Name: Independence Hotel by Dara
Address: Street 2 Thnou Sangkat Khan Mittapheap, 3, Sihanoukville, 1800, KH

8/10

Excellent

01 Jul 2026

greg

The elevator down to beach was under maintenance had to use stairs. Little hard on my knees

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2026

wilma

Clean room, friendly and helpful staff, beautiful beach view, great complimentary breakfast

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 May 2026

James

Great place. Will come back again. Family friendly.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

21 Jan 2026

Tom

Staff was amazing. Super friendly very helpful.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Nov 2025

Mark

The room and staff were great

8/10

Excellent

26 Jan 2025

Stephen

Room was very nice, restaurant was very good. The pools seemed to have a scum line around the waters edge

Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 Jan 2025

Arthur

private but old

Great location with its own private beach and surrounding area which makes it good for not having to leave the hotel. 2 pools and lots for space to do activities including table tennis, pool etc.

The hotel is old and needs a disparate makeover to bring into the modern world. The rooms are big and mostly clean.

Not sure if it was quite season but hardly anyone around (staff included).

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

10 Dec 2024

David

Amazing room
Staff as attentive and personable
Hotel feels a little tired though.Like myself to be honest
Think i migh be beyond a bit of refurbishment and a coat of paint

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

01 Dec 2024

Jeremy

Not truly luxury. Good breakfast buffet.

The hotel is basically good. And the breakfast buffet is great. But in the first room they gave me, the bathroom smelled of raw sewage. They gave me a second room when I asked, but that room did not have hot water. I didn’t ask for yet another room change since I was leaving the next day anyway.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

28 Nov 2024

Vanny

Great piece of history.

Business_and_leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

28 Nov 2024

Michael

The property was an oasis from the city with amazing views. The perfect Hideaway after taking tours outside the city. Staff was friendly and attentive. The food was good and the villas were top-notch.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Nov 2024

ALINA

Good Place

10/10

Exceptional

21 Aug 2024

Poly

Very nice and nature’s love. My second time staying there. Love this place.

Business_and_leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jul 2024

michael

Loved the location , property is tucked away , hotel is older but it’s a classic , views from room were awesome and pools are great !

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jul 2024

Audrey

The property is beautiful especially the Ocean Pool…you have access to the pool and beach simultaneously…the food from Sunset Restaurant was delicious, tasty and hot while the pool food was cold and insipid…not sure why! The drinks were great but need more alcohol…Happy Hour was on every day…breakfast was on par…cordial and professional employees…they were real polite and on point. Housekeeping was always timely and helpful. They only need to spruce up the landscape…Overall it’s a great place to stay.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2023

Darci

60’s chic! Does not look as old as it is. Loved the pools and the workout room. Buffer and room service food was delicious! I highly recommend it

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2022

Mapp,

Love the beautiful gardens. Friendly staffs. The hotel is old and not well kept. The window facing the ocean needs cleaning. The A/C air filter needs cleaning/replacement, because we started getting sinus after two nights from the dust blowing from dirty filter. Hotel could use a fresh new paint job.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Feb 2022

Christopher

Great

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

19 Mar 2020

Verified traveler

We loved the friendly staff and the pool was the best feature. We had booked a pod room but on arrival were given a twin in the main building, we were happy with this so did not mention it to the staff.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Dec 2019

DAVID

Relaxing stay without TV

TV not working, otherwise excellent

Partner

4/10

Poor

18 Jul 2019

HONG

WiFi is too slow and I got an uninvited visitor

4/10

Poor

27 Jun 2019

Holly

There were several power cuts during the night. The problem was that all of the lights in the room would turn on when the power came back on. It made for a terrible night’s sleep. Other members of my party had the same problem in their rooms too. The ground floor terrace door didn’t lock. The room was very damp. Rising damp visible on the walls. Mould throughout.

Business Self

8/10

Excellent

21 Apr 2019

Michael

The resort is nice, but for the price I'd like to see better service. Always had to ask 3 times in restaurants and reception on just the basics.... a fork, tuk tuk, a beer...

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

16 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

The property has a big potential and the infinite pool is great. However it looked more like a ghost hotel, few staff visible. We arranged in advance 2 paid options : honeymoon decoration and pick up. The driver was 35 min late for the pick up. No one helped to take the bags when we arrived with the taxi (other hotels had staff at the door especially when a pick up is arranged). They forgot the honeymoon decoration (even if it was on the sheet describing our reservation) but at least they did not charge for it.
The food was ok. The hotel is isolated from the city but you will not necessarily enjoy the city with all the construction. Staff does not really greet people. It looks like the staff itself stopped believing in the hotel. It is like a old memory from the past. In summary, deceptive experience, expensive price for an average service compared to the 3 other hotels we stayed in Cambodia.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

