This place is more or less a sleepy little nest, but this is not supposed to be a negative comment. The people here are friendly, even though a representative of the white species is not very common here. The place is somehow a bit spread out. One of the more interesting places to go to is the harbour, and can be reached on a bike within 15 – 20 minutes; the beaches aren’t really near enough to walk down to. If one doesn’t know ones way about, one has to do quite a bit of searching. The first thing I did was take a look at the “Paris Hotel” (not to be mistaken for the PARIS STAR). It has exactly the same name as the hotel in PP. I didn’t like it at all. It was supposed to cost 20 US dollars, I was shown two rooms, the first one had a king sized bed but was very dark, small and musty, It also stunk of cigarette smoke. The second one was a little larger but only had two single beds. Such a room is out of the question if able to be avoided somehow or other. There are also hotels down at the beaches. I didn’t like the location either – because there was not much there at all and a bit far off. After about half the distance, I had a look at the PEAK HOTEL & CASINO. Lies quite nicely at the top of a small slope, at a distance one can look down onto the harbour. I cannot remember the price; I think it was around about 20 or 30 US dollars. I still wouldn’t have used it, not even for free: Small, worn out, musty rooms. Got out of there quick. I took a look at the “Casino” later on: Automats and Croupiers not doing anything due to the lack of guests, but it was midday. In a separate room a sort of baccarat, forget it. Thank God I had a tip from a mate, the

Golden Castle Hotel & Casino
Sangkat No. 4, Khan Mittapheap
Tel: 855-34-933919, Fax: 855-34-933918

After asking around for a while, a motorbike rider explained the way. It wasn’t very central, but not very far from where things were happening. Motorbike riders outside all day and night. There is a Karaoke bar opposite, sometimes with very load music (not to be heard from the room, well not from mine anyway, I was at the back), and there is a restaurant with live music and films. Quite nice during the evening for a bite to eat with the hen, and to get a bit closer to each other over a beer.

The special thing about the hotel: It is nearly brand new. It is lit up in the evening from the outside, and has a lot of yellow light chains. A bit like Las Vegas in Cambodia. One thing is that they have a super discount: 50%! They also have various room categories. The simplest of rooms costs 20 US dollars instead of 40 US dollars. It is fair sized, very well furnished and had a large bed. The view out to the back is looking across to the (very far off) mountains. The next best room is mainly the same; the only difference is that the view is out to the front looking at the (quite far off) sea. This is supposed to cost 25 US dollars instead of 50 US dollars. Then there is a category that costs 30 US dollars instead of 60 US dollars, it’s a little larger than the previous two. Apart from this they have a (but only one) suit. This costs a bit more, I thing it was 35 US dollars instead of 70 US dollars. I couldn’t take a look at it because it was being used. Because the smaller rooms were large enough for my not very simple demands, I took one of the cheaper versions, one with the view out back (who the hell looks out of the window during the daytime, apart from that, the view out back was nearly nicer). I did try to make a deal at the reception, told them that the smallest room was good enough for me, or could he give me the 30 dollar room for 25 US dollars. After thinking about it for a while, they told me that they couldn’t do it. Ok, it’s not Thailand. Nevertheless, I was satisfied with my hotel; I stayed for three or four nights. They accept, like all over the place there, (?) cash only, I even had to leave a deposit of 30 US dollars.

Stupidly enough I had failed to take a photo from the outside, it is really very nice. I have however, taken various shots of the room

Edit: click here