Siem Reap or Phnom Penh?

[emiel1981]

Looking into short side-trip next month when I booked to go to Bangkok. My holiday will be 3 weeks, starting and ending with about 5 days Bangkok. But for the week in between my Bangkok days I am looking to go somewhere else. Probably going to Kuala Lumpur and Malacca for few nights, and still have few nights (only 3) left in my itinerary. So... for these 3 nights... If you had to choose between spending them in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh? What would you choose and why?

I've been to both places before, so I've visited the hotspots in both cities. In doubt about where to stay for the best vibe, availability of boys, etc etc for this short visit.

Trip report of @roughjock (see below) already gave some information. Happy I've read in his trip report that Plantation Hotel in PP does not allow guests, as I was looking into booking this hotel. Did not realise hotels in Cambodia might be having a problem with bringing boy to room. Mainly because I stayed in gay hotels before (MEN's and Arthurs & Paul). But also about these hotels I am in doubt now. Mainly because of location (not walking distance to city center / (gay)bars  and for A&P also because of the rates. But on the other hand; staying there makes finding boys more easy and if not lucky hooking up at in-house sauna or apps, you can go for massage in these hotels and see what happens...

 

 

[vinapu]

Since I'm on the bus between two as we speak I may be able to say something in few days.

I stay there before in Saravoan Royal Palace, OK Boutique and OK Palace hotels , brought visitors ar various tines of day and night and never had any issues with that.This time will be trying two new places ans we will see how it goes

[Enchanted_Elixir]

I would suggest you consider Phnom Penh. Sun and Moon hotel which is right beside Space Hair Bar, short distance to Paradise massage and a tuktuk ride to Hatha Khmer massage or Ah Ram Massage. 

Note that PP is less commercial than Bangkok and that while you have host bars you may not be able to off anyone after hours.

Siem Reap is far more touristy and more expensive compared to PP. My experience of the massage shops there is one where the masseur would constantly try to renegotiate tips.

[macaroni21]

18 hours ago, vinapu said:

Since I'm on the bus between two as we speak I may be able to say something in few days.

I did the bus thing many years ago, but what recall about it was that there was no phone signal almost the length of the route (6 hours, if I recall correctly). I am intrigued that you're posting this "on the bus"... Have things improved?

[Olddaddy]

19 hours ago, vinapu said:

Since I'm on the bus between two as we speak I may be able to say something in few days.

I stay there before in Saravoan Royal Palace, OK Boutique and OK Palace hotels , brought visitors ar various tines of day and night and never had any issues with that.This time will be trying two new places ans we will see how it goes

Your on the bus in Cambodia 🇰🇭 

Can I come too ?

 

[Olddaddy]

🎶🎶If you leave me ...can I come too 🎶🎶

[emiel1981]

On 2/3/2026 at 9:59 AM, vinapu said:

Since I'm on the bus between two as we speak I may be able to say something in few days.

Nice! How long is that bus ride? I travelled by plane the few times I went from PP so SR (or the other way).

Waiting for your up to date inside info about PP and SR.

[macaroni21]

1 hour ago, emiel1981 said:

Nice! How long is that bus ride?

Haha  🤣  Maybe he's still on the bus, and without phone signal, can't tell us.

[Olddaddy]

6 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

Nice! How long is that bus ride? I travelled by plane the few times I went from PP so SR (or the other way).

Waiting for your up to date inside info about PP and SR.

There is plenty of up to date info in other forums

, sounds like you expect someone else to be compelled to give it you 

 

[floridarob]

2 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

sounds like you expect someone else to be compelled to give it you 

😆😆😆😆😆

From the king of asking for info 

[emiel1981]

On 2/5/2026 at 9:15 PM, Olddaddy said:

sounds like you expect someone else to be compelled to give it you 

New up-to-date information and opinions are always welcomed, besides all (older) info already available on this forum.

[vinapu]

On 2/3/2026 at 8:28 PM, Enchanted_Elixir said:

 

Note that PP is less commercial than Bangkok and that while you have host bars you may not be able to off anyone after hours.

 

As I just retuned from there I humbly and in most polite way  submit they my extremely recent experience suggest you may not be entirely correct. 

[vinapu]

On 2/4/2026 at 10:43 AM, macaroni21 said:

I did the bus thing many years ago, but what recall about it was that there was no phone signal almost the length of the route (6 hours, if I recall correctly). I am intrigued that you're posting this "on the bus"... Have things improved?

Indeed they did.  My airport purchased SIM card worked everywhere including bus, Sky Bar on Morgan Tower in Phnom Penh and Phnom Bok temple which is located atop of quite sizable mountain between Siem Reap and Mt. Kulen. 

