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