Homestay Chreav

Petra she’s really nice and all here family the kids around the house so cute! And, if you want to see the true Cambodge people it’s the best please to go.

But we was shocked how the picture it’s not the reality.... it’s not really for a little kids cause it’s too hot in the room, and if you’re scary To see insects it’s not for you... and have to tell it’s not maintained and clean...
We wanted sleep there 6 night... and finely we moved the first night, cause really too hot by night my kids don’t stop crying, cause couldn’t sleep too hot and he was afraid.
If i was more young and without a kid i think i could stay.

The homestay experience was exactly what we were looking for and more. We were hoping that by staying in a small village we could get a better taste of Khmer culture - Pheaktra's family & home environment provided exactly that! On the first morning we woke up to the welcoming sounds of Cambodian music being played by one of the neighbors. We were told that there would be wedding later that day! Pheaktra already had our breakfast ready and we ate outside with her family who greeted and welcomed us with warm smiles.

On our final day we didn't have anything planned so Pheaktra invited us to help out at the school where she works. Her class size had been doubled because another school teacher was out sick that day. We spent the morning teaching English and singing songs with 3 & 4 year olds who were as cute as can be. So much fun!

The village looks as you would expect... fields, cows, roosters, dogs & schools, with locals zipping by on their motorcycles. If you opt to venture out their are some stores, a market, and some local grub spots within a kilometer or so. The best part is that it is only 10 minutes from downtown & Pub Street. Beware though that for the locals, this is very far. We ventured off on our own once (Pheaktra was always more than happy to arrange a tuk tuk for us but we wanted to walk into town to better enjoy the scenery). Catching a tuk tuk back was easy enough but our driver was really tripping out that it was "so far" and kept saying that he couldn't believe we were in the "countryside". He was very nice but we ended up giving him more money in the end because he was so panicked he probably wouldn't have taken us had he known where we were staying -- really, it was only a 10 minute ride but apparently the city-slickers of Siem Reap don't get out much. Had I known, I would have called Pheaktra to arrange our usual driver to pick us up as he was very kind, always on-time.

All in all, Pheaktra and her family made the trip so much fun and we are so glad we chose to stay with them versus some of the fancy-pants hotels out there so that we could experience the real culture of Cambodia! The accommodations are modest and clean, our room was basically two beds & one table (nothing else) and the shared shower was warm.

Really enjoyed my Homestay, and will book here again later! Phaektra is a very busy women, but on her days off from work, she showed me the ricefields, sat and talked with me in the evening, and even gave me a gift before i left! Her brother is especiallly good at making traditional breakfasts, and works as a chef in town during daytime. Their rooms were nice, had a good price, and the enviroment around was very rural and nice. If you would like to be in the tourist centre all day this is not the place for you. The homestay is an authentic village experience with a great welcoming family.