[vinapu]

On 2/4/2026 at 11:33 AM, Olddaddy said:

Your on the bus in Cambodia 🇰🇭 

Can I come too ?

 

Bit too late as I already left Cambodia but  yes, you could I join me on the bus as it was free seat beside me. I'm sure our conversation would be of great interest to fellow passangers, specially that I'm not exactly whisperer and assume neither are you. 

[vinapu]

On 2/5/2026 at 3:48 AM, Olddaddy said:

🎶🎶If you leave me ...can I come too 🎶🎶

Singing in the rain..... 

[vinapu]

On 2/5/2026 at 8:49 PM, emiel1981 said:

Nice! How long is that bus ride? I travelled by plane the few times I went from PP so SR (or the other way).

Waiting for your up to date inside info about PP and SR.

I splurged 25 USD on 1st class bus, it took 5 hrs 20 mins including about 30 mins stop half way and another 10 mins toilet break on the way. Apologies  for not responding you querry  sooner for what bkkmfj scolded me yesterday whe we met for a dinner in that famous family destination Pattaya. 

I found airfares between two unreasonably  high for little of time saving. It took 6hrs 30 from time I was picked up from my  hotel in SR by bus company van( free shuttle to bus station ) to a moment I opened door I my PP hotel. 

Flying would take 1 HR to get to airport, at least 1 hr in the airport, 1hr flight and 1 hr to get to the city so no more than 2.30 hrs time saving for 100$ more at least. He I was preparing for the trip SR-PP price was 20$ more than what I paid for PP - BKK ticket. 

I hate typing on my f..... g tablet it's why my presence  here is somewhat limited, not to mention normal and "usual" travel activities. 

[vinapu]

On 2/6/2026 at 3:15 AM, Olddaddy said:

There is plenty of up to date info in other forums

, sounds like you expect someone else to be compelled to give it you 

 

Daddy, be nice, OBN as I used to tell my students. For curious  OBN stands for " otherwise broken neck" 

[vinapu]

12 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

New up-to-date information and opinions are always welcomed, besides all (older) info already available on this forum.

Don't worry, Daddy was not serious, he likes to inflame us up. 

[Enchanted_Elixir]

33 minutes ago, vinapu said:

As I just retuned from there I humbly and in most polite way  submit they my extremely recent experience suggest you may not be entirely correct. 

Good! Things change fast. It is not good to cling to customs and opinions of yesteryear.

[vinapu]

7 minutes ago, Enchanted_Elixir said:

Good! Things change fast. It is not good to cling to customs and opinions of yesteryear.

It could be bit of  good luck on my side and proper star alignenent but yes, things worked up. Thanks God an atheist would add. 

[Travelingguy]

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

Flying would take 1 HR to get to airport, at least 1 hr in the airport, 1hr flight and 1 hr to get to the city so no more than 2.30 hrs time saving for 100$ more at least. He I was preparing for the trip SR-PP price was 20$ more than what I paid for PP - BKK ticket. 

I did the same math when I heard you were on this bus and came to a similar conclusion.

[Travelingguy]

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

I hate typing on my f..... g tablet it's why my presence  here is somewhat limited, not to mention normal and "usual" travel activities.

Use the dictation function. I try to type as little as possible. Just for the corrections.

[Keithambrose]

7 hours ago, vinapu said:

Indeed they did.  My airport purchased SIM card worked everywhere including bus, Sky Bar on Morgan Tower in Phnom Penh and Phnom Bok temple which is located atop of quite sizable mountain between Siem Reap and Mt. Kulen. 

And the local SIM is so cheap $5.00!

[emiel1981]

8 hours ago, vinapu said:

I hate typing on my f..... g tablet it's why my presence  here is somewhat limited, not to mention normal and "usual" travel activities. 

I can understand that. For example, I often read the forum on my phone, but wait until I'm at my computer to write a reply or message. There are also several forum members who only write their trip reports here on the forum after their trip, upon returning home. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

8 hours ago, vinapu said:

Apologies  for not responding you querry  sooner for what bkkmfj scolded me yesterday whe we met for a dinner in that famous family destination Pattaya. 

My post about "how long is the bus ride?" wasn't meant as a comment on why haven't you written anything yet. It was a serious question about how long the bus ride takes. But I can imagine it could be interpreted differently.

[emiel1981]

And back to the question I started this thread with: Siem Reap or Phnom Penh?

I've managed to arrange my itinerary so that I stay three nights in both cities. Problem solved. It's been a few years since I've been to Cambodia, so I'm looking forward to going back.