Gloria Angkor Hotel: Budget Friendly

A few years ago, my friends and I went on a trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. Our first destination was Cambodia and we crossed border to Vietnam. We wanted to make sure that in every destination we have a decent accommodation -- and let's just say I am good at finding one. ;)



In Cambodia, we booked a 2D2N stay at Gloria Angkor Hotel & Restaurant. I have read some reviews about it before booking and gladly, most of the feedback were positive. Our room's rate was US$ 45 per night including everything - and I mean everything that can make a stay comfortable.

Gloria Angkor is just alongside the main road so it's easy to find. Its facade is filled with different kinds of plants as well as ornaments related to the Khmer culture, like Buddha statue and lotus flower. The hotel building featured a peach/orange (a bit colour blind) hue that is so vibrant making it hard to miss. The hotel has 4 floors, and if I remember it correctly our room was on the 3rd floor. From the hotel, the Siem Reap pub street and market were just a few minutes away (less than 15 mins).

We reached Siem Reap at almost 11 PM; our flight was delayed for an hour due to the thunderstorms back in Manila. When this happened, I immediately informed the hotel's receptionist so that the person assigned to pick us up at the airport will be aware. The staff was so prompt in responding to my concerns.

After the immigration in Siem Reap, we rushed out and found the guy hired by the hotel to pick us holding a cardboard with my name on it. :) He was also our tour guide. With him was a tuktuk which served as our transport from the airport to the hotel and our tour service vehicle. And so we finally reached the hotel and checked in.

The Facade

After our breakfast buffet, I spent a few minutes exploring the hotel's facade and the pool area (we had a scheduled tour in Siem Reap temples on that day). I found Buddha statues and busts as well as jars with unique designs. It was also my first time to personally see a lotus flower. I was so amazed at the plants surrounding the hotel; I really love plants  - I feel like I am breathing fresher air when there are plants. :D haha

Gloria Angkor's colour theme truly captured my interest. It made the hotel stood out from the rest, quick to spot. Each floor's balcony had plant boxes, which added a splash of green colour to its vibrant hue.

The Room

The hotel staff told us if we need anything we just have to inform them. Such a sweet gesture! We booked a family room suitable for 4 people, since there were four of us. The room was clean, organised, and had no foul smell. haha

We had two king size beds that were super comfy with clean linens. Originally, we requested 1 queen size bed and two single beds. But I think it was not available, and in our room, the space between the two beds was constricted, so not enough for an extra bed. Nonetheless, the room was comfortable and we had a good sleep.

Our room had a coffee table and chairs made from rattan which exuded a traditional feeling inside. Aside from the complementary water and coffee/tea, we had a complementary fruit basket (err plate?) - not just once but every single day.

We ate the fruits after we settled in our room- we were already starving by that time. We were surprised that there's a new basket of fruits the following day, after our tour. Yay! We love it!

Bathroom/Toilet

Our bathroom was equipped with bathtub and hot/cold shower as well as basic toiletries. Yes our bathroom was clean and I was really glad; I would have cried if it wasn't.

The bathroom was regularly cleaned or whenever we were out. Two thumbs up to the cleaners for a good work on cleaning our room. *wink  After a tiring day of exploring the temples, we badly needed a warm shower to help rejuvenate our worn-out body, especially our legs.

Gloria Angkor's cleaners and staff were very polite and friendly. Even though there was a slight language barrier, they never fail to greet us every time.

The Pool

Sadly, our days were very occupied exploring the historical sites in the area so we didn't have time to use the pool. Honestly I was looking forward it - I wanted to dip in after our tour but we were too tired to go down. When I checked the pool, the lounge chairs were enticing - it seemed like they were calling me. I imagined myself lying on the chair... just relaxing. ^_^

Overall, Gloria Angkor Hotel exceeded our expectations -- except for the Internet (I think we didn't access the Internet since we were always out even on night). On our last day, they gave us local-made scarves as souvenir. It was so nice of them! Since our bus to Vietnam was scheduled to pick us up at night, the receptionist allowed us to leave our bags in the hotel while killing the time - actually we continued wandering around the pub street and the market.

We had a wonderful experience with the hotel staff and the tour guide. The receptionist also arranged our tour, so it was a hassle-free trip. A big thank you to Gloria Angkor for a memorable stay in Cambodia!


*******

If you are considering Gloria Angkor for your stay in Cambodia, just drop them an email.

Gloria Angkor Hotel & Restaurant
Email: info@gloriaangkorhotel.com

Bookings include:

Daily fruit basket         
Daily American breakfast
All local taxes
Free tea and coffee 24 hours
Free Internet access                   
Free pick up from and transfer to airport (2 ways)
Free night turndown service
Free shuttle to Old & Night Market from 18:00hrs to 22:00hrs (daily)







Sept '14