Overall Impression My first impression of the Raffles Amrita Spa was early one morning when I went for a workout (I was a guest at the hotel where the spa is located). The spa and fitness center had a common reception area and shared a building fronting the pool area of the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap. The attendant was friendly, welcoming and helpful. She made sure I had everything I needed for my work out and checked on me midway to see if there was anything I required. I found that same warm welcome early every morning when I went work out and on the days I went for spa treatments.

Temple outings, walks and explorations of the tourist attractions in the area were sometimes tiring. At the back of my mind I knew if I over did it I had the option to go for a dip in the swimming pool, spend time in one of the spa facilities like the steam room or sauna or, if the occasion called for, it schedule a treatment. During my weeklong stay at the hotel I made daily use of the fitness center and swimming pool and indulged in several spa treatments to rest my feet and prepare for my long journey home.

The cozy spa had all the facilities I might want, a pleasant setting, a variety of treatment options, a reputable product line and friendly staff with a professional attitude and it was steps away from my room. My time and treatments at the spa were just right. The spa facilities and treatments enhanced my already agreeable stay at the Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor. The next time I am at the hotel, I will make a point of including spa time in my plans.

General Manager Mr. Sotheavuth Mey

Handicapped Access The spa welcomed handicapped guests although there were no special facilities to accommodate individuals with handicaps.

Location At the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

Managed Raffles Hotels & Resorts

Number Of Staff Twelve

Owned Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal

Size A 318 square meter stand alone building was shared between the fitness center and the spa.

Special Training The Spa manager traveled to to the Raffles Amrita Spa head office for training and received spa product training in Singapore by Dermalogica. Spa therapists received training locally from the Raffles Amrita Spa head office staff and Dermalogica staff.

Treatment Rooms There were five treatment rooms (four single rooms and one double)

Year Opened-Renovated The spa opened in 1997.

Common Areas Raffles Amrita Spa featured Art Deco country style furnishings and Cambodian object d’art. There was cushioned rattan furniture in the spa/fitness center arrival area. Inside the locker and changing room facilities there were showers, treatment rooms, sauna, and steam room in the men’s and women’s areas.

Food And Restaurants The hotel’s Poolside Terrace restaurant had an a la carte menu with beverages, cocktails, snacks, sandwiches, salads and healthy cuisine options on offer.

Amenities Within my assigned locker there were slippers, towels, and a cotton bathrobe. On the nearby counter there was a hair dryer, and house brand toiletries: perfume, deodorant, body powder, body lotion, air spray, hair gel, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, shower cap, cotton buds, and comb.

Facilities In the same building as the spa there was an air conditioned gym. In front of the spa there was 35 meter outdoor lap pool (said to be the largest in Cambodia), and an outdoor children’s pool. Within the spa there were Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna facilities in the men’s and women’s locker areas. There were also two tennis courts.

Pool Spa guests had access to the hotel 35 meter by 18 meter outdoor lap pool with a depth ranging between 1.2 and 1.5 meters and the 7 meter by 7 meter outdoor children’s pool.

Lockers And Bathrooms There Were S eparate lockers for men and women with shower room, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms which were segregated for men and women.

Other The spa was mostly quiet. The afternoon of my last treatment there was a family with a young girl playing loudly in the pool area. My treatment room was adjacent to the pool area and the sounds carried clearly indoors. Eventually I concentrated on the treatment and forgot she was there.

Cleanliness Excellent

Date Of Review June 2011

Number Of Treatments Three

Reviewers Article and photographs by Elena del Valle

Treatments Experienced The first time I went to the spa I had a 45-minute Reflexology treatment. On another day I indulged in the Angkor Escape (two hours and 25 minutes) designed to “ease away the day’s stress and strains and bring body and mind back into balance.” The therapist used east and west techniques in an aromatic oil massage with warm stones to reduce fatigue, aches and pain. She finished that portion of the treatment with a natural purifying body mask ”to relieve sluggishness and congestion.” Finally, there was a refreshing facial. The session left me intensely relaxed. Vanda, a friendly young woman, was my therapist for the spa treatments.

Would You Return? Yes

Overall Impression This well managed hotel, built around a heritage building and former hotel (dating back to 1932), had much to offer. My first and last impressions were very telling. When I arrived at the airport, two uniformed staff were there to pick me up (and drop me off on my late night departure) in a comfortable air conditioned classic model BMW.

The most noticeable feature of the hotel on arrival was the historic Cambodian ambiance including the building’s design and furnishings, staffed cage elevator in the main building and Khmer uniformed doorman at the porte cochere entrance.

In addition to luxurious accommodations and facilities the staff were friendly and service oriented, and there were a number of on site activities on offer to keep me entertained during my week long stay. There was also a small shopping arcade with several appealing shops where I liked to browse. Although I enjoyed exploring Siem Reap sometimes it was nice to just enjoy the hotel activities and facilities without venturing out into the rainy environs and crowded Angkor temples.

I stayed first in a Personality Suite, a spacious room with a top floor view of the swimming pool, and concluded my visit in one of the property’s Villas, a stand alone building with two bedrooms, a kitchen and a living and dining area, at the end of the pool area. Each had appealing features, although the Villa offered greater privacy and abundant space.

The combination of the nostalgic ambiance and decor, customer centered butler services, facilities such as the beautiful swimming pool (modeled after a temple pool), on site fitness center and spa; amenities like in-room high speed internet connectivity; and activities like lotus flower and palm demonstrations, cultural dance dinner, wine tasting and Khmer cooking class, made a fan out of me.

Children Yes, the hotel was child friendly. Children aged five to twelve could stay free of charge with parents and were charged only for breakfast. Baby cots were available on a complimentary basis for infants. There was a children’s pool and baby sitting service. During my low season visit I only noticed one young girl swimming in the pool with her parents.

Class Of Accommodation Luxury Five Star hotel and resort

Concierge Sambo Pat

Connectivity There was complimentary WiFi internet throughout the hotel. Internet access in the main building was continuous and reliable. In the Villa it was uneven. At times I was unable to access the internet at all. Other times it was easy and fast. When I asked about the connection, the staff explained they were having problems with their provider.

General Manager Robert Hauck

Handicapped Access The hotel welcomed handicapped guests and offered the the use of wheelchairs during their stay.

Length Of Stay Six nights

Location The hotel was in Siem Reap, about 8 kilometers from the airport and 8 kilometers from the Angkor temples.

