ជំរាបសួរ !
(Johm riab sua)
Never thought that I would be back in Cambodia anytime soon but here I am, enjoying the peace and tranquility which Siem Reap has to offer.
I was invited by Heritage Suites Hotel to stay in their bungalow suite for 2 nights and I must say that it’s one of the most memorable and pleasant stays I’ve ever experienced.
I was already thrown into the whirlwind of excitement when a vintage Mercedes Benz stopped right outside our hotel (we stayed in another hotel the night before) to pick us up. Free airport transfers are provided for guests.
We were warmly greeted by our chauffeur who helped us carry out luggages and even offered us some drinks and a refreshing wet towel. Yes, the heat can be pretty unbearable over at Siem Reap but all these pleasant treatment and hospitality from the hotel made us felt ‘cooler’.
Heading to our hotel in style.
Freshly-squeezed Pineapple juice to cool our bodies!
Heritage hotel is a sophisticated boutique suite hotel located in the tropical surroundings. It is away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets. But it is not exactly nestled too far away from the main attraction. It is about 5 mins walk from the Siem Reap River, 6 kilometers from the Angkor Wat temples and 15 minutes from the International Airport. A five minute tuk-tuk ride from the hotel will get you to the Old market and Pub Street.
Hotel Reception
Its an extensive refurbishment that consists of 20 newly-refurbished suites and 6 guestrooms – 17 bungalow suites, 2 executive suites, the grand Red Poppy suite and 6 classic rooms. And the biggest and grandest is the the Grand Red Poppy suite which I get to take a peek in it!
The moment we entered the hotel lobby, we were attracted to the soothing scent of jasmine which fills up the air, instantaneously bringing us into this retreat and relax mode. Welcome to Siem Reap.
As we hopped along the stone pathways along the lush gardens and exotic flowers, we were greeted with smiles and ‘good morning’ by the staff who walked past us.
I couldn’t contain my excitement when I entered the bungalow suite which we were going to stay for a couple of nights. It is uniquely decorated and furnished with furniture pieces of Southeast Asian theme where the furniture was mainly made from solid wood.
In our suite, we’ve got a huge bathroom area, living room, balcony and bedroom integrated into one spacious room that is equipped with a safe, mini bar, phone, centralized air-con, shower, flat-screen TV (upon request), oversized bathtub, private steam room and a small private garden with outdoor shower.
We also had an espresso machine that works by feeding it with coffee pods. The aroma of the coffee beans that whiffs out from the machine has became my morning wake-up call during my stay there.
Shower time was a true luxury. Since there was a plug-in system with fantastic sound speakers, you could play your favourite soothing music as you shower. I would first take a 20 minute steam bath in the steam room behind heading to the shower area to bathe. Before going to bed, I would take a warm bath in the tub as this really relaxes the body. I am missing those luxurious shower times now…
Our well-furnished living space with a cozy sofa and lots of seating space.
The high-ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows allows natural light to stream in, creating an oasis of tranquility.
Well, I guess we’ve met really wonderful and welcoming hosts who love having guests staying in their living space. We had local fruits, some juice and dumplings to fill our stomachs.
Our small private garden which leads to the outdoor shower area
Perfect. I’ve never tried showering outdoors in my birthday suit but I guess it would be nice to shower amongst the lush tropical foliage.
There were basically 3 places to shower in the suite – the shower room, outdoor shower or the oval stone bathtub.
It is made huge and it is way bigger than any regular bathtubs. Perfect for couples 🙂
Our bed is covered with premium linen bedsheets and covers. It’s really so comfy that I just want to laze in bed all day. With so many facilities in the suite, I actually wouldn’t want to leave the room just yet.
Complimentary bottled water
I drinks lots of water so I kept asking for more bottles of water which they had kindly acceded to by request. Their reception service is 24 hours so you could give them a ring anytime you needed assistance.
Oh! And they even offer a complimentary head and shoulder massage (15 mins) for their hotel guest in their in-house spa, The Heritage Spa by Bodia. Our hosts really knows how to pamper their guests!
This is a salt water swimming pool which is free from chlorine. After dipping in the pool for more than 30 minutes, my hair and skin didn’t felt dry as compared when I soaked myself in those chlorinated-pools back at home. The pool is about 1.5 metres deep and the length of the pool is just about nice – isn’t too big or small. At least, we are able to swim some laps and burn some calories before indulging in our next meal.
This is a lounge area for those who smokes.
After checking in, we went on a hotel room tour where we get to visit each type of suites and rooms. This is the classic room which is less spacious (as compared to the suites) but is well-equipped with a safe, centralized air-con, espresso machine, free wifi, flat screen TV and plug-in sound system.
The executive suite is pretty similar to the bungalow suite except that it is more spacious and has a private outdoor jacuzzi. There’s also a desk area for work.
Now… we’ve come to the royal suite…
The Red Poppy Suite follows an unique contemporary cambodian theme. It has a private large jaccuzi in the garden and two sunbeds!
Each piece of furniture found in the revamped suites is handcrafted by local craftsmen and artisans here in Cambodia.
Their bath amenities are locally made by Bodia Nature with the finest of all-natural ingredients.
The hotel also houses their own boutique which sells traditional Khmer handicrafts and souvenirs.
Their breakfast menu was quite extensive! They serve khmer, Asian and western dishes for breakfast. They offer room service and sunrise breakfast upon request.
We requested our breakfast to be served in the room. Oh, we love their egg benedicts! Although all the dishes were served in small portions, they were tasty!
Every night, we received a locally crafted turndown gift placed on our bed. Other hotels serve chocolates but here, they gave us a fan and the next day, we had a herbal balm by bodia. It is truly delightful to receive these little gifts. It’s like a little surprise just before we unwind and sleep.
As with most social entreprises and companies here in Cambodia, Heritage Suites gives back to the society by cooperating and supporting the Sala Bai Hotel and Restaurant School, a local NGO providing vocational training to underprivileged Cambodian youths. We’ve really come to know that there are quite alot of kindred spirits here who are helping to build and strengthen the community.
What is etched now in my memory whenever I think of Cambodia, is Angkor Wat, Heritage Suite’s hospitality and our bungalow suite.
Heritage Suites Hotel
Wat Polanka, Siem Reap
PO Box 93101, Siem Reap
Kingdom of Cambodia
Website: http://www.heritagesuiteshotel.com
