The Best of Cambodia & Laos

98
SIEM REAP
6
WHERE TO STAY
invested in providing a wonderful experience for guests. Spacious deluxe rooms come
with black-and-white color schemes, accent pillows in deep purple, and silver wall hangings
and lamps. A white marble bathtub lies a couple of feet away from the foot of the
bed. Around the corner is the funky stone shower console with tropical shower head. If
you decide to splurge on the two-story spa suite, get the corner unit (room no. 346),
which comes with a huge balcony equipped with a private stone tub, lounge chairs, a love
seat with a pretty bodhi tree bas-relief carving behind it, and a cozy dining table. There’s
a large, partially outdoor pool with an indoor enclave at one end. If you are around at
noon, make sure to glance at the marble Apsara statue in the main lobby—a single ray
of light filters through a cleverly placed hole in the ceiling and shines on the statue’s head.
The moving design is a good indication of the thoughtful touches throughout the hotel
that pay tribute to the architecture found at nearby Angkor Wat.
Sivatha Blvd. & 063/966-000. Fax 063/966-001. www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com. 107 units. $300 double;
$420–$650 suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; lounge; cafe; babysitting; concierge; fitness center;
Jacuzzi; nice outdoor pool; sauna; spa. In room: A/C, TV, DVD (suites), iPod/MP3 docking station, fridge,
hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi.
La Résidence d’Angkor Formerly the Pansea, La Résidence d’Angkor is a stylish,
self-contained sanctuary managed by luxury Orient-Express. Cross a small moat to
enter the cool interior of the steeply gabled, dark wooden lobby with its grand Angkorinspired
reliefs. The tranquil central courtyard is lined with palms and dominated by a
small but stylish pool fed by the font of stylized Shiva-lingam. The resort area is small,
but everything from the gardens to the room decor is tidy and designed for quiet privacy.
Rooms are large, well appointed, open, and elegant, with cloth divans, retro fixtures, and
nice local touches. Large bathrooms connect with bedrooms by a unique bamboo sliding
door, and another glass slider opens to a small private balcony with cool lounges and
views of the courtyard. All is stately and comfortable, and if you’re guarded from the cares
of reality behind these walls, you’re reminded of local culture in all the many fine details
throughout. The lobby restaurant offers good fine dining, and there are some great open
sitting areas for drinks as well as a library with books, chess, and a conference table.
River Rd., Siem Reap. & 063/963-390. Fax 063/963-391. www.residencedangkor.com. 62 units. $218–
$406 deluxe double; $330–$642 suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; saltwater outdoor pool;
room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi.
Le Meridien Angkor The massive monolith of the Le Meridien looks as if a
spaceship landed on the road running north to the temples. Three stories and square, the
building is beveled, with the larger edge at the top, and is surrounded by a moat and large
open areas, all stylistic nods to the temple architecture nearby. Catering mostly to Japanese
and Korean groups, the stylish Le Meridien displays accents of culture including fine Apsara
sculptures in each room and tinted photos of the temples. Done in dark wood, rooms are
clean and elegant, with silken comforters on the beds, cane matting on the floors, and
Khmer-style contemporary divans near the window. Deluxe and superior rooms differ only
slightly in size. Bathrooms connect to the main bedroom via a shuttered window, and all
are done in a sparkly black tile, with granite counters and glass showers separate from tubs.
Dining options range from buffet to a fine Italian restaurant, all set in large, glassed-in
spaces overlooking a lush central courtyard where a many-headed Ganesha statue holds
court. The pool is an unusual esplanade of smaller, tiered pools connected with waterfalls
and traversed by interlocking raised pathways and Greek-style colonnaded arches. Staff
wear starched jackets and snap to it like they really mean it.