Lin Ratanak Angkor Hotel

The room’s air conditioning was fairly quiet, and the pool was beautiful and very peaceful. But the other hotel rooms had no air conditioning. The hallway carpet had visible stains, and the hall lights weren’t on when we went downstairs at night. Breakfast was very unhealthy. We wouldn’t come back.

The room equipment is old and dirty, and the receptionist came across as unpleasant and unprofessional. She asked whether I’d used the minibar, though she should have checked it herself first. The hotel still has a 3:4 Akira TV from the 90s, and the air conditioning can’t be controlled: it was either off or stuck at the coldest setting. They also still use traditional keys, and there’s no noise cancellation, so I could hear other people’s private conversations walking along the hallway. I don’t know how this hotel got four stars. It doesn’t deserve them and needs serious renovation.

There’s plenty of space for a large group, and it’s suitable for a staff retreat or conference meeting. The place is comfortable, clean, and offers good service. It’s easy to reach along National Road 6A and close to the market in Siem Reap Province.

The rooms are a bit dark, but they’re large and have what you need. There’s a small, usually quiet pool, though it gets noisy during children’s swimming lessons. The spa on site is very good and the treatments are excellent value. At night there are plenty of street food options, fewer during the day. It’s about a 20 minute walk to the town centre, or you can take a tuk-tuk for $2. The hotel’s tuk-tuks cost the same as the ones you hail yourself. There are lots of options around town, and the location is in a quiet area.