We stayed at the Hilocks Hotel and Spa when we visited Siem Reap in October. As well as it getting great reviews and looking lovely, my main reasons for picking it were that it was a little out of town so peaceful but had a regular shuttle into the centre, it had a lovely pool and the baths looked epic. I booked the Angkor Explore package directly through the hotel which included a guided day tour of Angkor, a Kymer meal at the hotel, transfers to and from the airport and a few other things. As my parents were travelling with us and none of us had been to Cambodia before, I plumped for taking the easy route! And I’m glad I did.

The hotel is relatively new and the rooms are modern and spacious, my parent’s room was a little dark due to the layout of the complex but it wasn’t a deal breaker. The breakfast was plentiful and varied and the restaurant did nice meals in the evening although we ate in town all but one evening as it was only five minutes on the shuttle or by grabbing a tuk-tuk. Being used to the level of service in Thai hotels which is usually fantastic, Cambodia does still have a way to go but the staff were friendly and really tried their best to look after you which was appreciated.

We were picked up for our day at Angkor Wat at 4:50am and were packed off with a breakfast box for when we were peckish which was ideal. The pool offered the perfect place to relax after a long day of temple hopping although the bartender constantly flicking the music around at the nearby hotel bar might have got a punch at some point… I didn’t visit the spa but my dad and friend were around at an opportune moment and had complimentary massages which they really enjoyed.

All in all, Hilocks is a great base for a few days in Siem Reap, the staff were friendly, beds comfy and location ideal. Check it out if you’re heading to Cambodia.

Read about our time exploring Angkor Wat and Siem Reap here.