Mixed review for hotel in Phnom Penh

While visiting our son in Phnom Penh, my husband, Bill, and I stayed near the airport at the Cambodian Country Club & Hotel (Street 2004, Group 6 Toeuk Thla, Russey Keao district, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; phone 023 885 591 or 592 — club membership is not necessary to stay here), which I found on the Internet.

The price per night was about $56 for a double or $50, single. We were there nearly three weeks, Nov. 4-23, 2012.

The hotel building had about 25 big rooms, all with balconies but no views; they overlooked vacant lots, trash heaps and urban farms. But the rooms were nice and kept very clean.

The restaurant consistently served the worst food I’ve ever encountered on a regular basis. It was overcooked and dried out, like they had cooked it the previous week and kept it warm ’til it was ordered.

There was a huge, clean, beautiful pool, a horseback ring for lessons, tennis courts, volleyball courts, handball courts and badminton courts. A special kids’ section was under construction.

The pool really called to me and was my daily sanity in this filthy, traffic-choked and generally unpleasant city. The grounds were nicely landscaped, with many plants, and the staff was very helpful and nice.

FLORENCE DRAKE
Readfield, ME