Cambodia Budget Hotels and Hostels

Accommodation in Cambodia has improved immensely during the past decade and everything is available, from the classic budget crash pad to the plush palace. Most hotels quote in US dollars, but some places in the provinces quote in riel, while those near the Thai border quote in baht. We provide prices based on the currency quoted to us at the time of research.

In our listings, budget accommodation refers to guesthouses where the majority of rooms are within the US$2 to US$20 range, midrange generally runs from US$20 up to US$80 and top end is considered US$80 and up, up, up.

Budget guesthouses used to be restricted to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, but as tourism takes off in the provinces, they are turning up in most of the other provincial capitals. Costs hover around US$3 to US$10 for a bed. In many rural parts of Cambodia, the standard rate for cheap hotels is US$5, usually with bathroom and satellite TV.

In Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the South Coast, which see a steady flow of tourist traffic, hotels improve significantly once you start spending more than US$10 a night. For US$15 it is usually possible to find an air-con room with satellite TV and attached bathroom. If you spend between US$20 and US$50 you can arrange something very comfortable with the possible lure of a swimming pool. Most smaller provincial cities also offer air-conditioned comfort in the US$10 to US$20 range.

There are now a host of international-standard hotels in Siem Reap, several in Phnom Penh and a couple on the coast in Sihanoukville and Kep. Some are operated by familiar international brands such as Orient Express and Raffles. Most quote hefty walk-in rates and whack 10% tax and 10% service on as well. Book via a hotel-booking website for a lower rate including taxes and service.

There are substantial low-season (April through September) rates available at major hotels in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Discounts of 50% or more are common, as are specials such as ‘stay three, pay two’. Check hotel websites for details on any promos or offers.

Some guesthouses in Cambodia do not have hot water, but most places have at least a few more expensive rooms where it is available.

While many of the swish new hotels have lifts, older hotels often don’t and the cheapest rooms are at the top of several flights of stairs. It’s a win-win-win situation: cheaper rooms, a bit of exercise and better views.