07 Feb 2019

PoeticJustice

I’ll start with the pros: one of the best ocean pools out there and great gym facility and beautiful state in general. Unfortunately the cons way outweigh the pros. It’s a super dated hotel(1963) without proper maintenance. A lot of mold in our room ( I had a sea pavilion room) and the bathroom smelled disgusting. Cleaning staff apparently didn’t receive proper trainings and breakfast is disappointing too. Overall won’t recommend. The hotel is overrated and overpriced due to the ocean pool.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

11 Jan 2019

Fabienne

- not very clean rooms
- staff cant speak very good english
- we said them to order a taxi for the next day, we had to be on the airport early, they forget it...
- food choise is limited
- they were overbooked and we had to go to another room than we booked for the first night. After the night we had to change.
- a lot of dirt in the room, and a lot of death and alive insects
- over all its not worth that price

8/10

Excellent

26 Dec 2018

Terry

Nice pool and staff but a little bit far from city.

4/10

Poor

20 Sep 2018

Henry

Old and running down. Far from main building .

A lot of facilities are out of order in room. It was raining when I check in, the floor to the building was full of elgie . Almost slipped on to the floor. No maintenance. No inspection by management . Bathroom with big planter boxes and plants. Non hygienic. Balcony with dirts

8/10

Excellent

13 Sep 2018

Sanchit

Great room, great amenities, okay service.

Got the eco pod room and it was great. The room was well kept and looked clean. The swimming pool near the ocean along with the sunrise cafe were great spots to hangout and soak in the view. Great place to stay, although the staff could use a little bit of training.

2/10

Poor

05 Aug 2018

David

Don’t stay here

Downgrade this hotel. Bad maintenance , bathroom smelt garden a state, packed with large tour groups. Just terrible in a potentially good location. Don’t book this place

Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jul 2018

Queenie

A little expensive, considering newer hotels popping up nearby, but it’s my favorite hotel in Sihanoukville. Infinity pool that opened about a year ago needs preventative and regular cleaning to prevent algae from forming.

6/10

Pleasant

12 Jul 2018

World

I lived in Phnom Penh for several years and have stayed at the Independence Hotel since 2013. Just for the fun of it, I have tried other hotels in the area over the years. Independence Hotel remains to be my favorite, in spite of its flaws. I just wish they’d give me a discount for guest loyalty; other hotels do it. When I arrived at the hotel, I was told I would be staying at the 7th floor, possibly because just a week previous I stayed on that floor. Because rooms on the 7th floor are smaller and have no separate rain shower, I asked for a different room. They said they had only one other room available: an upgraded room on the 2nd floor. I guess I could live with a view with trees instead of ocean for one night. They welcomed me to take a look. The room was indeed, huge and beautiful, but the view was horrible: A wall and hotel roof! Who wants to look at a wall and a roof??! It was unsightly to say the least.
An end unit room is great above the 2nd floor, but anything below that is not worth what they charge and should only be offered for $50 year round. I settled for the room on the 7th floor. (See my review for the 7th floor on June 11, 2018.).

8/10

Excellent

04 Jul 2018

Sila

Still same classic hotel from the 60's

Third time visit (second time was May 2017, first time was in 1970).
Loved it and will always love it, for the nostalgic family memories.
Hotel is growing old, but gracefully, upgraded with nice infinity pool reached via great walkway beachside, quiet private beach. Probably the last peaceful sanctuary, nicely isolated from the concrete jungle of megahotels/casinos, being constructed on daily basis all around.

8/10

Excellent

02 Jul 2018

Verified traveler

Great place to Relax

Nice resort and great setting. Beach and ocean pool great.

8/10

Excellent

30 Jun 2018

yannick

That pool is spectacular

Riight so where to begin,
The first room was nice and cozy and we settled in but realised it was very hot! So after 3 calls to the reception, eventually they moved us to another room, which was much bigger and nicer than the other one and the aircon worked really well! Bright and cozy and beautiful sea views!

The sunset restaurant is in a beautiful location Jsut next to the private beach! This is where they served the morning breakfast! Breakfast was pretty terrible! I mean damn I felt the need to go in the kitchen to show them how to make a poached egg! Or fried for that matter! I mean really the breakfast we only ate cause it was including in our hotel price! Never the less it was a beautiful location to start the morning, at least the croissant and pain au chocolats were awesome with their home made jams!
The pool is exactly how it looks in the photo if not better! Absolutely stunning! Like best pool I’ve ever been too! Best thing about the hotel! The beach is nice if the water is calm which wasn’t our case, unfortunately we went during the somewhat rainy season! And the pier is beautiful!
We had a problem with the free shuttle bus town as they were meant to pick us up on the second stop back to the hotel in the evening, also there last bus for the night and they drove right past us and didn’t pick us up! We were pretty fuming, so we had to take a tuk tuk back to the hotel! The manager made up for it by organising an airport ride back for us! Which was really nice

2/10

Poor

29 Jun 2018

Maru

Horrible..

