Building a new large hotel in an overtly colonial-style, five decades after the end of empire, was a bold call and this project could have gone very wrong for Victoria Hotels. Fortunately, it didn’t. Their Siem Reap property (Victoria also have several excellent hotels in Vietnam) captures the best of a classic old-world atmosphere, with its graceful architecture and enchanting ambiance.

These buildings have been designed to sit in harmony with its surroundings in the heart of Siem Reap, close to the Grand D’Angkor and opposite the Royal Park. Successfully recreating a feeling akin to colonial decadence, the Victoria may be a replica but it now sets a standard for the many other four star hotels in town, delivering so much at such a reasonable price.

120 rooms and 10 suites all have distinctive touches synonymous with Victoria Hotels – beautiful wooden floors, stylish furniture, plush fabrics and original decorative artefacts that imbue relaxation. Each room has a balcony facing either the swimming pool or the lush tropical gardens.

The two dining rooms are French-accented and highly regarded and ‘Le Explorateur’ is happens to be one of our favourite hotel bars in Siem Reap. The small spa has indoor and outdoor treatment areas and offers an extensive list of therapies, including a few specifically for men! The swimming pool is, without doubt, one of the most impressive in town.

Great design features, extensive facilities, a perfect location and sharp pricing make the Victoria a strong option, which is then further improved by the fact that they tend not to cater for the large groups found in comparable hotels in this category.