Managed Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (FRHI)

Owned Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal

Pets Allowed No

Size There were 119 rooms and suites in two three-story buildings within a 14.8 acre ( 60,000 square meters) property and a staff compliment of 270.

Year Opened-Renovated In 1997, Raffles International Ltd. took over the management of the hotel, restoring and refurbishing the property before it reopened under the name Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. In 2009, guestrooms were renovated. The following year, the shopping arcade and business center were renovated, and refurbishment of additional guestrooms was underway in 2011.

Lobby And Common Areas The hotel’s decorative style was Elegant French Colonial Art Deco. Features included marble floors in the lobby, original floral-motif cage Otis elevator restored from the heritage building dating back to 1929, staircase rail, custom made Cambodian silverware, doorman in traditional costume, Khmer background music in the lobby, wicker chairs, and framed antique photos of Angkor. There were 60,000 square meters of landscaped gardens and 120,000 blooms.

The hotel formed a U shaped set up where the legs of the U were detached from the rest. The closed part of the U was the original building dating back to 1932 while the legs of the letter were built in the recent past. In the middle there was a beautiful pool designed to emulate the pool of a temple and behind it there was a water fountain made of two red stylized Khmer lions facing the main building. The pool bar was immediately behind the water fountain and behind it there was an outdoor dining area and a stage for performances. To the right of the main building and detached from it stood a building housing the spa and fitness center. In front of and across the street from the main building the hotel owned a handsome manicured park.

Bathroom In the rear of the master bedroom I found the master bathroom. It had gray marble floors and walls, twin sinks atop a marble counter, a toilet in the corner, a clawfoot bathtub in the center and an extra large walk-in shower with a glass door and a built-in seat. There was a large framed mirror above the sinks and a vanity mirror to the right.

Rooms I spent three nights in a 48 square meter Personality Suite and three nights in a 318 square meter Villa.

On arrival I stayed in Room 4114, the John Thompson Personality Suite (named for the first photographer to photograph the Angkor Wat Temple in the 1800s), a 48 square meter room on the fourth and top floor of the main building overlooking the center of the pool and reached via a 1920s elevator with an attendant. The spacious room had a short hallway entrance. Inside, the first features I noticed were wood floors and a rug in the middle, high ceilings, central air conditioning and a fan. A comfortable wood four poster bed with four feather pillows and duvet was set against the wall on the right side of the room. A rattan sofa was at the foot of the bed facing a metal and glass oval table, rattan armchair and round rattan table with glass top. Across from the rattan furniture there was a large three part armoire facing the bed. A central panel housed a modern Sony television on the top and an electronic safe, mini bar with a mini refrigerator on the bottom. The right side had hanging space and four bathrobes, two pairs of slippers. The left side had drawers on the bottom and hanging space at the top. Two of the armoire doors had full length mirrors. In an inset area in the far wall there was a luggage rack with a recessed light in the ceiling. The rest of the lighting was provided by two upright lamps and two night table lamps as well as recessed lights in the entry hallway.

To the right of the armoire there was an oval wall facing desk atop which there was a phone, a notepad and pen and a vase with fresh orchids. Two small framed black and white photos adorned the walls. To the right of the desk, a French sliding glass door led to an enclosed balcony with sitting space for two and a perfect view of the pool and the rear of the property. A folding horizontal gray curtain over the sliding glass door and nearby large window provided privacy at night.

Food And Restaurants I had breakfast daily in the main restaurant adjacent to the lobby and shopping arcade. On offer were a variety of cut fresh fruit, Western breads and pastries, jams, dim sum, salad ingredients, cold cuts, and cheeses. It was also possible to request made-to-order vegetable juice, eggs, pancakes and Cambodian dishes (my favorites).

One night during my stay I enjoyed an Asian buffet dinner with cultural performance at Apsara Terrace. The restaurant was at the end of the pool area facing a theatre style stage surrounded by traditional Cambodian boundary stones and wooden gates at the entrance. Because I attended a wine tasting at Le Grand cellar I arrived late for dinner as the performance was beginning. Not wanting to miss the show I waited until the end to serve myself from the many dishes on offer, many more than I had time for or was able to sample.

On a previous visit to Siem Reap I dined at Restaurant Le Grand where I had an elegant Royal Cambodian cuisine tasting menu dinner with recipes originated from the royal household. It was touted as having the most extensive wine cellar in Siem Reap. During my stay, I attended a cooking class at Le Grand one day. It included a visit to the market with the chef and a cooking demonstration. It was quite fun.

Amenities Personality Suite amenities included a surprise item at turn down like Khmer desserts, notecard with an historic excerpt from Cambodian Glory by H.W. Ponder published in London in 1936, Elephant Chocolates box (2 elephant shaped sweets each in dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate). Other Suite amenities: Champagne breakfast, tropical fruit plate in room replenished daily, air-conditioning with individual thermostat control, international direct dialing, additional socket for fax/modem, shaver outlet, hair dryer, in-suite safety box, minibar, flatscreen color television with satellite channels and cable, two cotton bathrobes, handmade slippers, complimentary postcard and postage, butler service, and iPod dock.

Bathroom amenities: Raffles Amrita Spa toiletries in the room and suite: comb, brush, loofah, shower cap, sewing kit, shaving kit, dental kit, mouth wash, shower cap, soap, shampoo, conditioner and two types of bath fine salts.

Added Villa amenities: DVD player, Bose sound system, in-villa computer with complimentary WiFi internet access, and personal butler service. There was also Evian water, Otard V.S.O.P Cognac and Johnnie Walker Red Label Whisky in decanters, a mini bar with two mini refrigerators, one with canned beverages and the second one with a locked glass door housing full size bottles of Champagne and wine. There was an extra large fruit bowl with pineapple, dragon fruit, bananas, mangoosteen, oranges and mangoes.

During my stay I received a welcome elephant candle, scarf with the hotel name embroidered on it, Khmer desserts (for turn down on the first night). Fruit plates in the room and suite had a plentiful supply of my favorite local fruit, mangoosteen and mango.

Facilities Spa, Jacuzzi, steam rooms, saunas, fitness center, 35 meter lap pool, three restaurants (Cafe d’Angkor serving international cuisine, Apsara Terrace serving Asian Buffet with cultural performance and Restaurant Le Grand serving Royal Cambodian Cuisine), three bars, two tennis courts, business center, meeting rooms, shopping arcade, and tour desk.

