Quite simply, the Amansara has got to be the best hotel in Siem Reap if you prefer small boutique hotels (only 24 rooms) offering discrete, friendly and personalised service. It is not a hotel for those who like "bling." In other words, it is more Armani than Versace. It is a calm oasis in the midst of a busy tourist town.

It is without doubt the most expensive hotel in Siem Reap but it compensates with the best tour guides included in the price. The guides will ensure that you experience the ruins of Angkor without the normal hordes of tourists.

We do not believe the criticism of poor value is warranted. Together with their private tour guides and drivers, the hotel staff ensured that our experience of the Angkor ruins exceeded everything that we had expected.

Our arrival from Bangkok was marred by the absolutely ridiculous process of getting a visa at the airport. Our aircraft arrived at the same time as two others and there was total chaos. No one to give instructions, several lines for different parts of the process and tour guides pushing individual travellers out of the way to get their groups through. It took nearly two hours in an unairconditioned facility -- get your visa before you go. The driver and host from Amansara were waiting patiently as we emerged and immediately handed us cold towels and water and placed us gently into a supercooled car. And it got better from there.

The temples are fascinating but it is hot, humid and there are a lot steps at every temple. The town is growing rapidly and is full of construction, general rubble, rubbish and dust. Accordingly, the cool, quiet, roomy and almost spare surroundings of Amansara are a refuge. We found the service to be gentle and caring in a faciltiy that was immaculate. We elected to eat Khmer food in the dining room and found it delicous and surprisingly nonspicy. The chef who is Indian has a deft touch with all the dishes.

The GM was much in evidence looking for issues or ways to improve one's stay.We tipped our remork driver and guide separately as they are not hotel employees and simply added a percentage to our bill for the general staff (the GM indicated all tips are shared).

We departed after three days for the aiport in a grand old 1960's mercedes somewhat reluctant to leave this soothing place.

Our trip to Siem Reap was at the end of a three week holiday to Vietnam and Cambodia and inevitably towards the end of any holiday of that length or more where you have been active sightseers you may begin to get slightly weary. Angkor Wat was one of my expected highlights of the trip, however, and I was therefore trying my best to keep myself motivated. All I longed for was a nice relaxing hotel and quite frankly to be downright lazy for the three days we had in Siem Reap other then when we were out visiting temples.

Thankfully, we got all this and more from our stay at the Amansara. The hotel is hidden away behind the main road, and you wouldn't even know it was there if you drove past. The moment you pass through the gate you begin to relax. As soon as you arrive your luggage is whisked to your room and you are given a tour of the hotel, which given the number of rooms is small, initimate and beautifully laid out and appointed so doesn't take very long. Check-in takes place in your room when you are also provided with the itinerary the hotel has suggested for your temple trips over the length of your stay. Obviously, if you want to do more/less or organise trips yourself it is entirely up to you as you have an assigned driver for the length of your stay.

Rooms are well appointed, and as you would expect from this level of property. As one person has pointed out, the toilet and shower are in the same room with no separating door, although the toilet is hidden discretely behind a wall. This never bothered us, but obviously everyone has their personal preferences. You also have your own private courtyard, which to be perfectly honest we never used as we were either out on trips, sleeping or around the main pool. One further thing to point out in respect of the rooms is how hard the staff work, they are serviced at least three times a day (unless you hang the do not disturb up to get some sleep!) and are therefore kept immaculately.

The room rate as well as including a driver and guide for your temple trips includes breakfast and also one of either lunch or dinner. The menu changes daily and there is always a choice of 'home' food or khmer food, however, if you aren't happy with the choice then you can discuss with the chef and they will try their best to accommodate any requests. All the food we had there was fantastic and we had no complaints at all. As well as this half board you also get inclusive house wines and selected spirits, inclusive cakes/cookies all day, an inclusive minibar in your room and also inclusive cheese and bread.

These things may all sound small and relatively simple but when you have been up early to tour temples and are already jaded not having to worry about working out the cost of drinks/dinner, etc. at any time of the day just makes it even more relaxing.

One previous reviewer has complained about the tipping situation, I would have to say we never found this a problem at all. You are able to add one gratuity for all hotel staff on your bill as you leave (so no reaching in your pocket the whole time you are there) with the exception of the driver/guide who you can tip again on the last trip you have with them.

While we were there we were also lucky enough to be able to view the shadow puppet show put on by the hotel for which we had to pay a very small amount.

Yes, the hotel is expensive but I can honestly say I never had an issue with feeling I was not receiving what I had paid for. Having never been to an Aman resort before I have no direct comparison with their other properties. However, in comparison with the other hotels I have visited (and reviewed on this site) I would say this was up their with one of the best and certainly provided everything I wanted and more from my stay.

Two days of magic in Cambodia. The property is sublime. Beyond perfection. Lovely public spaces; amazing spa; pool suite provided private pool that was large enough to swim in; invisible yet perfect service. Other guests a bit cool. Nights they bring in local charities/children to perform, a wonderful service that was highly charming and entertaining and helps this terribly impoverished country. Provides tours of the ruins; guide
"Yokohama" was outstanding. Angkor Wat is very "discovered", yet Yokohama was able to bring me to places that had no other tourists, 5 minutes from areas crawling with visitors. Just a fabulous experience, and well worth the $625 US price.