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Not Luxe ☼ Travel
  • ABOUT NICK & RAYCHEL
  • WHY “NOT LUXE”
  • Cambodia
  • Australia
  • Travel
  • Teaching ESL
  • Move Abroad
  • Travel Insurance

hotels

    A local in Phnom Penh buys mangos from a tuk tuk

    Where to Stay in Phnom Penh : A Visitor’s Guide

    by Nick & Raychel February 12, 2019

    Whether you are staying in Phnom Penh for a simple layover, a short period, or a long period of time, you should be firstly be excited to visit the versatile and growing capital of Cambodia.

    We know arriving in the victorious capital can be overwhelming. Like any city you aren’t too familiar with, we know deciding where to stay during your visit can be the hardest part. We have lived in Cambodia for the past year and have compiled a list of your options to make this part a little easier for you.

    So, where should you stay in Phnom Penh? Let’s get to it.


    The Riverside (Doun Penh)

    If you’ve done a little bit of research on Phnom Penh, you have probably heard of “the riverside”. The riverside is, by far, the most popular area for tourists to stay in while visiting the city. Staying in this area is recommended if you don’t want to go for a long walk to find a great restaurant, bar or shop.

    Pros: Most blogs you’ll read will tell you this is where to stay in Phnom Penh. It’s close to bars, restaurants, shopping, the night market, and tourist attractions such as Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace, National Museum, and of course, the river. You can even book a boat for lunch or dinner on the river daily. Tuk tuk drivers are easy to come by, and it’s not hard to find another group of tourists or expats if you’re looking to socialize. Whether you are a luxe traveller or not, there is an accommodation for everybody – you can find guest houses for as low as $3.00/night (USD) and nicer hotels for up to $150.00/night (USD). 

    Cons: Being close to bars means you won’t always get a good night’s sleep, especially if you’re staying in a hostel. Although Cambodia is beautiful, it’s no secret that there is  rubbish on the streets and this is very obvious on the riverside. Also – we consider Phnom Penh to be a safe city, but the riverside can be one of the dodgier areas at night – so you’ll need to keep a good eye on your loose stuff (phones, long purses, etc.) and avoid the sketchy looking establishments.

    Commute + price from airport: Unless you’re a good bargainer, it should be no more than $9 USD by tuk tuk from the airport, and about a 45 minute drive depending on traffic.

     


    City Center (near Central Market)

    Pros: If you stay in this area, you’ll be close to Central Market which is a great visit. It also isn’t too far away from the riverside. There is a great western mall in this area if you want to go see a movie, and a small bar strip called Pub Street, also close to a popular tourist nightclub. You can even get late night pizza at the famous Katy Peri’s Pizza. There is many good higher-end hotels with pools in this area, along with AirBnBs. This area is also a little quieter than the Riverside or the Independence Monument, with still plenty of access to tuk tuks.

     

    Cons: This area isn’t as popular for hostels if you’re looking for a cheap stay. The night scene is existent, but not as bustling as other areas of the city. You will have to get in a tuk tuk to go anywhere else besides the mall or Central Market – although this restriction is very common for many areas of the city. Central Market is fantastic to visit – but you won’t get the best bargain here!

    Commute + price from airport: Unless you’re a good bargainer, it should be no more than $9 USD by tuk tuk from the airport, and about a 45 minute drive depending on traffic.

     


    Russian Market (Tuol Tom Pong)

    Pros: Russian Market is by far the least expensive area for expats and tourists alike to hang out and experience the Phnom Penh culture. Russian Market itself is a great place to find everything you need, from clothes to food, all at a great price. There are many interesting bars and restaurants around the area that are all accessible by walking around. Russian Market is also close to the very sad but very important attraction Tuol Sleng (the Genocide Museum). Many people book this as a part of a tuk-tuk tour, so you can skip the extra cost by staying in this area.   

    Cons: The streets near Russian Market can be very busy in the early evening on weekdays, as many people are buying groceries and it may be difficult to navigate through the streets. You will be a little far from the riverside and other tourist attractions, although this type of restriction is standard for many areas of the city.

    Commute + price from airport: Unless you’re a good bargainer, it should be no more than $9 USD by tuk tuk from the airport, and about a 45 minute drive depending on traffic.


    BKK1 / BK51 / Street 278 (Near Independence Monument)

    Pros: A popular area for both tourists and locals alike, this area near the Independence Monument is filled with great restaurants and bars. It really has a great mix of quick food, supermarkets, and nice restaurants. You’ll be close to the iconic Independence Monument, Wat Langka, and you’ll have tuk tuks right at your door to take you anywhere you want to go. It’s a great spot as you will avoid the dodgier vibes at the riverside, but still be close to nightlife. We consider this area to be very versatile as you can find cheap hostels and higher end hotels. Hint – many of the hotels in this area have pools that are accessible to not only guests, but also to the public for under $0-$5.

    Cons: Although you can avoid them, many of the restaurants are on the pricier side so if you’re a budget traveler, this might not be your best bet for food & drinks. Also – if you’re close to the popular nightclub Club Love, you may hear drunk tourists stumbling home late at night.

    Commute + price from airport: Unless you’re a good bargainer, it should be no more than $9 USD by tuk tuk from the airport, and about a 45 minute drive depending on traffic.

