Sihanoukville - Next Pattaya?

[cdnvic]

It's fortunes are growing rapidly, as it's port becomes more important to the Cambodian economy. The beaches are still clean, and that resort town cynicism hasn't set in yet. What are the chances that people will start to look more at places like this as cities like Pattaya and Hua Hin get more crowded and less affordable?

Edited October 4, 2007 by cdnvic

[stevenjm]

It's fortunes are growing rapidly, as it's port becomes more important to the Cambodian economy. The beaches are still clean, and that resort town cynicism hasn't set in yet. What are the chances that people will start to look more at places like this as cities like Pattaya and Hua Hin get more crowded and less affordable?

Its already slowly happening

[thaiman]

It's fortunes are growing rapidly, as it's port becomes more important to the Cambodian economy. The beaches are still clean, and that resort town cynicism hasn't set in yet. What are the chances that people will start to look more at places like this as cities like Pattaya and Hua Hin get more crowded and less affordable?

Its already slowly happening

How are prices there compared to Pattaya? Also, are there any gyms for fitness?

[astral]

No visa on arrival is a disadvantage, or if there is you have to pay

and waste a whole page of your passport........

[cdnvic]

There's a few modern fitness facilities by the looks of things. A few private ones, then fitness centres in the high end hotels.

http://cambodiafitnessboxing.com/

Beach apartments $150-200/mo

http://forsale.sihanoukville-cambodia.com/.../apartment.html

[stevenjm]

No visa on arrival is a disadvantage, or if there is you have to pay

and waste a whole page of your passport........

There is visa on arrival but yeh, your passport fills fast. But you can get one year biz visas so it adds up to a long time if your staying there.

Prices - cheaper than los

food - not as good

cigarettes - 25 us cents a pack for "ara" which just taste like a normal western ciggy.

hotels - cheaper

people - friendly and genuine ( won't compare to los or topic may get waylaid)

police - more corrupt

medical care - virtually non existent

scenery - great

crime - no problem (not same as phnom penh)

Transport - cheap and reliable

beaches - nicer than pattaya

tourist attractions - beaches, diving, islands, national park, kbal chai waterfall, etc

moto rental - about 4 dollars a day

shopping - no shopping centres but local stores with most things and markets is great for seafood and tourist crap

internet - cheap at cafe( 50cents to 1 dollar per hour) but expensive for home connection

mobile phone coverage and availability - good

buying land - be very careful here

Money - US dollars, Cambodian riel or Thai baht. ATM's available

Edited October 4, 2007 by stevenjm

[technocracy]

police - more corrupt

They might even offer to sell you their badge for $5!

Edited October 4, 2007 by technocracy

[stevenjm]

police - more corrupt

They might even offer to sell you their badge for $5!

I don't know about 5 dollars but, yeh, I am sure they would sell you one ( the 5 dollar ones are fake). One advantage of their corruption - if you have money any problem can go away (if you aproach the right people).

Edited October 4, 2007 by stevenjm

[soundman]

Interesting - Have never visited but been keeping my eye on this place.

[wileycoyote]

Sounds interesting.

What is the infrastructure like,roads,drains,telephones etc

What are the restaurants like ,what sort of food .

Do the hotels have swimming pools ?

What time do things close?

Is there anything to do at night ?

Recreation ?

Wiley Coyote

[stevenjm]

What is the infrastructure like,roads,drains,telephones etc? - Terrible!

What are the restaurants like ,what sort of food? - Varies from Western, pizza, khmer, mexican, your usual mix of small restaurants

Do the hotels have swimming pools ? - Yes, but not all of them.

What time do things close? - which things?

Is there anything to do at night ? - Yes, plenty of bars open till late and other things

Recreation ? - swimming, jetskis, sightseeing, diving, snorkling(islands) etc