SunBoo Beach Bungalows

Rooms and decor

Picture an island with no car roads and no engine noise — just waves on sand and sea breeze through the coconut palms. That is Koh Rong Sanloem, and if you make your way to its far west side you hit Sunset Beach, a small bay that is one of the quietest, most unspoilt corners of the island. SunBoo Beach Bungalows sits right here: a compact boutique stay of just a few wooden bungalows lined up facing the sea. The bungalows are done in simple island style — warm wood and natural materials, nothing flashy but with real character. Open the porch door and you get clear water and white sand; a few steps and your feet are in the sea. The best part is the orientation: this beach faces straight west, so many rooms let you watch the sunset from the veranda without going anywhere. The whole place is private and very calm — built for waking up to the waves, lazing all day, and waiting for the golden evening light.

Food and amenities

What sets SunBoo apart from the average beach bungalow is its kitchen, which does not just serve generic tourist food but takes Italian and Mediterranean cooking seriously — thin, crisp wood-fired pizza, pasta, and fresh seafood pulled from the water off the beach. A lot of reviews agree it is better than you would expect on a small island, and because Sunset Beach is fairly remote, the restaurant becomes the meeting point for the whole beach at dinner. There is a beach bar for a cold drink at sunset, plus water activities like snorkeling over the coral and kayaking through the day. But the thing guests talk about most, and what pushed the score to 9.6 from nearly 400 reviews, is not the facilities — it is the owner and staff, who are extremely friendly, attentive, and happy to help with anything, so much so that many people say it felt more like visiting a friend's home than checking into a hotel.

Location and getting there

SunBoo sits on Sunset Beach, on the west side of Koh Rong Sanloem — the corner you come to specifically to get away from the crowds and be in nature, unlike Saracen Bay on the east side, which is the main pier and far busier. Getting here is part of the adventure: a speedboat from Sihanoukville to Saracen Bay pier takes about 45 minutes, then you continue by small boat around the headland to Sunset Beach, or hike across the island on a short jungle trail for a different feel. The draw of this spot is the quiet and privacy you rarely find — no cars on the whole island, clean air, night skies full of stars, and water clear enough to see shallow coral. If you like exploring, you can walk the shore or take the trail to a neighboring bay like Lazy Beach. This suits travelers who want to switch off by the sea and value the sunset view and the calm over an easy journey.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, the journey: Sunset Beach is on the far west side, harder to reach than the main beaches. After landing at Saracen Bay you still have to continue by small boat, or cross the island on a jungle trail with your bags, which is fairly tiring — having the property arrange a boat pickup is the easiest way. Second, island life: Koh Rong Sanloem has no car roads and sits off the mainland, so power and Wi-Fi are limited and may not be reliable around the clock the way they are in a city — plan for it if you need to work online constantly. On top of that, this is a small bungalow with simple, island-style facilities and only a few rooms that fill very fast because of the high score, so book several weeks ahead, especially in high season; anyone expecting a full-service luxury resort may find it basic. Finally, money: ATMs on the island are scarce and many places take cash only, so change and withdraw enough on the Sihanoukville side before you get on the boat.

Our take

From reading the real reviews, SunBoo Beach Bungalows is a beach bungalow that sells simplicity with heart, and pulls it off — a quiet, unspoilt spot on Sunset Beach, the sunset off your porch, better-than-expected Italian food and pizza, and an owner and staff everyone praises, all at prices light enough that the score climbed to 9.6 from nearly 400 reviews. If your idea of a trip is waking up to clear water in front of your bungalow, snorkeling over coral all day, eating pizza and seafood on the sand, and closing the night with a golden sunset off your porch, this nails it. If you need an easy journey, reliable Wi-Fi, and full-service luxury, the remote, simple island life here may not be your thing. Overall we give it 9.6/10 — best for couples, backpackers, and travelers who want to escape the noise and value the sunset and the warmth over polish.