The Best of Cambodia & Laos

64
PHNOM PENH
5
WHERE TO STAY
and unique, and executive privileges on the top floors are luxe. They have wireless Internet
(with prepaid cards) available in all public spaces. All rooms have picture windows
and good views of town or the river.
313 Sisowath Quay. & 023/218-189. Fax 023/426-392. www.hotelcambodiana.com. 230 units. $170–
$180 double; $400–$500 suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: 4 restaurants; bar; concierge; executive-level
rooms; small health club; Internet; Jacuzzi; outdoor pool; room service; sauna; tennis court. In room: A/C,
TV, fridge, minibar.
The Quay This chic riverside hotel is giving nearby Amanjaya a run for its
money. They advertise “carbon-neutral luxury,” and that’s what you get at the Quay.
They call themselves Cambodia’s first carbon-neutral hotel, done through a combination
of ecofriendly materials and purchasing carbon-offsets (which provide rural villages with
fuel-efficient wood-burning stoves). It is best advised to skip the small, windowless
(though admittedly still very stylish) standard rooms and book yourself into a panorama
suite. For the extra $50 you get a room twice the size with large balconies with unobstructed
views of the river and a cozy sitting area with swan chairs. The decor of light
wood, champagne color textiles, and cream walls and furniture create a truly soothing
escape from the chaos of Phnom Penh. Bathrooms in all units are sleek and outfitted with
stylish sinks and shower cubicles; suites come with large stone tubs. The rooftop Jacuzzi
is luxurious, if a bit uncomfortable, as there is also a popular rooftop bar so you may have
to shimmy your way past patrons for a soak.
277 Sisowath Quay. & 023/992-284. Fax 023/224-893. www.thequayhotel.com 16 units. $130 standard
suite; $185 panoramic suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; rooftop Jacuzzi; room service. In room:
A/C, TV, fridge, minibar, Wi-Fi.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal This is the best high-end hotel in Phnom Penh.
Built in 1929, it is the city’s most atmospheric hotel, an authentic Art Deco and colonial
classic. Everything from the vaulted ceilings in the lobby to the classic original central
stairs breathes history and charm. Walking down the arched hallways, with sunlight
bouncing off the black-and-white floor tiles and streaming in through stone columns, is
like walking smack into the extravagance of prewar Indochina. Rooms are done with fine
tiled entries, high ceilings, indirect lighting, a sitting area with inlaid furniture, and
ornate touches like antique wall sconces and fine drapery. Landmark rooms, just one step
above the standard, are a good choice in the old wing and are larger, with nice appointments
like claw-foot tubs and Art Deco faucets. The Raffles is luxury with a price tag,
but it is all well worth it. There are some interesting theme suites named for famous
visitors, including Charles de Gaulle and W. Somerset Maugham. Even Jacqueline Kennedy
has a room dedicated to photos and memorabilia from her 1967 visit. The central
pool area is a tranquil oasis divided by a unique pavilion, and the amenities throughout,
such as the fine spa facility, are luxe. The staff is attentive and very professional.
92 Rukhak Vithei Daun Penh (off Monivong Blvd.), Sangkat Wat Phnom. & 023/981-888. Fax 023/981-
168. www.raffles.com. 172 units. $300–$340 double; $390–$2,500 suite. AE, MC, V. Amenities: 3 restaurants;
2 bars; babysitting; kids’ club; concierge; health club; Internet; Jacuzzi; 2 outdoor pools; sauna;
room service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi.
MODERATE
Almond Hotel This slick new addition to the Phnom Penh hotel scene raises
the bar. The emphasis is very much on the modern with plenty of shiny tiles and picture
windows. This is tempered by boutique touches such as rattan furniture and silk awnings.
The rooms are light with picture windows. The deluxe rooms sport balconies with decent