A jewel, an oasis ... a garden of peace in the middle of Siem Reap's chaos...
Location
Could not think of a more perfect location! Hidden away in a tiny shady green alley (aptly named Rambutan Lane) in between the Old Market and the old wooden bridges and DamNak (and right next to the Siem Reap WILD restaurant/bar/café .. see also Phnom Penh's WILD), it is an oasis of peace and serenity and still just steps away from all the hustle and bustle of Siem Reap. I would even dare say that EVERYTHING you want to see in Siem Reap – all the bars & restaurants, the Old Market, the Night Market, the shopping in Hap Guan Street in Kendal Village, ... is within walking distance!
Impressions
Rambutan is not one, but two courtyard hotels a block apart from each other: the Rambutan Villas on the DamNak side and the Rambutan Resort in the direction of the river.
Both are beautiful old colonial buildings with verdant green courtyards the enclose chlorine-free swimming pools ... in fact, the entire hotel values sustainability but without compromise to a luxurious stay: plastic water bottles are replaced with glass carafes that can be refilled at any time, solar panels tucked away assist the evening lighting, just to name a few.
Rambutan is gay-owned and gay-friendly, but all couples and families are welcome here (but please have well-behaved children in the pool when I am also there) ! Dirk and his partner treat the staff like family - heck, they ARE family .. and you feel it the instant you enter the place: everyone is happy, everyone helps each other .. and guests are treated like beloved extended family members ... so much so that many stay for months at a time ... year after year.
And somewhere I need to also mention the beautiful on-premise spa with pampering massages and facials at very fair prices.
Room
The two-level rooms (the so-called "Deluxe Rooftop Terrace Doubles") in the Rambutan Resort are alphabetical, with floral names - I had room "F" for Frangipani. The only (tiny) disadvantage was that my room was the last in the row and the one closest to the breakfast buffet - so I was awakened daily be the breakfast set-up and the early morning "Angkor Sunrise" tourists. I have heard A, B and D are better.
The rooms are two-story, with a full and beautifully furnished room on ground floor, plus stairs up to a second level roof top terrace with seating, private , an outdoor shower and outdoor bathtub.
Rooms have air conditioning or fan (or both if you choose, I guess), a Nespresso Machine (which you won't use because the guys at the bar are just too friendly and too much fun to miss), and very good internet WiFi.
Bathroom
A large shower indoors downstairs and a second outdoor upstairs (plus the tub) .. what more do you need?
Bar / Restaurant
Wonderful selection of Khmer and European specialties, great cocktails ... nice breakfast selection ... and really good coffee!
Breakfast
Is a la carte with a select variety of dishes to choose from (or even mix & match, just ask!) ... and breakfast goes until noon, so they're fine with that second-cappuccino-by-the-pool!
Price
Room Category: Deluxe Rooftop Terrace Double
Price 124,45 USD (114 EUR) per night, including breakfast (until noon!)
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