Cambodia has some truly fantastic accommodation options. Hotel rooms of all size and price in towns, true family homestays for the more adventurous in places like Sambor Prei Kuk and Chi Phat, and tented glamping in the Cardamoms for the even more adventurous. But sometimes something different is needed, especially if searching for that special place for a party or event. And yes, I’ve stayed in all three!
A villa in Kandal province is just what the doctor ordered.
To truly see how Cambodia’s wealthy spend their weekends out of the city, experience a safe place to party and play as you wish, or just a wide space for children and pets to run around in safety, then there are some fantastic Airbnb options available across the Kingdom.
Earlier this month, just such a venue was required to host a brief return to Cambodia and a chance to catch up with old friends. Enter La Maison du Bassac’s water-front location on the Bassac River overlooking Anloung Chen Island, and its four-bedroom villa. Surrounded by trees and a grassy area big enough to attempt some ultimate frisbee, it was the perfect spot to reconnect with old friends for BBQ, music, board games, and more energetic fun in the fantastic pool.
La Maison du Bassac’s water-front location overlooking Anloung Chen Island.
The silence of rural Cambodia at night – the early morning wedding music in a nearby village a reminder than nowhere is truly quiet in the Kingdom – the fresh air in these bucolic surrounds, and birdsong all helped to create a vibe that felt much further removed from Phnom Penh than the hour-long tuktuk ride it was.
La maison du Bassac – Villa in Svay Rolum, Kandal
Get out of the city and into a four-bedroom villa!
A less elaborate Phnom-Penh escape, but still a noticeable break from the city is the architect-owned home at the northern end of Silk Island. With a fantastic open-plan kitchen and living room, it’s the perfect spot for a dinner party with a difference:
Arboris Entire Wooden Villa +1500m² Private Garden – Cabin in Kandal
For the ultimate party pad – albeit a little further from Phnom Penh – Villa Des Palms in Kep is hard to beat with its two swimming pools, bedrooms seemingly everywhere, and a glimpse of the Gulf of Thailand over the tops of the trees that surround it. And breakfast is provided. What more can anyone ask!
Villa des Palmes in Kep – Villa in Kep