Phnom Penh

[Member #1344]

I spent a few days in Phnom Penh a week or so ago and enjoyed myself. Some comments:

* Flamingo's hotel is pretty good. It's centrally located near the Walkabout Hotel/Bar, Shanghai (hostess bar), and Heart of Darkness (Nightclub). I'the stay there again if I went back to Phnom Penh.

* Heart of Darkness. Seems to be the club to go to. I went there on three different evenings at different times and it was always fairly crowded. There's quite a few locals and tourists there as well as some working girls. The working girls tend to hang out by the entrance. I always went there with a girl, so I'm not sure what the quoted price is from a girl working there. As an aside, I think there is a 3, 000 riel entry fee (includes a free drink) for Cambodians but not for Foreigners, so the girls I went with were happy to be able to go with me for free.

* Hostess Bars: Bar 104/Shanghai. Take your pick, there are easily dozens of them. Some can be fairly aggressive and some can be lowkey. Just keep looking until you find what you want. I preferred the lowkey ones where there wasn't a lot of pressure to buy drinks all the time. It can be hit or miss if the girl is willing to leave the bar with with, and if anything else happens. (I did go to Rose Bar, and interestingly enough, not a single hostess came up to talk to me. They were mostly busy playing a card game in the corner with themselves.)

* Sharky's: I enjoyed coming here to watch the pool. It tends to be lowkey in that the girls will come by to talk to you, but not hassle you. Always had a lot of girls in the evenings which ranged from 5 to 9. I took two from here and had a lot of fun with them.

* Martini's: I didn't care for this place. The dance area is really dark and makes it hard to get a picture of what the girls look like. The beer garden area can be hot depending on the weather. In general I found the mix of girls to be better at Sharky's and other places. Be careful that you aren't too drunk if you pick a girl from the dance area. There were some really nasty looking ones there.

* Cyrcee bar: I'm not sure if I spelled this right, but I found it to be similar to a short-time bar like on Soi 6 in Pattaya, Thailand. The first night I walked in, I was swarmed with 10 girls all trying to talk to me and get me to pick them to go upstairs. After ordering a drink and fighting off most of them, I eventually picked one who was great. I even went back a few days later and barfined her for the night. I think it was $5-10 for the bar, and $30 for her. Unlike most girls I met, she'the yum yum for a long time and was pretty much compliant to do almost anything. I think in the long term it would be boring for me to stay with a girl who's almost like a robot, but for a night it was fun.

* Sightseeing: Hopefully everyone who goes to Phnom Penh will take the time to see Tuol Sleng and the killing fields. I'the recommend paying the $5 for the guide at the killing fields since there isn't a lot of signage and you'll get more out of it. Think of it as two fewer drinks and supporting a good cause. Some of the other sites were nice to see, but nothing else is a must see.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I certainly hope that the author or somebody else will post a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[Prince Harry]

I have been reading reports all the way back to last year and I am trying to decide if PP is the place to go or not. I will be in thailand for 2 weeks and was thinking of going over but I read good and alot bad reviews is it worth the trip? If it is can anyone recommend a good upscale girl friendly hotel hopefully safe in the room. Thanks guys I appreciate all the help

It is always worth the trip and it is quite different from thailand,thank god.
I was in phnom penh last week and it was raining every day and not too hot.Not many barang so a surfeit of girls,the 104 bar was very pleasant and full of lovely girls with no tatoos and no mobile phones-ahh heaven.
Flamingo is the best place to stay for the money and now has in room safes and an ATM in the lobby but it is full even at this time of year so book ahead.Good back up is the big luck,stay on level 6 near the pool or a bit more expensive with a lovely pool is the billabong-but not so GF.
Nice food on the riverfront at the green vespa,cantina and the jungle.

[Spokaneman35]

I have been reading reports all the way back to last year and I am trying to decide if PP is the place to go or not. I will be in thailand for 2 weeks and was thinking of going over but I read good and alot bad reviews is it worth the trip? If it is can anyone recommend a good upscale girl friendly hotel hopefully safe in the room. Thanks guys I appreciate all the help

[WontYouBeMyGirl]

A friend of mine lived for 18 month in PP. It is really safe as long as you don't do foolish things as going to an ATM at 2am...




[QUOTE=Tazzy Devil]

I have found the streets of PP reasonably safe of a night but like any where in the world you need to use common sence.

Going to an ATM at 2 am is like wearing a neon sign with "Rob Me" strapped to your back

[Tazzy Devil]

[QUOTE=AncientFornicatr][QUOTE=When it comes to walking at night, it will always be a risk.

