10,011Reviews8Q&A
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 3,677
- 3,492
- 1,830
- 535
- 477
Traveler type
Time of year
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
This could be Benidorm/Blackpool or pretty much anywhere, just not Siem Reap in Cambodia! This part of the area is a feeding frenzy for young people, backpackers and drug fuelled junkies whose thirst for alcohol, loud music, and a toxic environment, makes up a perfect holiday. Crazy to travel thousands of miles in search of a party scene, when you can get it all on your doorstep? Don’t get me wrong I’m all for fun, laughs and a good night out and lapping it up with friends but this was Planet Hell! I came to Cambodia on an organised tour, staying in Siem Reap. Pub Street was not on the itinerary, (thank god! that would have been shamefully embarrassing) it was just a place to stroll to after an evening meal before heading back to our hotel. This review is based on my own personal experience and not submitted on behalf of the group. I booked this tour purely on the basis of visiting Cambodia for it’s extraordinary sights, amazing history, interesting culture and people. I was excited to get a real sense of the place you hear so much about. Luxury travel magazines and documentaries only give you a ‘sugar coated’ overview of high end hotels and elite resorts. The real experience of visiting a place like Cambodia has to touch all your senses to really bring back home memories that will stay forever. I had hoped to learn a new way of thinking, widen my horizons and capture beautiful memories from such a spiritual place, in the hope that I would return in future. I couldn’t have been more wrong! My excitement and expectations diminished in blink of an eye! As Pub Street reared it’s ugly head. We were out of our depth and seemed like you could be anywhere, but Cambodia the land of smiles and history, a vision that faded rapidly. The loud beats of regurgitated music will have you running for the hills, hoards of drunken tourists, neon lit pubs, restaurants and stalking tuk tuk drivers desperate to make a few dollars, and general mayhem everywhere you looked! Disappointing to see locals jumping on the bandwagon to earn a living to keep westerners entertained at their expense and lose their sanity in the process. Cafes/restaurants/cheap souvenir shops/market, children trying to sell fried scorpions for $2 for sake of photos, there was competition on every level and this was disheartening. These businesses have overshadowed locals and wiped out the authenticity of what Cambodia has to offer. It is sad to see Angkor Wat Temple so close by losing it’s religious importance and history to the ever growing crowds hungry to party hard. Pub Street is disgustingly commercial, litter everywhere, overrun with inebriated tourists forgetting why they’d come to such a religious country in the first place. I would not recommend Pub Street if you are wanting to soak up traditional cultural aspects of your holiday, there are lots of places that will more than satisfy. If you do stumble across this lively, sleazy part, quickly make your way to the calmer side streets where the locals hang live, seek out those nice local restaurants tucked away from the crazy cacophony of partyland. Save yourself and take a walk further up to the river for a bit of calmness and some nice photo opportunities near the bridge a lovely contrast and enjoy a concoction of fruity drinks and ice-creams for $1. We ended our evening leaving the craziness of Pub Street to those highly strung and hangover party animals lingering in the early hours, whilst we headed back to the sanctuary of our hotel in readiness for our trips next day, to explore and capture the REAL Cambodia. Indu.…
Read more
Date of experience: November 2019
Helpful
Very quiet because of travel restrictions due to Covid. Massage at USD6 a pax. Original cafe serves very good pastries and sherbets.
Read more
Date of experience: August 2020
Helpful
During normal times this place is loud and obnoxious. Too many lights, dissonant music and noise and far too many people
Read more
Date of experience: January 2020
Helpful
We had better experience here than in Thailand. We should’ve stayed here for a longer time 😭 So far, we’ve encountered honest folks. And everything we bought were cheap. The only thing I dont like here is they called people Lady for women and Boy for men. So when we approached, i heard someone said Lady, Boy 🤣 and damn it was the night’s joke on me haha!…
Read more
Date of experience: February 2020
Helpful
MOSTLY CLOSED AND NO ATMOSPHERE, STAY AWAY. This town has died, nothing open and nothing to offer. If you arrive here by accident just get out as quick as you can
Read more
Date of experience: July 2020
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
