Media Magpie K.
Google
The short version is that it is very good and you should stay there.
For all the juicy details including some areas of improvement, keep reading.
The hotel has a unique feel, with the entrance decorated with stone walls in columns, curves, and circles. It blends features of a traditional Khmer house, a tourist beach house, and its French colonial foundations. The red-browns, cream, chocolate browns and dark reds inside the rooms give it a warm and comfortable atmosphere.
I stayed three nights in the Deluxe Double Room, complete with mezzanine bedroom up a spiral staircase. This allowed more room for a large desk to work at, and a sofa and coffee table which made it feel homier. The desk had ample electric sockets for devices.
Breakfast starts at 7 am and is available all day. I’ve never seen this anywhere else in Cambodia but what a great idea! They run a great restaurant, which is always busy, so why not?
Breakfast is impressive. The bacon is the best that I have had in Cambodia, and the addition of beans and bacon made for a fun cowboy breakfast. Anything with lime in the description tasted great including the lime marmalade. The crepes with lime and honey reminded me of the pancakes my mother used to make, so it was a nice trip down memory lane. The homemade jam was delicious. My compliments to the chef.
The location is good. There are great views of the riverside from the restaurant. You’re close to restaurants, cafes, ice cream vendors, shops, bars, and tourist information. You’re a short walk to the artificial beach, boat tours, and the night market.
I finally found my Holy Grail – a bathroom with a rung to hang the hand towel from, situated near the sink. Great! Unfortunately, no perfect though. There was not enough shelf space in the bathroom, and the water from the shower still goes on to the floor.
It’s dog-friendly, which is good because every man and his dog is in Kampot. There seems to be a lot of foreigners with pet dogs these days.
There were two air-conditioners in the room, and two fans. But there was no quilt on the bed. There is a very comfortable blanket in the wardrobe, but you’ll have to put it on yourself.
Ok, now for the juicy stuff…
Climbing down the stairs is not for the faint-hearted, especially since the first step down from the top is more than usual. If you are mobility impaired or afraid of heights, forget it.
The room really needs a reading lamp, so someone can read late at night without disturbing someone else trying to sleep on the bed (which is closer to the ceiling where the lights are).
The old safe took some getting used to. Some of the buttons either did not work or got stuck. There were not any instructions on the safe about how to use it.
You needed to sign into your own account to watch the TV. I would have liked to watch some free TV, and I hate signing in to my accounts on devices I have no control over. The hotel does provide free DVDs and a DVD player, which is a nice touch.
The chess board and other games have pieces missing. They’re obviously there to look at and not to really be played.
Laundry costs $2 per kg. If you walk outside and find a private business, you can get it for $1.
There is no gym or pool so, I can’t give it more than three-and-a-half stars, but sometimes, you don’t need this stuff. Sometimes it is good enough to get a comfortable room, nice food, in an interesting location to explore.
I’m definitely going back to the Rikitikitavi when I go back to Kampot. There is more to explore in the area for me, and this place seems like a nice oasis in all the excitement of the growing Kampot city.
