Park Hyatt Hotel, Siem Reap

Location

In a convenient location on a busy street a short walk from Siem Reap's Old Market and Pub St. Temples are 7kms away.


Review

If you’re not moved by Siem Reap’s colonial-style luxury hotels, their antithesis, the hyper-modern, design-hotel, Park Hyatt Siem Reap, may suit. The Miami-esque exterior looks incongruous at a busy downtown Siem Reap intersection but inside, modern cool and comfort rule.

The 108 room Park Hyatt began its life as the Hotel de la Paix in the early 2000s. Its rebirth in 2013 seems to have been more about branding and marketing than changing the essence of architect Bill Bensley's vision. Bensley is still involved and the changes made are more around the edges than at the core of the original hotel.

That’s not a bad thing as the de la Paix was a very nice hotel too.

The lead-in rooms are a generous 35sqm and are an excellent starting point. Prices vary depending on views. Some rooms look into the hotel courtyard, others across Siem Reap's shambolic downtown area. Deluxe rooms are more than 50sqm. From there, things get extravagant with a range of suites.

Architecture, ambience and people

The Park Hyatt is unique in Siem Reap both for modernity, cool and design ambition. It's only rivalled by other Bill Bensley creations - the Shinta Mani Club and the Shintamani Resort. If you've travelled from Danang in Vietnam, you may also recognise Bensley's handiwork from the spectacular Intercontinental there.

The Park Hyatt's grand white exterior may have benefitted from a larger block with more green space to help soften its incongruity in Siem Reap's dusty, busy downtown area. The structure is very much a one-off in its bustling downtown neighbourhood. It seems the design decision was taken to create a sense of space inside the hotel rather than around the exterior.

And once inside, the common areas are generous.And the decor is restrained class all round - with the odd flourish of bold colour.

Rooms are generous too, simply decorated and elegant with extensive amenities.

The unusually designed pool area is a good spot for relaxation - though better designed for dipping than swimming. A good half of the rambling pool is under cover and the other half is in shade for much of the day. If you're seeking sun, time your dip carefully.

Staff are friendly and casual without compromising the hotel’s 5 star service standards.


Brief:
Free wifi. pool, spa, gym, flatscreen cable TV, iPod loaded with music, and Angkor touring guide, spa, small gym, soaking tub and rain shower, restaurants and plenty more.