Hi all:
Since I have had such great luck with hotel information for Bangkok on this forum, I though I would ask for opinions on hotels in Siem Reap. I am travelling with 3 boys, ages 16, 14 and 11. We'll be in for three nights. I'd love opinions on whether the Grand is a)worth the money and b)good for kids who will need good long breaks in the pool between temple visits. Thanks for any and all input.

In a nutshell, no, I do not think the Grand is worth the money. The Sofitel is about a kilometer down the road, (5 min in a tuk-tuk, MUCH less expensive and the kids will like the pool much better. It also has a good pizza restaurant (or at least it did a year and half ago when we were there. Our kids loved it.)

We went to the Grand for the buffet dinner on the terrace, which was lovely. But for overall atmosphere, I found it a bit stuffy. Sofitel is more kid friendly.

If you need a guide who is good with kids, Ponheary Ly, often recommended on this forum, is excellent, as is her driver. She really paced our days according to the kids energy levels and interests.

U could also consider the Pansea - www.pansea.com. Good pool and great, large rooms - they can easily open a folding bed in the room for your 3rd son and the bathroom design lends itself to parallel processing as there is a dressing area, separate toilet, and bath area. Quite apart from what they charge I found the rooms in the Grand quite small - not even suited to 2 teenage boys, definitely not 3.

Thanks very much. Do you have contact information for onheary Ly? She sounds terrific. It's funny that you mention the Pan Sea - I think it looks great but then someone said IT might have too much of a hush-hush atmosphere for the kids. Then today I heard about Shinta Mani, which sounds great too (and has the advantage of being politically correct!) so...at least I know we can pass on the Grand! Thanks so much for your help.

i second or third the nix on the grand, although the pool area is fabulous...just too formal for kids...the sofitel is great and the pizza is delicious...i did not see the pool but understand it is nice also...less expensive is the angkor hotel...there are many new ones opening all the time...i do not think a guest house would be appropriate for western kids...too small and probably no pool which is essential for kids in SR, as really the only activity that they can TRULLY enjoy...there is an aligator farm in town which is somewhat interesting but that will only take 45 minutes of their time...

the red piano is a good in town restaurant/lounge for all of you too...

Pull up an earlier thread I posted comparing the Pansea and Shinta Mani as I have stayed at both. I loved the Shinta mani and would def stay there again but IMO the Pansea is FAR better with kids and I think the Shinta Mani with only 18 rooms compared to the Pansea's 55 is far more hush hush. I found the Pansea reasonably child friendly, it has a larger pool than the Shinta mani and is also closer to the market so they can always amble across for a meal or whatever. Take a look at my thread - is called Shinta Mani review.

Thanks rhkkmk and hobbes. The boys will love the alligator farm and I totally agree that a good pool is crucial! .Given your input, I think we'll pass on the Grand and the Shinta Mani and stick with the Pan Sea. Proximity to the market will be important for the boys. Thanks again for all the help.

anna---don't get the boys hopes up about either the market or the aligator farm...they are both a let down, especially the aligator farm---i guess its not a farm, but rather a zoo...

we had our driver take us out along back roads one day to see the "real" siem reap area...it was the next best thing to the temples themselves....very picturesque and interesting....he took us to a man-made lake which was a complete bore but there was a wonderful market at the junction of the lake road and the main road...very good...very local....

we saw all of this on our way back from the artisans school outside of the town...there are two locations and i highly reccomend that you take the kids to the one outside the town as well---way out past the airport as i remember...


suggest that you have someone pick you up at the airport as it is a bit of a mad house there as you exit...we had the hotel do it but many have their guides do it...

while i was writing this i wondered what you have arranged for airport transportation in bkk?? taxis will only hold 4 of you at best...limos about the same...so you really need a van...rat? or you could ask bkk limo what they have...let me know if you want their e-mail....or you could have the marriott come for you in a van...their limo is $36++ each way and the van would be more....

while i was writing this i wondered what you have arranged for airport transportation in bkk?? taxis will only hold 4 of you at best...limos about the same...so you really need a van...rat? or you could ask bkk limo what they have...let me know if you want their e-mail....or you could have the marriott come for you in a van...their limo is $36++ each way and the van would be more....

contact me directly if you wish as it is easier...put thailand in the subject line or i will delete you:

[email protected]

bob

bob: You are an angel. Thank you for being so thoughtful. It's funny you bring up Rat because I emailed her today to see if she will be available during our stay. This forum is one of the best resources I have ever encountered on the internet and I have been to a lot of them! Thanks too, for thinking about our trasfer from airport to hotel in Siem Reap. I was going to go through the archives to see if the group has a concensus on whether or not a guide/driver is necessary in Siem Reap but since you brought it up... My instinct is to get both since we have only two full days plus a morning in Angkor. Thoughts? Thanks again for all your thinking on my behalf.

our driver had a toyota camry...i think you would not all fit in that...make sure the guide knows there are 5 of you...like everything it will be extra for a van i am sure, but not much...

DEFINITELY a driver and guide in SR IMO tho u will get different answers from others. They are diff i.e. they do not double up. If you are using Ponheary then she will arrange her own driver as will others - i had a great guide I would highly reco - [email protected]. Give him Sameera's reference. He will also arrange his own driver. My friends who used him were 4 so they had a van. I was 2 both times so we had a car. use him for your airport pick up and drop too as he charges u a daily rate so u do not need to separately pay the hotel for these services. In case u do not get Ratt I have heard good things about www.juliestaxis.com in Bkk.

Thank you hobbes. And thanks, too, for the reference and contact information for your guide. But, forgive me, I don't understand what you mean by "give him Sameera's reference". Could you say a little more about that, for this newcomer to the forum? Thanks again.

Hi, Ann, my name is Sameera! As with so many others I post under another. Chhor Elit (who is called Ta for easy ref) knows me as Sameera - or you can say the girl who came twice, once in Aug with her friend and once in Feb with her husband. Rates are $20 per day for his services and I think $30 per day for the van (we used a car both times which was $20). Be in touch with him via e-mail to chalk out the itinerary. If u plan to do the balloon ride ask him to buy u tickets - tell him on day 1 what time on day 2 u would like to go. He will go while u are at Angkor Wat or lunch. Do go to the Shinta Mani for a meal - great spa cuisine - and even for a massage if u are inclined. The spa stays open until 10 - book in advance tho cause could get busy.

Hi Sameera and thank you! I like knowing some of the names behind the names here - including yours! Thanks again.