Phnom Penh Le Vincent Hotel

Being close to the city centre was a big plus. The management were considerate, friendly, and appreciative, and they were flexible with me. I really valued that Cambodian hospitality. Fantastic hotel.

The reception team were kind, helpful, and accommodating, and the room was clean and looked like the photos. It's a reasonably priced place in a handy spot near the river, night market, and other sights, so getting around was easy. My room had no window, but that worked for my budget on this trip. One thing that really bothered me: I never got the $17 Cashback In Agoda back. This was the only hotel on my Asia trip that didn't return it. Still, if you want a clean, affordable, conveniently located room, it may suit you.

By the end of my five nights, I had enjoyed the stay and would likely come back. The room was comfortable, and all the service staff were friendly and helpful. The room itself was satisfactory for the price, with a firm enough mattress. The AC was a bit weak, and the room was old, though clean enough for budget accommodation. My arrival was frustrating at first. I got there around 11am and asked about an early room. The receptionist repeated that check-in was at 2pm, then said she'd see if one was available and asked me to sit. At 11.42, I asked when she expected a room, and she again quoted 2pm. I pointed out it was rainy season and likely low occupancy. She said guests checked out at noon, but nobody had checked out during the 45 minutes I'd waited. From the colour-coded screen I guessed occupancy was under 50%, so I wondered if they were hoping I'd offer money for an early check-in. This kind of thing seems common at budget hotels, but it made me think about finding another place next time. If they could help and refused just for the sake of it, I didn't want to give them future business. I went out, had four beers, and came back. At 1.45 the room was ready. The receptionist was polite and informative, which was a good save and changed how I felt about her.

The hotel itself was in good shape, with clean rooms and bathrooms, a comfortable bed, and useful modern things like AC, a TV, kettle, and hairdryer. Its location was excellent too, within walking distance of the river, the King’s Palace, and historical and heritage sites. The service from reception was the letdown during my cycling trip through Cambodia and Vietnam. The morning receptionist often seemed uninterested and watched videos on her phone, while the evening receptionist, Munier the one eyed lunatic, was unprofessional and not courteous with guests. The housekeeping lady and the new morning receptionist were friendly and helpful, though. Better customer service would make a big difference here.