Fitness Center And Spa The spa and fitness center shared a building. The fitness center was 4.70 meters by 9.85 meters in size and the spa was 323.68 square meters in size. There were 11 TechnoGym machines in the air conditioned work out area as well as free weights. I usually had the room to myself when I went to work out in the early morning.

Pool The main swimming pool, 35 meters long by 18 meters wide with a depth between 1.2 meters and 1.5 meters, was meticulously cleaned, daily. Hotel staff maintained the pool deck area in an excellent state. They were constantly picking up leaves and flowers from the palm trees and frangipani trees that surrounded the pool area. There was also a Kid Pool 7 meters by 7 meters and 0.5 meters deep. Poolside the lounge chairs were covered with green and white striped towels. The day I had a window of opportunity I selected a shady option and a minute later one of the pool staff brought me a tray with lemongrass spritzer, pineapple chunks, a cold towel and a glass of iced water. I loved the scent of frangipani especially at the entrance to the spa.

Conference Facilities There were two meeting rooms, Le Grand Extension (17 meters by 6 meters by 3.3 meters) and Elephant Bar Annex (10 meters by 7 meters by 2.6 meters). The hotel’s standard meeting package included microphone, speakers, flip chart, markers, whiteboard markers, pencils, writing paper, LCD projector, screen, and podium.

Other The hotel offered novel and fun events on site. This was convenient as I didn’t always feel like venturing out on the town, especially in the rainy weather. I attended mixed drink tasting, lotus plant demonstration and tasting, palm demonstration and tasting (including wine), dessert, wine tasting with the wine steward featuring three types of wines, and the Apsara dance and dinner events during my stay.

The hotel had been listed in the Travel & Leisure 500 Best Hotels in the World 2003 – 2011 and appeared in the 2010 Conde Nast Traveler Gold List (United States edition) World’s Best Places to Stay.

Responsible Tourism Efforts included: Installation of heat pump for domestic hot water use in guestrooms instead of a steam boiler; electric power conversion to an EDC electric power supply and keeping the generator on standby only; waste management disposal system, e.g. separation of food and non-food items; organic composting system; a 300 square meter culinary herb and spice vegetable garden; used cooking oil was donated to Siem Reap Children’s Hospital; the establishment of a green committee; promotion of employee environmental awareness through monthly quizzes; upgrading of water filtration system for low chemical consumption and longer life span of linen; use of energy saving posters and tips/reminder during daily briefings; locally produced guest giveaways; replacement of ambience air-fresheners in public areas with locally made lemongrass burners, which became a signature scent for the hotel; furniture in the public area made of natural products such as wicker, which could be easily repaired locally; gourmet food festivals organized with local farmers (present to display their products); electricity, gas and steam daily consumption prominently displayed at the staff entrance to create awareness; extensive use of local products; and support of local suppliers, producers and talent.

Cleanliness Very good

Date Of Review June 2011

Reviewers Article and photographs by Elena del Valle

Service The rooms were serviced twice daily. Although some of the staff’s thick accents sometimes were hard to understand almost all the staff I met spoke some English. Most staff I encountered knew my name and I heard them greet other guests by their names as well. I appreciated the cold scented towels the staff offered me on my return to the hotel from any outing and the “welcome home” greeting anytime I returned to the hotel. It took a while to make my way from my room to the restaurant or other common areas because along the way I invariably encountered staff who greeted me by name and asked how I was, if I had slept well, if it was my first time in Cambodia, if I was enjoying my stay and so on. Many of them looked like they genuinely wished to converse so I took the time to speak briefly with any of the staff who appeared interested and answer their questions. The dining room staff, all of which spoke English, were unfailingly attentive and friendly.

Would You Stay There Again? Yes

Overall Impression I arrived in Cambodia following many hours of travel, several changes of flight and layovers crumpled and tired. My flight landed late in the evening nearly two days after I departed from the United States. As soon as I exited customs and immigration I noticed the humid hot air. I immediately saw a uniformed driver from the Raffles Le Royal, my hotel for the next three nights, and released a breath I had not been aware I was holding. He drove me in air conditioned comfort to the quiet city hotel. Smiling staff welcomed me to the flower scented lobby where, after about 20 minutes checking in, I was escorted up one level to my first floor room.

Sunday morning at 8 a.m. an unexpected staff phone call woke me to a cheery sunny morning. In spite of the tiredness that lingered from the trip I stretched myself awake and headed out to the hotel’s exuberant buffet breakfast. By the end of the morning, after examining the grounds and my surroundings with care, I found that I was comfortable at the hotel and in my Personality Suite. But it was only after I had visited the city and its attractions that I realized how special the hotel was within Phnom Penh.

Le Royal provided a safe, reasonably quiet and clean environment within a renovated historic building, plenty of creature comforts, and friendly and helpful service including competent concierge staff that coordinated tourist activities for me. I was so comfortable, in fact, that going on a tour or exploring the city required an effort because what I was tempted to do was sit by the pool, explore the shops or have a snack at the lobby deli. After a day of sightseeing in the sweltering heat in at times gut wrenching sites of historic crimes, I was delighted to return to the serene and luxurious shelter of the hotel. Should I visit Cambodia’s capital again Le Royal will be my first choice for accommodations.

Children Yes

Class Of Accommodation Luxury Five Star hotel

Concierge Yon Pen

Connectivity There was complimentary broadband cable access via a wired connection in my room and WiFi in the lobby. Since I was unable to connect with the cable I had to sit in the lobby in order to go online and check emails.

General Manager Richard Schestak

Handicapped Access Not available

Length Of Stay Three nights

Location In the heart of the city and within a 20 minute drive from the airport.

Managed Fairmont Raffles Hotels International

Owned Kingdom Holding International (Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal)

Pets Allowed No

Size There were 170 rooms in three buildings within a two hectare property and 300 staff. The buildings were three or four stories tall.

Year Opened-Renovated The hotel designed by Ernest Hébrard, an architect of the time, was first established in 1927. In 1997 it became a Raffles property. The main building is the only structure from the original 55-room hotel that remains. In 2011, the State Rooms were slated for renovation.

