Siem Reap
Where to lay your head
Where to lay your head
Accommodation standards in Siem Reap have improved beyond recognition in the last few years, across nearly all budgets. The gateway to Angkor now has more than 500 inns, hotels and guesthouses and the chances of a soft landing are high. Here, though, are a few of our favourites that won’t break the bank. Dream a dream Living the dream at Navutu Dreams. Starting at the top, Navutu Dreams... Read our full review of Great places to stay in Siem Reap.
As the number of tourists arriving in Siem Reap continues to grow at double-digit rates, so too does the number of businesses being set up to cater to them, with hotels, bars and restaurants being thrown up at dizzying speed. As a result, areas that were once very much on the fringes can now almost be considered central as the town’s boundaries balloon. And every area is very much developing... Read our full review of Where should I stay in Siem Reap?.
It won’t come as a surprise to us if many of you find Siem Reap to be an exceedingly liveable place, what with all the lofty palm trees, world wonders down the road and an abundance of international restaurants that make it hard to miss home comforts. Many a traveller has found a couple of days in this corner of Cambodia quickly turns into a couple of weeks, or even months (years if you’re... Read our full review of Longer stays in Siem Reap.
For anyone who works in a city or town, one of the best parts of getting away is the chance to reacquaint oneself with things that are green. And even for those fortunate enough to live in a rural or semi-rural environment, the need for green (not the one with the dollar signs on it!) can run deep. Fortunately, Siem Reap boasts a few hotels that have taken that idea to its absolute maximum... Read our full review of Siem Reap’s garden hotels.
This is where the action is: the bustling, thumping heart of Siem Reap. It may be a small town, but you’ll find a huge range of restaurants, bars, shops and markets here, as well as a few notable hotels and guesthouses.
Sometimes the simpler the better, and nowhere does that better than One Stop Hostel. Clean, straightforward, practical and convenient, this hostel has four, six and 10-room dorms that come equipped with wide, sturdy bunks, deep mattresses, reading lights, sockets and spacious locker space. The common areas again are functional, while also providing a relaxing space to connect with fellow... Read our full review of One Stop Hostel.
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Purple Mangosteen is a beautifully constructed little hide-away, tucked down Siem Reap’s most fashionable street — as fashionable as we get around here anyway — with plenty of prime shopping and dining spots right on the doorstep, but out of the way of the chaos of Pub Street. Long and lean, the three-storey boutique hotel has just six rooms and a real Mediterranean feel, thanks to the... Read our full review of Purple Mangosteen.
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Hip design-hotel Hotel Be Angkor is a contemporary city crashpad with just three spacious rooms located slap bang in the heart of downtown Siem Reap. Small but BEautifully formed. The pop-art lobby, shared with sister property The One Hotel Angkor which Hotel Be Angkor is an expansion of, sets the tone with its striking modern visuals adorning the walls. The lobby is now the home of the famous... Read our full review of Hotel Be Angkor.
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While the rooms might not be our favourite in town, The Ivy has plenty of other things to recommend it. This is an old-school Siem Reap guesthouse (the longest-running according to their website), set in an old Khmer villa with brick walls downstairs and wooden floors, gangways and balcony upstairs. The rooms are small and sparse, with simple beds and cold water showers. We recommend asking for... Read our full review of Ivy Guesthouse and Bar II.
Mad Monkey is the sociable sister of the popular Phnom Penh hostel of the same name. Just as lively, welcoming and fun, this is young backpacker territory that gets booked in advance — note they only accept online bookings or walk-ins. Bring your competitive spirit for beer pong and expect to miss sunrise due to one too many late nights. Rooftop beach bar Top Banana, a lounge area with... Read our full review of Mad Monkey Hostel.
Once backpacker central, Wat Bo Road is transforming into a more mixed area where you’ll still find plenty of decent backpacker accommodation as well as more flashpacker and stunning high-end options. Only 10 to 20 minutes’ walk away from the centre of town, this area is perfect for those who want to stay close to the action, but not too close.
This stylish hotel is housed in two beautifully-planned, colonial-style buildings whose high design standards announce themselves even before you enter. A grand portico in 1980s eyeshadow blue fronts the main building, sporting grand columns and an art-deco feel, which is continued throughout. The sense of light and air is strong throughout the building, but especially in the large, bright and... Read our full review of Frangipani Villa Hotel.