My booking did not match the room offered on the Expedia side. Bed was dirty. Poor English spoken staff, food horrible, hotel is dirty, I got sick and requested some pills and they could not offer

4/10

Poor

18 Jun 2018

Naimo

Not worth the money

This hotel is in desperate need of a complete renovation and is outrageously expensive for what you get. DO NOT trust the photos posted by the hotel, completely inaccurate of the true condition of the facilities. Broken blinds, no hot water, algae in the beautiful pool, old furniture, bugs in the seaside restaurant. The food is sad and expensive. I left this hotel feeling completely ripped off. It’s a shame, it appears someone completely gave up on this hotel. The private beach and the Oceanside pathway give so much potential. Very said situation considering it’s historical and cultural significance.

8/10

Excellent

11 May 2018

Verified traveler

We stayed in one of the pods, which was great. Helpful and friendly staff.

10/10

Exceptional

05 May 2018

Gwen

Amazing infinity pool overlooking the sea! Enjoy a trip in the private elevator directly to the private beach! Room was so luxurious and spacious with an incredible bathroom. Great live music entertainment in the bar. Staff were very helpful. They even packed us a breakfast for our 7am train journey the next day.

8/10

Excellent

03 May 2018

Esdras

Good hotel - Food and location not that great!

We stayed at Eco-Pods which was funny and quirky. It was new and clean. They have pickup service from/to reception/room/restaurant/pool which is good. You can go walking but if you prefer just call the reception and they will be at your room in just minutes. The Ocean Pool is sensational. Stunning view watching the sunset on the sea relaxing at the pool.
Food let me down, it’s pricey for the quality. The hotel has 2 restaurants, Coral and Sunset. The second is better than first but still doesnt delivered an exceptional food. The deserts wasn’t our cup of tea (I’m a big desert fan). Icecream too sweet, cheesecake wasn’t great, black and white mousse was served frozen and the list goes on.
(Only the breakfast could save us. Lots of options and delicious mini cakes which could be served all day).
On top of that we couldn’t go anywhere else because the hotel is far from downtown. 20 minutes avarage by tuktuk.
The experience wasn’t the best for location and food.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 May 2018

Vanna

Nice hotel pods close to the beach

Love the pods. Nice infinity pool on the beach. Food was fair. Free shuttle to town was a nice touch. Cons, no shuttle was available to pick us up at the airport so we took a taxi to the hotel. A welcome drink would have been nice. Staff was not very helpful and gave us wrong information about the market place and time it was open. There are no excursions available.

6/10

Pleasant

24 Apr 2018

Jenifer

Hotel looks good in pictures but ....

This hotel is nice, but if your looking for service look elsewhere i found them to be consistently bad in customer service.
I stayed on two occasions in April 2018 - 1st time arrived late around 7.30pm check in was OK but staff did not seem very friendly and did not offer us anything on arrival after a 9 hour road trip to Sihanoukville a cool towel and a glass of refreshment would of been nice, we ended up in the Sunset Restaurant for dinner at 9pm we asked for a table of 6 only to find the waiter being difficult and saying but we close at 10 and we were getting the tables ready for breakfast. (again, something that a guest should not be hearing), we then found ourselves in the Coral Restaurant they served us dinner without an issue but possibly because we told them about our bad experience in the Sunset Restaurant. On our 2nd stay we arrive at 3.00pm check in time was 2pm we were told at reception our room was not ready and to wait in reception, 30 minutes later i requested the room key irrelevant of the cleanliness of the room as we again had been travelling and needed to rest, room was still being prepared when we entered - this is totally unacceptable for a hotel of this size to be treating guest like numbers our rooms were suites and the price of the room did not come cheap even for Cambodia. Just because Jaqueline Kennedy once stayed there does not make it a good Hotel - Customer Service and good amenities would go a lot further

8/10

Excellent

17 Apr 2018

andy

Hotel by the Beach

The hotel is good but could be made so much better with a little care and attention. As you arrive you will see a plaque proudly showing 5 stars 3 gold and two only outlined where the gold as fallen off this probably sums this hotel up, ten years ago when the paint was fresh and the gardens and rooms where perfect I would have had no hesitation in giving this hotel top marks ! .Having said that I would still go back as the positives such as the fantastic pool beach and location far out way the negatives sadly the same cant be said for Sihanouksville which is basically a garbage heap and completely spoiled by the influx of Chinese casino hotels.Whoever agreed to this should hang your heads in shame !!!

