Seam Reap Is Amazing
 

We can not talk enough about how amazing Seam Reap is. Go before it is loved to death by the increasing numbers of tourists. For our trip report and pictures go to www.tabhauser.com and click Seam Reap. (this is a personal web site with no advertising or sign ins.)
thanks for the tips from this forum.
Tab

I so totally agree. Just back from there and Thailand and I loved the whole Angkor Wat area.

Also thanking the forum for the restaurant reco's to Blue Pumpkin and Cafe Indochine (right across from my hotel)

Somadevi Angkor Hotel was in a great location and has a wonderful pool and a great breakfast buffet.

I'm a fan of Siam Reap!!

Thanks for the report and pictures. I hadn't heard about Sugar Palm before so added it to my list. We are headed there in just under 6 weeks!!

So glad you enjoyed it. I consider it one of the wonders of the world.

Hi Tab,

Loved your trip report with pictures. We are taking the exact same trip at Thanksgiving, except we are not flying business class, LOL.

By the way, I clicked on your Mexico trip - we stayed at the Paraiso de la Bonita for a week in March of 2005. I laughed when I saw your guacamole pic - I have almost the exact same one, guacamole on the lounger in front of the pool - no feet involved tho :)

Thanks for the detailed report. The information at the end with links to various websites was very well done. Also, I agree that Siem Riep is a magical place that will soon become a disney-like destination. We feel lucky to have seen it before it is overrun.

If you like Siem Reap you might want to see Bagan, Myanmar (Burma.)

http://www.sacredsites.com/asia/burma/bagan.html

http://www.dpsmap.com/bagan/index.shtml

Also while you are there you can take a look at Mount Popa too!

http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/s...popa/mp01.html

You do have to walk to the top to visit the temple. Half the way you can wear shoes, the remainder you must go barefoot, lots of monkey poop on the ground makes it interesting. Mt. Popa is the center of a volcano where the earth has eroded away and just left the solidified magma center.

Mandalay Airlines is the airline that I used within the country.



Have fun.

I agree. Siem Reap is wonderful. I just went for the second time in December.

Great website. Lots of good info and pictures. I love that you take photos of food too! I think it's wonderful you're able to show your kids all these great places.

I also have my own website for my trips (www.wired2theworld.com); keeping a journal like this is both a fun way to share with others and keep a history of your adventures! :-)

tabh, thanks for the report.
LynnieD, can you tell me more about Somadevi hotel? there are only 5 reviews on TA. I am looking for reasonable hotel, with nice pool, walking distance to Pub St. will appreciate hearing more about this hotel.

Don't know anyone personnly that has stayed here as it is a fairly new hotel. Agents rates are about $55 net with breakfast for superior room.

A very good hotel is the Bopha Angkor that gets great reviews and is in the same price range. http://www.bopha-angkor.com/

I appreciate the nice word on my web site. We stayed at the Le Meridian and not the other hotel referred here. We really really liked Le Meridian and would go back on a moments notice. I wish i had another 1/2 day to lounge at their magnificant pool

Tabhauser,

I found the pictures fabulous. We are going this summer (yes, summer) and will use much of what you and Lynnie D posted. Has anyone reading the post stayed at Raffles recently? Also, what camer were you using for your Cambodia and Shanghai shots? Noted you comments about the Marriott in shanghai. We stayed there last year. Absolutely one of the finest hotels we have stayed in anywhere in the world.

hoffmaks

Alison, Somadavi Angkor was very comfortable and the pool was terrific. Here are the coordinates:

150 meters to Center Market
550 Meters to Old Market
1000 Meters to Raffles Hotel (Had drinks at their lobby bar and looked out onto their fab. pool)

It took less that 5 minutes to walk to the Red Piano.

There is a shop (souveniers, etc.) to the left on Sivatha Blvd (main street in front of hotel)(as you walk out the front entry way onto the main street) that has a sign that says LAUNDRY. It is a souvenier shop. I had a big bag of clothes washed for $4.00 USD.

There is a little supermarket to the right as you walk out onto the street for water, snacks, etc.

When you walk out the hotel door if you turn left and walk to the end of the hotel building there you will find Birdie Massage. I can strongly recommend the foot massage for I think $4.00 for 90 minutes, but not the 1 hour oil massage.

Hope this helps.

p.s. I forgot to add that the Somadevi Angkor Hotel was running a special for $10.00 while we were there that included a 1 hour poolside massage, lunch with quite a few choices including high tea, and use of the pool (if you are not staying at the hotel). Tried to do this, but just couldn't find the time.

We're staying at RAFFLES GRAND D'ANGKOR Feb. 25 to March 2, in a poolside cabana room, because the Landmark rooms, w/ the divine canopy beds don't have handicapped access to the pool.

I promise a review when we return.

I've had some unpleasant experiences w/ 2 of the Khmer staff... with apologies from the French manager & the Arabic general manager of Raffles... the 2 Khmer staff have a quota of questions & once you go beyond that, or ask for a clarification on an email, they ignore you (for weeks)... I actually had to get our private guide to drive over there to get the question answered & when he asked why in 6 weeks they had not replied to me, the employee said, "I am bored of her questions."

It seems that SOME of the staff don't understand that when you're paying $300 per night, you get to ask a few questions.

Tab,
Enjoyed your report on Siem Reap, be aware that Angkor Wat was also jungle covered, it's just that the French began restoring it & re-restoring it before the others. From what I've read, many of the temples w/ overgrown trees have been left as it, because the trees are actually holding up the temples.

The temple passes pay for 24 hr. security & restoration... loved your night photos of Angkor Wat.

BTW, did your French chef recommend Sugar Palm restaurant to you? It wasn't clear in your report.