Long time friend of BBS, Ann, has taken a trip out east to explore the sights of Vietnam and Cambodia. Whilst she’s out there she’s agreed to report back to us with a series of postcards describing the best places to go and what the access is like. Here’s her first postcard, from Phnom Penh:
It would be a huge stretch of the imagination to describe Phnom Penh as a disabled friendly destination: the streets are unforgiving and some of the pavements frankly non-negotiable. Many of the bars and restaurants at the middle and lower end of the market inhabit the nooks and crannies of once-glorious fading french colonial blocks and the toilet situation in those places is pretty close to unacceptable to all but the hardiest of budget travellers.
So ignore the rest and just head for the best in town….
Raffles Le Royal Hotel Phnom Penh is probably the best this premier Asian brand can offer. People rave about Raffles in Singapore but this is the far classier younger brother. It dates from the 1920s and is styled with a blend of Khmer, Art Deco and French colonial architecture. The rooms, suites and apartments are all in colonial style, with wooden floors and overhead fans, and recently refurbished to give you the full Indochine 5* experience. It’s pretty all-round gorgeous.
This is the hotel that Jackie Onassis chose for her visit to Cambodia (and you could hardly fault her taste!). It’s located at the heart of the city, directly across from the American embassy, and only 4 miles from the International airport.
The restaurant food is French and Cambodian, but best of all is The Elephant Bar – cited by local expats as ‘ definitely the best bar in the city’. Its a beautiful opulent space with a great range of cocktails .. including the ‘Femme Fatale’. There’s a spa, gym, shops etc etc.
Accessibility-wise it could be better, but there’s wheel-in showers and the staff couldn’t try harder to make you feel completely at home with help whenever you need it with a big Cambodian smile.
Any hotel that gives you a free jet lag massage when you arrive, as the do at The Pavilion, has got to be worth considering! An able-bodied local expat who was on crutches for a year after a footballing accident recommends The Pavilion. During his year’s disability he used to go to The Pavilion for R&R and pampering when he got too frustrated at home. All the rooms are on one level and described as having no pesky steps to negotiate.
The hotel itself is full of charm and history. Located in the old centre of Phnom Penh, close to the confluence of the Mekong and Sap rivers, The Pavilion is moments from the Royal Palace and faces the Royal Pagoda. Queen Kossamak, King Sihanouk’s mother, reportedly built the main villa in the mid-twenties.This villa has been turned to an intimate and accessible hotel. There’s a tropical garden, pool, spa and gym and its all surrounded by high walls, keeping the hubbub of the city all outside.
This hotel has the added bonus of green credentials, with commitments to a low carbon footprint, responsible tourism and positive impact.
Look out for more messages from the Mekong over the course of the next couple of weeks.