Heh now that I've settled Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, I'd like to find out if it's worth doing any detours enroute from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, if we're doing this by taxi. Should we have a look at Kep, or Kampot, or Bokor Hill Station on the way? How much longer will that make the journey? Er, for that matter, how long is the drive from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville?

In my opinion it is better to head directly to the beach town (4hrs)and then do a one day trip to Kampot/Kep and visit Bokor Hill. Better still if you have the time spend a night in Kampot at one of the nice guesthouses or Kep for that matter. The trip up the mountain to see the Bokor hill station is over a road that is hard to describe. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is the best way. It take around 3 hrs going/coming.
Kampot is around a 11/2-2hr trip from Sihanoukville and from PP it is 3hrs.
Kep is noted for great seafood dinners (some of the best in Cambodia) and of shore island called Rabbit Island (about 20-40 minutes boat) has some nice beaches to relax on.

What you could do is to go to Kampot directly from PP. and stay over night. On arrival arrange to go up the mountain that day and the next day visit Kep (a short distance away) have a seafood lunch and then head to Sihanoukville. A taxi from here should be around $25 for the whole car. From PP it will be around $40.

We've got only two days to "do" Sihanoukville as it is. It's our very first trip to Cambodia so we're spending most of our time in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. We're doing a quick side trip to Sihanoukville - two nights really - just to have a look at the coast, so don't think we want to halve that for yet another location. If we do drive through either Kep or Kampot, and maybe stop for lunch, which would you recommend? Bokor Hill Station sounds too difficult.

Yes by all means visit Kampot and Kep on your way to Sihanoukville. Since it is only a 3hr drive and if you leave early, you can be there by noon. You have to go through Kampot to get to Kep (25kms - 1/2hr drive) and you could have lunch here and sample their famous fresh seafood. The road opposite the beach has many food vendors. Just sit yourself down at a picnic table and one will come right over. Most have english menues. Crab is the speciality. When you order make sure he knows how much food you want and what the price will be.
After lunch look around the small town and then on to Kampot for a short visit. Both places do not get a lot of tourists (this is changing as more people become aware of how nice the area iis) and the people are very friendly and especially the kids whom what to practice their limited english on you. Quite a change from the touristry overpriced Siem Reap and even PP. Gives you another aspect of Cambodia.

Yeah, was hoping to see more of Cambodia, so will do the detour then. Thanks Scotters! On a slight digressionary note, I take it then that eating from roadside stalls is safe? Is there a signature crab dish (you know, like Singapore has chilli crab) that is a must-have?

The seafood is always fresh and is cooked in plain site. Never head of any complaints about being sick but that does not mean it could not happen. I have been sick on occasions but from resaurant meals and mostly in Thailand.

The speciality is the pepper crab which is fried and served with fresh pepper corns.

If you feel eating stall food is not your thing then you can get good seafood at the Long Villa restaurant or at hotel ones such as the Beach House, Champey Inn, Star Inn and the Verando resort.

when we get there. I've actually had no problems eating in Thailand, street stall or otherwise. It's Bali I always run into tummy problems with (much as I love the place...), and at restaurants too. Thanks for the advice, Scotters!

I'm in Phnom Penh right now and I've found a driver to take us from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. However he's telling me that "the road from Kampot/Kep to Sihanoukville" is no good. I'm not sure if his information is up to date or if he's just pulling a fast one because he doesn't want to do a longer run. He did say that the road is "not good, not like Highway 6". His suggestion was that I return to Phnom Penh from Kampot before proceeding to Sihanoukville. He said that the road to Kampot from Phnom Penh is good, and so is the one to Sihanoukville. Please, I'd like to find out how bad the road from Kampot to Sihanoukville really is, and how long that journey would take.

All my current reports indicate that the road between Kamport and Sihanoukville is fine unless something has happended in the last month. True it is not as good as the highway from PP to Sihanoukville but that is the best road in Cambodia. I don't know why he is reluctant to take you. Suggest you ask around further for other drivers.

Also meant to say that the cost of the taxi should be around $55-65(PP to K 30-40 and K to S 25). Hope you are having a good trip