This is one of the world's 'best beaches' - and I stayed there for $15 a night
In my books, there's really no such thing as a 'bad' beach.
But I think we can all agree that some beaches really stand head and shoulders above others.
I found one of these beaches on an island in Southeast Asia, which I never expected to be that amazing.
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Cambodia is home to some of the best beaches I've ever been to. Supplied
In fact, Koh Rong, an island off the coast of Cambodia, was just included in the top 10 of the prestigious World's 50 Best Beaches list, beating out a slew of Aussie favourites.
I'm not surprised by its inclusion.
Many tourists to Southeast Asia head to Thailand and the Philippines to soak up island and beach time, leaving Cambodia's shores relatively untouched.
Koh Rong is a peaceful antidote to crowded spots like Phuket, where $5 can buy you dinner on the beach and happy hour beers are two for $2.
The Khao Touch area of the island, where you get off the ferry, is more built-up and tourist-friendly, with bars, restaurants, and hotels. Even here, it's very budget-friendly, so don't expect to pay more than $50 a night for accommodation.
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Even the 'busy' parts of the island are quiet. Getty
We also spent a few nights at a resort on the sleepy western coast of the island, on Sok San beach. Here, we were greeted with endless stretches of white sand, postcard-perfect palm trees, and water so clear and warm it was hard to believe.
It's so secluded that a part of the island was used to film a season of Survivor in 2016.
Just a short boat ride away is Koh Rong Sanloem, an even more underdeveloped and peaceful 'sister' island.
Now this is where things get magical.
The beaches are quiet and serene. Supplied
We spent four nights in a bungalow on the sandy beach, surrounded by jungle. Days were spent swimming and exploring, and at night we could watch the bioluminescent plankton in the water while enjoying a BBQ on the sand.
If you visit, Lazy Beach should be high on your list, where you'll find a beachfront 'resort' only accessible by a hike or bumpy truck ride, with bungalows from $15 a night.
We also spent a few nights at the 'busier' Saracen Bay, where, once again, days were spent lounging on the sand and in the water.
Our bungalow at Lazy Beach was right on the sand. Supplied
It's a much more laidback alternative to Thailand. Supplied
How to visit Cambodia's islands?
The islands off Cambodia are definitely a little trickier to get to than Thailand's islands - but that just makes them even more special.
Aussies will have to fly into the capital of Phnom Penh, then fly (or drive three hours) to Sihanoukville on the south coast. From here, you can catch a ferry to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.
When is the best time to visit Cambodia?
Generally speaking, the best time to visit Cambodia is during the dry season (November to March) when you'll find pleasant, cooler weather and dry days. Expect daytime temperatures around 24 degrees to 30 degrees.
In the hot season, between March and May, temperatures can soar to 40 degrees.
The wet season sees heavy (but brief) showers every day, between June and October.
