Traveler Favorite

Battambang, Cambodia: Seng Hout Hotel
 Nominated By: Andrea Graham, Queensland, Australia, April '10

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Price Range: US$14-$25 # of Rooms: Kid-Friendly: yes

What makes the Seng Hout Hotel so Darn Good? "The Seng Hout is a new, tidy, and spotless hotel owned by a very proud owner and local man. The rooms are cheap, and the hotel has a very friendly staff."

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Darn Good Digs Review - Editors' Choice

Kampot, Cambodia: Rikitikitavi
Nominated By: Andrea, Queensland, Australia, April '10

Price Range: US$30-$60 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 4 Kid-Friendly: yes

What makes the Rikitikitavi so Darn Good? What makes Rikitikitavi so good is the service, which is simply the best we have ever come across in our travels through Southeast Asia! With their welcoming rooms, delicious food, and helpful suggestions for what to do around town, Denise, Dom, and their staff ensure that their guests are well taken care of throughout their stay. Rikitikitavi is spotlessly clean, comfortable, and quiet, and has a perfect location right on Kampot's riverfront.

Location: A rich collection of colonial architecture and a riverside perfect for strolling make the small town of Kampot in southeastern Cambodia an appealing destination. Several beaches along the Gulf of Thailand, such as those of Kep and Rabbit Island, are nearby, but the area's biggest draw is Bokor Hill Station, a 1920's era retreat built by the French high up in the Elephant Mountains forty kilometers from Kampot. Rikitikitavi is on the town's Riverside Road, within walking distance to the taxi stand and bus station.

Rooms: Situated in a renovated wooden-framed rice barn, Rikitikitavi has well appointed rooms decorated with Khmer silks and pillows, rattan furniture, and local art. The beds are comfy and the showers are hot. The Inn has an extensive DVD library so guests can watch movies on the DVD players in their air conditioned rooms. Double rooms have four poster beds and private patios.

Food: Meals at Rikitikitavi are served on the rooftop restaurant and bar which has gorgeous views overlooking the river. The chef uses very up-market fresh food which is wonderfully presented and cooked to perfection. I highly recommend Beef Saraman! Breakfast includes baguettes, crepes, and fresh fruit salad.

Vibe: Staying at Rikitikitavi is like visiting old friends, and this is one reason the hotel is so special. Whether in our room or upstairs in the restaurant, we felt incredibly welcome, comfortable, and relaxed.

Keep in Mind: Book well ahead because this is a popular place. Also, make sure to reserve a table for dinner in the high season, and ask for Bory the tuk tuk driver.

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Darn Good Digs Review - Editors' Choice

Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Blue Lime
Nominated By: Andrea, Pine Mountain, Queensland, Australia, April '10

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Price Range: US$40-$75 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 23 Kid-Friendly: no

What makes the Blue Lime so Darn Good? The Blue Lime is a quiet oasis right in the center of crazy Phnom Penh. Our amazing room was very clean with a funky, modern design and concrete furniture. The hotel has an awesome saltwater pool surrounded by a tropical garden, and decked out with cabanas, day-beds, and a small bar.

Location: The hotel is at the end of a small, quiet alley within easy walking distance to the National Museum, Royal Palace, and Sisowath Quay, the city’s riverside promenade lined restaurants and cafés. In addition, tuk-tuks wait outside the hotel and are ready to whisk you away to anywhere you want to go in Phnom Penh.

Rooms: The Blue Lime’s twenty-three beautiful rooms are accented with bright colorful silks, and are furnished with beds, desks, shelving units, and wardrobes, all constructed with molded concrete. Rooms have air conditioners and fans, as well as en-suite bathrooms with solar heated water. The reception area has computers with internet access, and rooms have a DSL wire to connect to your laptop.

Food: A lovely breakfast is served out by the pool, and includes breads, eggs cooked to order, fresh fruit, and orange-passion fruit juice.

Vibe: The Blue Lime has a friendly vibe and a helpful staff.

