Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor is the premier hotel in Siem Reap. With a historic heritage building dating back to 1932, the entire hotel exudes colonial charm, and is surrounded by 15 acres of landscaped French gardens. The palatial building is fronted by the Royal Palace and Gardens, just across the way, and one enters the building to find a dazzling white marble lobby, with an antique cage elevator and bellman waiting to whisk guests upstairs. The corridors next to the lobby contain super high-end boutique shops and even art galleries showcasing fine photography, paintings, and sculptures. Also just off the lobby are the colonial bars and upscale restaurants, which gaze out on the gardens and immense pool. Given the price tag and famed name, needless to say it's a hotel full of sheer elegance and pampering, and might be Siem Reap's most sophisticated spot.

Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor is located pretty much in the center of Siem Reap, in what used to be the old French Quarter, although it is still a rather long, hot 15-minute walk to the popular tourist area around Pub Street and the Night Market. Nevertheless, it is in the perfect location for easy access to the temples at Angkor Wat as well as the international airport, both of which are less than 15 minutes away by tuk tuk. The hotel is set just off the national road, opposite the Royal Palace, and has a lovely garden in front of the property. It's quiet here, as the main building lies well back from any of the busier streets, and tuk tuk taxis are available right out front for the quick jaunt into downtown. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars to be found within a five-minute walk of the hotel. 

The rooms at Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor are works of art, as they are elegant and lavishly furnished. Even the standard State rooms have plenty of space and feature fine finished hardwood floors, carpets, wood cabinets and writing desks, and plenty of colonial charm. Modern amenities, available in all rooms, include giant flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, safety deposit boxes, electric hot water kettles for tea and coffee, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms have separate showers and bathtubs, signature Raffles toiletries, and handmade silk bathrobes. Only some of the standard rooms have balconies, while others have daybeds. The next category Landmark rooms are in the Heritage wing (from 1932), and feature combined Khmer and Art Deco decor, with objects d'art, four-poster beds, marble bathrooms, and terraces that look out at the pool or the landscaped French gardens. There are also a few high-end suites at Raffles of differing sizes, decorated in French-Indochina styles, with custom-made Cambodian linens, Bose sound systems, and separate "His and Her" bathrooms. At the top of the chain, there is even a 318-square-foot two-bedroom villa with a personal butler.

There are an array of fine features and facilities at Raffles Grand Hotel. The swimming pool is one of Siem Reap's largest, well-suited for swimming laps and having plenty of space to relax in. There is also a small kids' pool at the back of the main one, with a pool bar nearby. There are 15 acres of landscaped French gardens to enjoy around the property, both in the back and front of the hotel. There is a well-equipped fitness center, a world-class spa with sauna, steam room, and whirlpool, and there are even some of Siem Reap's only tennis courts on-site.

For dining and drinking, Raffles offers quite a selection. There is fine Royal Khmer dining at Le Grand, a dinner-only restaurant that has a cellar full of over 400 different wines, along with Khmer and Pan-Asian cuisine at the outdoor Apsara Terrace, where they do traditional dance performances to accompany dinner each night. The Cafe d'Angkor serves sumptuous champagne breakfast buffets along with lunch and dinner both indoors and outside on the terrace. For drinking, the Elephant Bar has plenty of intimate ambiance, and the Conservatory is a colonial bar that serves high tea with live piano accompaniment throughout the afternoon and evening. The hotel is also home to a collection of very high-end boutique shops, some of Siem Reap's best, as well as a souvenir shop, and the gorgeous Linkway Gallery, which showcases fine art exhibitions ranging from statues to paintings and more, all of which are for sale as well as for viewing enjoyment.