Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa

The Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa is a bit worn and rough at the edges, as it is an older hotel. However, it does have its charms. Special attention has been paid to Khmer art, with many fine carvings, teak, and other Angkor-inspired objects set tastefully throughout the hotel. The centerpiece of the lobby is a beautiful full-length statue of an Apsara dancer next to a Naga serpent carved from teak. The marble floor leads back to a giant stone sculpture of a stallion leaping into the air, while teak chairs and a temple bas-reliefs are set in the back of the space. It's a traditional look, to be sure, and the profusion of orchids and other fresh tropical flowers found throughout the hotel make for a fine-enough welcome. Overall, public interiors and some outdoor areas are looking a bit worn, but this is still a popular hotel right in the center of town. Tour groups, business event attendees, and families are all frequent guests here, so it can feel crowded and busy at times. 

Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa has a super-central location right on busy Sivatha Road, the main street running through downtown Siem Reap. The hotel is surrounded by countless restaurants, bars, and shops, and is within walking distance to almost everything in town. Pub Street, the Old Market, and the riverside are all about 10 minutes away on foot, while the trendy eateries on the far side of the Siem Reap River are a 15-minute walk from the hotel. It's also quite easy to reach the Angkor temples from here, as Angkor Wat -- the main temple -- will take 15 minutes to reach by car or tuk-tuk. The airport is about same distance by car from the hotel.

There are 170 rooms at the Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa, and they are a bit of mixed bag, as there are older Superior and Deluxe Rooms in one wing, and then a more modern building with Premium Rooms that are a bit nicer. Across the board, though, the style is classic, with lots of wood furniture and only a minimum of art on plain white walls. All rooms do have wood laminate floors, although the older floors are a bit worn or warped in places. The older rooms also come with more ornate, but less sharp, furniture with plenty of curved and carvings. Premium Rooms have better quality, lighter wood furniture that still retains its classical appeal. Fabrics are also lighter and brighter in Premium Rooms.Modern amenities include minibars, safes, electric hot water kettles, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, and air-conditioning. Aside from the bed(s), the Superior and Deluxe Rooms have an extra table and chair plus balconies furnished with chairs. These rooms are exactly alike, except that the Superior Rooms look out at the street, while the Deluxe Rooms overlook the swimming pool. In the newer wing, the Premium Rooms are in far better condition, have more space, and the bathrooms are done in eye-catching black-and-white tiles, along with separate walk-in rainfall showers and large bathtubs. The older rooms have separate tubs and showers as well. They're less modern from a style perspective -- in fact, the look is downright dated and includes lots of black and brown -- but they also include rainfall showers.

The Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa offers a full spread of facilities, which is a feat given its city-center location. There's a large outdoor swimming pool that's suitable for swimming laps and has a whirlpool section at one end. There's also a swim-up bar with seats right in the water. Lounge chairs are set up around the pool, which gets plenty of sun for those seeking a tan. Behind the pool, set in a tropical garden full of orchids and other flowers, there is a small spa, which has both massage rooms and a foot-massage area with chairs facing out to a pond and waterfalls. A modern fitness center includes cardio machines and weights, along with a sauna, steam room, and several plunge pools.For dining and drinking, in addition to the pool bar, there's the Devi Lobby Lounge, which serves drinks as well as pastries and snacks. Right next door is the Somadevi Cafe, where the free buffet breakfasts are served. Options include a huge selection of Western and Asian dishes, and fresh juices are on offer. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner, with Western and Khmer a la carte items along with buffet options. On select nights, there's an Aspara dance show that's a fun way to experience traditional Khmer culture.The hotel is also a big local player in the conference market, with a ballroom and several meeting rooms for seminars and events. The ballroom is especially nice, with carved wooden teak doors, as well as Angkor-inspired bas relief walls inside. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property and the hotel provides pickups at the airport for free.