Keep in Mind: Book ahead since this hotel is a very popular place. The hotel refers families with children under sixteen to its sister property, the Kabiki.

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Darn Good Digs Review - Editors' Choice - Full Review Coming Soon!

Phnom Penh, Cambodia: The 252
 Nominated By: Andrea, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, December '11

Price Range: US$45-$65 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 19 Kid-Friendly: yes

Why so darn good? The 252's large, spacious rooms and friendly and helpful staff won me over. Gorgeous huts surround the pool for relaxing, enjoying a drink, or taking an afternoon nap! The hotel is a quiet and peaceful alternative to staying right by Phnom Penh's riverside.

Darn Good Digs Review - Editors' Choice

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Journeys Within B&B and Bungalows
Nominated By: Selin K., San Francisco, California, USA, February '09

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Price Range: US$75-$160 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 5 Kid-Friendly: yes

What makes Journeys Within Bed and Breakfast so Darn Good? Journeys Within overflows with warmth and friendliness. From its owners, Andrea and Brandon, to its tour guides and receptionists, the entire Journeys Within staff took care to ensure that we were happy and comfortable throughout our stay.
The B & B partners with Journeys Within Our Community, a non-profit dedicated to improving living conditions in Southeast Asia through well construction, language schools, and a host of other local projects. I was really amazed to see how Journeys Within gives back to the community in so many ways.

Location: Located on the outskirts of Siem Reap, Journeys Within is on the road between town and the awe-inspiring twelfth century temples of Angkor Wat.

Rooms: Journeys Within has four deluxe bungalows and one family suite. All are modern and filled with Cambodian touches, such as the traditional Cambodian scarves left on the beds as gifts for guests. The bathrooms are divine with fancy rain shower heads, and each room has AC, free drinks in the mini-fridge, and balconies overlooking the ridiculously inviting pool and garden oasis.

Food: I just can't say enough about the food at Journeys Within. The chef is tiny in size, but big on taste! She uses many local ingredients and everything is always delicious. Her chicken coconut curry was so incredible that I even tried to recreate it when I got back home. Breakfast is included, and the B & B offers full lunch and dinner menus.

Vibe: Staying at Journeys Within is like staying with friends. After exploring Angkor Wat, we were all about lying by the pool and having a restful and relaxing visit.

Things to Keep in Mind: Journeys Within is ten minutes from town, so you can't just walk outside and wander about, but tuk tuks are readily available and are a great way to get to the heart of Siem Reap.

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Darn Good Digs Review - Editors' Choice

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Prohm Roth Guesthouse
Nominated By: Akila, Salem, Alabama, May '10

Price Range: US$10-$25 # of Rooms: 14 Kid-Friendly: yes

What makes the Prohm Roth Guesthouse so Darn Good? For $15 a night, we had a large, impeccably clean room in the heart of Siem Reap, within a two minute walk to Pub Street and its abundance of restaurants, bars, and shops. Prohm Roth is Khmer owned and operated and the customer service was the best that we experienced in our entire six months of traveling.

Location: The guesthouse is on a side alley off of Pub Street in Siem Reap's Old Market area, and is fairly quiet except for Sunday mornings when the monks in the wat across the street begin chanting at 6:00 a.m. Travelers flock to Siem Reap to visit the magnificent twelfth century temples of Angkor Wat.

Rooms: The guesthouse is in a brand new building and has twin, double, and triple rooms. Rooms are simply decorated and have comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, and cable television. While most rooms have air conditioners, the cheapest twin rooms only have fans.

Food: The guesthouse does not have an on-site restaurant.

Vibe: We appreciated the honest opinions from Meang, Prohm Roth's owner, about what to see and how to see it, and were impressed by the care and attention shown by his whole family toward the hotel and its guests.

Keep in Mind: The brand new guesthouse stands in stark contrast to its poorer surroundings on the Pub Street Extension, and the alley is not illuminated, making for a dark walk home at night.

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