The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.
The Yellow Moon M23 is definitely the party hostel of Koh Roh Sanloem, but as this island is much quieter than its bigger brother nearby, so expect a more chilled-out party. There's a very sociable atmosphere here and the hostel runs daily and nightly events, such as fire shows, eighties night, BBQs, and beach parties. There's also a daily snorkeling/fishing trip. During the off season, however, these will be run only occasionally. Also, keep in mind that this is still an undeveloped island with very few brick buildings, so all hostels and their facilities are therefore very basic and Wi-Fi is rare.
The Location
M'pay Bay will be the ferry's second stop, and this will take you to the pier. After you exit the pier, turn left and walk along the beach. After sixty meters, you will cross a small bridge going over a stream. Cross this bridge and you will see the hostel just past the trees ahead of you. This is a great location with no other hostels nearby, and the beach outside is used only by the hostel guests.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Sleeping in a chicken shed probably feels similar to sleeping in the dorms here. They are poorly constructed, rickety sheds that get very hot and stuffy; not much light gets in either. This is an undeveloped island after all, so you must have low expectations; but that being said, these could be a hell of a lot nicer so as to not resemble something from a shanty town. There are plenty of fans inside, thankfully, and mosquito nets are present. Bathrooms are much better, and these are kept very clean. There is no hot water, however; finding a hot shower on this island may not even be possible.
Common Spaces
There is an extremely sociable beachside bar that's brilliantly laid out so that everyone sitting there can engage in the same conversation -- meeting people is easy! Drinks are cheap and the happy hours make them even cheaper. Out on the beach, there are a number of hammocks the guests can use, and there's numerous seating within the hostel itself. A bonfire is lit every night and you can guarantee that there will be a decent amount of people drinking here each night.
Summary
This is a popular, sociable hostel that still has a chilled-out vibe. The dorms are awful but you won't be in there long -- the beach and the hammocks outside are much better for sleeping off your hangover. The daily trips and events are a great way to meet people and you can book scuba diving from here too.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
Chris
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on Nov 14, 2018
Location and Contact
Location
To get to M'Pay Bay on Koh Rong Sanloem, you have to take a boat from Sihanoukville or Koh Rong. When you arrive at the pier, go on the left on the main street and walk until the small bridge. Once you are there, just have to cross and you will be at The Yellow Moon.