Introduction
Travellers to Siem Reap and the spectacular temples of Angkor are spoiled for accommodation choice and great value. But there are also plenty of shockers. We've put together this list to help you sift through the hundreds of hotels and resorts to find something of quality, design and character that suits your budget.
The first wave of tourist development in Siem Reap produced some lamentable hotels. There were always a handful of standout 5 star options like the historic Raffles Grand d’Angkor but most hotels were built for a quick return. And it showed.
Over the past decade or more though, Siem Reap’s accumulated an enviable collection of luxury hotels and a new wave of tasteful boutique properties - many locally owned - giving visitors to Angkor some of the best accommodation options in Asia.
At the very top end there’s the hyper exclusive Amansara - formerly the guest house of Prince Sihanouk. Part of the Aman group of hotels, this is a stunningly simple iconic piece of 1960s Cambodia with a rich history - but you’ll pay a pretty penny for its restrained pleasures.
Stepping back into Siem Reap’s earliest days as a travel destination, the 1932 Raffles’s Grand Hotel d’ Angkor is the original luxury hotel in town. In contrast, the hip Park Hyatt Siem Reap, is completely devoid of colonial motif. Zannier Hotels from France opened the exclusive Phum Baitang in 2015 adding to Siem Reap's enviable luxury collection.
For those wanting to spend around US$100 per night, the Siem Reap choices are fantastic. In recent years there’s been a flourishing of cosy and tastefully decorated boutique hotels with good facilities priced between US$30 and US$100.
While never as slick as their 4 and 5 star counterparts, they offer a relaxed charm and local authenticity that is hard to capture in more upscale hotels. Of the recent openings, we’re especially fond of the Lynnaya Urban Resort (2015) and the new Viroth’s (2015).
Be warned, Siem Reap is saturated with hotels - including a good many horrors. The boutique label has also been widely abused as has the use of evocative French hotel names.
Finally, as things are changing very quickly here, don’t hesitate to send us through your recommendations.
