Average Koh Rong bungalows in a beautiful location.
When we visited Happy Bungalows shortly after they were first built, we referred to them as “high-end bungalows.” Seaside tropical weather and minimal upkeep have reduced them to a set of pretty average bungalows. What saves them is the location — they are directly on the beautiful white sand beach next to Monkey Island.
Koh Rong’s Happy Bungalows are right on the beach.
Bungalows on Koh Rong, particularly in the Koh Toch area, are for the most part unimpressive. The interior of these bungalows has nothing to offer beyond a place to sleep, which is fine, because the point of a beach bungalow is to spend as much time as possible outside of it anyway. Happy Bungalows at least have a storage space in the room to lock your belongings in (thefts on the island are not uncommon), but the rooms themselves are spare, and the bathrooms are very basic.
The insides of the bungalows are standard, although the wooden walls have been sealed, so they aren’t quite as grubby as some others. Another nice feature is that the ceilings are wooden inside, which means you don’t end up with bits of straw from a thatch roof raining down on you all night. The bungalow we stayed in had a double bed and a single bed, each with its own fan and mosquito net.
The bungalows are naturally lit and have glass windows (many of the other bungalows on the island are quite dark inside because they have straw and thatch windows). On the downside, and we hesitate to write this because we are not sure if we can attribute it to Happy Bungalows, we think we got bitten by bedbugs there, although an inspection of the mattress turned up nothing,
Inside of one of the Happy Bungalows.
The nicest part of the bungalows are the balconies; each one has either hammocks or round rattan chairs with (somewhat ratty) cushions, and if you’re lucky enough to be in a bungalow directly facing the water, you’ve got an unimpeded view of the sea.
WiFi is available at the office, so the nearby bungalows have access, but others who want to connect will need to hang out at the table and chairs in front of the office or on a nearby hammock.
Of the 16 bungalows, four have seafront views. The seafront bungalows and the four directly behind them each have one double bed and one single bed. The third and fourth row of bungalows have two double beds. Not surprisingly, the bungalows closest to the sea are the most expensive.
We were quoted the following prices at Happy Bungalows:
- Bungalows, front, one double bed and one single bed: $60 in high season, $35 in low season
- Bungalow, back, two double beds: $45 in high season, $30 in low season
At the current time, bookings must be made by phone or in person. Walk-in rates are lower, and when we booked they gave us a discount when we asked in Khmer.
Happy Bungalows
Koh Toch Beach, Koh Rong
T: 016 855 969; 087 707 788
Looking for more? View the full Koh Rong island guide for tips on where to stay, what to eat, and where to party.
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