Siddharta Boutique Hotel

With a rather nondescript entrance off of a dirt road, the Siddharta Boutique Hotel doesn't appear to be much from the outside, but the inside reveals a charming old colonial building. The lobby area is small, separated from the front desk, with comfy sofas and chairs and traditional Thai pillow cushions to relax on. There are fine teak wood tables and a Buddha statue completing the scene. There is more charm higher up in the hotel, as each of the four floors has artsy black-and-white photos of scenes around Angkor, plus fine art paintings, and Angkorian statues and other pieces tastefully displayed. The upstairs lounge area even has a traditional wooden cart set amongst old trunks and pieces of a bygone era, and is the most atmospheric spot in the hotel, especially come sunset, with views out over the surroundings.

The Siddharta Boutique Hotel is located outside of the Siem Reap town center, just off of the main road going to Angkor Wat. The hotel is on a small dirt road with no traffic, so it is very quiet and peaceful, making it a great choice for those looking to be close to the temples. However, the hotel has few facilities around it, and guests must depend on tuk tuk taxis to get to restaurants and bars in town. There aren't many shops in the proximity of the hotel, although it's only a 10-minute ride into town. The airport isn't far either; it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to reach.

There are mainly Deluxe Rooms at the Siddharta, with just a few Honeymoon Suites, plus a couple of Family Suites which are basically Honeymoon Suites with connected rooms. All rooms are extremely spacious, and have tiled floors as well as some nice art touches to them, with statues and paintings gracing all interiors. Rooms have modern features such as flat-screen TVs, iPod and MP3 stations, minibars, safe boxes, electric hot water kettles, and free Wi-Fi and breakfast. Plus, each room comes with a tuk tuk and driver for guests to use during their stay. Bathrooms in the Deluxe Rooms have only showers, while the Suites have both showers and bathtubs. The Suites are highly worth the extra $10 tariff, as they come with a large love seats for two, plus a free bottle of wine in each. All rooms have lovely terraces out front, with Deluxe Rooms also coming with hanging chairs and loungers. Upstairs Suites have pool views and cushioned rattan sofas and chairs. The only drawback to the rooms is the lack of views from the interiors, as the terrace areas are accessed via the front doors.

The hotel has a fairly large saltwater swimming pool that sits in a sunny courtyard with plenty of loungers around it. There is a small spa upstairs, and a rooftop restaurant and lounge area another flight up. The lounge area isn't a proper bar, but more of a relaxed common space with a computer, books, and plenty of comfy chairs to relax on, while the adjoining restaurant serves free breakfast. It also offers lunch and dinner service, with Khmer and international menu items available. Both the lounge and restaurant have nice sunset views over the Siem Reap countryside. The Siddharta has a free tuk tuk service for guests as well, as all rooms come with a complimentary driver to take guests to the temples or around town.