This place is just fantastic! Location is very accessible, near the BTS and MRT stations. However, taxis are affordable so my friends and I usually just take the cab, but make sure they use the meter!
Rooms are very clean, a/c very cool (which is a must in the Bangkok heat), water pressure is good, with elevators, the place is very secure and quiet. There are 2 desktop computers in the lobby, free printing upto 2 pages, Wi-Fi available in the rooms.
Near the Patpomg night market (and other nightlife entertainment spots that we didn't go to), several shopping areas available, food choices abundant, 7-11 just around the corner and also near a big supermarket for all your needs.
The place is cozy, well appointed, clean, secure, safe, quiet. The people at the reception, especially Wiwi are all great, and best of all the rates are affordable! Really an excellent find in Bangkok! You won't regret staying here!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
SEA Odyssey: Siem Reap Hostel Review
This place doesn't feel like a hostel, it has its own pool, billiards table, foosball table. The bar/restaurant is a good place to hang out and meet new people. I would suggest getting a private room for $10/person/night for 2 or 3 people/room. Water pressure is excellent. Wi-Fi gets weak on the 3rd floor, blackouts are common in Siem Reap (but not the hostel's fault), it usually lasts around 15 minutes. For 3 days, we only experienced 2 blackouts.
We also had a problem with our a/c (we stayed in room 303), it would act up and sometimes turn off by itself and didn't cool very well. Our friends in 304 had no issues with theirs.
Also, even though the hostel offered tours, we didn't book tours with them. We made plans with our tuk-tuk drivers, Shon and San whom we met at the bus station. I think it's better to make plans directly with the tuk tuk drivers, the possibility of getting ripped off is quite slim. We haggled the price down to $12/ tuktuk (hostel offered $15) to tour Angkor Wat temples, but we still gave the full $15 to our drivers afterwards.It's quite obvious that the people from Siem Reap need all the help they can get from tourists, and the people are so incredibly warm and friendly, so if you can afford it, please feel free to be generous.
Overall a great place to stay in, would recommend to friends.
We also had a problem with our a/c (we stayed in room 303), it would act up and sometimes turn off by itself and didn't cool very well. Our friends in 304 had no issues with theirs.
Also, even though the hostel offered tours, we didn't book tours with them. We made plans with our tuk-tuk drivers, Shon and San whom we met at the bus station. I think it's better to make plans directly with the tuk tuk drivers, the possibility of getting ripped off is quite slim. We haggled the price down to $12/ tuktuk (hostel offered $15) to tour Angkor Wat temples, but we still gave the full $15 to our drivers afterwards.It's quite obvious that the people from Siem Reap need all the help they can get from tourists, and the people are so incredibly warm and friendly, so if you can afford it, please feel free to be generous.
Overall a great place to stay in, would recommend to friends.
SEA Odyssey: Velkommen Guesthouse Review (Phnom Penh)
Phnom Penh was just a part of a 10 day, 5-city SE Asian tour, so we could only spend one night here. We arrived by 3PM, Gavin offered one of the suites with a balcony view, but we opted to still get 2 rooms so we could have 2 bathrooms for our group of 5. Since, we had limited time in Phnom Penh, we didn't want to spend most of it, waiting on each other. :)
Gavin upgraded one of our rooms to a triple, and it was huge! There were 3 double beds but we still had enough room to move around. The a/c was a little weak but there was a fan to compensate for this. Beds were firm and comfortable, rooms were clean and they had their own restaurant/bar (Lazy Lizard) which offered great food, and a very relaxed atmosphere. We had a good time just lounging about and enjoying the $1 draft Angkor beer.
We also arranged our bus tickets to Siem Reap through the hotel, I only wish there were options as to what bus company would be used. We paid $10, but would gladly pay more for more comfortable travel/bus arrangements. The bus we used was unbearably hot, and stopped often. It made the 7 hour trip to Siem Reap more uncomfortable than it needed to be.
Tip: It's cheaper to arrange tours to Russian Market, Tuol-Seng and Killing Fields through he guesthouse ($15). But feel free to make arrangements with other tuk-tuk drivers if you want to explore other areas.
Aside from the clean and spacious rooms, good food, relaxed atmosphere and great location, Gavin and the staff of Velkommen guesthouse provided great service and made me want to stay longer. Would recommend this to anyone visiting Phnom Penh and will hopefully be able to stay here again.
Gavin upgraded one of our rooms to a triple, and it was huge! There were 3 double beds but we still had enough room to move around. The a/c was a little weak but there was a fan to compensate for this. Beds were firm and comfortable, rooms were clean and they had their own restaurant/bar (Lazy Lizard) which offered great food, and a very relaxed atmosphere. We had a good time just lounging about and enjoying the $1 draft Angkor beer.
We also arranged our bus tickets to Siem Reap through the hotel, I only wish there were options as to what bus company would be used. We paid $10, but would gladly pay more for more comfortable travel/bus arrangements. The bus we used was unbearably hot, and stopped often. It made the 7 hour trip to Siem Reap more uncomfortable than it needed to be.
Tip: It's cheaper to arrange tours to Russian Market, Tuol-Seng and Killing Fields through he guesthouse ($15). But feel free to make arrangements with other tuk-tuk drivers if you want to explore other areas.
Aside from the clean and spacious rooms, good food, relaxed atmosphere and great location, Gavin and the staff of Velkommen guesthouse provided great service and made me want to stay longer. Would recommend this to anyone visiting Phnom Penh and will hopefully be able to stay here again.
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