Lobby And Common Areas The hotel was designed in a blend of Art Deco French Colonial and Khmer styles. The main building, where I stayed, had a historic ambiance accented by wood floors and wood staircases. The first thing I noticed in the common areas was the scent of jasmine flowers and the artwork (available for purchase) decorating the air conditioned lobby. Framed newspaper clippings and archival documents hung on the walls in one area, a testament of the city’s history and some of the prominent westerners in its past.

Bathroom From the entrance hallway to the right was the bathroom. Where the room was beige with dark wood the bathroom was white. The floor was tiled in white including the glass enclosed shower. A toilet with a wood seat occupied the corner. Diagonal from it was a claw foot tub. There were tiny ants by the sink. I appreciated the fresh smelling bath white sheets.

Room I stayed in the nostalgic 55 square meter Andre Malraux Personality Suite, room 210, named for a writer and author of La Voie Royal (The Royal Way) in which he wrote about Cambodia. From the lobby my room was a short elevator ride one floor up. The easiest route, I found, was via a wide dark wood creaky staircase right in front of my room which descended directly into the lobby, in front of the concierge desk.

My room faced the front of the hotel and my balcony was immediately above the entrance to the building. It had a brown and white checker patterned tiled balcony about 6 feet wide by 12 feet long with a round glass topped table and two wicker armchairs. French door and wood frames led onto the balcony. A printed note on one of the doors said “We recommend that you keep your windows and doors closed at all times to avoid any inconveniences from Mother Nature (monkeys and mosquitoes)”. From my room I could see the entrance to the property from the street. Starting in the early morning I could hear the sounds of traffic, especially horns blaring in the nearby street.

From the entrance door, a short hallway led into the room which opened up into a spacious area with high ceilings. Two rugs, one in the entrance hallway and another in the corner of the room, lay atop dark wood floors. The space where a second door would have been was taken up by a burgundy privacy curtain hanging from a rod. The room was furnished with a queen wood four poster bed framed by matching square glass topped night tables. Each had an identical lamp. The table on the right had a telephone and electronic controls for the lights and the fan. A striped bench stood at the foot of the bed and there was a large window on the right side of the room.

A luggage rack took up the corner across from the bed. Next to it a wood armoire housed a Philips television in the center. Beneath it were snacks and beverages as well as a small refrigerator stocked with mini bar selections. On either side of the armoire there was hanging space. The right side housed two burgundy bathrobes and slippers. The left side had laundry supplies and drawers on the bottom. Next to the armoire, facing the wall, there was an oval shaped wood desk with twin floor lamps framing it. On it there was a flower vase, a telephone, an ethernet cable, a bottle of Evian from the mini bar and two decorative items as well as hotel materials. That was where I set up my iPad.

A small round table and a wood armchair took up the right corner between the window and the balcony. When I arrived the table had a tray with two small apples and an ice bucket with a bottle of white wine. Black and white glass framed photos were the sole adornment on the walls. Beige curtains with burgundy accents adorned the French doors and single window while a slightly creaky ceiling fan kept the air moving in the room. On the bed there was a comfortable mattress, duvet and four feather pillows with embroidered pillow cases. A central adjustable air conditioner was set in the hallway and kept the temperature comfortable in the room. It was cooler and by far less humid indoors than outdoors.

Food And Restaurants The two main venues for meals were Cafe Monivong, well managed by Noemie Payumo, and Le Royal Restaurant, under the direction of Christoph Schlatter, a most gracious and welcoming host. Snacks and beverages could also be ordered from the Poolside Terrace, at the lobby Phnom Deli and Gift Shop and at the Elephant Bar. The Conservatory served afternoon tea. The cafe served a plentiful east meets west buffet breakfast between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. with Asian congee, fried rice, noodles, beans, sauteed vegetables, salad, fruit juices, sliced fruit, cold cuts, homemade yogurt, cheese, cereals, breads and pastries, and made to order eggs. Hot beverages were served at the tables by friendly and welcoming staff. There were foreign language newspapers for guest use in the sun filled dining room. Lunch was served between 12 noon and 2:30 p.m. For dinner I could dine at the cafe or at Restaurant Le Royal, the hotel’s gourmet restaurant which offered Royal Khmer Cuisine that was previously only available at the royal palace.

On a quiet Sunday night I ventured timidly into the restaurant to find out if it was possible to dine there. The young lady immediately welcomed me and soon I was seated at the back of the main dining room (there was a smaller dining area to the rear of the main dining room). The well managed restaurant offered traditional Khmer dishes and contemporary options. I sampled some of each and was surprised by the delightful results and refined dinner service. The ceiling painting of lotus and honeysuckle flowers was by Assax, painter by appointment to His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk. There was also a large painting of an Apsara dancer on the back wall.

Amenities There were two small bottles of house brand drinking water, a few fruit on a plate, two bathrobes, two pairs of slippers and a plentiful supply of bathroom toiletries. There were many Amrita Spa (house brand) sealed toiletries, made in Malaysia, for two including 100 milliliter plastic bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, shower caps, sanitary bag, loofa, dental kit, brush, comb, bath salts, body lotion (with lavender, ylang ylang, palmarosa and olive leaf extract), vanity set, and sewing kit (in the closet). There was a fresh flower bouquet in the hallway and orchids in a vase on the desk. There were three phones, on the night table, on the desk, and in the bathroom. There was a vanity mirror in the bathroom.

Suite amenities included a butler, complimentary coffee or tea and two items pressed during my stay. During the week a complimentary copy of The Phnom Penh Post was delivered to my room. At turn down the staff brought a bottle of complimentary water and a printed card with an excerpt from a history book; a different one each night. One, for example, was from An Official Guide to Eastern Asia, Tokyo 1917.

Facilities The hotel had a gym, spa, two pools, a gourmet restaurant, a cafe, a deli and gift shop, a bar and several boutiques.

Pool There were two swimming pools, an adult pool, 25 meters by 12 meters in size and 1.5 meters deep, and a children’s pool, 20 meters by 12 meters and 0.9 meters deep. The swimming pools were divided by a pathway. On the right, from the main building, was the children’s pool. On the left was the adult pool. Changing rooms with two showers and one toilet (in the women’s bathroom) were at either end of the pool area. The women’s changing room was by the children’s pool and the men’s was by the adult pool. The lounge chairs were cushioned and comfortable, each one with a striped green and white towel which a pool attendant spread over the seats when a guest arrived. The day I visited the pools there were nine children in the pool area, most in the adult pool section including two in diapers both of which went in the water. Although I saw no umbrellas many of the lounge chairs were in the shade of two beautiful large trees, one at each end of the pool area like sentinels. When I arrived one of the young pool attendants, who kept the pool area free of leaves and looked after guests, found a shady corner for me to sit. A few minutes later he returned with a cold towel, a bottle of water and three bites of pineapple on a skewer.