8/10

Excellent

03 Apr 2018

Mathilde

The Eco-pods are good-value

The ECO-pots are very good value.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

20 Feb 2018

Verified traveler

really nice beach, and location is quiet and relaxed
good value for money
unfortunately has not had any upgrades or renovations since it was initially built in the 1960's

6/10

Pleasant

01 Feb 2018

Blake

Average but BEAUTIFUL VIEWS

We enjoyed our stay. The newwe parts of the hotel were absolutely beautiful. Our room was pretty average, a little on the small side but the view makes up for the lack in space. Our only complaint about the room would be the water pressure. The best parts were the new private pool on the ocean and the private beach down the hill from the hotel. We were pleasntly surprised that our stay included breakfast. But otherwise the food was pretty average and slightly overpriced for quality and there was no variety between lunch and dinner menues so we ended up knowing the menue by heart after two meals. We were also farther from town then expected. Which was nice in the sense that things were quite and secluded. There was a free shuttle offered that dropped you off in town.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

17 Dec 2017

Karolina

Great potential but needs some improvements

I stayed in one of the pavillions so review based on that experience.

Positives:
Nice beach, nice location (away from the noise and dirt of the town), ocean pool, views from the room/hotel restaurant were stunning.

Negatives:
Not cheap for what it is. Breakfast buffet was exactly the same each day which if you stay for 8 days is too much. Some areas of the buffet look like health hazard (the various dressings/sauces being open in the heat and looked tired at 7:30 already). Dinners were a bit hit and miss.

The room. Given the hotel is located in a bit of a jungle be prepared that you will share the pavillion with bugs, ants and lizards. There was a gap between the door and the frame so the room was freely accessible to them. Also realised ordering food to room in the evening was a bad bad idea. while your food is delivered another bunch of insects get into your room as in the evenings the entrance door is covered with them. If l had known l would have booked a room in the main building - but you just don't know what to expect.

As other guests mentioned it seems to be past its best needing a bit of a refresh. In fairness l saw some progress just in the 8 days l was in the hotel.

Overall l enjoyed my stay but would have booked into the main building rooms to avoid all the jungle creatures.

6/10

Pleasant

08 Dec 2017

Verified traveler

Not very friendly staff.

My sister and I visited this hotel after staying at the Empress in Siem Reip. What a difference. The front desk was very unhelpful, the air conditioning did not work. We called maintence 5 times to get the issue fixed before we just gave up.

The shower was hand held only. Very uncomfortable. The beds were like rock. The food was about average. The grounds could stand a bit of maintence.

The efinity pool was wonderful, but don’t expect to get a drink brought to you. There may be six waiters hanging around the bar, but they didn’t move from that spot.

Overall, this hotel was not worth the price.

Sisters from Canada.

8/10

Excellent

05 Dec 2017

Kat

Love the infinity pool.

Very relaxing stay. Loved the huge infinity pool & bar. Wish there was a restaurant closer to the villas.

6/10

Pleasant

01 Dec 2017

Verified traveler

Beautiful pool

The resort is situated right on the beach and offers amazing views. The resort is not close to much shops and would be a good idea to have a mini mart on the resort otherwise you should stock up before you arrive. The hotel does offer a free shuttle into town at certain times through out the day.

The service however is average. We had a 2pm check in and arrived half an hour early.We were told to wait which we did not mind, however at 2.15pm the concierge did not bother to let us know that the room was still not ready nor did she apologise. Our room was not available until 2.30pm

The room came with a spa however the hot water ran out before the tub could fill up, the electricity turned off at random times during the day and the wifi would also drop out at times.

We did enjoy the spa massage at the resort with 40% off and the gym included great equipment. The two restaurants on the resort were nice also.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

20 Nov 2017

Laura

All in all this hotel wasn’t worth the price or the rating. Bathroom was dirty, mold. Shower did not get hot. Mattress was old and falling apart. Their outdoor restaurant and beach is beautiful and the service is good. But I was not happy with the room condition, although it was very spacious and modern, just didn’t feel clean enough.

4/10

Poor

18 Nov 2017

Verified traveler

Very average

Staff were rude and everything is overpriced. Alot of mould in the room too.

10/10

Exceptional

24 Oct 2017

Ravin

Best stay in Cambodia

Wonderful property with an excellent infinity pool, almost private beach and great food. We had the best stay in our trip across Cambodia

Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Oct 2017

Paul

Excellent resort, great staff and facilities

Excellent resort, great staff and facilities. Couldn't recommend highly enough!

Family

4/10

Poor

02 Aug 2017

Patrick

Poor location, no beach, bad value for money.

This is a dated hotel that tailors for Chinese tour groups, built in 60's, there is no beach close and its far from the town. Wouldn't recommend, checked out early. Also food in restaurants is poor value for money and below average at best. Wouldn't recommend this hotel at all.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

01 Aug 2017

Clyde

A nice quiet get away .

