Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Mekong Boutique Hotel, Siem Reap - Review

Whenever we travel, I always submit a review of hotels we stay at on Tripadvisor.com (because I rely on it myself)...that is of course if they can locate the darn hotel. Some remain undiscovered by the website, regardless of providing them with detailed details. Ho hum!

While in Siem Reap we stayed at the Mekong Boutique Hotel, booking directly via their website for US$20 per night, per room, which included breakfast and arrival transfer from the airport, by tuk tuk.
I'm so relieved I left my hand grenades outside!
Here's the review.

This hotel is a little rough around the edges, but it's clean enough, quiet and in a good location, being only a short walk across the bridge and into the market area and Pub Street. The staff are friendly and helpful, even though there was a misunderstanding about our Angkor Wat tour. Apparently if you buy a one day pass, this entitles you entry to view the sunset...but it must be all be done within 24 hours.
The rooms are very spacious and very basic. It did take a couple of days to realise that the constant dribble of water across the bathroom floor, from a pipe under the bath, was in fact the air conditioner's over flow from the bedroom. There are no safes in the rooms, however, reception does hold your valuables for you.
Sojetta our tuk tuk driver spoke English quite well (and a little Thai) and was able to assist us with our plans, and was there ready and waiting for us when we arrived at Siem Reap airport. The hotel supplied pictures (on Tripadvisor.com) show the restaurant as having an indoor area, but that's now being converted to a mini mart, leaving only an outdoor eating area, which they were extending during our stay.
The food from the menu was nice and reasonably priced and available from 6.30 am until late. The set breakfast menu small, but more than ample for a westerner, with 6 choices. If I couldn't find any better, I'd have no problem with staying there again.
 Photos of the hotel are also on the site.. by the way, I'm 'snapper238' over there.


Snap's other blog Chiang Mai Thai

12 comments:

MeMock said... Best Blogger Tips

Hi Snap, I also use Trip Advisor and therefore also submit reviews as a return favour but have to agree with you that they are quite slack in listing new hotels or restaurants that you provide them with all the details.
Thanks for your efforts on Cambodia and Siem Reap as one of these days I will get there! Especially considering that as the crow flies I live (when I am in country) only 150 kms away!

Catherine said... Best Blogger Tips

From the photos you showed me previously, I thought it'd be a good hotel. And you were right close to the action too. Good choice!

"Sojetta our tuk tuk driver ... was there ready and waiting for us when we arrived at Siem Reap airport."

It makes all the difference in the world, doesn't it.

"I'd have no problem with staying there again."

I won't be going to Siem Reap again for years but if I go alone (and I just might) I'll stay there as well. It has everything I need out of a hotel.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

@MeMock Yes, so close, but yet so far away. We're guilty of that too, hence this last trip.

We've stayed at some wonderful hotels, including in Loei and Uttaradit...alas, Tripadvisor couldn't find them.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

@Catherine It is always nice knowing you don't have to haggle and hassle with drivers, when you step off a plane into, usually, sweltering heat.

Our hotel/guesthouse minimum checklist is simple these days: Clean!, cool, Sat TV, good location and comfy bed, all at the right price.

Catherine said... Best Blogger Tips

Snap, I have a similar checklist (nix the tv) but the man has other ideas. He also has a terrible back so I won't complain.

I just noticed the sign photo - no guns, no grenades, no drugs - love it :-D

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

Cat, I passed that sign a few times and out of the corner of my eye it looked like a durian.

TV I need, because novels are too heavy to put in my carry on bag, lol. Only 7kg on Air Asia and that's all I take.

Martyn said... Best Blogger Tips

Snap - Any hotel choices in Thailand I leave to Wilai to select and then I check them out on the internet and offer my opinion. Hotel reviews on the likes of Trip Advisor were never my kind of thing in the past but nowadays I'm starting to see their value.

Your own review is an excellent one and will be of good use to anyone planning a trip to Siem Reap. US$20 a night is an absolute steal.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

@Martyn I wouldn't bother writing reviews if I weren't so reliant on them myself. Most seem to be true to word. However there are soooo many hotels and guesthouses not listed, it's disappointing. We stayed at hotels in Uttaradit and Loei that were excellent, but they (Tripadvisor) just can't confirm their details.

I still have their business cards, perhaps I should scan and publish them.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

I'm repeating myself...sorry, old age you know :(

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

Please post the Loei one.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

@Anonymous The details for the hotel in Loei can be found at the bottom of this post. Thanks for dropping by :)

Siem Reap said... Best Blogger Tips

I’m quite impressed with how you were able to string the words together to make a near-perfect article. The way you write your articles give off a very professional impression to me.