Sovanna Hotel

Location at north end of the BKK area is very convenient - within 10-15 minutes' walk of many good bars and restaurants (or the Royal Palace, or Naga World, the riverfront and Koh Pich island) Bed was very comfortable (though pillows were not). Rooms are a good size (mine had TWO desk areas). Balcony is very small small, but nice to have, just about big enough to sit outside on - with two small chairs and a table (though no view of anything except the building immediately adjacent).

Decor feels a little dingy. Carpets, in particular, are an odd choice: drab, and impossible to keep properly clean (especially in the rainy season!); the ones on stairs and corridors are looking very tired now, and the ones in the rooms carry a strong musty smell. Pillows are far too large and firm - unusable (unless you want chronic neck ache in the morning). Extras - mini-bar items, breakfast - rather expensive for Cambodia (many hotels here charge the same as cheap local restaurants or 7/11 stores, or not much more; but at this place, it's at least double). Pool is a bit small, and very noisy (the street out front is also very noisy; so, rooms at the rear or side of the hotel are probably to be preferred). Not a great cable TV package (none of the Malaysian Astro sports channels, which are much better than Fox for things like football and motorsport; only one movie channel; no NatGeo People or Food Channel - which are often available here). Wi-fi was a bit slow, and dropped out fairly often; particularly galling for me, as I had a lot of work to do online during my stay. I tried to use the computer in the common area downstairs instead, but that was completely dysfunctional (no Internet, dodgy keyboard, inoperative mouse). Central A/C is effective, but rather too noisy to leave on overnight (luckily, I didn't really need it). Reception staff are young, and do not seem well-trained or supervised (no sign of anyone 'senior' in charge); most do not speak particularly good English. And the desk was often left completely unmanned - which does not inspire confidence in the place's security. (A security guard sat out front never pays any attention to people entering or leaving, at least not during the daytime.) Apart from the location, this hotel is pretty unremarkable. And I know lots of similar or better places in Phnom Penh that only charge 25-30 dollars a night (especially now, in 'off season') rather than 40.