Rooms

You find everything you’d want of a good hotel room: lots of space, attractive design, excellent bathrooms, a private balcony and a real sense of peace. Interiors come with polished hardwood floors, white walls, padded sofas (that turn into extra beds), warm, jewel-coloured soft furnishings and minibars with surprising oddments like herbal rice wine. Kingsize or twin beds are smartly covered in crisp white linen.

The generous bathrooms are tucked behind a sliding bamboo door. Vast terrazzo tubs are just what you need to really relax, and the linen robes are great for lounging in. Lotions, potions and gewgaws abound.

The Deluxe Studio Suites in the annex have their own terrace, but they’re awkwardly laid out and have indifferent views, so unless you need a lot of long bland space, drop down to a Garden Junior Suite or Poolside Junior Suite: they’re all lovely and none are small. The Junior Suites, set back from - but facing - the river may be best as you feel more connected to the life around you. Basically, the rooms are carbon copies; your only decision is what view you want.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

You get wood everywhere here, not least in the hotel's Circle restaurant, and it’s all rather beautiful. French windows open onto a shaded terrace, where breakfast is served from 6am (and snacks from 5am), so you can eat early before heading out to the temples. It's the usual Indochinese extravaganza: freshly squeezed tropical juices, platters of sliced fruit, cake stands packed with irresistible patisserie, eggs any way you want them, and as a special treat, you can assemble your own shake from a stand of fruit at the entrance.

Light bites are available in the Martini Lounge and pool bar. Like most places, the menu features Asian and western dishes: Caesar salad, fresh spring rolls, stir-fried shrimps or a burger. Lunch and dinner here are a cut above the rest. Dig into stuffed sea crab with a mild chilli sauce, chicken and lemongrass with jasmine rice, then caramelised banana with black sesame and shredded coconut. There’s evening Apsara dancing 3 times a week, too.

Ember is in the midst of the lush gardens and open all day for drinks and snacks, as well as for BBQ meats fresh off the grill.

If you want to eat out, head to the Wat Bo Road and surrounding streets; new Khmer restaurants spring up all the time and the quality is often good. Or cross over the river and head into the old market, and try Haven or Abacus for good French food.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Coffee maker
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Visit Angkor Wat, the principal temple of this ancient capital and the largest religious building in the world (it's surrounded by a 5km moat)
  
• Ta Prohm where the roots of giant banyan trees hold temple ruins in their mighty grip as they soar towards heaven, is well worth seeing...
  
• ... And Bayon, the state temple of Angkor Thom, where 216 giant faces are chiselled into the stone
  
• Be sure to head to Banteay Srei for its wonderful pink sandstone temples and their exquisite stone carvings
  
• The night market (a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride away) is full of great trinkets; at Artisans d’Angkor you can watch the stonemasons at their tasks and buy their work
  
• The hotel can arrange a number of activities: elephant rides, golf, quad biking and horse riding in the country
  
• The hotel organises its own shopping or food tasting tours – a bite and a drink per restaurant and pudding back at the hotel
  
• Relax in the Kong Kea Spa with its sumptuously appointed treatment rooms, private sauna and steam rooms, and zen plunge pool overlooking the bamboo garden. Yoga on request

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Golf
• Historical sites
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures

Kids

Children are welcome at Belmond La Residence d'Angkor and all rooms are suitable for families.

Best for:

Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Deluxe Studio Suite can fit an extra bed or baby cot and have a living area.The Junior Suites, Poolside Junior Suites and Garden Junior Suites can all either fit an extra bed or baby cot; some of these rooms can interconnect (on request).

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Belmond La Residence d'Angkor is situated on the riverside in central Siem Reap, central Cambodia. It's a 20-minute drive from the temples at Angkor Wat.

By Air:
Fly into Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (45km). If you're flying in from abroad, aim for Bangkok, then take a connecting flight.

From the Airport
As a rule of thumb in Indochina you should book a transfer and arrange for your hotel to pick you up from the airport. Public transport is confined to only the very biggest cities and taxis are not always reliable.

By Boat:
It's possible to take a ferryboat or speedboat from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap via Tonle Sap lake (4-6 hours), but choose your vessel with care. The crossing can be extremely rough, the boats overcrowded, and the lifebelts non-existent. Some of slower cruises (2-3 days) are much more civilised.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Cambodia and getting around