The Beach
Otres Beach is a place to relax, to swim, to read - or even write - a book, enjoy a beer or breakfast. Later, come out of the water and watch one of many stunning sunsets. There are nearby islands well worth visiting and other natural attractions such as the Kbal Chhay Waterfall. During the main season there is a small but dedicated party scene.
The three main areas are called Otres 1, Otres 2 and Otres Village, each of these places have different vibes and things to offer.
This section provides an overview of what to expect from spending some time in Otres Beach. For quick navigation click on the links in the box below the text. Additional info can be found in the FAQ section.
What to do at Otres Beach?
Relaxing
Otres Beach is a relaxed place by any standard. It's perfect for any kind of relaxing that appeals to you: doing nothing, staring at the sea, having a swim in between, building castles of sand, sunbathing or partying after sunset. Being relaxed is a collective state of mind in Otres that soon spills over to visitors. If you are looking for a place to forget the daily grind or your batteries are empty from a full schedule, then chilling some days or weeks in Otres might be just what you need.
Massages are offered right at the beach, along with manicures, pedicures, and the like. A few local and Vietnamese traders sell souvenirs and sunglasses as well as boat trips to nearby islands.
Standard tourism infrastructure at Otres: sand, sun, salt water, chairs, umbrellas
Swimming
It's perfect for swimming. The water is clear and there is no current that could take you out to the open sea. Jellyfish are very rare and if you encounter one, it will not be of a dangerous species. The water near the beach isn't deep; the ocean floor is flat for several dozens of meters resulting in warm water (28 - 30.5 °C) with few to no waves.
Clear, warm and flat: the beach is perfect for swimming, bathing or just getting wet
Socialize & mingle
People who stay in Otres are open minded and helpful. It's rather easy to get in contact with folks and socialize with expats or fellow travelers in order to exchange information, gossip, or to just hang out and talk. Or to hook up. No need to talk about business, religion or politics.
Avoid talking about Cambodian domestic politics if you aren't interested in being sucked into a black hole - mentally or physically. In case you can't resist doing so, and if you intend to stay for weeks, make sure to choose your words carefully or speak in a language other than English.
Taking pictures
Otres has a lot to offer to photographers. The sunsets are simply stunning. Otres and the surrounding area are full of details which are worth focusing on, with respect to social contrasts as well as nature. If you are traveling with expensive equipment, always have an eye on it and don't pass the area of Long Beach between Otres 1, Otres 2, or the Village at night. In general, the risk of being robbed is small but still present as it is in most tourist destinations.
The view at the beach after sunset - it's hard to quantify beauty
Explore
If you'd like to explore the area around Otres on your own, it's possible to rent motorbikes or scooters. Many guesthouses and hotels offer them at reasonable rates. Don't leave it on the street overnight.
The police frequently halt foreigners on motorbikes and scooters, asking for money. Best practice is to donate one to five dollars, although Chinese drivers are often asked to pay double that price. The hard way is to not pay and instead ask for the legal grounds for this payment. A driving license is not required for driving a motorbike with a capacity up to 125cc in Cambodia, yet it may take up to half an hour before you are allowed to drive on.
The quality of the roads is by no means comparable to what you might be used to. Accidents are frequent and can ruin your stay or worse since the quality of the medical infrastructure in Sihanoukville is comparable to that of the roads. And it's not much better in Phnom Penh. Wounds heal badly in tropical areas like Cambodia; the germs are different than the ones your body might be used to. If you or your friend is seriously injured, contact the insurance company and organize a transport to Bangkok or back home.
One beautiful place you’ll want to visit is Kbal Chhay, about a 40 minute drive from Otres or the Ream National Park. Also, boat trips to nearby islands or fishing expeditions can be booked at many places in Otres.
Visiting Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville is an interesting city to vist. The city is full of casinos and there are options for nightlife, eating, or shopping. It's a completely different groove in Sihanoukville than in Otres, therefore it's good for a change. While the groove at Otres is very laid back, it feels a bit like the 'Wild West' in Sihanoukville.
Food and Drinks
Eating
There is no risk of starving. Many restaurants and beach bars at Otres 1, Otres 2, and Otres Village offer decent local, Western, and Chinese dishes in every price class. Due to the relaxed mood, especially at some places right at the beach, it might be some time until the food is served, but it's usually worth waiting for.
The quality and tastiness of the food may differ depending on the actual chef who is in charge, it's worth testing a few places. In general, the overall standard is good. My favorite places right at the beach of Otres 1 are Captain Mike's Burger with very good burgers, Bamboo Shack, a Cambodian run place with very good local food and barbecue for a reasonable price, Dune's, French cuisine but relatively expensive and Sunshine Cafe, a place run by Cambodians with solid choices all along the menu.
If you are on a very tight budget, you can find decent and cheap food along the road at Otres 1 or at Otres Village. Just watch where locals are eating, have a seat, smile and look hungry.
The concept of happy hours is well known and practiced at Otres - Bamboo Shack serves two draft beers for USD 0.75
Drinking
In tropical countries such as Cambodia, hydration is very important. Even while doing nothing all day, the body loses a lot of water through sweating, at least for people who aren't used to the tropical climate. The effects of dehydration shouldn't be underestimated. Besides water, many places offer fruit shakes, smoothies, or coconuts.
