Spring Palace Resort Hotel

The staff were friendly and always smiling. Breakfast options were limited, but the food was tasty. Our room looked onto the pool and was very clean. The pool is a little small, though I still enjoyed swimming.

For what it costs, it's a reasonable place to stay. The layout is nice, with a pleasant pool, large rooms, and an ordinary restaurant. The front office and cleaning were fine. The bikes weren't being maintained, either. None of the tires were inflated. The guide they arranged for our day out was hopeless, and the staff who briefed him seemed lazy. He didn't know we needed to buy monument tickets first. His English was poor enough that I couldn't explain it to him, so we wasted an hour driving around. The hotel charges much more than places in town, so I wouldn't book tours through them. I'd probably stay somewhere else next time.

The beds were a bit too hard for me, and the shower area leaked, so we had to use the bathtub instead. Still, it's good value for money. The rooms are quite large, and the clean pool has a nice temperature, even for a swim at night. Service was good too. The location works well: Pub Street is just a five-minute tuk tuk ride away for USD2, and hotel tuk tuks are usually waiting outside.

The staff were the real highlight for us. They were humble, welcoming, a little unconventional, and always tried their best. We stayed and ate here for a week and had a great time. The water and ice seemed safe, since the kitchen was clean and they had a good water filter. There are lots of sun loungers, a Jacuzzi, a decent restaurant, a gym, spacious rooms, excellent air conditioning, a bath and double shower, and almost no insects. It felt like very good value: a 3* PLUS resort, something like Best Western for youth hostel prices, with kid-friendly facilities. The staff speak good English and gave us plenty of useful advice. Town is just a five-minute tuk tuk ride away for $2, close enough to visit but far enough to get away from the noise and bustle. We spent a day visiting most of the temples, including Angkor Wat at sunrise, with the hotel's tuk tuk driver for $21. Some recent reviews mention quality and staff training, but I think context matters. Cambodia isn't a developed country like nearby tourist destinations such as Bangkok, KL, Singapore, or Hanoi. The staff are generally only one generation removed from a horrific civil war that killed most of the talent and 2 million people. Seen in the context of the country, this place is amazing. We'd definitely come back.