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Blog Hotel News Siem Reap  - February 9, 2017

What to expect from our Siem Reap hotel

We think Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel is a pretty special place, and we’re both proud of what we’ve built here in Siem Reap, and excited for what’s still to come in the future.

Planning to stay with us at Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel? The secret when booking is to book direct! Book your stay at Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel direct on our website and enjoy:

  • The best deals on tours and transport
  • Savings on extra services
  • The best prices on room rates

We look forward to seeing you soon! Or kun cheran.

Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia

But we know we’re not for everyone, and we think it’s only fair that you know what to expect when you stay with us, so that you’re guaranteed to have an enriching, memorable and all-round awesome experience.

That’s why we’ve taken the time to outline all the great things Baby Elephant definitely is – and the things we’re not.

We’re not a five-star luxury property

Baby Elephant Boutique Hotel is a small, three-star hotel, and we pride ourselves on offering a friendly, intimate, affordable luxury experience that makes you feel like you’re staying in your home from home.

You might also think of us as being a notch above most run-of-the-mill three-stars. That’s because, among heaps of other facilities, there aren’t many three-star properties – either in Siem Reap or elsewhere – with a gorgeous saltwater swimming pool (complete with spa jets) like ours, perfect for a refreshing dip or a spot of sunbathing, and where it’s not uncommon to have the space to yourself.

Many of our team come from a hospitality background in four- and five-star hotels, so we’re able to provide a truly relaxing, friendly service that offers all you need to make the most of your stay. We always go out of our way to take care of our guests, and we will do our very best to accommodate any special requirements you might have.

But we’re not a large, sprawling international chain hotel with hundreds of rooms – even after doubling in size in 2016 we still have just 25 rooms, which we think keeps the space welcoming and intimate.

We’re not right in the thick of it

We’ll be honest – if you’re looking for somewhere you can roll right out of bed and onto Pub Street for your next day of boozing and partying, we’re probably not for you. But our location is still perfect for seeing all that Siem Reap has to offer, including Pub Street and the Night Market.

We’re located on a small, local Cambodian lane, where you’re likely to see children, ducklings and kittens roaming around – and we think that just oozes charm! When you’re ready to relax at the pool or catch an early night after hours of sightseeing, you’ll be pleased to feel like you’re a million miles from the hustle and bustle of central Siem Reap – but in fact we’re just a short walk or tuk-tuk ride from the heart of downtown.

(Some of our guests like to get the best of both worlds during their time in Siem Reap, by combining a couple of days at one of the downtown party-hard and drink-till-you-drop hostels with a more peaceful, detoxifying stay at Baby Elephant.)

To be more specific: our little Siem Reap hotel is about 800 metres from the Night Market, which will take you around 10 minutes to walk, or about three minutes by tuk-tuk. And we’re about 1.1km from Pub Street; around 15 minutes on foot, or four minutes in a tuk-tuk.

We know you’re probably in Siem Reap first and foremost to visit Angkor Wat, and we’re not too far from these majestic temples, either – less than 7km, in fact. It’ll take you around 12 minutes to whizz there in a tuk-tuk or air-conditioned car or van, meaning you can still catch the sunrise after snoozing for just a little longer than you might have expected.

Finally, on arrival, we’re under 9km from Siem Reap’s international airport. We offer a free meet-and-greet service for all our guests – just make sure we’ve got your flight details, and one of our friendly tuk-tuk drivers will be waiting for you on arrival, ready to whisk to our serene tropical paradise in just 15-20 minutes. Of course, when you’re ready to leave we can arrange a return transfer to the airport, too. And if you’re arriving by land, we’re less than 6km from Siem Reap bus station – about a 20-minute ride.

We’re in Cambodia, a developing country

There’s no escaping the fact that we’re based in Siem Reap, Cambodia – in fact, in case you hadn’t noticed, we love it here! But it’s one of Southeast Asia’s poorest countries, and is still a developing nation in just about every sense – and that comes with its challenges (though we think they are worth the rewards).

There are times when we suffer power cuts, though it’s unlikely you’ll be affected since we have our own on-site generator to provide backup electricity. Short outages to our water supply and internet connection are also a possibility, though these occur much less frequently. These situations are almost always out of our control, but we always do everything we can to put them right as quickly as possible in order to minimise disruption to our guests, and of course we’ll keep you in the loop, too.

Likewise, while walking or cycling around Siem Reap can be incredibly pleasant, road conditions and driving practices may not be what you’re used to, so it pays to be alert. Seasonal weather conditions can also be a challenge sometimes, meaning roads can be either somewhat dusty or slightly wet. But again, we’ll do all we can to make you comfortable, and to equip you with local tips for getting around safely and having fun – just ask.

We’re not a place for sex tourism

We take a firm stance when it comes to sex tourism. Over a third of those connected with sex tourism in Cambodia are under 18, including victims of abuse and trafficking, and we believe we have a responsibility to do what we can to combat this. To avoid any embarrassment during your stay, we’re totally upfront: we don’t accept sex tourism, prostitution, escorts or outside massage therapists at Baby Elephant.

We ARE a great place to relax and rejuvenate

We know Baby Elephant won’t be for everyone – we would be kidding ourselves and chasing after the impossible if we pretended it might be. But we love the little oasis we’ve created here, and we strongly believe it’s a beautiful place for guests looking to relax, rejuvenate, nourish themselves and immerse themselves in a little slice of local life and culture, all the while being within walking distance of everything else our beloved town has to offer. We hope you’ll get the chance to discover the tranquillity of our Siem Reap hotel for yourself.

Got a question about what it’s like to stay with us? Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help!