Probably every place in Otres with a roof serves cold beer from dusk till dawn, in general local draft beer. Cans and bottles are also available, both local and imported. There are different opinions about the quality of the local beer, but considering the quantities consumed at Otres, it can't be that bad.
At the Corner Bar, as you enter Otres 1, beer is served 24/7/365. The barkeepers there also know how to mix all kinds of drinks, but their professional mixing-skills come with a hefty price - hefty by Cambodian standards at least.
Where to stay?
Finding a place to sleep isn't difficult during most times of the year. In Otres 1, Otres 2 and Otres Village there are plenty of backpacker hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. There are hammocks, beds in dorms, bungalows, and hotel rooms, which often include showers, air conditioning, attached swimming pools, and so on but don't expect anything in the category of a three star hotel or above. During the peak of high-season, especially between Christmas and New Years, it can be more difficult finding a place to sleep without a reservation.
For people who intend to stay longer than just for a few days, it makes sense to book a room via a booking platform such as Agoda, Traveloka or Booking for one or two days to start. Booking for a short period of time gives some flexibility and time to look for a room in a relaxed manner by walking around and having a concrete look at the situation. Also, platforms such as TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet, and reviews on GoogleMaps might be worth consulting. Probably the best and most reliable sources of information are other travelers.
It is a best practice to look the room over carefully before any money changes hands. Check to see if any showers in the place have hot water, if there are cockroaches, or if the air conditioning is dripping, and so on. Ask if the room is quiet at night. Check to see if there is there a mosquito net. If so, check for holes in it. If you do seen shortcomings such as these, be sure that you make them aware of this. You can stress the point by making a serious face while showing them the problems. While you shouldn’t play this game too much, this can help lower the rate. Also, don't forget to ask for a discount if you intend to stay for a week or longer.
Otres is changing quickly, and individual preferences are very different, so it's difficult to provide specific advice as to where you may want to stay. There are, however, some rules of thumb that might be helpful in this respect.
There are all kind of rooms available in Otres
Rules of thumb
The closer to the beach, the more expensive it will be. This is a global rule which also works for Otres, but there are plenty exceptions. For example at Everythang in Otres 1, one can get a bed in a dorm for around two or three dollars a night right on the beach during low-season.
The closer to Otres 1 and to the main road of Otres Village, the louder it will be. Otres 2 is in general silent at night. In high season, and even more on weekends, Otres Corner runs their sound system at full capacity. The music can be heard all along the beach. If you lay in bed some 300 meters away, you can still feel the bass.
Another source of noise at night is the construction work which takes place parallel to the concrete road of Otres 1 and Otres Village. The noise level of the construction depends very much on the place and time; it's unpredictable. For people who like to have silence at night, it is worth spending a night or two at a place for testing before booking for a longer period of time.
Otres 2 is less developed and more expensive than Otres 1, but it is much quieter at night. The cheapest places can be found in Otres Village, and most long-term visitors, expats, and the Westerners who work at the bars stay there. If you are on honeymoon, travelling with family, used to some degree of luxury right at the beach, or simply want to avoid the presence of backpackers, party animals or professional drinkers, then Otres 2 is a solid choice.
These are some rules of thumb. They might help you get an idea before you head to Otres, but it can't replace your own evaluation. Otres is a dynamic, fast changing place, which is improving and rebuilding itself constantly. Keep your eyes open - and keep smiling.
Nightlife
During high-season there is a small party scene in Otres. Don't expect a clubbing scene like Berlin, London or New York. On the other hand, these cities have no sound systems just 15 meters away from the beach. Keep your eyes and ears open or ask Western staff of the bars about events.
In off-season there is not much happening in this respect. If at all, it happens sporadically and is usually more fun than in high-season when the crowd has high expectations.
Otres changes quickly; some places close, others open. It's the people who make the party, so follow the crowd that fits you and enjoy yourself.
Otres at night: eyes wide open
Electronic music
Just a few hints: The Corner Bar, also known as Last Hippy Standing, often plays progressive psy trance or house. It's open 24/7. From time to time places at the beach like Everythang or Mom's kitchen play fine electronic music for an energetic crowd. Once in a while there are bigger events in the forest behind Otres Village. Also, on the nearby island of Koh Rong, parties are organized from time to time.
Organic music
There are concerts on a regular base in Otres Village. For example, during weekends at Otres Market or during the week at Stray Cats where musicians get some free drinks at jam sessions.
Chemicals
The list of foreigners who got lost in Cambodia due to extensive recreational drug usage is a long one for several reasons. It's a myth that embassies simply provide run-down drug heads or alcoholics with a return ticket back home. And foreign beggars aren't welcome in Cambodia.
Prostitution
So far, and in contrast to the rest of Sihanoukville and many other Cambodian cities, Otres is rather free from prostitutes looking for clients. In the past, Otres was mainly visited by young, low-budget oriented backpackers, tourists who once were backpackers, or travelers who intend to avoid the mainstream tourist highways. Sexpats or sex tourists seem to prefer the more developed places closer to Sihanoukville or elsewhere.