A few months ago I was talking to a guy at Jim's watering hole. He teaches English in PP. He was walking with a limp and he explained that he had wrecked his bike a bit and he was out drinking so he took a moto to the ATM on the Quay.

It was about 2am and after he got the money and got back on the moto, they turned onto a side street and within the first block another bike pulled up along side and dragged him off of the moto. They really kicked his ass as they went through his pockets and grabbed his watch as well as the money. They were beating him with something hard and he was a bloody mess.

His driver had split at the first sign of trouble and he had a hard time getting anybody else to help him. Finally got a driver to take him to the hospital where they told him he had lost enough blood that he would probably have died if he had been much later.

Nights can be hard on your health as Shamus points out.

AF[/QUOTE]

I have found the streets of PP reasonably safe of a night but like any where in the world you need to use common sence.

Going to an ATM at 2 am is like wearing a neon sign with "Rob Me" strapped to your back

[Ekspat]

I would like to teach in Cambodia because I don't have the money to teach anywhere else.

I would expect that I'm getting reasonable paid if I teach anywhere in this world.
Or do I have to bring money meanwhile for getting a teachers job?

Confused......

Cheers!

[Frankfurter]

I beg to disagree, but PP is NOT dangerous.

On the other hand:
When you are white, drunk and pull money out of an ATM at 2AM you better have your medication checked. There is not much more to say, I guess.

The same can get you KILLED in an instant in ANY US city!

[Wilsafris]

Hello:

I am thinking of taking a year off from my job and getting my TEFL. I would like to teach in Cambodia because I don't have the money to teach anywhere else. However, I don't know the schools or hiring practices for cambo schools. Maybe someone has information. I will check back on this forum.

Thanks,

W

[Spokaneman35]

I have to Pattaya and Bangkok serval times and I am thinking og going to PP I keep reading how dangerous it is. Is this true compared to Bangkok and Pattaya and I was also wondering Since I am a US citizen do I need a visa or will my passport work. Thanks for the help and more info you can give like maps nightlife and anything else would be great.

[AncntFornicatr]

[QUOTE=When it comes to walking at night, it will always be a risk.

A few months ago I was talking to a guy at Jim's watering hole. He teaches English in PP. He was walking with a limp and he explained that he had wrecked his bike a bit and he was out drinking so he took a moto to the ATM on the Quay.

It was about 2am and after he got the money and got back on the moto, they turned onto a side street and within the first block another bike pulled up along side and dragged him off of the moto. They really kicked his ass as they went through his pockets and grabbed his watch as well as the money. They were beating him with something hard and he was a bloody mess.

His driver had split at the first sign of trouble and he had a hard time getting anybody else to help him. Finally got a driver to take him to the hospital where they told him he had lost enough blood that he would probably have died if he had been much later.

Nights can be hard on your health as Shamus points out.

AF

[Correspondent]

Some good advice there Shamas.

When it comes to walking at night, it will always be a risk.

If you appear drunk, it's an easy target for a robber. So if you're planning a big night out, better have a trusted moto driver with you or get a tuk-tuk with a drinking buddy.

Sure there are potential risks everywhere at night in PP, it's just better to minimise your chances of adding another figure to the statistics. Crime appears to be low until you hear of another incident.

[Member #3443]

It is on Street 104, a few yards off of Sisowath Quay near the Tonle Sap Hotel.

[Shamas]

I have found a website that makes a refference to hiring taxi's and body gaurds on PP. I though I should prehaps post it here.

All Destinations offers car and 4WD rental, with driver. Bodyguards available. Tel: 016-779901.

I dont know though sounds like a good idea. Ring them get a taxi for the day and a bodyguard.

To Guard or Not To Guard, that is the Question !

PP is pretty safe BUT beware, as with all cities there are dangers lurking in the dark. If you're traveling solo and plan to be out late at night and walking, it would be prudent to have an amigo. Most muggers don't want to mess with 2 or more guys.

I know one guy who hailed a moto late at night, he got taken down a back street where a few other motos mugged him. Another guy got mugged and stabbed by some motos outside Martinis.

PP is as safe as you make it or as unsafe as you make it. Tempt fate and see just how lucky you are.

You may not need a body guard but a local dependable driver is strongly suggested.

Shamas O'Dognasty

[Etard]

Maybe they ment translator or something. Anyone have any expirence with
http://www.hotel-imprevu-resort.com/ ? I am thinking about staying here for 2 months/using it as a base camp.

[Member #1344]

I've been in Phnom Penh for a few days and have been enjoying myself due to the contributions of the posters here. Thanks!

But I haven't been able to find the Rose Bar. Can someone tell me where it is located?