Tanei Boutique Villa

As mentioned, the hotel bills itself as a boutique villa despite the fact that the rooms really qualify it as a budget guesthouse. However, its public spaces, from the entrance to the lobby and pool, are quite charming. First impressions are key, and entering off the street, one sees the hotel's name written in stylish script on a faux white picket fence, leading to a narrow entry passage flanked by two large plants in carved pots. Further inside, there's a wooden bridge between giant Angkorian busts and a large sitting Buddha statue inside a shrine-like house. There is also a pleasant outdoor sitting area, which serves as one of the main hangout spots for travelers here as the lobby itself is just a place to check in or use the free computer. All in all, as long as expectations are managed and travelers aren't in need of rooms with bespoke boutique style, this hotel will fit the bill. Families and couples on a budget are the main guests here. 

Tanei Boutique Villa is just outside and to the southwest of Siem Reap's center. It's a good location to combine quiet with proximity to Siem Reap's action. All of the clamor and the lively street scenes of downtown are within a quick walk, and it's only a seven-minute stroll to popular Pub Street. The tourist-heavy Night Market is even closer, at only five minutes from the hotel on foot. The neighborhood here is one that aims squarely at the backpacker and budget market, with most shops and restaurants designed for this crowd and price point. There are some trendier, more upmarket restaurants across the Siem Reap River, a 10- to 15-minute walk from the hotel. For Angkor Wat and the airport, plan on 15 minutes by car, sometimes more if there is traffic -- the farther Angkor temples of course take longer to reach by road. 

There are 32 rooms at the Tanei Boutique Villa. Some of them are set in a newer building, but most are in the old house above the lobby. While this is certainly is no boutique villa, rooms are pleasant enough, with a few modern Khmer touches like locally designed bed runners and Angkor Wat reproductions on the walls. There's a variety of bed types to choose from and each is made up in simple white sheets. Rooms have writing desks and cabinets as well as safes, flat-screen TVs, electric hot water kettles, minibars with beer and soft drinks, and both overhead fans and air-conditioning. None of the rooms have balconies or views -- in fact the windows have bars over them. 

The main difference between the Standard and Deluxe Rooms are the bathrooms. The Standard Rooms have extremely tiny bathrooms and are actually wet rooms, a common feature in budget hotels across South and Southeast Asia. This means that the spigot comes out of the wall and that the entirety of the bathroom serves as the shower -- sink, toilet, and all (read: everything in the bathroom will get wet, hence the name). Deluxe Room bathrooms are more modern, with brown square tiling and a separate shower area. We did spot some moldy grout when we visited.

There are only a few facilities at this small guesthouse, but what's on offer is well-maintained and free. There is a small pool that has a tiny jetted area at one end. The pool is nicely landscaped and set with comfy sun loungers underneath umbrellas. There is also a cute restaurant at Tanei, with a snazzy black-and-white chessboard floor and heavy teak wood tables and chairs. Free breakfasts are served here, with choices of eggs, noodles, toast, and fruit -- and then meals throughout the day and evening including both Khmer and Western options. The restaurant also serves as a bar. There is a covered sitting area out in the garden-style foyer of the hotel, though this is the only place that guests can smoke on the property and thus attracts plenty of smokers. There is a set of bicycles for guests to use for free, making it easy to zip around the town center (or out to Angkor Wat), and there is one computer terminal in the lobby that is also free for guests to use. Free tea and coffee to use with the electric kettles is also available in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property and the hotel provides a free pickup from the airport.