Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Villa Medamrei
Psakrom St
T
063 763636,
W
villamedamrei.com; map p.139.
Attractive and very
affordable little boutique hotel in a central location and
with exceptionally attentive staff. It's surprisingly stylish
given the modest price, with chic rooms (all with a/c, fridge
and safe) clad in bright fabrics and colourful art
work
s
covering every available surface. Breakfast included.
$38
Siem Reap's most famous address, providing visitors with
colonial elegance since 1932. Rooms, suites and villas are
furnished in luxurious period style, decorated with Khmer
artefacts and provided with all mod cons. High tea and
cocktails can be taken in the conservatory; there's a choice
of restaurants and bars including the opulent
Restaurant Le
Grand
(see p.151), bakery, swanky boutiques, business
centre, gym, tennis co
urt, th
e sumptuous Amrita spa (see
p.141) and a vast pool.
$400
The River Garden
River road, north of NR6, west of
the river
T
063 963400,
W
therivergarden.info; map
p.139.
Lovely little retreat, set in a verdant garden around
a small pool and with a mix of contemporary and classic
Asian styling. There's a wide range of accommodation of
various prices and standards - the stand-alone “Khmer
Cottage” is great for families. Good restaurant and bar, and
also runs
pop
ular cooking classes (see p.151). Breakfast
included.
$47
★
TAPHUL STREET AND AROUND
Frangipani Green Garden Hotel
Formerly Green
Garden Home Villa;
51 Sivatha Blvd
T
063 963342,
W
frangipanigreengardensiemreap.com; map p.139.
Quiet little mid-range hotel in a pretty garden with
swimming pool and spa. The bright, white rooms all come
with a/c and hot water, while colou
rful
Cambodian fabrics
provide a welcome splash of colour.
$40
Park Hyatt Siem Reap
Formerly Hotel de la Paix;
Sivatha Blvd
T
063 966001,
W
siemreap.park.hyatt
.com; map p.139.
Landmark downtown establishment
from celebrated hotel designer Bill Bensley, with
templesque portico, a skyline-dominating belvedere and
serene 2m-tall apsaras welcoming you at each entrance.
Recently reopened under the Park Hyatt brand following a
multimillion-dollar makeover, it remains the most
personable of Siem Reap's growing number of chain hotels,
with suave rooms in muted whites and greys, plus a trio of
restaurants and a gorgeous tree-
studd
ed pool. Rates are
surprisingly low, given the quality.
$200
Smiley's
Taphul St
T
012 686060,
W
smileyguesthouse
.com; map p.139.
From humble beginnings this
guesthouse has grown enormously, but remains one of
Siem Reap's better budget options. Arranged around a
quiet courtyard, rooms are clean and bright, with either fan
or a/c (some with h
ot w
ate
r), an
d there's a peaceful little
downstairs café. Fan
$8
; a/c
$12
The Villa Siem Reap
Taphul St
T
063 761036,
W
thevillasiemreap.com; map p.139.
Good-looking
boutique guesthouse with neat a/c rooms (all with hot
water, minibar and safe) decorated in minimalist whites
and greys, plus three bungalows in the lush gardens.
Facilities include a decent-sized pool
with
plenty of
loungers and a nice little patio restaurant.
$35
3
Shinta Mani
Junction of Oum Khun & 14th St
W
shintamani.com; map p.139.
Idyllic, modern urban
resort in a quiet side-street a short walk from the centre. A
model of modern responsible tourism, the hotel is run as
part of the Shinta Mani Foundation, which supports a wide
range of projects, with staff recruited from their ranks and
given a genuine stake in the success of the business
- which accounts for the supremely friendly, attentive and
e
cient service found throughout the hotel. Rooms are
spacious and superbly equipped, overlooking a central
garden courtyard with big
poo
l, and there's also an
excellent restaurant and spa.
$260
Victoria Angkor
Central Park, west side of the Royal
Gardens
T
063 760428,
W
victoriahotels-asia.com;
map p.139.
Rivalling the
Ra
es Grand Hotel d'Angkor
for
period atmosphere, and at roughly half the price. The
extensive facilities include a choice of restaurants, the
lovely
L'Explorateur
bar (see p.152), spa, sauna, boutique
and a gorgeous pool swathed in greenery. Airport transfers
and Angkor trips in the hotel's pair of vintage Citroens are
also available if you fancy s
plash
ing out $250 for a day's
touring around the temples.
$200
EAST OF THE RIVER
SOUTH OF SAMDECH TEP VONG STREET
★
Angkor
Village
Street 26, off Wat Bo St
T
063
963361,
W
angkorvillage.com; map p.139.
Idyllic
“village resort”, much copied, but rarely bettered.
Accommodation is in Khmer-style wooden bungalows
dotted around lush gardens and enveloped in greenery,
like a miniature - but very luxurious - Cambodian village
right in the heart
of t
he city. Facilities include a pool and
classy restaurant.
$95
The Backpacker Hostel
7 Makara
T
012 313239,
W
angkorbackpacker.com; map p.139.
One of Siem
Reap's cheapest sleeps, with beds on top of the five-storey
THE ROYAL GARDENS AND AROUND
FCC Angkor
Pokambor Ave
T
063 760280,
W
fcccambodia.com; map p.139.
This branch of the
FCC
in
Phnom Penh is more modern but with just as much
character, surrounded by trees in a picturesque riverfront
location. Stylish rooms come with all the amenities you'd
expect of a modern, boutique hotel, and there's also a
terrific r
estaura
nt, bar, spa, and adjoining boutique
complex.
$130
★
Ra
es Grand Hotel d'Angkor
Royal Gardens
T
063 963888,
W
ra
es.com/siemreap; map p.139.