After four days in Ho Chi Minh City, we took a quick 45 minute flight east to Phnom Penh and checked into the charming luxury hotel Arunreas in the heart of the Cambodian capital for a couple of days.
Centrally located in the Daun Penh area, it's ideal for exploring the city by foot or tuk tuk with markets, the river and the Royal Palace nearby. Surrounded by colonial villas and Khmer architecture, the ornate white façade is impressive with flowering frangipani, decorative urns and carved wooden doors. As soon as you step inside you get a sense of the intimate ambience - the hotel only has 12 rooms and suites - with attentive staff (they made recommendations and booked us cars) and a relaxed atmosphere. We stayed in the 60 square metre Majestic Suite with a comfortable king size bed, separate lounge area with a big flatscreen TV, polished wooden floors and stone carvings. The beautiful bathroom features sandstone tiles, a massive plunge pool bath, walk-in rain shower and L'Occitane toiletries.
The Khéma restaurant serves fine French cuisine and a more relaxed alternative in the adjoining gourmet delicatessen and café. Breakfast was excellent: the eggs benedict was so perfect I had it each morning along with fresh fruit and earl grey tea served in elegant cups and saucers. The food is fantastic, the massive rooms are beautifully-designed contrasting contemporary with traditional decor and the location is great: thanks Arunreas for a great experience.
Arunreas Hotel, #163, street 51, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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