The Best of Cambodia & Laos

10% VAT. Budget travelers are also amply catered to, but again in high season you may
have to try a few different guesthouses before you find a room.
VERY EXPENSIVE
Amansara Resort Aman means “peace” in Sanskrit, and the suffix “sara” refers
to Khmer Apsara dancers. Set in an old downtown guest villa once owned by King Sihanouk,
the suites of the Amansara are each done in a cool contemporary minimalist design
of white stucco and dark timber, all surrounded by shade trees. The outside world melts
away when you step into this complex. Large bedrooms with adjoining sitting areas lead
to a private outdoor courtyard area. Decor is simple; the bedroom wall has a white stone
bas-relief of a banyan tree, while the courtyard has a lotus pond with goldfish. The services
at Amansara are unrivaled: private driver and guide, personalized excursions to the
temples and town, high tea with freshly baked cookies and cake, stocked bar, wine and
cheese cellar . . . the list goes on. The idea is that Amansara is your home, so you can
wander into the central house and mix yourself a gin and tonic or grab a cookie whenever
you fancy. Unfortunately, the compulsory daily $100 “half-board charge” per person on
top of the rather steep room fees feels like you’re being nickel-and-dimed (or Benjamin
Franklin-ed!) here. Still, service is in its own category here and it is a remarkable experience
for Siem Reap.
Road to Angkor, Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia. & 063/760-333. Fax 063/760-335. www.aman
resorts.com. 24 units. $750 suite; $950 pool suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; complimentary
bikes (with or without guide); library; 2 large outdoor salt pools; luxurious Aman spa; room service. In
room: A/C, TV, bar, fridge, hair dryer.
Angkor Palace Resort and Spa The acres and acres of open space afforded
by the Angkor Palace Resort’s location—far from the action—wins this one kudos.
Plenty of elbowroom, fine gardens, a large pool, and unique tennis courts in a town
where real estate is at a premium are quite unique. This high-end resort offers a friendly
and casual atmosphere, again unique in a town of more and more haughty, high-end
addresses. The pool area is large, open, and inviting, with bridges connecting walkways;
the spa is tops, and you’ll find extensive services, including a fine Italian restaurant, inhouse
Internet services, and any kind of tour services or vehicle rental you might need.
Rooms are enormous and done in dark wood with white silk spreads on the beds and
fine local hangings on the walls. First-floor rooms have direct access to the pool area.
Bathrooms are large, with wood floors connecting the main bedroom to a small dressing
area, then large Italian tile covers the bathroom floor, where rosewood and granite accent
every inch of the walls and counter. The resort’s spa is just up and running with a host
of fine massage and facial treatments, but planning and construction are underway for a
much larger project. You will, however, find a good sauna and steam area as well as a
Jacuzzi at poolside. A top getaway.
No. 555 Phum Kruos, Khum Svay Dang Khum, Siem Reap. & 063/760-511. Fax 063/760-512. www.
angkorpalaceresort.com. 259 units. $350–$400 deluxe; $600 suite; $1,500 villa. AE, MC, V. Amenities: 2
restaurants; babysitting; concierge; driving range; health club; outdoor pool; tennis courts; room service;
smoke-free rooms; fine spa facilities. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, Internet, minibar.
Hôtel de la Paix This chic, modern hotel is the height of cutting edge. The
original design—a sort of Art Deco meets minimalist meets Khmer decor—is a refreshing
change from the colonial-heavy influence of popular hotels like the Raffles or Victoria
(see below). This is not a chain hotel (the private owner is Cambodian-Thai), so the
place has a personal and flamboyant feel to it. Staff is incredibly friendly and appears
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WHERE TO STAY