More about hotels in Pailin
About Pailin accommodation
Pailin sits tucked into the hills of western Cambodia, right up near the Thai border, and it's about as far off the usual tourist trail as this country gets. Don't expect big resort strips here, this is a small, quiet gem trading town, and accommodation is modest and genuinely limited.
If you're after an off the beaten path base for exploring rural Cambodia at your own pace, a night or two in Pailin can be a rewarding change of scene, just go in with realistic expectations about room standards and choice.
Where to stay in Pailin
- Pailin town: Most rooms are in or near the town centre, within easy reach of the central market, the gem shops and the road up to the hilltop temple, handy if you're getting around on foot or by moto.
How much is Pailin accommodation?
- Budget: AU$15-40, a simple room with air conditioning or a fan, private bathroom and hot water at a small guesthouse or hotel.
What Pailin is known for
- Gem mining and trading: Pailin has long been one of Cambodia's best known sources of sapphires and rubies, and the local gem market is still where cutters and traders sort, cut and sell stones from the surrounding hills.
- Hilltop temple views: A pagoda complex on a hill at the edge of town gives sweeping views over Pailin and the countryside beyond, a good spot to see the local architecture and take in the scenery.
- Waterfalls and countryside: The hills around Pailin hide a few waterfalls, an easy half day trip if you've got your own transport.
Top-rated hotels in Pailin
- Memoria Palace & Resort: One of the more established places to stay in the area, set in landscaped grounds a short drive from town.
- Anusara Resort: A straightforward resort style option with simple, comfortable rooms.
Travel tips for Pailin
- Pailin is remote, so it's worth booking your room ahead rather than turning up and hoping for a vacancy.
- Arrange a moto or driver if you want to reach the hilltop temple or the waterfalls outside town, public transport options are thin on the ground.
- Bring cash, card payments are unreliable this far from Cambodia's bigger cities.
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