     


    Conclusion

    Staying close to the tourist attractions is not such a bad thing to do in Phnom Penh. Unless you’re familiar with the city, some of the rural areas might be more difficult to navigate and access.

    Thinking of moving to Phnom Penh? Check out our article Moving to Cambodia? Here’s our guide.

     

    Tired of reading? Find our Youtube videos on all-things-Cambodia here.

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Nick & Raychel
Nick & Raychel

In 2018, we sold everything we owned and moved to Cambodia to teach English.

Let’s make this clear: this journey didn’t start with money. This journey started with a desire to see the world and to do something different for a change.

We’re not going to fool you with photos of floating breakfasts and private jets. We know what it’s like to be on a budget. Although we like to take pretty pictures, we aren’t going to wake up at an ungodly hour to give you unachievable travel jealousy. We aren’t going to censor ourselves or lie to you.

What we are going to do is stay in cheap hostels, find ways to make money, give the advice that we would want to hear, and share our experiences with you honestly.

Are you in?

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ABOUT NICK & RAYCHEL

About Us Hi! We’re Nick & Raychel, the Canadian travel couple behind the brand ‘Not Luxe’. Far before we were married (and on a mission to see the world), we were working…

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  • Every choice comes with sacrifice. We chose to use our money that we work for to travel, and we continue to make that choice every day.

But making that choice means we haven’t been able to do other things that another 30 year old couple would maybe do. We sold our car, all of our things, we don’t have a stable place to live, we haven’t started a family, we don’t own a home.

We work overtime to afford our travels, and we have very little money for anything else. 

And of course, we must acknowledge that we have huge amounts of privilege to even be able to make that choice. Our strong passports allow us to see much of the world, we were born into a country where our currency is valued worldwide, and we always have a friend or family member’s couch to crash on if we need it.

So this post is not meant to complain, rather show: everything comes with a sacrifice - and if you’re considering giving up your stable life for full-time travel, there may be some things you have to leave behind.

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

__

Tags: #notluxe #traveltips #budgettravel #cheaptravel #budgettraveltips  #girlslovetravel #travelgram #getoutstayout #livetoexplore #travelblogger #canadiancreator #vancouverblogger #vanlifesociety #vanlifediaries #traveldiaries
  • We’ve lived on 3 continents by travelling slow and working when we end up 🫶🏼

& somehow our travels brought us back to our home city for the summer this year for the first time in 6 YEARS! Damn.

But we’ve said it once and we’ll say it a trillion times, we will do almost a n y t h I n g in the name of travel.

Any questions?

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

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Tags: #notluxe #traveltips #budgettravel #cheaptravel #budgettraveltips #gapyear #travelgirls #travelgirlsgo #girlslovetravel #travelgram #granolagirl#getoutstayout #livetoexplore #travelblogger #vanlifeculture #vanlifediaries #vanlifeideas #liveoutdoors #vanlifeliving #vanlife #homeiswhereyouparkit #tinyhome #canadiantravel #ohcanada #canadiancreators
  • If you want to live in a van in 2023/2024, here is our roadmap for getting started with van life. 

⇾ Embrace minimalism and downsize your possessions

⇾ Research different van options that fit your lifestyle and budget

⇾ Set a realistic budget for your van purchase or build

⇾ Plan your layout and storage needs

⇾ Learn about solar power and sustainability

⇾ Source materials and supplies for your build - you can learn on YouTube

⇾ Talk to insurance companies and classify your van as a motorhome

⇾ Download iOverlander and create a budget for your travels

⇾ Connect with the van life community and attend meetups

⇾ Hit the road and embrace the freedom of van life 

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

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  • How much I spend in a day living *basically* rent-free in Vancouver 

As many of you know, we live in a van, but we also do housesitting with @trustedhousesitters 

Transit with a compass card is $2.50 which I use frequently - especially to visit my parents who also live in Vancouver 

This day we checked out To Live For Bakery @tolivefor.bakery which I highly, highly recommend to anyone who is cruising through the city and ends up on Nanaimo 

Also popped by @welksonmain for some N/A drinks from  @sobercarpenter & @getgruvi 

And our Trusted Housesitters membership is $11/mo totalling $0.38 for rent per day

& the one day total was $18.23 

Any questions?

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

Tags: #notluxe  #vanlifeculture  #traveldiaries #travelgram #livetoexplore #vanlifeculture #budgettravel #worktotravel #traveljobs #travelblogger #vandwelling #discovercanada #vancitylife #bcadventure #canadiancreator #vancouverfoodie #veganfoodie #outdoorsycreator #minimalism #housesitting
  • Things we would have never done if we had listened to ✨ fear ✨(and these are just a few)

• quit our jobs to teach English in Asia
• sold everything we owned (twice) 
• moved to a country we’d never been to before (twice)
• converted an old ambulance into a tiny home with no experience
• drove from Canada to Mexico in our van 
• met up with people from the internet and became best friends 

But mostly, taken a chance on ourselves.

We do our best to not let fear or the opinions of others lead the way. 

Do you have any to add?

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

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  • Is van life really cheaper than renting? Van life costs vs. monthly expenses living in an apartment.

Not to mention the average price in Vancouver now is $2,700 - so not sure where we’d find that $1,300 rental anymore.

Any questions about van life?

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

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