The Privilege Floor by BOREI ANGKOR

While the Privilege Floor shares facilities with the Borei Angkor Resort, guests that stay in this fourth floor hideaway have their own private lobby for check-in. This space isn't as expansive as the main entrance, but it's every bit as elegant, with green columns carved in a delicate lace-like pattern, mirrored tiles circling the room, and lotus-leaf wall art. A shimmering tree sculpture crowns the center of the lobby, and dramatic lighting adds to the ambience. (The free Champagne at check-in signals that guests in the Privilege Floor's rooms are considered VIPs.) Hallways are lined with statues set in built-in alcoves and upholstered benches. The adjacent Damnak Lounge is equally stylish, and the super attentive staff hovers around each guest tending to their needs. It's a pretty well-to-do crowd here, and draws guests that are seeking personalized attention and an intimate hotel stay.

Located east of the city center, the Borei Angkor is across the Siem Reap River and near the local Psar Leu Market. It's right off the national road to Phnom Penh, which gets clogged with traffic at all hours, but thankfully the hotel is set back far enough to be well insulated from noise. Guests can experience the real Siem Reap and its local markets in this neighborhood, but few tourist-oriented facilities exist. You'll need a tuk tuk to go into town or explore the main drinking and dining area around Pub Street. And compared to other hotels in the area, you're an extra five to 10 minutes from the airport and Angkor Wat. However, some guests could consider it a pro to be far from the tourist hordes and the chaotic city center. And with all of its great facilities, the resort makes for an excellent oasis.

Overrun in polished wood from the hand-crafted wooden bed frames to the hardwood floors to the trim and accent walls, the 19 guest rooms here are similar in decor to the rest of the hotel and include decorative brass filigree and other Khmer touches. But these rooms come with oodles of perks including free minibar snacks (plus refills), free laundry service for eight pieces of clothing (per couple), loaner mobile phones, extended breakfast hours, and a 24-hour car and driver at guests' disposal. Other in-room amenities include 42" flat-screen TVs, DVD players, safes, electric kettles, a sitting area, a writing desk, and private balconies. Bathrooms -- adorned with emerald-green tiles and sprigs of bamboo -- have large clawfoot tubs and separate rain showers. Standard Premier Landmark and Sunset Landmark rooms are basically the same, except that the Sunset rooms have a suspended bed out on the balcony that acts as a luxurious oversized hammock and gives a romantic spot to watch the sun go down. A detail sure to lure honeymooning couples. The Royal Suites offer 2,000 square feet of luxury, with a kitchen and separate dining room. Its room rate includes free lunch and dinner along with free spa treatments every day, the ultimate in pampering.

For dining and drinking, Privilege Floor guests can make use of the Damnak Lounge, a private VIP area that serves breakfast until 3 p.m. and free, unlimited cocktail and canapés from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The space has both indoor and outdoor seating and sunset views over town. There are fine wines, mixed drinks, and an array of tapas-style dishes here. The resort also has the Borei Cafe, which serves buffet breakfast and Khmer and international cuisine for both lunch and dinner. There's also an outdoor venue, the Pavilion, where the hotel has live Apsara dance performances along with dinners on several nights of the week. Just outside the resort's main entrance, the Kasin Lounge does high tea, pastries, cakes, and cocktails, which guests enjoy seated in a cluster of comfy chairs by an artificial waterfall. Inside the hotel, the Tropicana Bar serves drinks looking out over the pool. A live band performs there every night. The beautifully decorated Mudita Spa here is top-notch, including private honeymoon suites with tubs, traditional Cambodian herbal saunas, and a hair and nail salon. There's also an excellent fitness center here, complete with cardio machines and weights, plus an adjacent sauna, steam room, and hot and cold whirlpools (separate for men and women). But perhaps the most popular feature is the large free-form swimming pool with a whirlpool on one end. The Aha Rosil snack bar by the pool feeds peckish swimmers and sunbathers.A full-service business center caters to the businessmen and women that also hold meetings and functions in the rooms above the lobby. And a few on-site shops give guest a easy spot to grab souvenirs.