Hm Grand Central Hotel

“A Four-star hotel with an enormous bed, great bathroom and in a fantastic location.”

Finally, a hotel that knows what ‘four-stars’ means and aspires to maintain the qualities of a hotel of that calibre. Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first so I don’t sound all gushy. Getting into the building involves climbing steep stairs that seem to have been inspired by Angkor Watt its… more

Finally, a hotel that knows what ‘four-stars’ means and aspires to maintain the qualities of a hotel of that calibre. Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first so I don’t sound all gushy. Getting into the building involves climbing steep stairs that seem to have been inspired by Angkor Watt itself. Seriously, climbing up them with my luggage was like climbing up Mount Doom with the weight of the One Ring pushing you back. A porter helped (thanks, Sam). I think wheelchair access might be provided by going into the basement carpark and up the elevator. Breakfast was not included in the price. If you want breakfast, you have to pay $10.70 at reception. We did it at 7 am, and walked right up, with no hassles. All the usual buffet breakfast items are present and accounted for, such as a noodle and egg station. Little things like yoghurt, hand-and-cheese toasties, and more than one type of juice were the icing on the cake. They were still setting things up as we arrived, which seemed a little ill-prepared. The coffee machine made a decent brew, and that’s important. I feel like the last three weeks of my holiday in Cambodia have been a quest to find the perfect bathroom, and while this was not flawless, it was the best so far. The water pressure was formidable, and the temperature scalding hot (really, be careful – the sink faucet was hot even on the cold setting). A door on the shower would have prevented wet floors but at least there are enough towels to wipe everything down. I’m no stranger to wet rooms as bathrooms, but they usually come with bathroom slippers. The slippers provided were not ideal for this use. (More on slippers later). The bathroom could also do with a hook to hang a hand towel (there is space for it and everything). Also, bit more shelving. The free coffee provided was a bit meh! At least you could refill your water bottles in the foyer if you wanted to. Now for the good… I had the Deluxe Double Room for three nights, and the bed was gigantic. I’m talking two three-quarter beds pushed together. Great for a small family with young kids. Great for people with partners who snore or hog the bed. The bed is wider than it is long, and they provide four pillows. Being back in a hotel that provided wardrobes and cupboards that you can open and close was much appreciated. The room was generous and made good use of its space. The dark brown and cream interior colours looked classy. The location is great. This is a more affluent suburb where the wealthy live in their mansions behind high walls and electronic gates. The leafy streets yield minimarts, hairdressers, spas and even laser therapy or Botox. Walk in almost any direction and you’ll find a decent restaurant. If you’re looking for a vegan or vegetarian restaurant, there are two in Street 51. Head right from the hotel, then take the next right into Street 51. Keep heading south, it is not far. Keep going if you was to go to Brown’s Café as a potentially cheaper alternative to the $10.70 buffet breakfast offer. Langka Lane, Phnom Penh’s hip restaurant and bar scene to rival Bassac Lane, is a bit of a hike down Street 51, then straight past the Independence Monument onto Street 55. Keep going until you hit the junction of Street 288. It will be on the left. The elevator is activated by using your electronic key, which is a nice security feature. It will take you up to the gym, pool, spa, sky bar, and other amenities. The elevator is clean, shiny and golden. The gym is impressive – the best I’ve seen in a hotel. There is plenty of room, even for sofas. Three running machines means no waiting your turn. A choice of free weights or machines. A cross-trainer if you’re sick of jogging. There are even a ping pong table and a massage room. The pool is smallish by serviceable for laps. It offers sun lounges and city views. The deep end is 160 cm. There are a spa and sauna nearby too. The sky bar has comfortable seats inside and outside, as well as board games, and musical instruments. The TV worked, first go! Just turn it on and watch. Not every channel was perfect but there was a mix to suit most people’s taste and language preference. I did like the slippers, so much that I bought my mum a pair for $5 from reception. They are for sale there with other souvenirs. I would definitely go back, especially if I was worried about maintaining my gym workouts or wanted to explore the BKK1 area more.

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