HOTEL REVIEW: BEST WESTERN SUITES AND SWEET ANGKOR in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Posted by Johanna
on
6:43 PM
in
asia,
Best Western Suites and Sweet Angkor,
Cambodia,
hotel review,
midrange hotels,
Siem Reap
What's not to love?
A floating village, cottages on stilts, our very own plunge pool, and some peace and quiet in busy Siem Reap. For the price paid—$150 for two nights in a deluxe pool suite—I was happy overall with the accommodations, service, food and location of the Best Western Suites and Sweet Angkor.
Pros:
* Personal plunge pool
* Decor and surroundings with a local twist
* Spacious room and bath (all 68 sqm of it!)
* Free airport pick-up or drop-off
* Free tuktuk rides from the hotel to central Siem Reap from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
* Delicious free breakfast
* Unlimited bottled water
Cons:
* Location is about 20 minutes from central Siem Reap (a map will come in handy when guiding clueless tuktuk drivers)
* No other food options except those offered in the hotel
* Costlier than other lodging options in Siem Reap
* Nothing to do there at night
* Wi-Fi connection is hit-and-miss in some sections of the room
Tip:
* Check for deals on Agoda.com before booking. We got ours 50% off the published rate, including free one-hour massages for two, daily breakfast and airport drop-off.
The good
The resort is comfortable, elegant and clean. We had room 9A, and the room's 165-cm-deep plunge pool and cool interiors are a welcome break from the searing heat of the Cambodian sun.
We did not quite get the wonderful service that we got from the cheaper Reflections Art Boutique Hotel in downtown Siem Reap, but the service was prompt and hassle-free. The complimentary tuktuk ride brought us to any location we desired, and waited until we were ready to call it a night.
The resort is also surprisingly free of mosquitoes despite the swampy site.
The bad
Yes it's mosquito-free... but it's crawling with ants.
Other disappointments were the bad hotel massage and the under-cleaned plunge pool. The pool was only fresh on the first day and it got progressively filthier, until by the third day we had to compete against dead ants and decomposing leaves for swimming space.
The ugly
For two days, we used the hotel's tuktuk service to tour the temples for $20 a day—more expensive than the usual $12-$15. We were told, however, that we could use the tuktuk from morning until 10 p.m. and that we could go anywhere we chose.
That was not always the case.
The driver on the first day (name starts with an 's,' that's all I can remember!) was rude and unaccommodating. He attempted to dictate the tour itinerary and lunch venue. Unfortunately for him I had other, better ideas.
We had more luck on the second day with a new driver armed with a gentle smile and demeanor. Tip: The $20 fee is a only a bargain if you start with a sunrise tour of the Angkor Wat and end with a sweep of Pub Street until 10 p.m.
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
All things considered, we had a great stay.
A floating village, cottages on stilts, our very own plunge pool, and some peace and quiet in busy Siem Reap. For the price paid—$150 for two nights in a deluxe pool suite—I was happy overall with the accommodations, service, food and location of the Best Western Suites and Sweet Angkor.
Pros:
* Personal plunge pool
* Decor and surroundings with a local twist
* Spacious room and bath (all 68 sqm of it!)
* Free airport pick-up or drop-off
* Free tuktuk rides from the hotel to central Siem Reap from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
* Delicious free breakfast
* Unlimited bottled water
Cons:
* Location is about 20 minutes from central Siem Reap (a map will come in handy when guiding clueless tuktuk drivers)
* No other food options except those offered in the hotel* Costlier than other lodging options in Siem Reap
* Nothing to do there at night
* Wi-Fi connection is hit-and-miss in some sections of the room
Tip:
* Check for deals on Agoda.com before booking. We got ours 50% off the published rate, including free one-hour massages for two, daily breakfast and airport drop-off.
The good
The resort is comfortable, elegant and clean. We had room 9A, and the room's 165-cm-deep plunge pool and cool interiors are a welcome break from the searing heat of the Cambodian sun.
We did not quite get the wonderful service that we got from the cheaper Reflections Art Boutique Hotel in downtown Siem Reap, but the service was prompt and hassle-free. The complimentary tuktuk ride brought us to any location we desired, and waited until we were ready to call it a night.
The resort is also surprisingly free of mosquitoes despite the swampy site.
The bad
 |
Ants, ants everywhere! |
Other disappointments were the bad hotel massage and the under-cleaned plunge pool. The pool was only fresh on the first day and it got progressively filthier, until by the third day we had to compete against dead ants and decomposing leaves for swimming space.
The ugly
For two days, we used the hotel's tuktuk service to tour the temples for $20 a day—more expensive than the usual $12-$15. We were told, however, that we could use the tuktuk from morning until 10 p.m. and that we could go anywhere we chose.
That was not always the case.
The driver on the first day (name starts with an 's,' that's all I can remember!) was rude and unaccommodating. He attempted to dictate the tour itinerary and lunch venue. Unfortunately for him I had other, better ideas.
We had more luck on the second day with a new driver armed with a gentle smile and demeanor. Tip: The $20 fee is a only a bargain if you start with a sunrise tour of the Angkor Wat and end with a sweep of Pub Street until 10 p.m.
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
All things considered, we had a great stay.
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