The Best of Cambodia & Laos

Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay Dang Kum, Siem Reap (on the temple road, just north of town and
the Kantha Bopha Hospital). & 063/963-900. www.lemeridien.com or www.angkor.lemeridien.com.
223 units. $270 superior; $300 deluxe; $410–$520 suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: 2 restaurants; bar; concierge;
health club; outdoor pool; room service; spa. In room: A/C, TV, high-speed Internet, minibar.
Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor Right in the center of town, this is simply
the best hotel in Siem Reap; it remains unrivaled for luxury, charm, and service. The
imposing colonial facade gives way to a marble lobby, connected by Art Deco black-andwhite
tile halls to the many rooms and fine services. If arriving by air, hotel staff will pick
you up and escort you to a waiting limo while your visa, immigration, and luggage issues
are magically taken care of. At the hotel, a doorman outfitted in the old hat and uniform
of the Royal Guards whisks you past the cool lobby and into the Conservatory, a bright,
alcove restaurant overlooking the expansive outdoor pool. Their State rooms, in the new
wing of the hotel, are large, with classic French doors and windows, beautiful black-andwhite
tile entries, and most come with a balcony. Landmark rooms, the next higher
standard, have four-poster beds, a balcony, and nice touches like porcelain bathrooms.
Personality suites are gems, and each has a unique theme, color, and decor. The courtyard
pool (lit by fairy lights and tiny candles in the evening) is large and inviting and the
nearby spa facilities are indulgent.
1 Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay Dang Kum, Siem Reap. & 063/963-888. Fax 063/963-168. www.
raffles.com. 131 units. $360–$410 double; $510 suite; $2,500 2-bedroom villa. AE, MC, V. Amenities: 4
restaurants; 2 bars; concierge; health club; Jacuzzi; kids’ club; big outdoor pool; spa; 2 tennis courts; Wi-Fi.
In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, minibar.
Sofitel Royal Angkor Sofitel is famed in the region for bringing life back to
classic hotels of old Indochina, but in Siem Reap, they started fresh, with a project limited
only by the designer’s imagination. The lobby is an old-world Indochina replica with
antique Khmer pagoda and a menagerie of overstuffed European furniture. Design and
decor throughout nicely marry Khmer and French styles, with vaulted Naga roofs high
above the sculpted central garden and tranquil pond area. The courtyard pool with swimup
bar is large, open, and fun—great for kids, with a short river meander crossed by a
small bridge. The spa is tops, and the private massage areas are uniquely resplendent with
private bathrooms. Rooms are spacious, with dark-wood floors and rich touches like
designer throw rugs and elegant built-in cabinetry. All bathrooms are large, with tubs and
large granite counters. Spring for a superior room with a balcony and a view of the central
courtyard: It’s worth it. There’s an Angkor theme throughout, but the statuary is not
overdone and is quite pleasing in both common areas and sleeping quarters (unique in a
town of gaudy reproductions of the sights). Be sure to take a moment, preferably near
the magic hour of sunset (but any time will do) and take it all in from the island pagoda
in the central pond.
Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay Dang Kum, Siem Reap. (On the way to the temples, just north of the
town center.) & 063/964-600. Fax 063/964-609. www.sofitel.com. 238 units. $340–$360 double; $420–
$605 suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: 5 restaurants; 3 bars; concierge; 18-hole golf course; health club;
Jacuzzi; large outdoor pool; room service; sauna; smoke-free floor; spa; banquet facilities. In room: A/C,
TV w/in-house movies, fax, fridge, hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi.
Sokha Angkor Maybe this is what Angkor Wat would have looked like if it was a
pleasure resort rather than a place of worship. The lobby is gigantic, with big columns
framing a bronze and sheer glass chandelier. A blown-up photograph of a Banteay Srei
temple is plastered over the elevator doors. In the courtyard, a large stone pediment with
a waterfall empties into the outdoor pool. Big stone lions at the back and lingams at the
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SIEM REAP 6
WHERE TO STAY