappers being built next door.
3. Otres and Otres 2 - There are some nice bars left but there is lots of building work everywhere.
4. Victory Hill - There are only about 5 western bars left. Everything else is Chinese owned amd not very welcoming to westerners.

On top of that:
1. The road to Otres etc. is a building site & the dust is horrendous

Jamie_Lambo wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2018 12:54 am

best-case scenario wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:57 am I've been reading hotel reviews for Sihanoukville on Agoda, and the reviewers have all remarked that the beach is a slimy mess of garbage and that the Chinese have taken over. Is it even worth visiting?

the main beach has been flattened, well the beach is still there but no bars/restaurants,
all the other beaches are ok, but most of the place is a big building site atm

Not ALL of the beach flattened it is possible to find clean serviceable places to have a sunset bar and although I have not yet been to the New "in my dreams" next to the old Gov. building a tourist friend who is in town says its fine for an afternoon at the beach - and 1/2 full last week, they are heading home this week, of British tourists.