transition - AsiaLIFE Magazine

Boutique hotels are all the rage, offering oases of calmaway from the city bustle. AsiaLIFE picked its favouritenew and improved chill out spots in the Khmer Kingdom.Photos courtesy of AsiaLIFE Cambodia.1 2 3 4 5 61. BAMBU HOTELAs Battambang rises on the touristradar, the demand for upscaleaccommodation is being met byBambu Hotel, open since September.Ideal lodging for thoseseeking comfort and quality, theboutique hotel is run by warmstaff eager to make guests feelright at home.With a total of 16 rooms,Bambu offers suites, deluxesuperior, and deluxe standardrooms priced at US$60, US$80,and US$90. The chic yet unpretentiousdesign incorporatesmulticoloured colonial-styletiles and a mix of contemporaryand Khmer furnishings. Wearytravellers seeking to unwindcan enjoy wireless internet, flatscreen televisions, and iPoddocking stations installed inevery room.Respecting eco-principles, thehotel operates mostly from asolar power energy source, andthe pool is filled with chemicalfreesaltwater. A draw in itself,the Russey Restaurant caters toguests and non-guests alike withhigh-standard Cambodian andwestern cuisine. Basic dishesstart from US$4, ranging up toUS$15 for imported Australiansteak, chips, and salad. Foodiesare even invited to accompanycooks on their daily marketvisits, providing they rise earlyenough.Walking distance from thetown centre, Bambu is well situatedfor exploring, but so pleasantthat you’ll also be perfectlycontent staying in to rechargeyour batteries.Bambu Hotel, Phum Romchek 5,KO Street, BattambangTel: 053 953 900www.bambuhotel.com2. CIRCA 51Phnom Penh’s newest boutiquehotel promises to deliver stylishexclusivity only a short walkfrom the capital’s main action.Housed in a renovated early1960s Khmer New Architecturevilla, the establishment has onlyeight rooms, making it ideal forthose looking for that comfortablehome-away-from-homefeel.Combining a retro-design vibewith modern and traditionaltouches, all rooms (from US$40)come with A/C, flat screen TVand DVD player, iPod docking,mini-bar and writing desk. Thesuite (US$90) is perfect for familieswith young children. Despitethe inner city location, trees andplants add a touch of nature.An old tree overhangs the 11mpool, and the adjacent bar servesdrinks and bar snacks.With a menu featuringwestern, Khmer, and Pakistanidishes, a first floor balconyrestaurant is set to open inDecember once the hotel is infull swing.Circa 51, 155 Street 51, Phnom PenhTel: 012 585 714www.circa51.com3. FRANGIPANI VILLAHOTELMinimalist and modern, thelatest arrival on Siem Reap’sboutique hotel scene is a cutabove many of its competitors.Exuding the same air of simpleelegance as its sister hotels inPhnom Penh, Frangipani VillaHotel offers a classy respitefrom the bustle of Angkor.The stylish front garden givesway to a white, colonial-stylebuilding with a grand columnedportico. Large windows furtherthe sense of space, while theclassic backyard pool, surroundedby green plants and woodendecking, is distinctly art deco.Set over three floors, the 51rooms start at US$40 for deluxerooms, going up to US$50 for asuperior room with pool view.Despite the minimalist decor,all rooms have the amenitiesexpected of a boutique hotel:WiFi, complimentary laundryservice, TV, mini-bar, tea andcoffee making facilities, a safe,and writing desk. Complimentarybreakfast is served in theattractive ground floor restaurant,which also serves a mixof western and Khmer dishes,seating up to 60 diners.Be sure to make use of thehotel’s bicycles, which guestsare free to borrow for roamingaround the city.Frangipani Villa Hotel, 0603 StreetWat Bo, Siem ReapTel: 067 999 930www.frangipanihotel.com4. NATAYA CORAL BAYRESORTA private beach stretchingkilometres, a 300m pier, onlyeight bungalows–can youask for more? Since openingaround a year ago, NatayaCoral Bay Resort has becomethe perfect romantic hideaway,and increasingly the venue forbeachside weddings.Accommodation consistsof beachfront, roundhousebungalows divided into twodouble rooms (US$100/night)with open-air showers. Interconnectingdoors between therooms make the bungalowsfamily friendly, while kidsare further taken care of withswings and rides dotted aboutthe landscaped gardens.The 25m infinity pool, locatedright on the beach, ranksamongst the most fantasticpools in the Kingdom. Drinksare served from a bar right inthe pool, while the view of thesea really does make the waterseem endless. An oyster barserves local, fresh catch, andthe South Asian fare cooked bythe resident Pakistani chef isa rare treat. A driving range ison its way, as is a second pool,according to the owners.Located some 16km fromKampot along the road towardsSihanoukville, Nataya is theplace to go for a good dose ofexclusivity and class.Nataya Coral Bay Resort, KampotTel: 033 690 2011www.natayaresort.com5. PAGODA ROCKSSihanoukville may be bestknown as backpacker central,but the opening of PagodaRocks marks the Kingdom’sbeach resort city’s first hesitantsteps towards becoming a moreupscale destination. The “boutiqueguesthouse” is located ona hill overlooking Victory Beachand offers a complete disconnectfrom the regular Snookyexperience.Nine well-appointed bungalows(from US$50), eachwith its own private balconyfacing the sea, offer luxuriousseclusion, while the panoramiccoastal views from the 30minfinity pool leaves you withlittle desire to trek down to thebeach.Eating at Pagoda Rocks isa joy. With a helping handfrom Phnom Penh’s Pacharantapas bar, the restaurant onthe premises boasts a variedmenu featuring lunch-timesandwiches (US$4) made withfresh home-made bread, as wellas Mediterranean mains suchas paella (from US$9 for two),grilled fish steak (US$6), andstuffed squid (US$5.50). Theswanky cocktails are ideal atsunset, while its remote locationmakes midnight stargazingworth staying up for.Pagoda Rocks, SihanoukvilleTel: 077 524 275www.pagodarocks.com6. VERANDA NATURALRESORTLocated in the foothills of KepNational Park, Veranda hasbeen around for a while, butwith constant improvementsit remains one of the top spotsfor a weekend away. The latestaddition is the lagoon-like pool.Lounge on the sun chairs, graba drink at the poolside bar, orsimply laze in the water for anultimate chill-out day.Accommodation at Verandaranges from standard bungalowswith private balconies(from US$35), to the partlyopen-air hillside bungalow(from US$70), to the stonevacation villa that can berented either as a whole or inparts. With breathtaking viewsof Bokor Mountain and theGulf of Thailand, the resort’srestaurant is also worth tryingout. The bakery, full of mouthwateringgoodies, should notbe missed.Though it would be easyto while away several days atVeranda, popping out for thejungle trek around the mountainmakes for a nice diversion.Starting just outside the resort,the two-to three-hour trekoffers panoramic views of thearea, and if you head off earlyenough you can even spot somewildlife.Veranda Natural Resort, KepTel: 012 888 619www.veranda-resort.com42 asialife HCMC asialife HCMC 43