This place was cheap in more ways than one.

After we'd paid for a room and were about to head up to it a Cambodian lady (under the influence) fell down the steep stairs leading up to the bedrooms and cut her hand on a glass. It was a terrible experience, watching her scream as the security guard dragged her along the ground to get rid of her. Behind her was a western male who looked like he hadn't slept for a week!.... perhaps she was chasing up payment.

It was just dingy...... bed was surprisingly comfortable, but felt dirty. No windows and the room was dimly lit.

The bar/reception area was full of western men and Cambodian girls.

I had intended staying a few days and pre-booked it. This hotel was recommended to me by a mate. I left after first night.

So what do you get for $15 a night?

* Hotel located in slum district.
* Surrounding streets have uncollected garbage piled 4 feet high. (And the surrounding area smells like a garbage dump 24-7)
* A small room with no natural light.
* Dirty and filthy throughout.
* A bar/restaurant area crowed with old men looking for cheap prostitutes, and there are many of them there.
* Meals that are overpriced, tough chewy over cooked steaks served with luke warm overcooked vegetables.
* Poorly lit dining/bar area that is noisy with the men there talking constantly in loud voices boasting about their sexual exploits in the hotel. (I could say a lot about perverted old men who have to pay for that kind of thing, but it would not pass censorship)
* Constant harassment by prostitutes while you eat or drink
* Extremely steep stairs to upstairs rooms.
* Wet floors and leaking plumbing throughout the place. (had water over a quarter of the floor in my room)
* Cheap uncomfortable beds with unclean linen.
* Disrupted sleep from the constant tramping of feet, laughing and giggling from old men and their prostitutes coming to and from rooms 24 hours a day.


What can I say that is positive?
* Cold beer

My Summary - The place should be bulldozed !

Visited twice this year (2007) after recommendations of friends.
I had some misgivings regards coming back to this part of the world after being around here in late 60s, early 70s.

Initial visit curtailed after 2 days due to family emergency at home. Owner Glen and his staff (including manager Mol) were very helpful in assisting me to immediately get back to Sydney, very considerate of my situation.

Naturally I stayed at the Walkabout when I revisited in August (travel insurance kicked in) and had a much more relaxed time. Walkabout was the hub of a lot of sight-seeing, had many drinks, met a few locals and made good friends with some other tourists. Prices were reasonably cheap, the beer cold and the regulars interesting. Felt safe at all times, though mainly travelled with friend.

I would recommend the place for travellers who are interested in intergrating into the local day/night life as the Walkabout is central and it is on the go 24 hours every day.

Being a landowner, and visitor to Cambodia beginning in 1969 (courtesy of the US Navy!), and re-commencing annually since the defeat of the Khmer Rouge by the Vietnamese military, I have stayed at many hotels within the country. The Walkabout has been my usual choice for a hotel to stay at when I arrive in Phnom Penh on my annual visits to my property up in the Ratanakiri Province of northeastern Cambodia.
It must be stated upfront, that this is NOT a hotel for families with children. It is primarily a bar where prostitutes congregate, often in large numbers, to pick up customers. It is located in the "gut" of an area with many such bars, and it also is a hotel and restaurant. The clientele is mainly composed of single men looking for a relatively inexpensive hotel to stay at that is open 24/7 for booze, good food, and female companions. The atmosphere is raucous, especially in the evenings, and gets downright wild on Fridays when they have a drawing for prizes and cash from an ongoing Draw the Joker card game.
Having said that, the owner, a New Zealander married to a Khmer, is a decent chap that strives to make the Walkabout a safe and clean place to stay. The staff are for the most part very friendly, and honest, however on my last trip, I did have my diabetic medicine stolen from my room refrigerator. I cannot say that it was staff who actually did it, as many drug users abound in the area and it could easily have been a hotel resident.
Illicit drugs are easily obtained in Phnom Penh, especially methedrine, and drug abuse is rampant. However, the open use of drugs is not accepted in the Walkabout bar itself and will result in being told to leave the premises.
The Walkabout will accept Visa credit cards for payment, and the owner will allow cash to be drawn on them for a 4% commision.
You can can also have various trips and travel tours arranged, along with good up-to-date information on where to go, and what to do. The owner Glen, and his brother-in-law Mol can always be trusted for good advice, and I have used their advice many times.
Rooms vary in price and quality, with a basic A/C room for about $12, and a few with actual bathtubs instead of the ubiquitous hand shower, for about $18-20. Stay longer and you stay cheaper. The rooms are pretty good, but this place is LOUD at night, so bring earplugs. Drunken people stumbling back to their rooms at night yelling and laughing are to be expected, as that goes with what this place is all about. This ain't the Hilton folks.
The location of the Walkabout is one of its best features. It's close to the main market area, close to the riverside area, and close to all the businesses you usually need, such as travel agencies, motorcycle rentals, barber/beauty shops, massage parlors (genuine and ummm...the other kind.), the bus station, and many other cool-to-visit places. Use a motodop (motorcycle taxi) or tuk-tuk (a motorized rickshaw) that is recommended by the staff at the Walkabout, and you can be reasonably sure of not getting cheated or robbed. The best deal is to pay the driver by the day to stay on call for you right outside the hotel. It should cost from $5-8 dollars.
As with any large city in the world, beware of the pickpockets and stay away from walking dark streets at night. Only carry enough money to get by the night with, and leave the rest (along with your Passport) at the safe deposit box at the hotel. Leave the Rolex and diamond rings back in the country you come from. Have several copies made of the "Face page" of your passport, and carry one in your wallet, instead of carrying your passport around. If you are an American and your passport is stolen or lost, you can visit the U.S. Embassy and generally get a passport issued immediately. No Face Page- expect a week or two wait.
Taking into consideration that the Walkabout is basically used by unattached males as a place to stay at that doesn't charge extra for the occasional overnight "guest", it can be a fun place to visit and exchange information with all the ex-pats and visitors from all over the world. Sit at the bar with a cold Tiger draft, and marvel at humanity.