Fourth hotel added to Alternate State Quarantine options

CAPTION: The Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra is has been added to the government's Alternative State Quarantine list. Supplied

Phnom Penh now has four luxury hotels offering quarantine packages, giving travellers on a business visa the opportunity to choose where they stay for the 14-day period.

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra is the latest to join the scheme, which is accredited by the Ministry of Tourism and the Inter-Ministerial Committee taskforce. Rooms start at $2,980 per person for the quarantine duration.

Visitors can also book alternative state quarantine (ASQ) packages at the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel and Residence, the Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh and at Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh.

Raffles offers single-occupancy rooms from $2,426 per package. Marriot’s rooms start at $1,980 per person including meals and Covid tests. Sokha is the cheapest and is priced at $1,806 per guest.

American Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Travis Mitchell returned from the US just as the ASQ option became available and says he was very pleased with his choice of the Marriott.

“I immediately booked Courtyard because it’s an AmCham Member and an American brand, so I knew the quality of the room, services and food would be exceptional. I have heard many mixed reviews of non-ASQ hotels, with some offering windowless or smoky rooms, poor WiFi, and inedible food, so being able to book Courtyard helped manage my expectations about my quarantine. I was able to work comfortably during the two weeks, and the staff handled every request quickly and with a smile,” he said.

Comments about the ASQ rooms at Sokha and Raffles on the Cambodia Quarantine Experience Facebook group have been equally positive. Those staying at hotels such as Tianyi have been less enthusiastic, complaining of poor-quality food and dirty rooms.

There is not a more affordable ASQ option for travellers on lower budgets, paying their own way or travelling with children who can’t or won’t pay for the luxury ASQ packages. They have to render a compulsory $2,000 deposit at the airport and can’t pick their hotel from the range of mid to low cost establishments participating in the government quarantine scheme. Any money left at the end of two weeks after the room, meals and two PCR tests have been paid for is refunded.

“Having multiple options for ASQ would be beneficial for travellers, as they could manage their expectations. They could align their budget with knowing the services they would receive, thus making the decision to travel to Cambodia much easier and less stressful” Mitchell said.

Khmer Times approached the Cambodia Hotel Association to ask whether members were pushing for the scheme to be broadened to include more affordable options, whether the association was talking to the government and what the Tourism Ministry’s response had been.

The reply from association president Din Somethearith was short and to the point. He said, “we are working with them on this.” Khmer Times