Fitness Center And Spa The fitness area and spa shared 404 square meters of air conditioned space. An attendant greeted me when I entered and requested I fill in an attendance sheet for the spa or the fitness center before inviting me to proceed. The fitness area was equipped with Life machines (four treadmills, two elliptical machines, and two bicycles). There was also a shared (men and women) Jacuzzi between the lockers and the gym.

Ngou Sreykeo, a young lady from the countryside who had learned English by studying for two years with a non governmental organization and had learned massage techniques at Le Royal where she had worked for three years, gave me a 90-minute Relaxing Oil Massage. I was originally scheduled for a Khmer Massage but once we started talking and she found out I was tired from my long flights from the United States to Cambodia she suggested I have the oil massage instead. The massage was very good and she was helpful and friendly. I left relaxed and refreshed following the treatment and a 10 minute sauna session. In the ladies room, there were two rows of double (top and bottom) lockers, a steam room and a sauna as well as three showers and two toilets. The amenities in my locker were: towel, disposable underwear, plastic slippers, bathrobe, bottle of water and shower cap.

Conference Facilities The hotel had conference facilities for a maximum of 400 people in a theater style set up, and audiovisual equipment. Meeting space was available in Royal Ballroom (60 to 440 people), Salon 1 and Salon 2 (each with capacity between 30 to 150 people), Crystal Room (20 to 40 people), Empress Room (25 to 150 people), and Private Dining Room (10 to 15 people).

Other To the right of the entrance in front of the Elephant Bar there was a shopping arcade offering gallery and Khmer artifacts, oriental silks and carpets, fashion accessories, souvenirs, books and newspapers for purchase.

Because the tap water was not potable there were two bottles of water on the sink for oral hygiene. The hotel fogged the property every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. There was a note in my room notifying me that if I should see thick white smoke outside my window or balcony I should not be alarmed, that it was not hazardous to health and that the chemicals used had been approved by the American Pest Control Association.

The hotel had been listed in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards Top 50 Hotels in Asia from 2006 to 2009 and Travel + Leisure Greatest 500 Hotels in The World between 2005 and 2009.

Cleanliness Excellent

Date Of Review June 2011

Reviewers Article and photographs by Elena del Valle

Service My room was serviced twice daily. Staff were service oriented, helpful and friendly. My butlers, including Chuon Sokvat, introduced themselves when I arrived and saw me off when I left. One of them, Sok Vat, left a kind farewell note for me on my departure. The concierge, on the couple of occasions when I requested assistance, was personable, knowledgeable and responded with alacrity. When I ordered a room service meal for lunch (the restaurants were closed until dinner) the food arrived within minutes and the empty tray was removed very quickly following my pick up call. Likewise when I asked to borrow an adaptor it arrived within five minutes. I requested additional water bottles when I arrived late at night. The following morning I found the water bottles in my mini bar.

Would You Stay There Again? Yes

Overall Impression This child friendly and stylish hotel in the heart of the city was built in a contemporary style with Cambodian art and decorative accents throughout. The hotel was conveniently situated on a busy street and within a five-minute walk of the central market.

The Hotel de la Paix had many desirable features such as the design oriented common areas, especially the lounge with art exhibit space which seemed a magnet for locals and visitors. Within the hotel walls there was most anything I might want including my spacious and quiet air conditioned top floor room, an attractive pool area, an air conditioned fitness room within the spa, a gourmet restaurant, a bar, WiFi connectivity and an inviting cafe.

Staff, who all seemed to speak some English, were friendly and service oriented. The concierge desk staff coordinated several private escorted visits to the world famous nearby temples at an optimum time of day and an excursion to a nature reserve all of which were enjoyable and well organized.

Returning to the property, at the end of a tour or after exploring the neighborhood around the hotel, felt pleasant and familiar thanks to the smiling staff at the entrance who handed out refresher towels and greeted me warmly. Meal times were a particular favorite. At breakfast, I looked forward to the Khmer dishes and the yummy French style pastries. At dinner I enjoyed the delicious and well presented Meric Khmer Tasting Menu.

The Hotel de la Paix’ many pluses such as central location, facilities, spacious and well appointed accommodations, WiFi connectivity, friendly and efficient service, and delicious meals made my stay a pleasure and would draw me back the next time I visit Siem Reap.

Children Yes, the hotel welcomed children of all ages.

Class Of Accommodation Boutique hotel and spa

Concierge Darith Hour, the front office manager, was acting concierge

Connectivity There was complimentary WiFi available in my suite. There was also a computer on floors one and three for guest use although that tended to be busy, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Although I was able to connect to Google and other websites I had trouble reaching my server to download emails because of closed ports at the property. A young man from the IT department assisted me in connecting and collecting my emails.

General Manager Bill Black (Wendy Morris was in charge when I visited the property)

Handicapped Access According to a spokesperson the hotel welcomed wheelchair bound guests. One of the rooms had a bathroom with a handrail.

Length Of Stay Five nights

Location Within the central area of Siem Reap.

Managed Ativa Hospitality, an Asian-based management company specialising in the development and management of independent deluxe boutique hotels, managed the hotel. According to hotel representatives, Ativa Hospitality managed properties in Thailand and Cambodia with project developments in Vietnam, Laos and India.

Owned KS Resorts of Bangkok, Thailand

Pets Allowed No

Size There were 107 rooms in the 120,000 square foot multi-story hotel and a staff compliment of 250.

Year Opened-Renovated The original French owned and operated Hotel de la Paix (French for hotel of peace) opened on the same site in 1957. After changing hands many times during the following years the hotel was re-established and opened under new ownership in 2005.

Lobby And Common Areas Set around a photogenic courtyard garden with a water feature, Hôtel de la Paix was decorated in a “hip fusion of modern art deco and ancient Khmer design influences.” The Arts Lounge, the social and cultural heartbeat of the hotel, was sometimes used to showcase modern and traditional Cambodian art. According to promotional materials, the exhibits, overseen by the hotel’s international curators, pay homage to Khmer heritage and to the revival of the country’s arts, culture and people.

