SE Asia Boutique Hotels: Cambodia
Cambodia overall felt a lot more hectic than Laos. Tuk tuk drivers are constantly approaching you, there are more beggars, etc. But since mainstream tourism has flourished in Cambodia, and for a longer period of time than in Laos, there are a lot of attractive accommodation options.
The Villa Siem Reap
Room prices vary widely, our room was $28/night, including (slow) wifi, not including breakfast.
What made The Villa really stand out was its super friendly staff. Usually when you enter a good hotel, someone will welcome you. At The Villa, every single staff member will greet you, often simultaneously. They will ask you were you went today, how your day was, all with a big smile.
Our "Superior" room was pleasant, though basic. For example, there was no closet, and the shower fixture leaked. But a nice place to spend 5 nights. The Villa has its own staff of drivers and guides that they can arrange for you. Make sure you request Mr. Lim (a staff guide) or Mr. Mean Temly (a contract guide who does work for them when their guides are booked). We had another Villa guide to take us to Beng Melea, and he was among the worst I've ever experienced.
Blue Lime, Phnom Penh
Triple room $60/night, including wifi and continental breakfast
The Blue Lime website lists "concrete furniture" as the #1 room feature, so I was naturally most curious to see what the rooms were like! Indeed, everything except for the chairs was made of concrete. Actually a very nice and stylish effect. The only room with two separate beds available for our dates was a triple room, but it was so nice and worth the extra cost. There's a queen bed next to the door to the balcony (with more concrete seating, overlooking the pool). Then there's a concrete divider, where there's a twin bed with its own concrete desk.
A simple breakfast was served in the lush pool area lined with cabanas, made of concrete of course. The passion fruit juice with actual pieces of passion fruit in it was really fun. The location was absolutely excellent too - right behind the National Museum, which is adjacent to the Royal Palace.
