Being budget travellers, we were swayed by the low price. Although my girlfriend and I never felt that unsafe, being drunk might have had something to do with it , we did feel a little on edge coming back to the room at night. Strange men stand on the corners of the road outside, on both sides. Not talking to each other, but also not looking like they aren't together, either. Every night this happened. And while they never bothered or said anything to us, I wouldn't like to be a lonesome traveller particularly a woman making my way back to this room late at night.
On our last night, we spotted an American man with a prostitute on the communal balcony before we went into our room. We were then kept awake all night by the resulting dispute over pay, the man shouting over the balcony - describing the next prostitute he wants to 'have', and his equally horrible Australian friend who joined him, talking about his drug abuse and also the 'unexpected' assault he had just suffered by the hands of other prostitutes.
Both men had been robbed and humiliated and I couldn't think of a more deserving couple. I actually Googled whether prostitution was legal in Cambodia it's not , because everyone was so brazen about I actually Googled whether prostitution was legal in Cambodia it's not , because everyone was so brazen about it. The door staff to the hotel had no problems letting the prostitutes in, so long as they had ID. You want more?
The staff were rude and unaccomodating, there wasn't even a cover on the bed, and there were bugs on the bed. The only good thing is, I guess, a lot of interesting sight-seeing landmarks are fairly close to the hotel. Bright Lotus has attractively decorated and spacious clean en-suite rooms with air-con, fan and excellent cable TV. The location is also excellent with views of the Royal Palace.
This guesthouse is very good value, especially given the average prices in Phnom Penh are higher than is typical in SE Asia. We booked the double room with a corridor window, but the corridor is outside and faced the palace so this was a nice surprise. The pictures online did not do our room or the room next door justice, as they are bigger and cleaner than the look in the pictures Room and are the only rooms I can comment on.