Bathroom To the side of the bedroom there was a doorless bathroom. The rear wall housed a Toto round sink below a large mirror on the wall and a hairdryer. Perpendicular to it there was a large closet with creaky wood doors (there was an electronic safe within). Across from the the closet there was a shower with a glass and wood door. The shower floor was discolored which, according to a note in the bathroom, was due to the mineral content of the water. A rectangular framed mirror hung across from the closet to the right of the entrance and next to the water closet.

Room My two-level one bedroom 108 square meter suite, Duplex Spa Suite 332, was on the top floor of a three story building facing the hotel’s inner courtyard on the ground floor and other rooms across the courtyard. An electronic key opened the door and once set on the card reader on the wall by the door kept the air conditioning and light systems functioning.

Straight beyond the entrance there was a wall facing desk on the right past the stairs that led to the second level and a living area with a black leather loveseat and two matching armchairs set around a round and small wood table over a patterned black and white throw rug atop the wood floor. There was a rectangular table with a lamp on either side of the loveseat and behind it there was a wood table built-in to the wall the length of the room that reached to the desk. The floor was of speckled stone by the entrance, in the bathroom and upstairs and the bedroom area had hardwood flooring. The sleeping and living area ceiling reached to the upper level.

There were two black and white framed temple photos adorning the walls. A wood cabinet was the sole divider between the living and sleeping areas. A large Samsung flatscreen television, a Phillips DVD player and a preloaded Apple iPod nano occupied the central area of the cabinet and would swivel for viewing from the bed or the living area. There were three phones in the suite: a phone on the night table, one in the water closet and a wireless Panasonic unit on the desk.

The sleeping area of the suite was taken up by the cabinet, a queen bed with individual wood headboards and a silver ornamental piece on the wall. Identical wood night tables with lamps (one had a telephone) framed the bed. Double curtains covered an oversize window that was about two thirds the length of the room, providing privacy from neighboring rooms and shade from the sun. The walls were white and the high ceiling had recessed lights.

There was a small refrigerator on one side of the cabinet that housed the mini bar and a coffee and tea service. Within it there were soft drinks, 37.5 centiliter size bottles of Ballentine’s Whiskey and Gordon’s Gin as well as Evian, Perrier, a can of Cambodian beer and five centiliter size plastic bottles (one of each) of Black Label Johnie Walker, Gordon’s Gin, Bacardi Rum and a slightly larger glass bottle of 42 Below vodka.

Atop of the spiral staircase there were twin massage tables. To the left there was an open rooftop terrace with two loungers, an umbrella and an oversize bathtub. I had a 90-minute Deep Tissue massage the night of my arrival in the comfort of my suite followed by satisfying Khmer Stir Fried Rice with Vegetables from the room service menu before going to sleep.

Food And Restaurants I enjoyed breakfast (served between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.) on the terrace facing the lovely Fire Garden. It consisted of buffet offerings of fresh fruit, pre-made juices, breads, pastries and yogurt, and an a la carte selection. I particularly enjoyed the Khmer dishes.

Although I had no time to sample the menu at Cafe de la Paix on the ground floor of the hotel the items on display looked appetizing. The Cafe menu listed sandwiches, salads, pizza, sushi and pastries.

Meric restaurant served refined delicious meals. I sampled the Khmer Tasting Menu twice and both times it was outstanding. The Khmer Tasting Menu dinner Monday night began with Pomelo Salad with Prawn served at the same time as Chicken and Banana Bud Salad. Next there was Grilled Beef with Cucumber and Prahok Sauce served with Khmer organic white rice next to Pork Rib Sour Soup “Jungle Style.” Next there was Stir Fried Frog with Fresh Ginger served at the same time as Cat Fish and Green Curry. The final dish was a small tray of Assorted Khmer Sweets for each of us. I washed my dinner down with a glass of South African pinotage. The next time the menu featured Pomelo Salad with Crispy Pork Fritter served at the same time as Green Mango Salad with Dried Snake (both favorites). Then there was Grilled Prahok with Khmer Crudites served with Khmer organic white rice at the same time as Prawn with Water Lily Sour Soup. The final savory courses served at the same time were Stir Fried Frog with Ginger (had a definite bite) and Beef Shank Curry with Morning Glory (a favorite). For dessert there were assorted Khmer Sweets.

Amenities Refresher towels on entry to the hotel. Every night there were small sweets at turndown. The first night there was pineapple paste, chocolate peanut cookies the second night, chocolate fudge the third night, and Pistachio Friand Cookies on my final night. There was a white and a black bathrobe in the closet. There were locally made scented toiletries in refillable artsy containers including shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion. There was complimentary coffee and tea service and two bottles of bottled water nightly.

Boutique La Petite Boutique, the hotel’s unmanned store near reception, was open on request. Many of the cultural items including jewelery, handbags, artwork, souvenirs, photographs and prints on sale were commissioned by the Hotel de la Paix from small local businesses as part of the property’s community support efforts. Some branded items such as bathrobes, t-shirts, postcards and toiletries were available for purchase.

Facilities The Arts Lounge (an exhibit area), Café de la Paix, Meric restaurant, bar, Fire Garden, Spa Indochine, swimming pool, and a 90 square meter function room.

Fitness Center And Spa The three-story 255 square meter Spa Indochine facilities included four double and two single treatment rooms, a Thai massage room, a steam room, a rooftop relaxation terrace and a 52 square meter air conditioned fitness room where I worked out in the mornings. It had free weights, a treadmill, an upright bicycle and two elliptical machines. There were towels, chilled bottled water and chilled towels.

Pool The pool area was attractive and stylish. There were large lounge chairs built in next to one wall and other pool furniture scattered about in sunny and shady spots throughout. The pool was 1.5 meters deep.

Conference Facilities Theres was a 90 square meter special events room with space for up to 121 people theatre style. An LCD projector, WiFi connectivity, refreshments and catered meals were available.

Other Water at the hotel was filtered and the staff recommended I drink only bottled water. There were four 600 milliliter bottles of house brand bottled Drinking Water in my room and I was advised to use the water to brush my teach. With regular service my laundry arrived promptly in the afternoon the same day it went out.

