crosscheck - about Victoria Angkor

Old Jun 8th, 2007, 02:03 AM
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crosscheck - about Victoria Angkor

I read the bit you wrote about this hotel in your trip report, but would appreciate any other comments you might have about it. Service? Pool? Spa? Food? Location...how far to the market area...can you walk or do you need a tuk tuk? Thanks!
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Old Jun 8th, 2007, 09:09 AM
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Loved it. Found out about it originally from my Asian art collector friend who said she had spent a day looking at every hotel in SR and it was her fave. Old world colonial charm - Truly felt like we were staying at Jim Thompson's house.

Service: Excellent if you consider that this is a four star, not five star in a developing country. Not on the level of the Peninsula, but that was a relief for us - felt more authentic.

Room: You know you're in Asia. Hardwood floors, cool fabrics, small but new bathrooms. Ask for balcony overlooking pool.

Pool: Huge, gorgeous infinity pool surrounded by chic French people reading Vietnam guidebooks. Moderate amt. of kids.

Jacuzzi: Stunning, but not heated

Food: Great, but we mostly ate in town. Breakfasts were great (though not on par w/ the Peninsula or the Anantara). Had one lunch there - fish amok - awesome. Kids loved room service. Tried to get out of the mandatory over-the-top xmas buffet, but it turned out to be delicious, fun and not overly westernized.

Location: Perfect. On charming park next to the Grand Hotel/Regent and across from a small, colorful wat filled with Buddhist kitsch. Don't miss the bats at sunset, even if you stay somewhere else. Fifteen minute stroll or five minute tuk tuk to market area. (Usually took tuk tuk there and walked back along river.)

Spa: small, reasonable, stylish, looked great, but didn't use it. My husband went got a $6 massage off premises - the name is in my trip report. Said it was exactly the same Thai massage as the Pen but w/o atmosphere.

Other guests: interesting mix of Europeans and a few American expats living in Asia or Europe.

Bar/Game Room: Cool retro atmosphere from another era - My kids hung out there for hours on end playing chess, badminton and board games.

Again, can't recommend this place highly enough. Had considered H de la P, but it's across from a gas station and massive construction site. Also everyone we knew from LA had stayed there and the Victoria seemed more off the beaten path.
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Old Jun 8th, 2007, 09:12 AM
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Very interested in your answers as well.
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Old Jun 8th, 2007, 09:21 AM
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One more thing about the rooms - We had two rooms next to each other, but not connnecting, which was fine for the age of our kids. You might want to look at their themed suites. Saw one - very cool...felt like a small loft. I think there's a virtual tour online.
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Old Jun 8th, 2007, 01:46 PM
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Thank you! Your comments really help.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2007, 11:54 AM
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Crosscheck, would you recommend this hotel for a single female traveler in early Dec? Thanks.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2007, 02:50 PM
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Moremiles-
KimJapan went last month. You might want to do a search here for her blog-she had some great pictures of the hotel on it.
On the strength of her recommendation and Crosscheck's my Mom ("KrisMom") and I will be staying there the first week of December.
Maybe we will see you there?
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Old Sep 23rd, 2007, 03:00 PM
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We really enjoyed the Victoria. We are a family of 3, and at times we split up. My husband and I both really enjoyed our turns at "alone time" in the bar there. The hotel is really well done, very comfortable and very relaxing. The pool was our favorite of the trip...big, salt water, plenty of chairs and good service, too. Lunch by the pool was a daily ritual for us. Staff are all very nice and try very, very hard to make guests happy and comfortable. Breakfast had a good variety of good quality offerings, and food for other meals and snacks were quite reasonably priced and also very good quality. We don't have any complaints about the Victoria, and I am picky, very picky, when it comes to the more expensive hotels...high expectations I have for my money. The Victoria did not disappoint.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2007, 03:08 PM
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Thanks and I will look for your blog right now. I am considering SR for Dec. 9-12th-will you be there Kristina?
Jackie
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Old Sep 23rd, 2007, 03:14 PM
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Did you both book via their website? I am not seeing any packages for my time frame but the room rate is very reasonable as are the airport transfers.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2007, 03:25 PM
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I sent an e-mail to them directly and negotiated the price a little. It worked out less expensive for us to book directly because although the third party booking sites had cheaper rates for 2 people, they charged a lot for the extra bed we needed. Mittapheap Tours, a Cambodian agent, had very good prices for 2 people and were very open to negotiation to get business...but in the end, direct booking was better for us because for the same price we didn't have to pay in advance as you do with many third party sites.

Here's the blog link...only pictures of the Victoria, but comments on the other hotels we stayed at will show you just how picky I can be. http://web.mac.com/teaghanmackenzie/...g/Archive.html
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Old Sep 23rd, 2007, 03:34 PM
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Thanks and those are gorgeous photos! I am seeing a rate online of $120 but don't think that includes anything-I will email them directly to see if I can get a rate that inc. breakfast at least. I'm also staying at the Anantara GT and hope my experiences are not the same, esp. the cockroaches!
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Old Sep 23rd, 2007, 03:36 PM
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Alas no, we will be there the 4th-8th.

If you do go to SR, I highly recommend you contact Ponheary Ly if you are interested in using a guide. My husband and I used her services (and stayed at her $20 per night guesthouse) back in 2002. I've booked her again for this trip as my Mother has never been to the temples.

Much has been written here about her. She's a very interesting woman, a fantastic guide, and a humanitarian who does amazing work with local schools though a foundation set up for her (www.theplf.org). We will be visiting schools with her as well. If she's not available, her brother Dara is supposed to be an excellent guide also.

We'd already booked our room at the VA with a travel agent, but Ponheary said she could get us a room there for $150 per night too.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2007, 04:40 PM
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Sorry to just miss you! I have Ponheary's email address and as soon as this part of my trip is finalized, I'll contact her. Thanks.
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Old Sep 23rd, 2007, 09:20 PM
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I think the Victoria would be great if I were traveling alone. You can socialize as much or as little as you want in the bar and pool area. There is also a small business center so you can keep in touch.

I loved the vibe there - very Asian, stylish but not too fancy, tropical. Made me want to visit their other hotels in Vietnam.

Definitely contact Ponheary!
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