I stayed at the Paragon on three separate occasions during my time in Phnom Penh. It's location on the riverfront is convenient for travelers as there are internet cafes, restaurants, and pubs around. You have several options to choose from including rooms with or without windows. Those with riverside windows are the most expensive. Luckily, there is a balcony open to all and the higher you go, the nicer the views. I would recommend paying 5 extra dollars to get a room with a window as those without windows can seem a bit like cell blocks. Each room has a fridge with 2 bottles of free water provided everyday. I really liked this perk especially as the hot season approached and the bottles on the riverfront cost $0.50. If you pay more than $25 for a room, you'll get free coffee. I also took advantage of their laundry services because the clothes were always pressed and smelled nice. The rooms all have hot water, air con, and cable tv. Some bathrooms have a closed-off shower stall...my personal favorite, but most had an open shower in which everything gets wet (including the toilet) and the drain is located on the floor. The hotel is maintained well and cleaning staff is prompt to a fault. If you don't want them to clean your room, you might have to give very clear directions to the desk staff.
The front desk staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. I had to put $10 deposits down to secure my rooms. Unlike some Cambodia establishments, the Paragon gives receipts for all transactions. The staff encourages people to come in and make reservations as rooms do tend to "fill-up" quickly and it's easy for messages to get lost in the shuffle. Before my first stay, I had tried to secure a room by telephone, but when I came in to confirm, they didn't have the room I had asked for and tried to put me in a more expensive room. They were able to find a room in the same price range, but with a double bed instead of twin beds as requested. The only unpleasant experience was when I was put in a room where the former occupants had smoked, but this could have been changed if I had talked to the front desk. Overall, the Paragon is one of the more reasonable, clean, and friendly of the riverfront hotels. I would definitely recommend it for anyone on a low budget, but also needing a bit of comfort.