The hotel staff organized excursions to the nearby temples. To avoid crowds the private tours departed at 6 a.m. (this was optional). This meant there was a likelihood I would miss the hotel buffet breakfast. To make up for the loss the hotel provided me with a care bag with cold water, fresh baked pastries, and fruit (apple, bananas, orange). There were also lemongrass scented refresher towels and extra bottles of water in the hotel car.

The hotel was recognized as Best in Cambodia in the Travel + Leisure T+L 2010 World’s Best Awards and the best in Cambodia in the latest T+L 500 annual list of the world’s top hotels. Conde Nast Traveler recognized the community work the hotel is committed to in its 2010 World Savers Awards, with two honorable mentions in the Education Programs and Poverty Relief categories.

According to promotional materials, the Hotel de la Paix “actively supports and encourages the interaction of guests with the surrounding environment to provide unique human experiences.” The hotel works closely with organizations in Cambodia to participate in customized, community-based projects, including rice and water well sponsorship and educational support. The property had collaborated with MasterCard Worldwide as part of the Mastercard Purchase with Purpose program to provide 500 school bags and bicycles for needy children living in the outlying villages around Siem Reap so they could get to school. Another major project involved a sewing training center for vulnerable local women to learn sewing skills, attend daily English classes and develop basic life skills. Upon graduation from the program each student was provided with a sewing machine and start-up kit of materials in the hope that they would return to their village and start their own business, and possibly enabling them to support their families.

Cleanliness Excellent

Date Of Review September 2010

Reviewers Article and photographs by Elena del Valle

Service There was twice daily room service. All the staff members I encountered such as the doormen, bellhops, room service attendants, driver, reception, bar, cafe and restaurant staff was service oriented, helpful and friendly. Some of the hotel staff found that I had been wanting to taste durian, a well known although rather smelly fruit, and when I returned one afternoon from a day excursion they had a durian plate awaiting me. I sat down in the courtyard and throughly enjoyed the odoriferous sweet fruit. It was a lovely surprise! Lundy at breakfast was friendly and especially kind. He remembered my meal preferences from earlier days in the week (I was fond of the Khmer fried noodles with chicken and tofu and the vermicelli soup with chicken and vegetables).

I borrowed a DVD from reception but when I went to play it in my suite DVD player I had trouble getting it to work. One of the turn down staff members (there were three young men) helped me with the DVD controls until it played. Another staff member adjusted the controls for the sound set up.

Would You Stay There Again? Yes

Overall Impression Before entering Restaurant Le Grand for a midweek dinner we enjoyed amouse bouche and mixed drinks in the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor lounge to the sounds of live piano music. The savory bites and specialty drinks were a preview of the tasty dinner that awaited us in the adjacent dining room.

Le Grand, the fine dining restaurant at the Raffles Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia, offered a selection of a la carte dishes based on ancestral Cambodian recipes from the Royal family as well as classical French selections. A single white candle softly lit our table, enhancing the gentle lighting of the elegant dining room to match the quiet ambiance. Wine lovers would appreciate the well stocked mini cellar a few steps from our table.

An attractive air conditioned dining room, an elegant dinner service, a well stocked cellar, service oriented staff and a lovingly prepared tasting menu with wine pairing made my visit a worthwhile treat. I would consider Le Grand a top option to celebrate a special occasion in Siem Reap.

About The Executive Chef I Mawa Iwayan possesses a master certificate from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. He “was trained with many European chefs and worked in fine resorts all around Asia and in the Caribbean.”

Executive Chef I Wayan Mawa

Handicapped Access According to a restaurant representative the dining room was “easily accessible by handicapped people.”

Head Sommelier Eat Socheata, a Cambodian woman, supervised the wine collection.

Location On the ground floor of the hotel.

Opened-Renovated Le Grand restaurant, part of the Grand Hotel, now a Raffles Group property, was initially opened in 1932 by French investors. The Grand Hotel D’Angkor was closed in 1970 during the Polpot Regime. In 1997, it re-opened as a Raffles property. In 2006, the Al Fresco Terrace was renovated and converted into an indoor two-room dining area facing the hotel pool. Later in the same year, the hotel built a wine cellar.

Owned And Managed Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

Pastry Chef Maing Meang Seap completed her education at the Swissotel Moscow and also in Singapore.

Restaurant Manager Since 2008 Jean-Philippe Beaujean has been in charge of the restaurant.

Size The 247 square meter restaurant employed nine service staff, one sommelier and six kitchen staff and was able to seat 70 guests in a fine dining configuration.

Sou Chef Mr. Ming Ting

Type Of Restaurant Khmer cuisine

DÉCor-Ambiance The restaurant features refined stone carving replica of Bayon Temple relief and relics from the Angkorian period, in a quiet and romantic ambiance.

Cellars Wine And Alcoholic Beverage Selection There were more than 400 different references in the restaurant wine list, including wine from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and New Zeeland. Among the noteworthy labels were Chateau Margaux, Chateau Figeac, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Pétrus, Corton, Côte Rôtie, Solaia and Henschke.

Special Menus A four course set menu, the Royal Dynasty Menu, was available for $75 and with a wine pairing for an additional $45. It included an assortment of appetizers, a soup, a selection of main courses and a sample of desserts.

Meal The Tasting Menu began with a selection of bite size Khmer starters. A Sour Soup with Tomatoes and Pineapple set the stage for the meal. Next we were served Seared Beef Tenderloin with Coconut Milk, Coriander and a touch of Peanuts. There was Red Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk and Sweet Potato; Braised Fresh Water Lobster in Ginger and Caramel; Wok-fried Kai Lan with Oyster Sauce and Steamed Jasmine Rice. For dessert the chef sent Khmer sticky rice dumplings with coconut milk and ginger sauce and steamed banana with coconut milk. The wines were a 2008 Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc from New Zealand and a 2005 Footbolt Shivas from Australia. Petit fours were served at the end of the meal.

Other The restaurant had been recognized by Wine Spectator magazine with two glasses, every year, since 2005.

Date Of Review September 2010

Number Of Visits One

Reviewers Article and photographs by Elena del Valle

Service Staff were very attentive and service oriented.

Would You Dine Eat There Again-Recommend It? Yes

Overall Impression After exploring the central area of Siem Reap and enjoying visits to several of the world famous Angkor Temples that draw millions of visitors to Cambodia every year, I was eager to see a little of the country off the beaten path. When I heard that there was a conservation area within easy reach of Siem Reap (90 minutes) I jumped at the opportunity even though it was birding low season. I went on a Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation Bird Reserve and Floating Village Day Trip.

