 | Mondol Kiri Reviews | Tips 1 - 5 of 5 |  |
The Arun Rea Guest House lies on the ridge on the way into town on the Snuol road. You really can't miss it as it is the first big complex on the way down the hill into town.
The Arun Rea II (the only Arun Rea guest house....Arun Rea I was the family's first guest house, now no longer being used) was the first guest house in Sen Monorem. The Khmer owners, from Kampong Cham, leave the hotel management to the irresistibly charming Vicha and his younger brother Brosna. Nothng is impossible for these two hard-working guys, and they are ably assisted by Chia, Jamrun (the cook), Lyee and Raa.
There are three rows of wooden cabins, all with mosquito net windows and erratic hot water. Like all guest houses locally, the hot water is supplied by electric wall heaters and these are difficult to operate so that you get enough hot water to shower. The trick is to get them to bol up a bucket of hot water then use the shower to add lukewarm water to the bucket as you wash.
The Arun Rea is on the ridge so it cna get extremely windy here in the dry season, and so quite cold at night. Vicha can arrange extra blankets for you. The rooms are not automatically cleaned every day unless you insist. Given the dust (and soot from forest fires) in the dry season, I'd recommend that you ask for the rooms ti be cleaned each day!
Vicha can arrange trips to local villages, local waterfalls and can also arrange elephant rides and elephant treks.
If you need power during the day, just ask for it and he will switch on the smaller generator, but the main generator operates generally only in the evening.
Behind the cabins, the ridge slopes down to a stream, and just above that a beautiful little cashew tree orchard...sadly burnt by a bushfire while we were there. Theme: Pension/GuesthousePrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about average
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The Long Vibol Guest House is alongside the airport runway, through the town centre (and right at the roundabout). It's probably the best known place in town. There are two rows of rooms although you don't get the same level of privacy at Prich Kiri or Arun Rea.
The gardens at Long Vibol are lovely, and there are tables set among the trees....great for watching the sun go down with a beer in hand.
We were unimpressed with the quality of food at Long Vibol though..it's OK but you can get better at other places in town. Theme: Pension/GuesthousePrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than average
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We never stayed at the Pich Chida - and I might have got the name slightly wrong - but only because they ddn't have enough rooms for our group.
The guest house is right by the upper of the two reservoirs to the north of the airport, down in the valley. It has al been opened very recently, and they are still building some rooms.
There are rooms in the main building, each quite spacious and with fans. These rooms also have hot water (although as everywhere in Sen Monorem, this might be a relative thing!). There are about eight separate rooms next to the restaurant that are wooden and much more atmospheric but do not have hot water. Pity.
The restaurant is the star attraction, and the kitchen alongside is spotlessly clean: you could eat your dinner off the floor inside, which is more than can be said of most places in town.
The food was fresh and a bit more varied than the staple menus in most places here.
The dining area is on a wide verandah, with views across the vegetable garden and the groves of trees above the lower reservoir. Theme: Pension/GuesthousePrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageDirections: Go past the end of the runway but turn right before going down the hill towards the reservoirs. If you go straight down the hill at the end of the runway, you need to take the first right and go to the junction at the far end.
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 by mke1963
Although the town has electricity at somewhat vague and varying times, most of the guest houses have power all evening and can arrange for power during the day if you need it. As a rule of thumb, you get the most hot water in the late afternoon. The wall-mounted water heaters are not very effective and will provide the hottest water when the tank-stored water has already been heated up by the sun during the day. Having a shower in the morning can be a grim experience: cold water and a cold wind whipping through the bathroom.
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