It was great to stay in a hotel that represented part of the area history. The service levels at hotel were outstanding. The settings at the hotel were relaxing and quiet.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jun 2017

Sila

classic old style hotel.

Bring back nostalgic memories of stay in the 60's.
Not much updated, except reception area. Walls could use new coat of paint.
But wonderful old style ambiance: would not trade for anything more modern.
Private long road entrance + good private beach section. Wonderful atmosphere.
Breakfast buffet is good: food choice fine, waiting staff excellent, old plates cleared instantly.

8/10

Excellent

06 Mar 2017

RALF

Pleasant beach holiday in Sihanookville

Lovely quiet and clean beach with great water just the right temp and waves not to harsh to cause any problems swimming, also limited waterskiing and hang gliding on inflatable boat available. Food and breakfast aere a variable feast and we ate mostly better and cheaper in town.
The hotel does not show its age of 54 years though one can see see photos of Jacqui Kennedy who stayed there in 1963,good wheel chair access to rooms and beach.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

03 Feb 2017

AB

Lacking that something

The Independence has the potential to be very good, however it lacks a lot of personal touch. Hotel room was very good, very clean and very comfortable. Breakfast was average, food same each day, every morning during our 5 day stay when we were offered tea or coffee a cup would be given to us but no milk or sugar on the table. The cup and saucer never had a tea spoon so I had to stir my coffee with a knife when I eventually got milk and sugar. It's these little things that matter when you have spent a large if amount of money to stay. The hotel grounds needs a lot of work. apart from the hotel entrance the rest is poorly maintained and could do with a fresh lick of paint. Beach is very nice and private.

8/10

Excellent

19 Nov 2016

Paul

Great facilities.

This hotel has great facilities including a glass elevator down to a private beach. It lacks the polish of a five star hotel but the views, pool, gym and private beach were all in that league at a very reasonable cost. The staff were friendly and helpful and although the hotel is 15 minutes from the town centre there is a free bus which will take and pick you up. If you pick this hotel you won't be disappointed.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

05 Oct 2016

Kevin

The Hotel is probably past it best but they are working on renovations at the moment. It has a lot of past history. The room was fine but it was a stop over on the way to Koh Rong Island. Breakfast was nice.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

26 Sep 2016

Damien

Nice enough but miles from town

Its generally a nice hotel but its miles away from anything...also we booked a sea pavilion (at extra cost) looking forward to nice views of the sea but we couldn't see it at all. There was renovations going on there so the restaurant was closed. If you want to chill, see very few people and do nothing for a few days it might suit you

Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 Aug 2016

Norb

A very nice hotel.

Nice staff and excellent service for that part of the world. Great value for food, in room dining and cocktails. They are insanely cheap compared to most resort settings eg: $2.00 beer in mini bar, $3.50 cocktails etc. Most room service meals averaged $12.00 pp USD.

The beach is small and well maintained. It was perfect for our stay during the off season. Dont expect the white sands and crystal clear water of the Caribbean, do expect intense sun and nice views. The nearby beaches are poorly maintained (consider where you are,) The town and markets are nearby; $5.00 via tuk tuk each way. Food is abundant, drinks are ridiculously cheap and there is plenty to see.

The hotel is performing renovation work so some facilities were unavailable.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Aug 2016

OLEG

Very good hotel

Very good hotel

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Aug 2016

L

Timeless Elegance in Mid-Century Architectural Gem

What a wonderful stay in our private villa overlooking the sea tucked away on an immense private property with 24-hour security far from the madding crowd that is downtown Sihanoukville. We are not the drink-till-the-wee-hours-in-a-bar demographic anymore, so very much enjoyed stepping fom our beautiful room into the Japanese-style soaking tub on our own private terrace surrounded by trees with the sound of the ocean waves breaking upon the shore while gazing at the stars sipping some bubbly and recounting our adventures of the day. Our room was beautifully decorated and had a separate spa bathroom with the tub and overhead rain shower in a glass-and-tile enclosed cube. We had the choice of walking to the main hotel for breakfast or calling for a \"buggy\" to come and pick us up. We also walked along the stone causeway to the private beach - too bad it was raining that day so we didn't swim or lay out on the lounge chairs. Instead we met friends for a light lunch at the on-site Sunset Terrace on the water's edge. This was a hotel our friend used to come to with his parents in the hotel's heyday, so it was lovely for him to revisit again. We were there in the low season and the hotel was in the midst of completing repairs and upgrades to the pool and main building, but we had a lovely time. We had an excellent night's rest, a good breakfast, and I can't wait to come back to this most beautiful oasis of calm and tranquility.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

25 May 2016

Judith

Too Expense For What You Goy

Room good size. Staff nice beach great pool had mould. Grounds unkept. Breakfast good.
Shuttle bus into town was good but as it was low season not very often.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Apr 2016

Carsten

Free shuttle

The hotel is located a little isolated, but with the FREE shuttle it was no problem coming around. The drivers were so helpful...

