Hi Phnom Penh people (a tongue twister yay!)...

My sister and I just got our tickets to go to Cambodia for 10 nights, 8 in Phnom Penh and 2 in Siam Reap. We are going to help in an orphanage for the 8 days we are in Phnom Penh.

We are now trying to book our hotels/hostels.

We are thinking that because the hotels are relatively affordable for a really nice place, and that the hostel selection in Phnom Penh is more limited than other places, we would just go ahead and get a hotel.

What do you guys think of these place?

http://www.pavilion-cambodia.com/room.htm

http://www.anisehotel.com.kh/

The Pavilion is the number one ranked place on tripadvisor if that matters:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g2...nh-Hotels.html

Any ideas? Some place near the river is preferably. And around 50bucks a night is about our ceiling for what we want to pay. Thanks!! =)

Also, do you think it's safe to take my laptop and leave it in the room? A lot of places I've found have little safes in the rooms but they aren't big enough for a laptop. What if I got one of those little cable locks to lock it to a table or something?

While the Pavilion is currently #1 on tripadvisor for some reason the lower priced rooms are just average and nothing to get excited about. It is still a good hotel and has a pool. I cannot comment on the
Anise as I don't know it.

Most hotels along the river front are more that you wish to pay but there are two that are fairly good but they have no pool

The California 2 Guesthouse - is a clean pleasant comfortable spot on the waterfront , very close to the famous FCC and National Museum. The best rooms are those in front (one per floor) and they have a balcony with river views. This room has a/c, TV, fridge, bathroom with tub, and wicker chairs and table that can be moved out onto the balcony. Around $25
 http://www.cafecaliforniaphnompenh.com/

River Star at around $40 http://www.phnompenhonline.com/Websi...rStarHotel.htm

In the city centre is the  Billabong Hotel - Close to the bus station. There are only 12 rooms and those at the front look at the pool and garden area. The four on the 2nd floor are best and have balconies overlooking the pool. The open-sided restaurant serves food fair food (Middle Eastern, Japanese and Thai. There is a swimming pool for a bonus. From $34 http://www.asiatravel.com/cambodia/thebillabonghotel/

While the Pavilion is currently #1 on tripadvisor (for some reason) the lower priced rooms are just average and nothing to get excited about. It is still a good hotel and has a pool. I cannot comment on the
Anise as I don't know it.

Most hotels along the river front are more that you wish to pay but there are two that are fairly good but they have no pool

The California 2 Guesthouse is a clean pleasant comfortable spot on the waterfront , very close to the famous FCC and National Museum. The best rooms are those in front (one per floor) and they have a balcony with river views. This room has a/c, TV, fridge, bathroom with tub, and wicker chairs and table that can be moved out onto the balcony. Around $25
 http://www.cafecaliforniaphnompenh.com/

River Star at around $40 http://www.phnompenhonline.com/Websi...rStarHotel.htm

In the city centre is one of better budget places the Billabong Hotel. There are only 12 rooms and those at the front look at the pool and garden area. The four on the 2nd floor are best and have balconies overlooking the pool. The open-sided restaurant serves food fair food (Middle Eastern, Japanese and Thai. There is a swimming pool for a bonus. From $34. http://www.asiatravel.com/cambodia/thebillabonghotel/

Also have a look at the
New York Hotel - rooms are simply furnished yet comfortable and clean but no pool and from $28 http://www.newyorkhotel.com.kh/

Flamingos Hotel Opened within the last 2 years. Rates from $20
http://www.flamingos.com.kh/

I recently had someone else highly recommend Anise to me. It's not near the river, but is in an area with a lot of shops and restaurants, including Rom Daeng, run by the same charity as Friends.

By the river, the back rooms at Bougainvillier are usually under $50 a night.

Well crap, the Pavilion is booked up...

I guess popularity will do that to you.

I had the same thing happen when I was planning a one night stopover on the way to Kep. That's how I ended up at the Bougainvillier.

Another one I've had recommended to me is Scandinavian House.