Anyone have comments about the Pansea? We are considering it vs. the Angkor Village Resort, which is less expensive, but which I have read is also getting a bit tired.

I stayed at the Angkor Village Resort a year ago. It was lovely. Ask for a room upstairs - you'll have a soaring ceiling which adds to the atmosphere.<BR><BR>I have not stayed at the Pansea in Siem Reap, but stayed at a Pansea in Luang Prabang and it was a beautiful hotel.

we stayed at the angkor village in november for a couple of nites...we choose the middle priced room...it was basic but big....the beds are very hard...the hotel is beautiful and very clean, within an easy walk of the downtown...the gardens are lush, the lobby open and attractive...you feel more like you are visiting someone's estate rather than that you are at a hotel...<BR>we found the food to be not great--not bad but not great...breakfasts however were just fine... try la noria restaurant just across the river from the grand hotel---very excellent...also the red piano in town---good place for drinks and we had lunch there--very camp... the village arranged for a driver and a guide for us --$20 each per day---a must...it made all the difference in the world in moving quickly from one area to another and tailoring the visit to what you want and getting to exactly the right area quickly---it is so big that it is easy to get lost or waste time....its also so damn hot you enjoy those few minutes of a/c in between stops...don't plan to do too much on any one day...<BR>our driver had an older toyota camry which was perfect...we arranged for them in advance through the hotels's web site---you get the cream of the crop then--enjoy---its truly amazing...we took bangkok air from bangkok to get there---they were wonderful

Regarding the Red Piano. When I was in Siem Riep, I ask my guide about going there because I read about it on this site. He made a face and said, &quot;That is for tourists. The food is terrible.&quot;

We had a meal at the Red Piano last July. It was fine, good atmosphere, and very relaxing. The food wasn't special. And yes, it is a bar/restaurant for tourists and expats. Very few locals could afford to go there. That doesn't make it bad. It is what it is.

Interesting, I thought the food at the Angkor Village Resort was MUCH better than the food at La Noria.

Sorry, Kathy, I meant to say WESTERN tourists. My guide, Chea, took my mother and I to a restaurant that catered to ASIAN tourists. I guess the logic was that a restaurant that catered to ASIAN tastes would be more authentic. You are right, locals would not be able to dine in any restaurant.

maybe we hit angkor village restaurant on a bad nite....my wife who will eat anything had bad things to say about our meal there, so we never had dinner there again...maybe it was that nite....the location is beautiful and the service is decent...we just didn't like the no choice and the choice was terrible...sorry<BR><BR>i don't think la noria is inferior to angkor village, but it is a nice change and we had a fabulous meal...its a definate &quot;try&quot;.....<BR>red piano was funky and a neat find in a dusty downtown area...the beer was cold and the food very ediable...give it a try...it is not &quot;authentic&quot;..noone said it was...<BR>bob

Who is noone, Bob? Is that your wife's name? Or do you mean &quot;no one?&quot;

sorry i did not realize i had to check my english and/or typing before transmitting...i thought this is a gerneral info place....i will be more careful in the future...

sorry i forgot to add ...was my grammer ok??

Hi!<BR>I stayed at the Pansea Hotel this past November when I took a smartours tour to Viet Nam with the Cambodia extension.<BR>The Pansea Hotel was only 7 months old when I was there and was lovely. The grounds, pool area, rooms, and diniing room were wonderful.<BR>Our room was gorgeous (and furnished with mosquito nets which I used despite the room being sprayed with insect repellant each day.) All of the furnishings were for sale which I thought was kind of funny. The bath and sink area were extremely modern and beautiful, but the tub was a little difficult to negotiate because there was nothing to hold on to when getting in. Each night small orchids were put on my pillow when the bed was turned down. The staff were extremely anxious to satisfy your every request. It was a beautiful place and conveniently located to the Post Office, a ciber cafe and the market ( always walked back alond the narrow riverbank.)<BR>Sorry, I know nothing about the Angkor Village Resort.

Lindsey,<BR>Have you come to any conclusions about the hotel in Siem Reap?<BR>Judy

We ended up booking the Angkor Village because the Pansea was fully booked on our dates. Going at the end of March. Will let you know how it is.