10/10

Exceptional

09 Mar 2016

John & Candace

Classic 60's icon updated

Well run spacious facility. We stayed in a room literally 20 feet from the sea lapping us to sleep after witnessing gorgeous sunsets. Excellent food and all staff were friendly and helpful. Almost everyone spoke at least some English and American dollars are the currency of choice, which made it easy for us American travelers. Beautiful white sand private beach with great swimming and lounging. We would go back in a heart beat.

10/10

Exceptional

10 Feb 2016

Verified traveler

Relaxing hotel with a great service

Exceptional service..great facility .. amazing resort with some great service.
We were really not expecting much as it is a remote and spread across resort. But it surprised us on all counts.
Very clean.. efficient and tons of staff...
Restaurant at the beach has really good food and chef also twisted menu as per our demand.
Beach is excellent and clean.
Will highly recommend it and it really delivers to your expectations and money.

8/10

Excellent

01 Jan 2016

Nathalie

Nice hotel on a private beach

Nice hotel, on a great private beach. It feels remote and quiet but there are small restaurants on the beach nearby and you are not totally isolated in your resort. Dowtown Sihanouk ville is about 10 minutes by tutuk.
We stayed for 5 days with 2 teenagers and we all loved it. Our 2 rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable.

Family

8/10

Excellent

28 Dec 2015

kon

Old but still good!

Old but still good ...
In room tv could b bigger!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Dec 2015

Karyn

Lovely and relaxing

This resort is a great place to stay for a relaxing respite. Great food and a free shuttle into town. We would stay here again.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Dec 2015

Madison

Relaxing and private.

I give this hotel 4.5 stars. I would give them 5 stars, however, they did not make me aware of their free breakfast buffet. I was not told about it at all and found it on my own one morning while looking for my boyfriend. There aren't any signs leading you to where it's at either, so it's not exactly an easy find. This hotel is more expensive than the other hotels I stayed at while in Cambodia, so to get a freebie like the breakfast buffet would've been nice.

Beyond the breakfast issue, everything here was perfect. The staff here are great and are overly helpful. I read previously that others had an issue with them not being able to speak English fluently, but this was not an issue for me. Also, they have someone who isn't Cambodian (a European woman) working there, so she is able to assist you if you're having trouble understanding the rest of the staff.

I loved this hotel mainly because of the cleanliness and the private beach. I was able to relax and enjoy the beach without being hounded or feeling uncomfortable with others staring at me in my swimsuit. Everyone is busy minding their business and enjoying the sun. It was definitely a perfect, romantic get away for my boyfriend and I.

One thing to be aware of while coming here is some of the areas on the beach. One morning while on the beach, I decided to be a bit difficult and walk by my jumping from rock to rock to avoid getting my feet extra sandy. When I walked over near the stairway that gets you up and down to the

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

31 Jul 2015

Verified traveler

Good hotel for relaxing by the pool or on the beac

The hotel itself was nice but lacked atmosphere. There was no music to soften the mood and feel like you were on a tropical holiday and the staff rarely smiled. Good but could be a lot better. Sihanoukville itself seems more like a young persons hang out to just sun bake and drink cheap alcohol.

8/10

Excellent

26 May 2015

Shabbir

Nice resort hotel

Very hospitable staff. Food in restaurant not so great

Partner

8/10

Excellent

13 Apr 2015

craig

April 2015

Great hotel but area can be a little noisy but worth overlooking that

Family

6/10

Pleasant

28 Mar 2015

Verified traveler

smile say hello and be friendly

We had a fantastic time.
but the service is terrible.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2015

Eleonora

Coctails too expensive

The only bad point would be that there is not much alcohol in coctails. For that reason I would say that coctails there are way too expensive. Better go to downtown to drink...

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Mar 2015

Dennis

Great place with some small exceptions

This is a beautiful place. The beach is clean and the whole property is interesting from the sea side walkway to the monkeys that great you coming off the road. The room was comfortable. Two draw backs were that the room was not ready on time so we had to convince the security guards we belonged on the property with a baggage slip. Also, many rooms are not in the historic building you see in pictures but instead are in buildings that reminded me of condos in Florida.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

10 Jan 2015

Massimo

Good setting, great beach, slightly overpriced

We spent 5 days and enjoyed our stay. The room (the pavilion studio) was very nice, clean and with a great view of the sea. There were small issues with the fridge turned on but not cooling but a minor concern. We enjoyed our walks in the park and along the path on the sea going to the beach. The SPA is nice, excellent massage but overpriced at US$ 55 per 90 minutes!
The sunset restaurant was nice and good food (again overpriced) but the only negative review goes to the fact that they have 2 restaurants, 1 beach bar and 1 lounge bar but all serving the exact same menu. For a facility of this level one would expect greater variety. In addition, again considering the level at which this hotel is pitched, they should really do something about the level of English spoken by the staff which was very poor leading to complex communications with them be it at the restaurant or simply seeking advise from the reception. Otherwise, a great stay. We really enjoyed the beach.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 Jan 2015

Verified traveler

Loved the private beach

This is a great hotel with a nice beach and generally good food. The quality of customer service leaves a bit to be desired though.

