Great all-round value

The Plantation pool and salas

An invitation to lunch at The Plantation today was my first opportunity to see the hotel (located on St 184 in Phnom Penh) since I paid a visit during its construction phase last November. It's been open and welcoming guests for a few months and is doing remarkably well, considering we're in the low season right now. Their occupancy rate is very high and they are exceeding all expectations. With 70 rooms its not what you can call a boutique hotel, but with low room rates and lots on offer it's currently knocking spots off its rivals for all-round value. They've just opened an entrance pool and bar for outside guests, as well as their main restaurant housed in a renovated colonial building. The main pool with accompanying salas for paying guests is a key feature but they also boast a poolside dining area (where I enjoyed a very pleasant three-course lunch), spa, gym and rooms that are comfortable and what I would term intimate and contemporary. They've cleverly created a buzz locally with their art exhibitions, have pitched in to help the next door school with their sanitation and look set to grab a large chunk of the mid-range market for some time to come.

A look inside one of the pool view deluxe rooms

The view of the pool from the 1st floor Deluxe room

The new entrance bar pool open to non-residents

An artwork on show by David Holliday at The Plantation