A weekend away, but still in the city.
It had been awhile since we left Phnom Penh to go anywhere, especially after the incident which left me passport-less for a bit. I was restless, wanting to see or experience something new, itching to go away for just the weekend. Looking at the calendar, there were no Public Holidays for until April, so we resorted to our first staycation in the city.
So many hotels, so many choices.
When it came down to choosing the perfect staycation accommodation, I couldn't decide between ranking, facilities or distance. In the end, we both chose "boutique" and "uniqueness" for our selection, and this helped to narrow down the list of hotels in Agoda. [In case you need a good hotel stay in Phnom Penh, check out Agoda through this affiliate link. Any purchase made will go towards maintaining this site until forever!] 
A modern-hipster looking stay it is then.
Aquarius Hotel & Urban Resort Phnom Penh was our pick for the weekend. It's only 10 minutes away from the house by motorbike and it's within the city centre. I was surprised to know this hotel existed in our neighborhood. We must have missed it as we rode around the city on weekends.
I am usually skeptical when it comes to viewing photos of hotel facilities online, and then discovering that it's different in real life. In the case of Aquarius Hotel Phnom Penh, the real place looked exactly like the photos on the website!
A rugged, vintage jeep was parked at the main entrance of the hotel, which gave a little cool factor to the establishment. As we walked in the lobby area, laden with red brick walls and dangling yellow bulbs, I was impressed by the quality of the interior decoration which had an international appeal to it. A row of metal art hung above the reception area, in Khmer while paintings of Phnom Penh can be seen at the sofa area. We later saw more of these paintings around the hotel, with each floor dedicated to a different artist.
That deluxe room though.
This hotel has 66 lavish rooms altogether, ranging from a superior to a suite. We got ourselves a moderate room with a good price from Agoda, mainly because there was a reward coupon given out for that particular week. Each room came with a personalized greeting in Khmer such as "Suo Sdey" or "Som Nang Lor" which made us feel welcome (as travelers) in this city.
The room was spacious for a 25sqm area and it comes with a petit wardrobe space, a working table as well a TV monitor. The bathroom had white tiles, a shower space with customized bottles of shampoo, soap along with the hotel toiletries for all guests.
Checking out other facilities of the hotel.
The rooftop was where we found the infinity glass walled salt-water swimming pool with an open air sky bar. Lucky for me I brought the Just a flight of stars away was the Slla Sky Bar and restaurant with a view of Phnom Penh city skyline. With very few skyscrapers in sight, we got to see the residential and important landmarks of the city.
The restaurant itself served fusion and authentic Khmer dishes with prices starting from mid to premium. We personally loved their fresh juices and the coffee selection. Even though they don't have a gym facility here, the swimming pool and the view proved to be enough for that quick exercise.
Aquarius Urban Hotel & Resort was indeed a good stay for the weekend in the city as it came with a serene ambience, less crowded travelers as well as convenient facilities. The tuk tuk fares to the city centre was also cheaper than the ones near our house! All in all, we would definitely come back for another weekend just for the pool and the sweet looking room.
Here's how to reach the location:
| Name: | Aquarius Hotel & Urban Resort Phnom Penh |
| Address: | Preah Ang Phanavong, St 240, Sangkat Chakto Mukh, Khan Daun Penh |
| City: | Phnom Penh, Cambodia |
| Contact: | +855 23 972 088 |
| Check-In Times: | 2:00 pm |
| Check-Out Times: | 12:00 pm |