8/10

Excellent

29 Mar 2014

Verified traveler

Fading elegance

Good experience. Genteel staff. Furniture could use some freshening but beach was great. Like every hotel in cambodia it needs better Airconditioning especially in public areas but all in all a good stay.

8/10

Excellent

20 Feb 2014

Jeanne

If you have to stay in Sihanoulkville

I don't normally stay in these kinds of places, I prefer smaller, simpler accommodation, but I had to stay in Sihanoulkville overnight and this place was very well located. The beach is nice and you can find local flavor just a walk down the shore to beachside restaurants. The breakfast buffet is generous and varied, yet a bit ho-hum. There is a beautiful restaurant on the coast with very good service and decent food.

10/10

Exceptional

16 Feb 2014

Daria

Excellent service

There's not much to write as everything was excellent =) The best buffet breakfast we have ever had. Delicious food at both beach and coral restaurants. Spacious rooms, excellent service, very friendly and helpful staff, small but nicely equipped gym. The hotel is a bit far from the downtown (10 min by bus) but we didn't mind that and besides, there's a free bus shuttle so you can't really complain =)

8/10

Excellent

13 Feb 2014

jad

Great Experience at the Independence Hotel

Our family (including 10 year old) had a very relaxing stay at the Independence Hotel. The staff was extremely helpful and accommodating. The private beach was well worth the extra cost as compared to other hotels, especially after spending time at Occheuteal Beach. Nice pool and excellent breakfast. Not too far at all from other \"touristy\" places. Only complaint was the bathroom - the shower spray soaked the floor no matter what we did and there some mold and poor lighting. Hotel was completely booked for Chinese New Year, but never felt crowded. Quiet atmosphere, beautiful views and wonderful experience. Would definitely recommend.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jan 2014

PKR

Beautiful beach

Beautiful setting; good service in the sunset restaurant and very comfy rooms. Beach is simply beautiful

Family

8/10

Excellent

05 Nov 2013

Krikri09

Amazing Service and Great Value for your Money

I loved this hotel. It had everything I was hoping for including a beautiful pool and beach, an amazing spa and gym, a selection of restaurants, a nice little shop, and on top of all that such wonderful service. The food was also amazing and the breakfast was included which we did not realize - and it was some of the best I have had in a long time. Downsides were that the hotel was under construction while we were there (the resort grounds were huge and seemed difficult to maintain), and that the hotel is located quite far from town. There is a free shuttle which was great to have but it only runs at certain times. I would absolutely recommend this place though and it was a great value for what we paid. For a family getaway it was paradise and I hope to return again someday!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Nov 2013

Verified traveler

Great location, FANTASTIC staff

This hotel is the perfect mix of price, location, and a fabulous staff. It's right in town and you can walk everywhere. The staff bent over backwards to help and the breakfasts were good. Our room was a little dark, but it was clean. They also had a fun rooftop bar.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

20 Oct 2013

Sarah

Nice private beach

This is a great hotel if you want a safe place away from the rather dodgy areas at the centre of Sihanoukville. The private beach is lovely, with no hawkers or beggars. The beach front restaurant has a lovely view - the green curry is to die for. The staff can't do enough for you. However, the feel of the hotel is rather old fashioned, and the rooms had a funny smell which was quite off-putting at times, although, I have to say, it wasn't bad enough to do anything about. There were tour organizers in the hotel, but their English wasn't good - they appeared to be catering for Russian guests. So, if you want to book tours and activities, you are best doing so in town.

8/10

Excellent

20 Aug 2013

David

Resort hotel with private beach

There is a lot of work going on to restore this hotel to its former glory. The facilities are pretty good, but the noise of the renovation work was a big distraction especially around the pool area. All of the rooms in the main building were being worked on meaning that all accommodation was in the 'new' building. These were pretty comfortable rooms, but it was a short walk to the main facilities which could be a bit risky given we were there in the rainy season. However, once there the staff were extremely friendly and attentive and the standard of food in both restaurants was excellent.

The room itself was a good size, but the beds are very firm and the plumbing was a bit noisy.

The hotel is rather remote from the town, but there are a few decent beach bars withing walking distance. Access to shops means a short tuk-tuk ride, but there are plenty of tuk-tuks available.