The daylong visit to the Tonle Sap Lake, classified in 1997 by the UNESCO as a natural wonder, the 23,000 hectare Prek Toal Bird Preserve and the nearby village of Prek Toal, one of 170 floating villages on the lake, was interesting and fun although the migratory birds had not yet arrived. The lake, fed by the 15,000 year old Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, is the nineteenth largest lake in the world according to my guide. Although the densely populated lake area is the home and source of income for an estimated three million Cambodians and Vietnamese refugees scattered across the hundreds of floating and lake fronting villages, other than at the departure dock and when we were in the village area, all we saw was nature and birds soaring overhead.

While making our way to the village of Prek Toal in a 10-meter long wood motorboat we saw some birdlife and part of the core bird reserve flooded forest where we climbed atop a tree canopy observation platform for a panoramic view. At the village, located at the mouth of the Sangke River, we had locally prepared lunch at a family floating house while we watched a sun shower in dry comfort. After lunch, a young villager showed us around the area in a shallow rowboat.

What I enjoyed about the day tour was the beautiful unspoiled scenery, friendly guides and welcoming locals, and the opportunity to see more than 30 birds. I enjoyed the tasty lunch prepared especially for foreign visitors’ sensitive stomachs and the precarious yet fun rowboat ride around the Prek Toal floating village. The next time I have an opportunity to visit Cambodia I hope to explore some of the other Sam Veasna Center reserves. I will recommend this tour to friends wishing to experience birding and visit a nature reserve near Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Established The Center was started in 2003 and registered in October 2006.

Handicapped Access The Center welcomed handicapped visitors although the staff clarified that visitors should keep in mind the practical issues of traveling to remote locations. Handicapped access was dependent on the level of disability of the travelers and the location of site. An example of the center’s capabilities, according to a spokesperson, is that the former Wildlife Conservation Society Asia director who has traveled to all the Center sites is paraplegic.

Location The Center main office is in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Managed The Center was managed by Nick Butler, coordinator, Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation, with the support of a board of directors which was chaired by Mark Gately, country director, Wildlife Conservation Society, and other members of the board: Ashish John, Technical Advisior, WCS, Hong Chamnan, Project Manager, WCS, Im Sokrithy, Director, Apsara (the Cambodian Temple Super Ministry) and Van Sophanna, director, Forestry Administration.

Size The Center, with the support of seven employees and nine guides, provided tours to eight Wildlife Conservation Society sites in Cambodia covering tens of thousands of hectares, representing a significant percentage of Cambodia’s remaining wilderness.

Description The four year old conservation non profit organization was named after Sam Veasna, a pioneering Cambodian naturalist who discovered breeding populations of the critically endangered species of birds that Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) protects and Sam Veasna Center takes visitors to see. Sam Veasna died in 1999 of malaria after being administered fake drugs. The Center, according to a spokesperson, was built in his honor by his friends and peers from WCS so that his work in conserving Cambodia’s natural heritage could continue. The Center is based in a house built by Sam Veasna’s friends when he died and donated to his widow.

The only way to visit the Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodian conservation sites was by taking a tour from the Sam Veasna Center. The Center donated any profit made from eco-tourism towards the direct costs of conservation by WCS to the sites, according to the spokesperson. The Sam Veasna Center mission was “Sustaining Cambodian Wildlife and Communities through Eco-tourism.” At the time of my visit, the Center was supporting the WCS ranger program at Prek Toal and Ang Trapaeng Tmor.

The Center organized day trips around Siem Reap and itineraries to eight Wildlife Conservation Society conservation sites across Cambodia chosen for their unique biodiversity in particular for their bird life. The Center, located in Siem Reap had a small library specializing in Cambodian natural history. Only 300 visitors annually reached the eight reserves, including 150 that traveled to the lake area and its seasonal flooded forest, one of only two such ecosystems in the world.

In past years the Center trained the local communities adjacent to the sites where they offer tours in the provision of eco-tourist services (food preparation, accommodations, lodge management, and local guiding) so they can earn a sustainable living linked to conservation. The Center also organized environmental education for local orphanages and schools. It started a program of environmental education with a local orphanage Green Gecko (greengeckoproject.org).

Birds We Saw-Heard Comb Duck, Green-billed Malkoha, Lesser Coucal, Greater Coucal, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Asian Palm Swift, Red- collared Dove, Oriental Pratincole, Wiskered Tern, Brahminy Kite, Oriental Darter, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Pond Heron, Little Heron, Common Iora, Brown Shrike, Southern-jungle Crow, Pied Fantail, Oriental Magpie-robin, Common Myna, White-vented Myna, Barn Swallow, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Pin-striped Tit-babbler, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Olive-backed Sunbird, Eurasian sparrow, Gray-headed Fish Eagle, and Plain Prinia.

Tours In addition to the day trip to the Prek Toal Bird Reserve I went on there were several options available. Day trips: Phnom Khulen bird watching, animal rescue and Kbal Spean river carvings about one hour away from Siem Reap; Ang Trapeng Tmor Sarus Crane Reserve and Banteay Chma Temple 120 kilometers away or about a two hour drive from the city (day trip and/or overnight); Tmatboey Ibis site 160 kilometers or about three hours by car requiring a minimum two night stay although three nights were recommended; Chhep Vulture Restaurant 200 kilometers away or six hours by car requiring a minimum two night stay (usually included with Tmatboey); Seima Protected Forest in Mondulkiri for Black-shanked Douc monkey and mixed evergreen specialists (birds) sightings about 350 kilometers and eight hours by car (minimum trip two nights); and Kratie for Irrawaddi Dolphin and riverine specialists 350 kilometers and eight hours away by car (minimum stay is one night, usually included with Siema Protected Forest). Some tours included a stop at a number of sites near Kompong Thom in the Tonle Sap Lake floodplain to see the Bengal Florican, a critically endangered member of the Bustard family, en route to Seima and Kratie or on the return from Tmatboey and the Vulture Restaurant.

Other In 2009, the Center was recognized by the Cambodian Minister of Environment as an outstanding example of Community Based Eco-Tourism. The lake water we saw during the tour was clean except near the villages where it was murky.

Date Of Visit September 2010

Reviewers Article and photographs by Elena del Valle

Would You Visit This Attraction Again? Yes

Reviewers Article and photographs by Elena del Valle