Sure, Sihanoukville would never win first prize in a pretty-town competition but thanks to a surrounding coastline of white-sand beaches and sun-drenched islands, this is Cambodia's most happening sun-sloth destination. The Serendipity Beach area is a sort of decompression chamber for backpackers, who flock here to rest up between travels and party through the night.

Even further away from the hustle, in the far south of town, is relaxed Otres Beach, where cheap bungalow joints and bohemian-flavoured guesthouses are now neighbours with rather swish boutique resorts. The mellow scene here ticks all the boxes if you're looking for lazy days of sunbathing rather than night-time bar-hopping.

Beyond Otres, the adventurous can find sandy strips rimmed by casuarina trees and coconut palms to have all to themselves. Sihanoukville is also the jumping-off point to Cambodia's southern islands, where castaway-cool beckons.