Blaire's Been - Siem Reap, Cambodia
Seeing Angkor Wat at sunrise has alwayyysss been on my bucket list. I dreamt that Siem Reap, Cambodia would be this mystical city with tons of temples and holy sites scattered throughout it. What I didn't realize is that in addition to these important temples, Cambodia is filled with amazing restaurants, super cool hotels and a buzzing nightlife (Hello Pub Street… the SE Asian version of Bourbon Street!).
My time in Cambodia was a whirlwind. We spent the first day at our first hotel enjoying the GORG surroundings and resting up before our 5am pick up to go to Angkor Wat. We were met by a guide who escorted us to Angkor Wat in a tuk tuk. When we arrived, we went the “back way” which I wasn't quite sure about… I kept thinking that we were going to miss the sunrise over the temple! But it was such a blessing in disguise because we had access to the grounds of Angkor Wat almost exclusively and beat all the tourists - all reasons why booking with a travel advisor who’s “in the know” is so important! There was something so magical about that moment. After checking out Angkor Wat from the inside, we then went to the front and saw the beautiful sky over one of the 7 wonders of the world. It was special - but also CROWDED!!! And that’s after the crowds had cleared to essentially swap places with us!!
But what I didn’t realize is that the area where Angkor Wat is located has tons of temples in close proximity, so we took a tuk tuk to Ta Prohm which I actually preferred. It’s also where Tomb Raider was filmed, so you may recognize it! But it was so beautiful and felt more intimate that the towering Angkor Wat.
After a fun day exploring the sites, we rested before our tuk tuk progressive dinner. Yall - everyone needs to do this! We went to 4 restaurants where we had one course at each, and a tuk tuk took us between restaurants and eventually dropping us off at a super trendy cocktail bar. It was such a fun way to try so many well known restaurants and see the city at night!!
And lastly, the following morning we squeezed in a bike ride to different temples and around Siem Reap. While it was fun and felt good to be outside, I probably could have done without this activity… not saying it’s because Pub Street took the best of me ;) but because I felt like I was biking around a park anywhere in the world. BUT again, it was a great way to get some fresh air!
While in Siem Reap, I stayed at two hotels and toured one more. Each had their own identities and would appeal to different clients.
Phum Baitang
Yall, I loved this hotel. It was “on the outskirts of town”, so like 10-15 minutes away from the action, but it was sooo serene and calming from the second you stepped on property. Phum Baitang is located on a working rice field and has its rooms located around the property in bungalow style accommodations. The décor was whites and brown wood and linens and just so good - everything was perfectly designed and cozy. We started our time there enjoying sunset cocktails at the super cute bar and then accompanied the GM for dinner at their restaurant. The food at Phum Baitang was the best food at a hotel that I had during my trip (I know, bold statement, but it’s true!). The service was also so friendly and jovial. You could tell the staff were genuinely happy to work there. This hotel was in my top 2 of the hotels I stayed at during my entire trip. It was such a treat!
Shinta Mani Bensley
If you’re looking for the cool factor - this is the place! I felt like I was a blogger while staying here haha. At Shinta Mani Bensley, you have your own villa that is two stories and has a huge plunge pool. The top story has a comfortable day bed and table to relax, and the downstairs has a huge patio, a massive bedroom and an indoor/outdoor bathroom with a shower with Bluetooth speakers!! I think this added about 20 minutes to my usual shower time… ha! The black and white décor with pops of yellow was sooo chic and trendy. Just very sexy! Plus, every villa has a dedicated butler who is there for literally anything you need. I mean, they help you even walk across the street! One other perk that’s great is that you receive a wifi hotspot that you can take with you around town and always stay connected.
Amansara
After a fun day exploring Angkor Wat, I had the pleasure of spending some time at Amansara. Prior to arriving, I got a sense of its service and additional experiences Amansara offers its guests by having breakfast at their treehouse located on the outskirts of Angkor Wat. This is so lovely for clients who are very hungry after a busy morning exploring the temples and don’t want to wait until they get back to the hotel. Once we arrived to Amansara, we checked out the property. It was extremely quiet and serene and private. The rooms had plunge pools, so despite having a main pool in the center of the resort, it appeared that most guests stayed in their rooms. This property is great for those wanting some peace and quiet but still being close to the center of Siem Reap.