Palm Village Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Location:

The hotel is located close to the entrance of the The Angkor Archaeological Park, but unfortunately not close enough to be able to walk there. As a result, you will require to a hire a tuk-tuk to get to and from the park. Fortunately, tuk-tuks are always available in front of the hotel and have a fixed price to all of the attractions in Angkor Archaeological Park or Siem Reap. The hotel is not located within easy  walking distance from the main area in Siem Reap either, but like we stated tuk-tuks are available in front of the hotel. You will definitely need a taxi or a tuk-tuk to get to the main area of Siem Reap where you will find the markets, shops and restaurants.  Also keep in mind that when you are spending some time in Siem Reap and require transportation back to the hotel, not all the tuk-tuk drivers will know how to get there. Fortunately there is enough of them at all hours to be able to find one within a few minutes. You will also have to negotiate your fare on the way back. It should never cost you more than it cost you to get there, so don't accept a higher fare. Offer them the price you are willing to pay and if they don't accept it, walk away. They will usually change their mind and take you for that price or you will find another driver a few meters away that will do it for that price.

Room Comfort:

The rooms are actually individual huts that have a very nice appeal from the outside. On the inside, the huts are rather plain and boring, but offer good value for the area. The rooms are basic and the decor is outdated. A mini fridge and small TV are provided in the room. The room also had a "cottage smell", if you can relate to that, but it wasn't too intrusive. The smell was really only noticeable on entry. The bathroom was large but basic and could use some upgrading. The large wooden barrel and cup added a nice touch to the decor of the bathroom but other than that it really wasn't anything to get excited about. It did have hot water which can be a problem in the area, so that's a good thing. 

Cleanliness:

The huts were clean.  The main reception area, breakfast area, pool area, gardens and walkways are also kept clean and are well maintained.

Service:

The service was good. The staff is friendly, professional and polite. They do their best to understand your queries and help with any requests you may have. They are able to arrange tuk-tuks or taxis if required.  Spa services, such as massages are also available at the hotel.

Food:

The food at the hotel is very good and affordable. Breakfast is included with your booking and they offer a decent variety of food to choose from. You are required to fill out a breakfast card indicating what you would like for breakfast. You could also fill and submit the card the night before to request breakfast for a certain time (in case you are in a hurry the next day), but we found that they usually waited till you arrived at the breakfast area to start preparing your breakfast anyway. At least pre-ordering your breakfast helped them plan their supplies and reduced waste. Selections ranged from eggs, banana pancakes, yogurt, bread, etc. Breakfast was very good and filling. We loved the banana pancakes.

We also enjoyed dinner at the hotel a few times and were always satisfied with the quality and portions of the meals and prices. You had the option to have dinner on your hut's veranda, by the pool or in the main reception/restaurant area.

Overall Value:

This hotel offers good value for the price. Although the accommodations are basic, the hotel grounds are beautiful, the service provided is above and beyond the price you pay and the staff is courteous, polite and simply great. The location also provides for a quiet place to come back to after a long day of exploring the ruins of Angkor Wat; a relaxing alternative to the hotels located in Siem Reap.

Other Notes:

After a certain time in the evening the hotel gates close, so be sure to ask the closing time if you are planning a late night out. Upon returning to the hotel, if you find the gates closed, just knock on the doors and one of the hotel staff will let you in. The main reception area is invaded by frogs in the evenings, but these are all cleared out by early morning.  In addition, the hotel staff does a fantastic job of minimizing mosquitoes in the area by spraying the plants along the walk way to the huts.

Our Rating: 3.7/5   Year Reviewed: 2009

For the best possible price on hotels in this area, please visit Hotels.com and don't forget to pick-up your Cambodia travel guide at the Lonely Planet online shop. You can also visit the hotel's website at: http://www.palmvillage.com.kh/.

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