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Rambutan Hotel (formerly Golden Banana Hotel) used to be three adjacent hotels, however the Hotel and the Resort are no longer affiliated with the Guesthouse, which was the first to be built but is now under different ownership. The hotel was built second, is a fine choice and is especially popular with families. It was completely re-furbished this year, and some of the split-level rooms are now... Read our full review of Rambutan Hotel .
Rambutan Resort is the slightly more luxurious half of the Rambutan property in Siem Reap—the Hotel section is less than 50 metres away down the road. The Resort, previously Golden Banana Boutique Resort, offers stylish rooms clustered around a medium-sized, slate-lined swimming pool, which is surrounded by lovely green foliage. The owner is going for a modern Asian look, though the... Read our full review of Rambutan Resort.
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A mid-sized, mid-range hotel in the middle of Wat Bo Road, just five minutes’ walk from the town centre, Soria Moria has several features to recommend it, not least of which was the Norwegian owners’ transfer of 51% of the ownership to the hotel staff in 2011. That move, which had been part of their original plan all along, is just one part of the active social awareness and commitment to... Read our full review of Soria Moria.
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Formerly Viroth’s Hotel, Viroth’s Villa has been renamed in order to distinguish it from its new sister property — Viroth’s Hotel. But the rest remains the same, which is a wonderful thing. Compact Viroth’s is a boutique hotel — one that has earned the moniker rather than shamelessly appropriated it. With just seven slick, stylishly-designed rooms Viroth’s is a haven of urban... Read our full review of Viroth's Villa.
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Tucked away in a quiet sidestreet off popular Wat Bo Road, European Guesthouse offers more than just $5-a-night beds in air-con dorms. A pool, spacious chill-out area, relaxing hammocks and sun loungers in a shady garden and an al-fresco grass-roofed bar all combine to create a guesthouse that feels a little like a resort and all help to make it much more than just another budget option for... Read our full review of European Guesthouse.
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A beautiful, modern Khmer villa is the setting for this intimate “boutique” hotel, where the service levels and personal touch make it one of the few genuinely deserving of the name. Only a 15-minute walk from central Siem Reap, this may be a great spot for a little indulgence without the penitential price tag. Minimalist, stylish, spacious — this would cost twice as much anywhere else in... Read our full review of Landing Point Villa Hotel.
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An intimate garden retreat with all the feel of a genuine boutique hotel, Maison 557 is a seven-room bed & breakfast that prides itself on matching world-class standards with an individual touch. With just four rooms and three suites set in two adjacent colonial-style buildings tucked away in private gardens, there are few better places to escape the crowds of Angkor than this. Step inside and... Read our full review of Maison 557.
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Architect-designed Pages is a classy bolt-hole in the middle of busy Wat Bo. The architect, or architects, in question are locally-based Asma, and they not only designed but also own Pages, which comprises a hotel, cafe, apartments and office rental space. With just nine rooms and two small apartments built around a long lap pool and garden area, the space is intimate and comfortable, with strong... Read our full review of Pages Rooms.
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The leafy riverside neighbourhoods around Siem Reap’s Royal Gardens are home to a number of luxury hotels where the likes of Angelina Jolie and Hillary Clinton stay when they’re in town. But cross over the river to the equally peaceful, and rather more traditionally Khmer East River Road and you will find Rosy Guesthouse, a small and friendly budget hotel where you can easily stay for an... Read our full review of Rosy Guesthouse.
Only two minutes' walk from the centre of town and probably the first traveller-focused hostel to have opened in Siem Reap, Siem Reap Hostel is still going strong, winning accolades for their great service and commitment to fun. If you’re keen to meet other people, like a party and a relaxed atmosphere, this is the place you’re looking for. The reception is staffed by a very friendly... Read our full review of Siem Reap Hostel.
Babel opened in 2008 and has gone on to develop a good reputation for its rigorously clean rooms and great service. Set at the end of a quiet dirt road in the Wat Bo area near several other budget to midrange guesthouses, its 24 rooms are spotless and large, if a bit plain. Each has new furniture, hot water and cable TV. Everything is bright white, including the tiles of the sparkling bathrooms,... Read our full review of Babel Siem Reap Guesthouse.
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Part of a trio of properties, the Golden Banana Superior is tucked down a lane half-way along Rambutan Lane — named after the luxury hotel and resort that also live in this very sweet little corner of Siem Reap. Follow the Chinese lanterns, and you’ll see the yellow-fronted wall of this place. Here, 15 thoughtfully designed rooms, each with a balcony overlooking the pool, are organised around... Read our full review of Golden Banana B&B Superior.
