LUXURY By Julian Ryall
AND THE
Photos courtesy Heritage Suites Hotel
CITY
State of the art meets the spectacular in time-warped Cambodia.
I
t used to be that people came to Siem Reap for one reason only. Granted, the spectacular temples of Angkor should be on any traveler’s must-see list, but they are no longer the only show in town. Towering, intricately carved structures that date back to the 9th century and are still partly lost in the jungles of Cambodia invariably cause jaws to drop at first sight; arriving at the new Heritage Suites Hotel has a similar impact. Only completed last year, the entire complex is state of the art—yet the designers have cleverly made visitors feel that they are stepping back into the past. That begins even before a guest reaches the property, with a chauffeur collecting visitors at the nearby international airport in either a vintage Mercedes or a convertible Morgan sports car. “The Relais Chateaux is a French organization of hotels, but they have to be special, have character and not be the same in any country you visit in the world,” said Sylvie Saris, marketing manager of Cambodia’s first boutique hotel. “They are all different, but the highest level of hospitality is a must,” she said. “All the staff here already know who you are, and will address you by your name whenever they see you.” The hotel has 20 suites—including three Royal Suites—and six deluxe rooms. Each has a slightly different decor, incorporating styles and designs from the culture of the Khmer people and further afield in Southeast Asia. All of the suites have a small walled garden with tall bamboo and stone paving, as well as an outdoor shower—an ideal way to wake up in a country that is warm all year round. The beds are vast, the ceilings high, and suites come complete with steam rooms and—strikingly—an oversized stone bath set beside the windows looking out onto the garden. Perfectly smooth and deep, it takes an age to fill; but after a long and dusty day visiting the temples, it is very therapeutic. The one thing the rooms lack is a television, which is an impressive innovation. They are available on request, but Saris said that has only happened once or twice in the last year. The pool is of salt water, has a torch burning beside it at night, and a thatched-roof bar just a few strides from the deep end. The hotel is also close to one of Siem Reap’s less well-visited temples, Wat Polanka; and the sound of the monks’ chants and music often waft over the high walls. The bar is in the colonial-style main building, and has a zinc top and constantly revolving fans overhead. The worn pillars holding up the high roof were “purchased” from a temple that was being renovated, for some sacks of rice. On the upper floor is a restaurant that serves traditional Khmer cuisine, as well as Asian and Western dishes. In this day and age of top-quality facilities for high-end travelers, luxury is the watchword and no hotel can be without a spa. The Heritage Suites Hotel spa was recently completed, and combines the latest refinements
In this day and age of topquality facilities for high-end travelers, luxury is the watchword and no hotel can be without a spa.
Left: The decor of all rooms at the Heritage Suites Hotel draws on the styles and designs of Khmer culture. Right: The high-ceilinged hotel lobby showcases contemporary works of art.
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