Booking hotels always sounds simple—until you realize every listing promises the same things: “great location,” “amazing breakfast,” “luxury rooms.”
So how do you actually choose?
This Khmer New Year, we at Team Tala Travels decided to find out for ourselves. Instead of relying on descriptions, we stayed at three different hotels in Phnom Penh and compared what really matters—from comfort and service to location and overall experience.
Here are the hotels we explored: Caravan Hotel by EHM, Skyline Boutique Hotel, and Le Botum Hotel.
Comparison Table
| Category | Caravan Hotel by EHM | Skyline Boutique Hotel | Le Botum Hotel |
| Price | $63.11 | $74.12 | $59.99 |
| Room Booked | Superior Triple Room | Deluxe Twin Room | Family Suite with Balcony |
| Location | Samdech Mongkol Iem, Daun Penh | Tonle Basac, Chamkar Mon | Chaktomuk, Daun Penh |
| Breakfast | Full breakfast buffet | Ala carte | Limited buffet – with egg and noodle station |
| Pool | Rooftop Pool | Garden Pool | Rooftop Pool |
| Gym | Yes | None | None |
| On-site amenities | Garden Cafe, Sky Bar, Camsense Spa | Cafe Republic, Gelato Farm | Akasa Sky Bar |
| Nearby Stores | Super Duper St. 200 | Super Duper Sothearos | Super Duper Sothearos |
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💰 Price Comparison
- 🏨 Caravan Hotel by EHM – $63.11
For this price, you get a Superior Triple Room along with free access to the gym and rooftop pool, plus a full breakfast buffet. It offers excellent value considering the range of amenities included. Guests can also enjoy complimentary water and juice available at the lobby, which is a nice added touch.
- 🌿 Skyline Boutique Hotel – $74.12
This gives you a Deluxe Twin Room with access to a garden pool and one à la carte breakfast per person. The experience leans more toward a boutique and curated stay.
- 🌇 Le Botum Hotel – $59.99
The most affordable option, offering a Family Suite with Balcony. It includes rooftop pool access and a partial breakfast buffet, making it ideal for those prioritizing space.
🏆 Quick Verdict
- Best Value: Caravan Hotel by EHM
- Most Spacious: Le Botum Hotel
🛏️ Room Experience
- 🏨 Caravan Hotel by EHM – Superior Triple Room
The room comes with one queen-sized bed and one single bed (perfect for Tala), along with a writing station, fridge, safe, and a standard bathroom. - A standout feature was the smart TV with Netflix and YouTube—we even ended up watching Shrek Forever After when it got too hot outside.
- The ability to request different types of pillows (body, feather, memory foam) also added to the comfort.
- The room included three pairs of soft slippers and two robes, which made it feel more premium.
- 🌿 Skyline Boutique Hotel – Deluxe Twin Room
- This room was more spacious than Caravan’s, with a similar setup—one queen bed and one single bed.
- It included a writing station, fridge, and safe.
- The highlight here was the bathroom, which featured both a bathtub and a separate shower area, giving it a more luxurious feel.
- However, the room itself felt slightly dated, with a traditional key instead of a keycard and cable TV instead of a smart TV.
- It came with rubber slippers and robes.
- 🌇 Le Botum Hotel – Family Suite with Balcony
- By far the most spacious, this suite felt more like an apartment.
- It had two sleeping areas—one with a queen bed and another with a single bed—separated by a central lounge space with a couch, TV, and fridge.
- There were also two bathrooms and two balconies, one fully functional and one smaller balcony with the AC units.
- It included slippers and robes as well.
- The layout was very convenient, especially for groups, though the bed tended to creak and there were occasional faint smoke smells from ventilation.
🏆 Room Verdict
- Best Overall Comfort: Caravan Hotel by EHM
- Most Spacious & Functional: Le Botum Hotel
- Best Bathroom Experience: Skyline Boutique Hotel
🍽️ Breakfast
- 🏨 Caravan Hotel by EHM – Full Breakfast Buffet
- Caravan delivered a true hotel breakfast experience, with a wide buffet selection and the option to request freshly prepared dishes like omelets, eggs benedict, and noodle soup.
- The dining setup felt polished, with uniformed staff and attentive service.
- The only downside was the hazelnut-flavored coffee, which wasn’t to our taste.
- 🌿 Skyline Boutique Hotel – À la Carte Breakfast
- Breakfast here was more limited, with one à la carte meal per person.
- Tala enjoyed the chicken porridge, but the American breakfast fell short—the sausage tasted overly processed, and the coffee was bland.
- The experience was disappointing enough that we ended up heading to The Muffin Man after checkout.
- 🌇 Le Botum Hotel – Partial Breakfast Buffet
- The buffet was smaller, offering just a few dishes like fried rice, noodles, sausage, and vegetables, along with a salad and cereal station.