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We’ve visited a lot of hotels in Cambodia and even in this genuinely friendly country we’d be hard pressed to think of one where we got a more delightful welcome than here. The Sonalong is a relaxing and family-friendly cluster of spacious, traditionally-styled two-storey villas, nestled in a tropical garden around a great salt water pool, all within walking distance of Siem Reap’s... Read our full review of Sonalong Boutique Village and Resort.
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Fourteen rooms are set in a two-storey house at Two Dragons, with a downstairs, outdoor restaurant and a small upstairs terrace as public space where guests can help themselves to free tea and coffee. Rooms are clean and pretty well kept, though some are better than others, so ask to see a few. The more expensive rooms have minibars, better mattresses and fittings than the cheapies and all rooms... Read our full review of Two Dragons Guesthouse.
Cool, leafy broad avenues define this sophisticated quarter of Siem Reap, home to some of the city’s most iconic hotels. Leading on to the river, and just on the outskirts of the town centre, this historical area has a character that is completely different from anywhere else in Siem Reap.
One of those things that made it necessary to invent the word ‘iconic’, the splendid Raffles building is a gorgeous example of classical colonial architecture. Built in 1929, it was Cambodia’s first luxury hotel and today has simply been made richer by time. Raffles in Cambodia stands for history, and the evidence is everywhere from the beautiful poster prints and photographs, right down to... Read our full review of Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor.
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An unusually good value five-star hotel is how we’d sum up Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa. It may not have all the tiny flourishes and design elements of the world’s leading international five-star properties, but it is fairly priced, especially in low season. By far one of the loveliest pools in Siem Reap. The courtyard saltwater pool area competes with the best luxury offerings in Siem... Read our full review of Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa.
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If giving back to the community is part of your ambitions then the guesthouse at Sala Bai can help you realise your goal. All you have to do is go to sleep, comfortable in the knowledge that you’re getting excellent value and that you’re helping someone to build their own future. Bright futures in the making. Sala Bai is a hospitality training school established in Siem Reap in 2002. Every... Read our full review of Sala Bai.
Shinta Mani is now two multiple award-winning properties: super-slick Shinta Mani Club is the original, while its more classical sister Shinta Mani Resort looks on from the other side of the road. Both set new standards for style and service in Siem Reap, and a powerful commitment to the wellbeing of their staff that radiates from the first smiles that greet you. The original Shinta Mani... Read our full review of Shinta Mani Club.
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Like its sister hotel in Phnom Penh, the FCC Angkor has become an iconic destination, either to stay at or as somewhere to come and enjoy a cocktail during the evening happy hour. The look for the 29 rooms is contemporary, but with an undeniably romantic and stylish 70s feel about it too. Clean lines dominate, with geometric prints, parquet flooring, a huge bed and dark wood panels on white... Read our full review of FCC Angkor.
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With a quiet location near Sivatha Boulevard, Siem Reap’s busiest shopping street, double rooms from just $27 a night and a host of appealing extras – including an outdoor pool and an in-house spa — Mother Home Inn offers great value for travellers who like to keep one eye on the budget without having to sacrifice all their home comforts. As you step inside, you could be forgiven for... Read our full review of Mother Home Inn.
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Finding budget accommodation in Siem Reap that might make you want to stay in with a good book rather than go out visiting the awesome temples of Angkor is a bit of a tall order. But the friendly staff, spacious rooms from just $10, and the convivial atmosphere of its communal lounge and restaurant all conspire to make the Victory Guesthouse a serious contender. So homely, you might not want... Read our full review of The Victory Guesthouse.
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Never more than two-minutes' moto-ride away from the very centre of town, West Central Siem Reap incorporates emerging and lively backpacker area Sok San Road with the more established Taphul village. Some great deals are to be found here, as well as some seriously attractive properties for those who want a little more luxury.
For many busy and successful years, this backpacker spot has been known as the Mandalay Inn. However, a long-running dispute with local tuk tuk drivers who would take visitors to a competing business of the same name has led the owner to finally change the name to Mingalar (Burmese for “hello”). We are assured, however, that absolutely nothing else about the business has changed, which is a... Read our full review of Mingalar Inn (Mandalay Inn).
