Recently, I spent three nights on the island of Koh Rong Samloem in Cambodia. I stayed at the Sara Resort. Here is this Midlifer’s review of where to stay for three nights in Koh Rong Samloem in Cambodia.
Table of Contents
Background
As mentioned in my previous posts, I had spent ten nights in Cambodia. After spending four days in the cultural capital of Siem Reap, I wanted to enjoy the luxury of a beach.
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After much research, I decided on Koh Rong Samloem Island. And I stayed at the Sara Resort on Saracen Bay.
I chose the Sara Resort because it fit all my requirements: on the beach, comfortable (neither luxury nor basic), and with good food.
After flying into Sihanoukville from Siem Reap, I grabbed a cab to the pier for the ferry to the island. There was a bit of confusion about the ferries and the piers.
The ferry which left the earliest after I arrived stopped at a different pier than where the resort said I should get off. Once I informed the resort of my dilemma, they told me not to worry because they would send their boat to the pier where the ferry would make a stop.
Upon arriving at the Soon Noeng Pier, the resort’s small boat was there to pick me up within minutes. A short ten-minute ride later, I reached the shores of the resort.
I was welcomed with a refreshing drink at Sara Resort before they started the registration. I liked that.
The Sara Resort
This is not a traditional-style hotel. Instead, the resort features 24 charming white ‘bungalows’ with blue roofs arranged in an almost V-style.
The bungalows come in different sizes, from standard to deluxe. Obviously, the resort is by the beach.
The entrance is in the front. Right at the front is the restaurant and the office, followed by the pathway towards the inner path leading towards the bungalows.
My Bungalow
I had a budget bungalow with a double bed. Each bungalow has a small porch with chairs to enjoy the stay.
My bungalow consisted of two sections – the bedroom-cum-living room, and the bathroom-toilet. The king-size bed was cozy, and there were side tables and a desk.
A closet and a safe were available. I am always grateful when hotels give you free bottles of water.
I am not a big fan of bottled water, but when traveling, they can come in handy. The bathroom-cum-toilet was compact with all the needed amenities, including hot water.
The resort also has air conditioning in its bungalows.
Food Options at Sara Resort
The resort’s restaurant, with its open sides, offered a mixture of western and Asian/Cambodian dishes. My package included complimentary breakfasts.
I mixed both western and Cambodian breakfasts. They also came with fruits.
Besides my breakfasts, I had all my dinners there. In the evenings, they lit up the tiki torches on the beach and offered fresh barbecued seafood and other items.
I love seafood so this was a great spot for me. You can see my review on the Koh Rong Samloem island to see where else I ate (I had my lunch outside).
Other Facilities
The resort has a good-sized pool which was mostly crowded during the daytime. However, it was still nice to find a corner and sit enjoying a beer on a hot day.
But I am a beach man, and this resort, after all, is by the beach. The beach, though, is shallow.
I arrived in the afternoon, and after a brief break, I hit the beach and was quite astounded by the shallowness. The mornings bring in the high tide, and I could see more water with boats plying fishermen and passengers.
Sometimes, I saw young men clearing their small boats of water. Even with the high tide, one had to walk a few dozen meters towards the sea to get to the deeper side.
Final Comments on the Sara Resort
As I mentioned in my post about Koh Rong Samloem, the island is just coming off the long Covid-related shutdown consequences. It will take some time for it to fully recover.
Interestingly, the Sara Resort staff told me that they were open throughout the lockdowns. The staff are professional and friendly.
They accept credit cards, though there is a fee.
The food is good, and the facilities are great for what I wanted.