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Victoria Angkor Resort, Siem Reap. A Fascinating Haven

We were greeted at the airport by a man in simple but beautiful traditional Cambodian clothes. He showed us to a gorgeously maintained vintage Citroen limousines, and minutes later we were in the lobby of Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa in Siem Reap.

Location

Victoria Angkor Hotel is located in the French Quarter of Siem Reap, between the airport and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor. Right in front of the hotel is the Royal Park with its beautiful temple and a small flower market. Siem Reap appeared to us as a quiet city and the serene Victoria Resort was the jewel in the crown.

Our Suite

We stayed in the Japanese Suite. And from the moment we stepped in, we were smitten. The suite was wonderfully decorated and incredibly comfortable. The TV came with international satellite channels, which was quite a nice surprise. We also had free WiFi, and though that's what I'm most happy about to discover in a hotel, this time the refreshing air con was the protagonist. Siem Reap was very hot at the beginning of November when we visited, and after exploring the ruins of the Angkor temples the whole day, coming to the hotel where the air con was already switched on by the careful staff, felt like bliss.

There were green plants...

And we received fresh lotus arrangements every day. Needless to say I was in love with them. They were so beautiful and the way the petals were folded was absolutely stunning.

The suite was all dressed up in wood. The walls were decorated with bamboo, the floors were covered with dark wood and the furniture was stylish, and quite unique.

We had our own huge private balcony with views at the Royal Park, a very well cared for place, with manicured lawns, topiary and some huge trees. Just perfect for a relaxing stroll. The traffic in front of the hotel was almost nonexistent. Apart from motorbikes and tuk-tuks, there wasn't much else. And that was wonderful.

We loved the soft, silky fabrics that decorated our suite. Believe me, it's really hard to beat so much luxury and comfort!

And just because it seems at Victoria Angkor they poured all the good ideas in one place, every day the maid would leave us a different 'bedtime' story to read and a little souvenir. I mean, how cute is that? We got some very cool key chains, fresh black pepper and monkey balm, all beautifully wrapped in pink silk bags and tagged.

We also received a complimentary platter of exotic fruits upon our arrival, which I was happy to see it included rambutans, a huge dragonfruit, and some other fruits that looked familiar, yet they tasted slightly different than in Europe. Is there a better way to say welcome and thank you than with food? I don't think so!

The bathroom was huge and it had some of the most awe inspiring ceramic containers for the many toiletries provided. Needless to say, Victoria Angkor was one spotless place and the staff was extremely attentive.

As tap water is not safe to drink or brush your teeth with in Siem Reap, we were supplied bottled water.

We also got to pick inside one of the other suite... Isn't it gorgeous? And so different from our own suite, yet decorated with the same good taste.

Common Areas and Entertainment

In the evening we went to see Apsara performances on the terrace of L'Explorateour Bar. Sank in comfy armchairs, we were served delicious and healthy snacks along with drinks, while we let ourselves dream about long gone eras that inspired this ballet-like dance in Cambodia. The Apsara Dance was one of the most graceful dances I've ever seen. It was so feminine in movements and alluring, it hypnotized me!

The hotel has two courtyards. The first one is built around a pond with exotic vegetation. Fish swim in the pond, creating a Zen atmosphere and two small crocodiles add a pinch of salt to the whole lot. Of course, the crocs are in their own enclosure.

The hotel has two funky hydraulic elevators that for me were like the 8th wonder of the world. An ancient world that is. But incredibly charming nevertheless. The elevators were small. Only two people could fit comfortably in them, but they were smooth and a quirky addition, along with the vintage cars.

The whole hotel has a colonial, airy atmosphere that radiates luxury and elegance. There are lots of open spaces...

And a local lady weaves silk scarfs on the corridor between the lobby and the first garden, the one with the fish pond. It is a wonderful working place, shadowed and quiet. I asked how much it took her to finish one scarf and the answer was 1 week!

The lobby was decorated with Kmer statues, Apsaras, beautiful flower arrangements and comfy armchairs and sofas. The staff was polite and very helpful and they made us feel very welcomed.

But then there was the second garden, with a large salt water swimming pool. Surrounding it there were inviting lounges and umbrellas, and a beautiful exotic garden, with plumeria, palm and banana trees, orchids and bird of paradise in bloom...

The garden was sprinkled with relaxing pathways and hidden gazebos...

But my favorite spots were the two massage areas where guests could relax in the intimacy created by white veils and luxuriant vegetation. Of course, the resort has its own spa, but for me, an enclosed space could hardly beat the exotic atmosphere in the garden.

Breakfast

The breakfast at Victoria Angkor was one of the best we've ever had. Guests could choose between a table on the terrace with views at the pool and the garden, or inside the air conditioned L'Escale Restaurant. We gave the terrace a try, but we soon changed our minds, as it was already hot and sticky even at that hours of the morning.

We loved the breakfast at Victoria Angkor, for both its variety and aesthetics. To be honest, we've never seen any other hotel going all this way to decorate its dishes. Every morning I was excited to discover the beautifully carved papaya, watermelon and dragonfruit centerpieces. And every morning I was dazzled by all the creative juices running in the kitchen of the hotel. The cold cuts were arranged in a heart shape, the grapefruit was already peeled...

There was en egg station, a noodle station, pancakes, waffles, bretzels, croissants, dumplings, all kind of fruits, cereals, rice plates, you name it... It was an East meets West parade of dishes!

Oh, and champagne!

And of course, there were potted plants and lotus flowers decorating the restaurant! Plus some beautiful art.

For dinner we had to choose between Bistrot de Siem Reap Restaurant, an award winning cozy place serving modern French dishes...

And the beautiful L'Escale Restaurant, serving Kmer and Cambodian inspired dishes. It turned out it was pretty easy to choose... and Kmer cuisine it was!

We were very curious about the local delicacies and we were not disappointed. By the time we arrived at the restaurant, our table was already prepared for us. And when I say prepared I mean it was sprinkled with small white and blue flowers that emanated a pleasant fragrance the whole evening. We were thrilled by this unexpectedly romantic atmosphere.

The staff was super extra careful and caring, and they explained us the dished, the ingredients and how they were served.

We ended our dinner with a platter of Kmer sweets, most of them rice bases and not very sweet, but delicious nevertheless, and quite an awesome experience to have.

Victoria Angkor Siem Reap was one of the best hotels we've ever stayed in and a joy to photograph!

We were guests at Victoria Angkor Hotel in Siem Reap, but all opinions are our own.

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