Mad Monkey Siem Reap - Hostel

Mad Monkey Siem Reap has a great spot, just a short walk from the night market and near some temples. The pool is cute and a perfect place to chill during the day. Best of all, the staff were friendly, welcoming, and fun, giving the whole place great vibes. Loved staying here and would come back!

We paid the higher dorm rate for a 7-day, 6-night Christmas stay because we expected a lively, social holiday. Most of the advertised activities never happened, and around 80% were cancelled. Our family dinner booking was cancelled without anyone telling us, then replaced by a Christmas dinner at $12 per person, much more than restaurants on the high street. The food was mediocre, and it felt like backpackers were being taken advantage of on a major holiday. The reps and volunteers didn’t seem interested in creating a fun atmosphere, so the whole stay felt boring and flat. Everything was overpriced, from dorms and food to drinks and activities. I won’t stay at another Mad Monkey. If you’re on a budget or don’t want a fake social scene, you can get the same for less elsewhere.

I had a really good stay here and would come back if I’m in Siem Reap again. The staff were kind and helpful, especially sayon, who helped me a lot. The rooms are large, comfortable and clean, with good beds, curtains and lockers. The bathrooms are spacious and clean too. There are two great pools, a pool table in the lobby, and the food and drinks are very good.

The rooms were clean and had the comforts I wanted in a 6-bed women’s dorm: a tidy bathroom, curtains on the beds and a towel for each person. I’ve met staff here whom I really like, though that didn’t make the hostel experience work for me. I’m not sure I’d return as a first-time guest, even though I see similar prices at other places and would be curious what they offer. Mad Monkey, at least in Siem Reap, felt like a commercialized, tourist-friendly and sanitized take on Khmer culture. The place seems focused on partying and hooking up, which may suit single people looking for that, but I wanted something more culturally aligned. The hostel-hosted experiences felt half-hearted, though the tours were great. I also found the alcohol awful, and the security guards were asleep at night. If that party-focused atmosphere doesn’t appeal to you, another hostel might suit you better.