We stayed here in april 2006 and after reading the reviews we thought we had made a mistake booking this one, but we were really surprised. We thought it was a great position with great views over The mekong ask for a room with that view. its a tut tut ride away from main strip although is very western we met some cambodians so they took us where the locals go fab. The hotel was clean and breakfast was great buffet style.great for a couple nights stay they may be newer hotels but we really liked it there

When I travelled to Cambodia in 1991 the Cambodiana was "the fancy hotel" where I couldn't afford to stay! We did have some meals there, including a birthday cake for my son's first birthday. When I returned this summer I wanted to stay there for sentimental reasons and because the price was now in line with the other 4 star hotels. Compared to the other hotel we stayed at in Phnom Penh last month (for around $20 less per room per night) the Cambodiana was a disappointment. It is in need of a facelift both of the rooms and the pool areas. The food in the dining room was just OK, and the staff was rather disinterested. I really wanted to love the Cambodiana, but it just didn't happen.

I stayed at the Hotel Cambodiana in June 2005. This hotel is one of the largest hotels in Phnom Penh and is an expensive hotel with rooms starting from $180 (unless you negotiate a discounted rate with them in advance). The hotel has a swimming pool and the rooms are large and clean with air conditioning but the overall service at the hotel was disappointing. The staff on the reception desk were friendly however the other staff seemed reasonably disinterested in the guests.

The Golden Spa, I discovered on my first day at the hotel, was for men only and seemed to offer additional services to those listed in the brochure (many of these being provided by local sex workers). Although the hotel also had a beauty salon inside the hotel that was available for use offering massage for women, it was much smaller and had a reduced list of services available. (The Golden Spa no longer belongs to the hotel and is now a privately run business on the hotel's premises.)

The hotel is very central which is a great advantage and on the river front in walking distance on the Grand Palace and many restaurants, bars and internet cafes which makes it a convenient place to stay; but for the money that they charge this hotel is not worth it! It is obvious it was once a grand hotel in the city but it seems to be now living off the reputation it acquired in the past. I personally thought that there were many other hotels and hostels in the area which were better value for their money.

We ended up at the Cambodiana at short notice, got a room for $99 incl tax & breakfast, and then got upgraded to a room on the Executive Floor at the top of the building (rack rate was $260). Its an international-style hotel (formerly a Sofitel) with all that you would expect, incl bar, restaurant, shops and a sizeable pool overlooking the Mekong. The hotel's client base seemed to have a strong international flavour, with many other Europeans staying there. The breakfast buffet was excellent.

For a short stay in Phnom Penh, Sisowith Quay is the place to be with the restaurants further up the quay a short tuk-tuk or moto ride away (the Foreign Correspondents Club is a highly recommended place to have dinner), and whilst there may be many other hotels with more local character the Cambodiana is a comfortable, good value (at $99) and safe place to be.