After our dismal pre-Christmas adventure at Koh Rong Samleon was cut short we were nomadic once again. Our primary focus was to get off the island, and it wasn’t until we were settled in a delightfully aromatic cafe in Sihanoukville sipping the strongest Nespresso available, that we paused to think about our next step.

It’s amazing how a decent cup of coffee can calm the nerves of being in a foreign land and homeless. Once my cup was empty—every sip savored, I logged onto the cafe’s wifi and started searching for our next destination. We’d heard nothing but enthusiastic reports about Kampot, but with Christmas only two days away, the online hotel booking companies didn’t have a lot of choice within our budget. So I was overjoyed at finding plus looking accommodation for two nights at Gecko Village.

It looked to be up-river from the main town, but on the map it didn’t look too far away, and at this point, beggars can’t be choosers. So we sorted out a bus ticket for the next available bus bound for Kampot, and then I ordered another Nespresso for the road.

Our Room

One things that has been a regular occurrence in our hotel rooms is lack of a wardrobe or set of drawers. There’s nowhere to store or hang our clothes. Most rooms just have one of these bamboo storage systems, so we don’t usually unpack for a short stay, we just use it as a temporary location for our travel bags, and try to remember which bag has what in!

Gecko Village

This is the first season for Gecko Village. Everywhere looked pristine and new, and the foliage was in it’s youth. Once the gardens mature, this is only going to add to an already fabulous location.

Although Gecko Village is a little way out of town, it does have an excellent view of the river, which you’d have to pay a premium for in the heart of Kampot. Each morning and each evening the fishing boats chug past on there way too and from the sea.

We ate at the restaurant the first night, and although it was quiet, I think we were only two of 6 guests, the food was delicious. It’s run by a French couple who have an eye for detail and a taste for the finer things in life, and that philosophy ebbs over to the way the meal was cooked and presented.

We got a taxi (remork) to take us the 3km to reach Gecko Village, but our hosts arranged a scooter for us during our stay so we could explore the neighboring countryside, and pay frequent visits to town.

It was great to have a taster of luxury for a couple of nights, but we had to travel back to reality with a bump, and booked a cheaper place in the centre of Kampot for another couple of days, but it was so hot and humid that we drove our scooter back out to Gecko Village and asked if we could use their pool.

And then spent the rest of the day watching the comings and goings in this quiet little corner of nirvana, and enjoying a long leisurely lunch before heading back into town.

Highly recommended, and would love to stay here again.

Here’s more information about this accommodation on Booking.com

Flashpacking through Cambodia

Flashpacking through Cambodia: For Baby Boomers on a Budget is my latest Roving Jay travel guide full of travel tips, advice, and sample itineraries for flash packers who want the back packing experience without foregoing some of life’s creature comforts – like a comfortable bed, a hot shower, free wi-fi, and somewhere to plug your electric toothbrush in.

I spent almost three months backpacking around Cambodia in 2017/2018 to research this travel guide, and I share insights and first hand knowledge of tourist traps and off-the-beaten-path discoveries. We ate street food, drank 50c beers, and travelled by train, bus, minivan and tuktuk to identify the best ways to get from A to B.

If you’d like to receive a free Review Copy ahead of the general public release, please click here.

Here’s my Cambodia posts on this blog:

• Cambodia Visa and Arrival at Siem Reap Airport
• Cambodia: How to Avoid the Crowds at Angkor Wat
• Filling up your scooter in Cambodia
• The Best Tasting Street Food in Siem Reap
• Angkor Wat at Dawn: Is it worth it?
• Come face to face with Angkor Thom’s Bayon
• Good vs. Evil at Angkor Thom’s Impressive Southern Gate
• The Baphuon Temple and the Terrace of the Elephants at Angkor Thom
• Visiting Siem Reap’s War Museum
• Where to Stay in Siem Reap
• Visiting Siem Reap’s Markets
• Give your taste buds a disco at Siem Reap Night Market
• Responsible Tourism at Joe to Go in Siem Reap
• What to See and Do in Siem Reap
• Which Siem Reap Floating Village should you visit?
• Memorable Boat Trip from Siem Reap to Battambang
• Libations and Bric-a-Brac tempt our purse strings in Battambang
• Vegetable Amok at About the World Restaurant in Battambang
• Cooking Classes at Nary’s Kitchen Battambang
• Pomme Bar, Restaurant and Hostel, at the Core of the new Battambang
• An educational trip around Battambang’s Central Market
• Sightseeing and things to do in Battambang Cambodia
• Bayon VIP Bus from Battambang to Phnom Penh Cambodia
• Exploring Phnom Penh’s 172nd Street in the dark
• The challenge of wandering Phnom Penh’s streets
• A visit to Phnom Penh’s Central Market
• Exploring Phnom Penh’s Markets
• Phnom Penh Photo Diary
• Tops sights to see in Phnom Penh
• Touring S-21 Security Prison (Tuol Sleng Museum Phnom Penh)
• A reflective visit to The Killing Fields
• Taking a train from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville
• The majesty of Otres Beach sunsets
• Our Workaway Gig at Otres Beach Market Cambodia
• Working Away to make Cambodian Bagels
• Cambodia Pastry Wars: The Battle of the Quiche
• Our Cambodia workaway gig renovating a market stall
• Unwind on Cambodia’s Koh Ta Kiev Island
• Cambodian Beach Massage and Grilled Seafood
• Building Community during our Cambodian Workaway
• Gecko Village in Kampot Cambodia – a Photo Essay
• Christmas Eve in Kampot
• more coming