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A warm, welcoming and lovely family bed & breakfast surrounded by greenery, yet only minutes away from the centre of town. The Rose Apple is an 18-room little haven, with bright, clean and airy rooms that are beautifully decorated and look out on to the saltwater pool or nearby fields where ruminating buffalo and cows ponder the world and their next mouthful of scrubby grass. Downstairs an... Read our full review of The Rose Apple.
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When it comes to the critics, it seems that some places can just do no wrong and Diamond d’Angkor is one of them. Only five minutes from the centre of Siem Reap, on busy Sok San Road, the hotel is a quiet, stylish retreat where customer service is king. The art deco-influenced building houses just 15 beautifully-conceptualised and spacious rooms and suites that blend the best of the modern... Read our full review of Diamond d’Angkor.
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Funky Flashpacker has redefined hostelling in Siem Reap. The ultra-hip ‘hostel resort’ has got virtually everything covered with fully-wired, air-con dorms and rooms, pool, pool and rooftop bars, top-notch restaurant, airy day beds—and that’s before we get to all the add-ons. But before you read on, you need to know that this is first and foremost a party hostel. This is a joint... Read our full review of Funky Flashpacker.
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Formerly the Encore Angkor, Villa Sok San Square is only a minute’s walk away from the heart of town, yet offers a full-service at very reasonable rates. The rooms are simple and functional, but spotlessly clean with attractive decorative flourishes to soften the feel. They come with all of the features that you would expect including fridge, safety box, air-con, TV and WiFi, and each one... Read our full review of The Villa Sok San Square.
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We couldn’t find anywhere cheaper and liveable than this in Siem Reap, though we’re not sure how long the rates will last as they were thinking about installing a pool when we spoke to them. So now’s the time to snap it up. Even so, this place proves that cheap does not have to mean scuzzy, and we were pleasantly pleased by the facilities. The dorm is large — 24 beds — but it was... Read our full review of Cowboy Hostel.
While their PR boasts four-star accommodation at two-star prices, it’s more a case of two-star accommodation at two-star prices, but it’s good for that. A very popular backpacker and flashpacker spot, this is very good value for Siem Reap, with 36 clean and comfortable rooms including air con, cable TV, DVD player, safety box, mini-bar and hot water. The entrance is lush and green, and... Read our full review of Golden Temple Villa.
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Cool and leafy and right on the riverside, north Siem Reap has a very distinct character all of its own. Only 10 minutes by tuk tuk away from central Siem Reap, this is a gentle bridge between the tourist hub and ‘real’ Cambodia.
Rich, abundant jungle gardens conceal a lovely eight-room traditional-style villa right on Siem Reap’s evolving north riverside. Downstairs, beautifully-tiled floors, four-poster beds, and shady interiors are romantic, if slightly cramped. A clever use of back space allows for plenty of features though, including tea and coffee-making facilities, safety box and a clothes hanging area. The rooms... Read our full review of La Villa Loti Coconut House.
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Tucked away behind Wat Polanks, this French-run boutique is one of the longest-running hotels in Siem Reap and a lovely out-of-but-within-reach-of-town choice. Mature gardens, rich with trees, flowers and plants — home to an enchanting array of birds and squirrels — overlook a mid-sized pool kept cool by all the shade, and shelter comfortable duplex bungalows that are simply if stylishly... Read our full review of Mysteres d'Angkor.
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In the heart of the cool, leafy-green north riverside is an even cooler, leafier, greener resort, a lovely riverside getaway that reminds you how to breathe again. A place to savour the soothing, cooling breath of the trees. The original complex had just nine rooms, but a new wing has been added on the south lawn. Set in slightly less mature gardens, though with plenty of tree cover and shade,... Read our full review of Natura Resort.
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River Bay is a small but multi-faceted little spot, with a hotel, spa, art gallery, two restaurants — one a modern air con sushi restaurant and the other a gorgeous traditional but contemporary restaurant space — as well as a cool garden with bright and comfy bean bags and low tables for maximum lounging opportunities. Even though it has only been open for a short while, River Bay is quietly... Read our full review of River Bay.
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Set in a remodelled building in Siem Reap’s leafy north riverside, Santa Clara blends modernity with classical attention to details and an eye for the small, but significant, touches. So many hotels call themselves boutique that the word is losing all meaning, but if you were looking for a dictionary definition then there’d probably be a picture of Santa Clara next to it: small, beautifully... Read our full review of Santa Clara.
