The Best of Cambodia & Laos

102
SIEM REAP
6
WHERE TO STAY
call ahead; if it’s booked, you’ll find similar standards of service and friendliness at its
sister hotel Pavillon Indochine (see below).
Rd. 60, Siem Reap (on the new road to the temples). & 063/760-646. www.pavillon-orient-hotel.com.
18 units. $85–$110 double. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; nice outdoor pool; room service; spa.
In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar.
Shinta Mani A member of the Sanctuary Resorts group, a Hong Kong–based
hotel organization dedicated to sustainable tourism, environmental stewardship, and
holistic practices, Shinta Mani is both a small boutique hotel and a school of hospitality—creating
opportunities in health, beauty, and hospitality for the next generation of
underprivileged kids in Siem Reap. While public spaces are done on a small scale—the
pool is quite tiny—fine rooms and cool minimalist decor set this hotel apart. Each unit
is stylish, with cool tile and buff-polished wood features. Lower-priced rooms (and their
bathrooms!) are quite compact so if you need your space, I strongly suggest upgrading to
a deluxe. Bathrooms connect to the main room via large sliding doors. The overall effect
is chic, clean, and luxurious. Their dining space has won international awards.
Junction of Oum Khum and 14th St. (near the FCC). & 063/761-998. Fax 063/761-999. www.shintamani.
com. $100–$110 double; $125–$140 deluxe. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; small outdoor pool; room
service; spa. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar, Wi-Fi.
MODERATE
Bopha Angkor With their popular nightly dance show and Khmer restaurant, there’s
a certain “cultural theme park” vibe to this place, but Bopha Angkor is tidy, affordable,
and genuinely offers a culturally infused visit to Siem Reap. Rooms are arranged in a
U-shaped courtyard around a lush central garden. Private spaces are large but not luxe
and feature fun local accents like mosquito nets and souvenir-shop trinkets on the walls.
The staff is friendly and the hotel is close to the old market area.
No. 0512 Acharsvar St. (across the canal from the market). & 063/964-928. Fax 063/964-446. www.
bopha-angkor.com. 38 units. $55–$87 double; $180 suite. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; outdoor
pool. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, minibar, Wi-Fi.
Golden Banana The gay-friendly, everyone’s-welcome Golden Banana
is tucked away in a side alley, across the river from the town center. It is a full complex
that includes a bed-and-breakfast, boutique hotel, and Khmer restaurant. The new boutique
hotel has rooms clustered around a saltwater pool and waterfall. Accessed from two
flights of steps, my room felt like a treehouse; it was filled with light (my bedroom alone
had six windows) with high cathedral ceilings. All rooms feature artwork by Chinese
artist Yue Minjun and incorporate local materials such as sugar palm. The highlight was
taking a bath in the stone tub on my balcony, a decadent and relaxing end to a day spent
hiking around temples.
Phum Wat Damnak, Siem Reap. & 012/855-366. www.golden-banana.com. $23–$25 double; $15–$20
fan room. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; pool. In room: A/C, Wi-Fi.
Pavillon Indochine This converted traditional Khmer house and garden is the
closest you’ll get to the temples and is quite peaceful, even isolated, in a quiet neighborhood.
The upscale guesthouse is charming and surprisingly self-contained, with a good
restaurant and a friendly, knowledgeable French proprietor whose staff can help arrange
any detail in the area. Rooms are large, clean, and airy, in terra-cotta tile and wood trim,
but they’re not particularly luxe. There’s a fine line between rustic atmosphere and necessary
comforts, like hot water and air-conditioning (though many choose to go with a