Lazy Beach, Cambodia
|As I sit writing, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m breaking an unwritten code among travellers. How do you write about a destination that’s paradise because no one knows about it? You tell the right people. So before I change my mind, here goes. Take a boat about two hours off the south coast of Cambodia, and you’ll reach a tropical hideaway called Lazy Beach on the Island of Koh Rong Saloem. Run by two English guys who’ve redefined the meaning of chillin’, it’s turquoise waters and white sands are everything you’d expect. From beachfront bungalows with snorkelling right off the beach, to a restaurant that cooks up the local fishermen’s daily catch. This is one deserted island you won’t mind being stranded on.
Tagged: Cambodia, Combodian resorts
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YOU'RE SAYING (8)
Loretta said | 14 December, 2008
Looks gorgeous, I never knew Cambodia had nice islands.
Andy said | 17 December, 2008
This is such a great tip Laura, thanks for sharing.
Kim said | 11 March, 2009
I am off to this magical place today for several days. I can’t wait!
Pieta said | 16 March, 2009
I just got back from there. Its beautiful, but they have a massive problem with bush rats – and i wouldn’t recommend going there till they sort it. 8 people came back from the island the same day as me, and we all agreed it was beautiful, but we wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone because of the rats and levels of cleanliness. One of the dirtiest places i stayed in Cambodia, and i travelled pretty extensively.
Laura said | 2 April, 2009
Oh no Pieta, that’s terrible. Because there is so much jungle around, you do have to be careful of what you store in your bungalow. As in zero food. I accidentally left a bottle of Palmers Coco Butter out one night- you know the one that smells like chocolate? And it did attract the rats you speak of. Other than that one incident, the place was fine. I was there in November, so perhaps things have changed.
Pieta said | 3 April, 2009
Laura, i do know the coco butter you used – they must like coconuts. One of the other guests had a coconut oil treatment in her hair and woke up with rat droppings around her head where the rat had tried to get to her hair. i had no food – at all. And none had been in my backpack ever – but the guys in the room before me did. It was devestating cause i was so excited to go there. I was there with Kim who made the comment before me and believe me we cannot say enough to encourage people not to go there. The biggest problem was that the guys running it just don’t seem to take the problem seriously, they just take a not my problem, where not responsible attitude. when you are not wiping down tables in the dining room ever so the ants are eating the sticky tables from the night before when you go to breakfast no wonder you also get rats running through the bar area at different times during the day. . I had a rat eat through a lid on a water bottle and didn;t realise till drank out of it. No one took it seriously. I slept in a room that had rat droppings on the spare bed and had to ask 3 times to change the sheets, which they did finally, but left the blankets for the next person to use – without cleaning them. And cleaning out my backpack cause the rats go after the sugar coating on my nurofen is just awful. i got so sick on getting back from there i thought i was going to have to fly out for medical treatment, and when i got home a week later – still sick – turns out that it was probably the rats that caused me to get that sick. It is an amazing place, and so beautiful but the guys running it need to get it sorted cause its not cheap (in terms of good accom in Cambodia) and its just dirty. And unfortunately Laura i think the place is amazing, but the attitude towards the problem is horrible and destroys all the good stuff about it.
Priya said | 12 December, 2009
I was there in mid October 2009 and it was simply divine. I am sorry that Pieta had such a bad experience, but I had the complete opposite experience. The huts were very clean, as was the bar area. The owners were very attentive to my and my travel companions needs. All I can say is perhaps if there is a rat issue that it may be seasonal. Although I imagine that the Lazy Beach dogs keep the rats at bay, as would the snakes and the mongoose that live in the area.
Lazy beach was one of the major highlights of my trip to Cambodia, and on this below freezing night in New York I wish I was back.
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alison said | 12 December, 2008
This sounds divine! Would love to see more photos as i suffer through bitter cold and rainy nyc weather.