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Region: Southern Cambodia> Province: Sihanoukville> Location: Ko Russei
Ko Ru Resort
Great Basic Bungalows
Ko Russei
Sihanoukville Province
Tel: (012) 388 860
Description
Situated on what is by far the nicer of the two beaches on Bamboo Island, Ko Ru has the same western management as Bar Ru Guesthouse near Serendipity beach. All bungalows have shared toilets, and showers are a public affair using well-water buckets. The stilted bungalows are clean and basic, with conical thatched roofs and no electricity. A small generator is in the works, so bungalows will have light eventually. They've been built as unobtrusively as possible, and are well-shaded. Each has two beds with mosquito nets, and a small terrace with hammock. Ko Ru's beach is well-maintained, though occasionally rubbish washes ashore from fishing boats and pine needles coat the far end of the water. The shared facilities are clean and will eventually be lit at night. There's a massive octagonal lounging area with conical roof on the beach, where guests and day-trippers congregate. At the time of our visit, the generator was only run for several hours after sunset, but Ru plans to have electricity (and music) available all day long. Still, the sound of surf is enough for most travellers who've stayed there so far. Ko Ru's menu is based on Bar Ru's: mainly British/western, with a few nice Asian dishes, minus a number of the more perishable items. For those who crave seafood, Ru's not going to compete with the excellent fish available on the other side of the island at Bamboo Island Resort: their seafood dishes (if not their rooms) are always fresh and memorable.
Total rooms: 6, with more planned
Bungalow fan share b'room
6 USD (low season)
6 USD (high season)
No fan
Added to Travelfish on: 24th January, 2006
Last visited or updated on: 24th January, 2006
Guest feedback
Five resorts now! - 
By jill21 ( total comments: 1 
) Stayed here 4/2008
We decided to try Bamboo Island on a whim in a last-minute attempt to relax before returning home. It was heaven. It's not going to stay this way forever, as apparently there are plans to turn the island into a bazillion $ resort casino and promote the surf and turf tourism in Cambodia. So sad. The beaches are pristine, with none of the normal Asian garbage problem. We stayed at Bimbamboo, and although definitely considered basic accommodation, at US$12 a night it's the best you will find on the island. The front porches are the best features of these bungalows, but bring bug coils as the sand flies are relentless. The whole place has a laid-back, 'time doesn't exist' attitude and the majority of the travellers we met were having a difficult time leaving. The highlight was finding a gorgeous abandoned beach and enjoying a romantic afternoon with the boyfriend without being bothered by a single person.
Cleanliness | Facilities | Location | Romance | Rooms | Service | Value | Vibe |
Bamboo Island and Coaster's - 
By Roel ( total comments: 2 ) Stayed here 9/2007
Hi, my name is Roel and i am from Holland. We just came back from Cambodia and we had a wonderfull holiday. Execpt at one place: Coasters and Bamboo Island. Please let me tell the story in short.
We arrived at Saturday. Everything was ok, friendly owner and manager. They helped us great with some things. We stayed there only 1 night because the next day we wanted to go to Banboo Island. Coasters has some cottages there and on the internet it looks perfect. Room at Coasters was ok, nothing spectacular, just ok.
We went to the island. The bungalows are nothing more then some wood and leaves from a palmtree, with a bed made from trees and a small matras to sleep on and a musquito net and 2 towels. This was very basic. I am quite an experienced traveller but this was too basic. No warm water, no flowing cold water, no electricity (from 6 to 10 pm there was a small generator that made a lot of noise), no clean toilet facilities, no clean showers, the water that came out the shower was
Prices - 
By elcordell ( total comments: 3 ) Stayed here 4/2006
$6 for Ko Ru Bungalows is past tense. It was double that when I was there
Ko Ru Resort V Bamboo Beach Bungalows - 
By elcordell ( total comments: 3 )
Bamboo Beach Bungalows was a
wonderful place to really lay back and relax. I didnt stay at Ko Ru Bungalows but did visit twice during the evenings. I dont know if ten out of ten exists but I will give bamboo Beach Bungalows a nine.
Photos Bamboo Beach - 
By takiev ( total comments: 2 ) Stayed here 9/2006
can be seen on
cambodia-beach.com
Yes -
By takiev ( total comments: 2 ) Stayed here 9/2006
There are two places to stay on Ko Russei Island. Bamboo Beach Bungalows and, on the other side of the island,(10 minutes walk) Ko Ru Resort. I stayed at Ko Ru Resort for two nights and at bamboo Beach Bungalows for one week. For peace and quiet, swimming and children (bathing in the sea is much safer at bamboo beach resort )food and especially tranquility BBbungalows rules. Its true the bungalows are more rustic here but that part becomes very enjoyable. Also they are cheaper. I paid $7 daily reduced to $5 because I stayed 6 nights. Ko Ru Resort is great for long beach walks and sunset but the military are building a barracks right behind the dome restaurant area and the soldiers were a little to visible for my liking. They drink a lot of local wine which seems to make them deaf. Also the dome which is quite big is lobsided and looks like it might fall ( it will ) some night. The boss and staff at Ko Ru resort are mainly foreign whereas bamboo beach resort is all Khmer staff. Kim the manager is
a wonderful warm funny great chef Khmer. Try her peanut curry....oooohhh
They also have a boat to visit the adjacent islands. I felt more at home here. I hope this place is not destroyed by mass tourism but I think I will be very sad if I return here in 5 or 6 years. Catch it while you can.
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