The Best Hotels Near Song Saa Private Island, by the Record
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Twenty-seven villas scattered across two wild islands in the Gulf of Thailand, some on stilts over the water, some tucked into forested hillside, all of them a 30-minute speedboat ride from the Cambodian coast. This is a private-island resort in the Maldives mold, except it's Cambodia, which almost nobody expects. Seafaring excursions around the surrounding archipelago give it something to do beyond the spa and the fine Cambodian dining.
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The 12th-floor Sky Pool looks out over the Gulf of Thailand, which is a reasonable argument for booking a higher floor. This five-star resort in Sihanoukville draws on Indonesian and Khmer design, with coffered ceilings, patterned carpets, and smart glass across 236 rooms and suites. A spa, gym, Chinese restaurant, and an international dining room round things out. Otres Beach is ten minutes away when the pool loses its appeal.
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A 15-minute speedboat ride off Cambodia's south coast, this private-island resort is so thoroughly swallowed by jungle that you can barely spot a rooftop from the water. Forty villas each come with plunge pools, and the spa occupies the island's highest point, which tells you where the priorities lie. Michelin awarded it 2 Keys. Water sports, a sheltered cove, and excursions into Ream National Park fill the hours between naps.
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Fifteen rooms around a pool, all facing the sea, with private balconies and Balinese outdoor showers built for standing in the rain and feeling smug about it. Tamu is a sleek boutique beach hotel on Otres Beach, the Cambodian stretch that hasn't quite made the group-chat rounds yet. Polished cement floors, wide white beds, coffee and cocktails served on daybeds in the sand. Kayaking, snorkeling, and yoga with the in-house instructor when the lounging gets competitive.