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Eileen Loh is a writer and world traveler and when not volunteering her time for those who are less than fortunate, she enjoys experiencing the cultures of the world, as a local. Well as local as an American can be in South East Asia. In this review however, Eileen was living like local royalty. Read the first in a series of reviews and write ups on Cambodia and Southeast Asia.

PHNOM PENH

RAFFLES HOTEL LE ROYAL

92 Rukhak Vithei Daun Penh

Sangkat Wat Phnom (Five stars)

From the moment you step into the intoxicating ginger-scented lobby of Raffles Hotel Le Royale – greeted by a doorman in traditional Khmer costume – you know this won’t be an ordinary hotel stay. Buddhist sculptures, and a welcoming beverage of freshly squeezed juices garnished with an orchid, are just the beginning of your enchanting “Raffles Experience.” Rooms and suites contain a satisfying blend of the old and new; ornately carved wooden furniture, turn-of-the-century paintings and claw-foot tubs coexist with plush bedding, top-of-the-line bath products and wireless Internet access. The public spaces are no less gracious. Outdoors, tropical blossoms drift down onto the twin infinity-edge pools; indoors, a sweeping hardwood staircase and French Colonial architecture lead you to five-star dining at Restaurant Le Royale, cocktails at the spirited Elephant Bar, and soothing services at the impossibly luxe Amrita Spa. This is Cambodia’s oldest hotel: Cambodian King Sisowath Monivong was among the guests at the Hotel Le Royale’s grand opening in 1929. The building experienced a history both magnificent and turbulent, surviving the Khmer Rouge regime. In 1997 it reopened under the storied Raffles Hotel group, and underwent a top-to-bottom restoration.

The hotel maintains an upscale literary and cultural bent: One of its suites is named for Somerset Maugham; Cambodian-themed paintings, sculptures and photographs abound; and the always accommodating staff will tuck a bedtime story onto your pillow. With outstanding amenities (including one of the best breakfast buffets in all of Asia), flawless pampering and attentive guest services that have come to define the Raffles name, it’s no wonder such luminaries as Jacqueline Kennedy, Charles DeGaulle and Charlie Chaplin have enjoyed a fabulous stay here.

Services/ Facilities/ Amenities

- Two swimming pools

- Apartment suites for long-term guests and residents

- Business center

- 24-hour front desk

- 24-hour concierge

- Four hotel shops

- 24-hour room valet

- 24-hour laundry services

- 24-hour airport limousine services

- Banquet, meeting and private dining facilities

- International business center

- In-room wireless Internet access

- Seven dining/ cocktail outlets

- Room service

- Fitness center, saunas and steam rooms

- Baggage hold

- Parking

SIEM REAP

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor

1 Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Khum Svay Dang Kum

Established in 1932 and one of the few buildings in Cambodia to survive the Khmer Rouge regime, the Raffles Hotel d’Angkor is one of the country’s most historical buildings. Built to accommodate the wealthy passengers of steamship lines and air routes who were stopping off at Siem Reap to view the “long-lost Kingdom of Angkor,” the original Grand Hotel d’Angkor offered guests the most modern comforts available at the time. After an extensive renovation when the Raffles Group took ownership in 1994, the building still boasts Art Deco period architecture and a marvelous wooden-and-iron lattice elevator that was lovingly and painstakingly restored. The hotel’s longstanding tradition of unsurpassed service and charm holds true today: the 35-meter pool and terrace, surrounded by intoxicating Frangipani trees, emulate ancient Khmer baths; guests can choose from a range of accommodations such as free-standing villas, studios and Personality Suites; and the heavenly Amrita Spa lives up to its Hindi namesake: amrita, the nectar of immortality. The always accommodating staff will truly answer their guests’ every whim – from processing their international documents for them at the border, to tracking down a local vehicle license plate for an eccentric collector. Located just 8 km from the splendid ruins of Angkor Wat, the Raffles Hotel d’Angkor is an idyllic haven for culturally sensitive international travelers.

- Two swimming pools

- Villas, suites and guestrooms

- Business center

- Tennis park

- 24-hour front desk

- 24-hour concierge

- Three hotel shops

- 24-hour room valet

- 24-hour laundry services

- 24-hour airport limousine services

- Banquet, meeting and private dining facilities

- International business center

- In-room wireless Internet access

- Seven dining/ cocktail outlets

- Room service

- Fitness center, saunas and steam rooms

- Baggage hold

- Parking

read the Blog post on Phnom-Penh – City of Contradictions

More on Cambodia and the Mekong River Border Crossing Here.