- There was also an egg and noodle soup station, which added some flexibility.
- Like Caravan, they served hazelnut-flavored coffee, which we didn’t enjoy.
- Overall, it was decent but not memorable.
🏆 Breakfast Verdict
- Best Overall Breakfast: Caravan Hotel by EHM
- Most Customizable: Caravan Hotel by EHM
- Most Disappointing: Skyline Boutique Hotel
- Decent & Simple Option: Le Botum Hotel
🏊 Pool
- 🏨 Caravan Hotel by EHM – Rooftop Pool
- The rooftop pool here is large enough for actual swimming, not just lounging.
- Guests can order food and drinks from the sky bar, and there are plenty of lounge beds and dining tables available.
- The only downside is the lack of shade—it can get quite hot during the day.
- 🌿 Skyline Boutique Hotel – Garden Pool
- This pool stands out for its atmosphere. Surrounded by lush greenery, it feels like a hidden jungle oasis.
- The plants provide natural shade, making it perfect for relaxing.
- There’s also a kiddie pool, making it family-friendly.
- It honestly feels like a private villa pool.
- 🌇 Le Botum Hotel – Rooftop Infinity Pool
- The infinity pool offers stunning views of the river and nearby landmarks like Wat Botum and the Royal Palace. It’s perfect for photos and sunset moments.
- However, it’s quite small—better for dipping than swimming—and can get crowded.
🏆 Pool Verdict
- Best for Swimming: Caravan Hotel by EHM
- Best for Relaxation & Ambience: Skyline Boutique Hotel
- Best for Views: Le Botum Hotel
🏨 On-site Amenities
- Caravan Hotel by EHM
Caravan offers a well-rounded set of on-site amenities. Their Garden Café is worth a visit—we had lunch here and highly recommend trying the banana coffee frappé, avocado shake, pesto pasta, eggs benedict, and full English breakfast. The ambience and lighting also make it a great spot for dinner.
The Sky Bar is another highlight, perfect for cocktails, drinks, or even a relaxed dinner by the pool with a great atmosphere. They also have Camsense Spa available on-site. While we didn’t get to try it, it’s a great option for guests looking to unwind.
- Skyline Boutique Hotel
Skyline features Café Republic and Gelato Farm as part of its on-site offerings. Unfortunately, both were closed during our stay due to Khmer New Year, so we weren’t able to experience them.
- Le Botum Hotel
Le Botum’s standout amenity is the Akasa Sky Bar, which offers stunning views of the riverside and nearby landmarks like the Royal Palace. It’s definitely a must-try—especially for dishes like calamares, fish and chips, and grilled saba with rice. The combination of great food and panoramic views makes it a memorable experience.
🏆 Amenities Verdict
- Best Overall Amenities: Caravan Hotel by EHM (most complete experience: dining + bar + spa)
- Best Dining with a View: Le Botum Hotel (Akasa Sky Bar is a highlight)
- Limited Experience During Stay: Skyline Boutique Hotel (amenities unavailable during Khmer New Year)
📍 Location & Accessibility
- 🏨 Caravan Hotel by EHM
- Location-wise, it’s slightly less convenient.
- Most major landmarks, including the Independence Monument and Royal Palace, are about a 10–20 minute walk away. It’s still walkable, but not as central as the others.
- The nearest convenience store, Super Duper, is about a 7-minute walk.
- 🌿 Skyline Boutique Hotel
- This hotel is conveniently located near the Independence Monument, making it perfect for a quick morning walk before breakfast or at sunset.
- It’s also close to Wat Botum Park, where Tala enjoyed some playtime before dinner.
- Most key attractions are within a 10–20 minute walk, and a nearby Super Duper branch is about 8 minutes away.
- 🌇 Le Botum Hotel
Le Botum has the best location overall. - It’s just a 3–5 minute walk to the Independence Monument and within easy walking distance to the Royal Palace, National Museum, and Riverside.
- A Super Duper convenience store is also about a 10-minute walk away.
🏆 Final Verdict
Each hotel offers something different, depending on what you value most. Not all hotel amenities are worth it – many travelers use less than half of what hotels advertise. Focus on what you’ll actually use, not what looks impressive.
- Choose Caravan Hotel by EHM if you want the best overall value, comfort, and breakfast experience
- Choose Skyline Boutique Hotel if you prioritize ambience, relaxation, and a boutique feel
- Choose Le Botum Hotel if you want space, views, and the best location
At the end of the day, the “best” hotel really depends on your travel style—but if we had to pick one overall winner?
👉 Caravan Hotel by EHM takes it.
Thank you for reading and joining us on this little hotel experiment. If you’re planning your next trip to Phnom Penh, we hope this helps you choose a stay that truly fits your style. Each of these hotels offers something unique—so why not experience them for yourself?
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