All in all, a good experience and really good value. Although the hotel was expensive by local standards it is still pretty cheap compared to an equivalent hotel in Australia.

8/10

Excellent

04 Jul 2013

Terry

Independence Hotel Review

Overall we were quite pleased with the hotel. On arrival our room was very hot and the air conditioner would not adjust to a comfortable temperature - however the Manager had the problem corrected and it was fine the following day. Also the fridge was very hot on the top and warm inside. This was also corrected. Thanks to Yin Yin who also came to farewell us as we left - and we liked that!

The service was quite good and the staff were friendly. We enjoyed the spa and the jacuzzi. The beach was clean and the swimming pool was very good.

The entrance and stairway to our 1st floor room was dirty looking and the large ashtray at the top of the stairs didn't appear to have been emptied during our 4 days there. We are non-smokers and find dirty ashtrays nauseating.

There was a golf buggy service to get us to and fro within the hotel precinct and this was very handy.

The sunset dining area was too hot for us and we had to spend each evening dining in the main restaurant. The staff tried to cool us with a fan in the sunset room but they were unable to keep the fan going - the electrical system was playing up and the air conditioner was also not working..

Having come to this hotel from an excellent hotel in Seam Reap we were generally disappointed by comparison.

I am not sure that we would stay here again as there seemed to be other options worth investigating.

6/10

Pleasant

29 Apr 2013

Verified traveler

Good hotel with the nice beach. Breakfast was ok but the hotel staff REALLY needs to learn how to clean. It looked like especially closet and bathroom area at Sea Pavillion have not been cleaned since the remodeling.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Apr 2013

Jerf

Great Little Resort

This is a wonderful little self-contained resort hotel, right on a private beach, with two restaurants (one on the beach) and a bar/lounge. There is a large outdoor swimming pool and a spa (free use of hot tub, sauna, steam bath, showers). There is a bar right on the beach connected to the restaurant that will serve you lunch/drinks at a shaded lounge chair. Their prices, like everything else at the hotel, are a bit high and when we went to order could not find anyone working there (a man was there previously but had left). We walked up the beach a bit and found a much cheaper place, so it was nice to have that option. The front desk staff was helpful in arranging transportation to the Vietnamese border for us (very comfortable private taxi) and in general was very accommodating. The main hotel restaurant was pretty nice, decent quality and value, though the staff, while plentiful, was a bit clueless. The included breakfast was excellent with a large selection, including a nice omelet station, and good service - coffee refills at your table, for example.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

09 Apr 2013

MW

Comfortable and peaceful Hotel

Thought its a bit far from town centre and Ochheuteal Beach area, there is a free shuttle services travel to and from the hotel. Nice services.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

19 Mar 2013

Gallagher

A disappointing experience

The room, the grounds were very nice but the staff were particularly unhelpful. The Independence caters mainly to large tour groups and they clearly were not interested in two more tourists. The food at the restaurant was also quite disappointing.

6/10

Pleasant

13 Mar 2013

Marie

Independence Hotel in Sihanoukville, Cambodia

The room was fantastic but the staff were not very helpful. They are used to dealing with large tour groups and were clearly not interested in helping us solve problems, such as transportation. The food at the hotel restaurant was also disappointing.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2013

r1

Great stay at great hotel

The hotel was great with beautiful views all around. I enjoyed staying there with my wife. There is an elevator that brings you from the hotel, straight to the beach. One time I noticed that it broke, with people in it, I notified the staff and they ran out there without thinking twice to rescue the passengers. Most of the staff was courteous and willing to help, whereas, on one occasion, I was brought the bill while lounging at the pool 3 times. I felt this was disrespectful. Since this is my only complaint about the whole experience, I give this hotel and experience superb, and highly recommend staying here.

8/10

Excellent

16 Jan 2013

Michael

Lonely location

I've booked two rooms in this hotel, highly recommend Premier Villa instead of See View. Breakfast is good. Hotel located far from everything (around 15 minutes by tuk-tuk to Golden Lions).

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

21 Jul 2012

Tony

Beautiful old hotel, dissapointing service

We were on the top floor and the view was superb. The room was comfortable, but the mattress was old and very uncomfortable. The wifi is totally useless, and so is the phone to call reception. We were very disappointed with the restaurant manager when they requested that our 6 year old daughter must pay for breakfast, despite already being charged for an extra person. The restaurant overall was disappointing, and the excess staff will stand by your table while you eat your meal, which makes it uncomfortable to enjoy your meal.

6/10

Pleasant

08 Apr 2012

joe

potentially great hotel poor management

This could be a great hotel has everything going for it alas great friendly staff untrained hotel almost run down in many areas.Hotel was being painted during our stay and there was rubbed down paint everywhere,also welding work going on daily starting at 7am every day noise continous.