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A stunning new resort on the northern reaches of the city, Templation is designed to wow. And it succeeds from the moment you pass through the elegant, stone-clad lobby to catch your first glimpse of the enormous pool and extensive gardens, dotted with trees and villas that evoke Cambodia’s romantic heyday. This will be tough to leave. Designed by local architect Lisa Ros — whose work you... Read our full review of Templation.
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Walking into The RiverGarden is like stepping into your own adventure. The path winding through the tall jungle gardens leads to a group of chalets housing medium sized rooms, all with air-con and most of the amenities, including TV, minibar (some rooms only) and tea/coffee-making facilities. The rooms are quaint, comfortable and stylish, and clearly the owner has been rummaging as each has its... Read our full review of The River Garden.
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While it’s down a red dirt road a 10-minute tuk tuk ride out of town, you’ll soon be made to feel at home in this large Cambodian villa by Singaporean dynamo Diana. Despite the building’s size, Bloom is an intimate guesthouse where the air con rooms are large, simple but neatly and stylishly done out with plenty of light to offset the dark wood that is unfortunately so much a feature of... Read our full review of Bloom Garden Guesthouse.
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Rice fields, red dirt roads, the vitality-restoring forces of nature. To the north, south, east and west of the Siem Reap city, these properties take you deeper into the heart of Cambodia, while offering luxurious, fun or family getaways.
My Home is the kind of place that, once they know about it, people come back to again and again. Located in a quiet area just 15 minutes’ walk from Pub Street, My Home offers budget travellers clean, bright ensuite rooms, with breakfast included, a lush garden restaurant and a large pool with spacious sun terraces that would be the envy of many a midrange hotel — all from just $14 a... Read our full review of My Home Tropical Garden Villa.
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A chic boutique retreat on the outskirts of town, Navutu Dreams Resort and Spa is well suited to those looking to indulge in a little luxury and linger a little longer in Cambodia to enjoy the surrounds as well as the temples. Blending a Mediterranean style with lush tropical gardens, Navutu Dreams offers a chance to focus on health and wellbeing too, with a spa, health and detox programme,... Read our full review of Navutu Dreams Resort and Spa.
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About two kilometres out of town, though town grows ever closer, Palm Village is a charming, excellent value spot set among fields and backroads, and makes a pleasant intermediary between guesthouse and boutique options. The entrance leads directly into a large wooden restaurant with a pool table and plenty of seating, and is where you will likely be greeted by the hotel’s friendly dogs. From... Read our full review of Palm Village.
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A refined and romantic rural retreat that brings together the elegance of reconstructed Cambodian traditional villas with the luxury of a world class boutique hotel, Sala Lodges can’t help but impress. The path to romance. In a project that took three years to realise, traditional Khmer wooden houses in an array of shapes and sizes were collected from across Cambodia, delicately dismantled... Read our full review of Sala Lodges.
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Set beside a lovely Khmer village about a mile out of town, and a decent, but rarely visited ancient temple, Wat Athvea, Sojourn should appeal to those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Siem Reap but also want a high-end place to stay. Nine bungalows are buried in mature gardens bursting with birds of paradise, hibiscus, frangipani and more, and surround a medium-sized pool, with... Read our full review of Sojourn Boutique Villas.
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The traditional Khmer villa at the front of Unique Boutique leads you around to a beautiful garden hotel that is fantastic for travelling families, or those simply seeking a quiet haven just a little out of town. Beautifully decorated bungalows with raw silk-curtained bay windows are set in restful gardens with a pool and great facilities for kids. One giant chill pill. Formerly Journeys... Read our full review of Unique Boutique.
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Tucked down the warren of red dirt roads to the south of Siem Reap, Angkor Zen is a place to step out of the crowded rush of everyday life and immerse yourself in a relaxing, self-indulgent retreat. This does not mean doing nothing, however, as Angkor Zen offers a busy schedule of guided yoga, meditation and pranayama, as well as access to things like Reiki training classes and more. There are... Read our full review of Angkor Zen.
Located well out of Siem Reap, down a dirt path off the back road to Angkor Wat (which used to be the main road when the early French archaeologists and historians were knocking about here), this French-run place has a lovely little garden setting and 19 clean rooms with low, soft beds and stylish, modern decor as well as spotless, if small, bathrooms. Floors are made of teak, and the whole place... Read our full review of Pavillion Indochine.
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