Novotel Sihanoukville – My Honest Review
I recently stayed at Novotel Sihanoukville with my family, and unfortunately, the overall experience was below my expectations.
The first issue was the hotel's policy on outside food and drinks. There is a sign clearly stating that outside food and beverages are not allowed. However, it doesn't seem to be enforced. The corridor on my floor was constantly filled with strong food smells, and even my kids' room was affected. The smell became so unpleasant that I had to request the hotel to spray the room.
I also noticed that some rooms appeared to have more than five guests staying together. I'm not sure whether the hotel allows this or whether it is being monitored properly. I strictly followed the hotel policy and booked two rooms for my family, so it felt a little unfair if others were not following the same rules.
As for the food, both the seafood dinner buffet and breakfast were just average. They were acceptable, but they did not meet the standard I normally expect from an Accor hotel.
The room itself was comfortable enough, but the bathroom ventilation needs improvement. Whenever someone used the toilet, the smell spread throughout the entire room because the exhaust ventilation was not effective.
The biggest highlight of my stay was definitely the hotel staff. Every team member I interacted with was friendly, professional, and genuinely helpful. From the reception team to the restaurant staff and the swimming pool bar crew, they consistently provided excellent service. They were the best part of our stay.
One major disappointment was the swimming pool. The water did not look clean, and it discouraged me from swimming. This was something I really did not expect from a Novotel property.
Overall, I left feeling that the hotel has good potential, especially because of its excellent staff, but the facilities and overall maintenance need improvement. With better enforcement of hotel policies, cleaner facilities, improved ventilation, and higher food quality, I believe the guest experience could be much better.
Overall rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
