Monument Hotel, Phnom Penh

This little gem of a hotel is located right in the middle of Phnom Penh city.  It is 5 mins on foot away from Independence Monument and it’s along the same street as the Pricewaterhouse Cooper Phnom Penh office.  Because it is right in the middle of the city, it means any trip from the hotel within the city center (which I consider to be bounded by Wat Phnom in the north and the Russian Market  aka Psar Toul Tom Poung in the south) should not cost more than US$2 on tuk tuk or US$1 on motorbike.

This is a boutique hotel, which means there aren’t that many rooms.  For US$44 per night, you get room with shower (no bath tub in my room) and a mini buffet breakfast on the top floor.  The mini buffet breakfast includes 3 hot entrees (pan cakes, fried rice, grilled tomato with herb on Day 1 I stayed there; French toast, fried rice, grilled tomato with herb on Day 2), toast with butter or jam, 2 options for cereal, juice (orange, apple, pineapple), choice of eggs (scrambled/ sunny side up/  omelette with tomato/ onion/ cheese), coffee and tea.  Though modest, breakfast is definitely filling.  You can sit by a ledge to have your breakfast while you enjoy the view of the neighbourhood.

My room was simple but adequate: safety box, 2 bottles of water, toiletries (toothbrush and toothpaste x 2 packs, comb, shower gel, shampoo, soap, body lotion, sewing kit, sanitary bag, shower cap), a box of tissues.

I slept exceptionally well. I’m not sure if it was because I was on holiday, and hence in a good mood, or it had to do with the mattress.  The mattress is individually coiled so supposedly you won’t disturb your partner.  They help carry your bags and show you to your room personally.  They light up the aromatherapy burner in the bathroom before leaving the room.  A very nice welcoming touch after a flight.

Another nice touch is that there were multiple power outlets in my room.  You don’t even have to bring your own power adaptor as the power outlets can take any plug.

No coffee/ tea/ kettle I think because the tap water is not drinkable.  No hair dryer.

The staff is very friendly and polite.  They are quick with your requests.  The staff at the door greets you when you leave in the morning and again when you come back in the evening.

There were a couple of mosquitoes in my room.  They have a spray can of Rideout in my room, though I never had to use it.  The mosquitoes don’t bother nor bite me.

The TV offers many, many channels, including Taiwanese, French, German, Russian, Korean, as well as the ubiquitous CNN, BBC, ESPN, Channel V etc.  There is free Wifi in your room.

There are a couple of restaurants offering Western and Khmer cuisine a few doors away. Though affordable (just like the rest of Phnom Penh), they are not exceptional nor bad.  There is also a very small gym on the same street as the hotel.  The gym also offers massages.  There is a 24 hour minimart and a 7-eleven 10-15 min walk away on Sothearos Boulevard (3 streets away from hotel).

I cannot recommend this hotel enough: the politeness of the staff, the buffet breakfast, free Wifi, great location, the many TV channels, the toiletries.  Great value for money.

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