Viroth's Hotel: Siem Reap's BEST Kept Secret? (Luxury Awaits!)
Okay, buckle up, because we're diving DEEP into a review of this hotel, and trust me, it's going to be a wild ride. Prepare for a whirlwind of opinions, anecdotes, and the kind of brutally honest assessments you won't find in your average travel brochure. I'm talking REAL talk.
Let's Start With the Basics (and the Not-So-Basics):
First off, before we even think about the spa treatments or the fancy international cuisine (more on that later), let's get the nitty-gritty out of the way. Accessibility: This is HUGE for me. And it's a mixed bag. Wheelchair accessible: They say they are, but I always approach that with a wary eye. Need to verify with the actual hotel about ramps, doorways, and bathrooms. Facilities for disabled guests are also listed, but again, specifics are key. Need to know exactly what facilities. Elevator: Thank goodness. That's a relief.
Internet, Glorious Internet (and the Lack Thereof):
Alright, internet. Essential for the modern traveler. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! Praise be! Because, let's be honest, paying extra for that is just ridiculous. Internet access – wireless and Internet access – LAN also get a check. Bonus points. Now, I need uninterrupted internet.
Then there are the internet services:
- Internet: We got that.
- Internet [LAN]: Yep!
- Internet services: We got that!
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Hopefully the signal is strong.
Cleanliness and Safety (Because, You Know, We Care About Living):
Okay, this is crucial these days. Anti-viral cleaning products: Good. Daily disinfection in common areas: Also good. Hand sanitizer: Thank goodness. Hygiene certification: Okay again. I'm a little paranoid these days. Rooms sanitized between stays: YES. Room sanitization opt-out available: That is a good sign of respect for the customer. Staff trained in safety protocol: Good. If people aren't following the rules it's bad. Sterilizing equipment: Great. Cashless payment service. Excellent!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (My Favorite Part):
This is where it gets interesting, and where my inner food critic comes out. Restaurants: Plural! Promising. What kind? A la carte in restaurant: Okay, choices are generally good, but I wish for more. Asian breakfast: Now we're talking! Asian cuisine in restaurant: YES! Bar: Gotta have a bar. Breakfast [buffet]: I love buffets! So much food! Coffee/tea in restaurant: Essential. Coffee shop: Double essential. Desserts in restaurant: Uh, yes, please. Happy hour: Another yes! Poolside bar: Oh, yeah! Restaurants, (again!) gotta make sure there's more. Room service [24-hour]: Heaven. Pure heaven. Vegetarian restaurant: Excellent, for the vegi's. Western breakfast and Western cuisine in restaurant: Good for everyone. Because variety is the spice of life.
My Food Experience:
There's a restaurant I remember, the menu was a bit too ambitious. Like, trying to be everything to everyone. I ordered the "fusion" dish. Now, fusion can be fantastic, but this was just…confusing. It was almost good, but something was just…off. The waiter, bless his heart, seemed genuinely sorry when I didn't finish it. He offered me a complimentary dessert, and THAT, my friends, was divine. A simple mango sticky rice. Sometimes, it's the simplest things that make the biggest impact.
Services and Conveniences (The Little Things That Make a Big Difference):
This is where hotels can really shine (or crash and burn). Air conditioning in public area: Essential, especially in hot locations. Concierge: A must. Daily housekeeping: Yes, please. Doorman: Old school charm, I dig it! Dry cleaning, Ironing service, and Laundry service: Very useful after a long trip.
For the Kids (Important, But Not My Arena):
Babysitting service: Good for parents. Family/child friendly: Great for families. I don't have kids so I am not able to go too in depth here.
Getting Around (Getting From Point A to Point B):
Airport transfer: Very appreciated. Car park [free of charge]: Oh, music to my ears. Free parking is always a win. Taxi service and Valet parking: Options are good.
Available in All Rooms (What You’ll Find in Your Chamber):
Okay, let's get down to the details of the room. Air conditioning: Thank you, sweet baby Jesus. Alarm clock: Essential. Bathrobes: Nice touch! Bathrooms phone: Extra. Bathtub: I am a Bathtub lover. Blackout curtains: Crucial for sleep. Coffee/tea maker and complimentary tea: Yes, yes, yes. Daily housekeeping: Excellent. Desk and Laptop workspace: Good. Extra long bed: Always a plus. Free bottled water: Excellent. Hair dryer: Essential. In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available: I need to know those rooms before I book! Internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN: Thank God. Ironing facilities: Gotta have. Laptop workspace: Great! Mini bar: A dangerous friend. Mirror: Essential, but make sure it's not one of those warped funhouse mirrors! Non-smoking: Important. Private bathroom: Duh! Refrigerator: Good. Satellite/cable channels: Yes! Seating area: Necessary. Separate shower/bathtub: Nice. Shower: Always good. Slippers and Smoke detector: Double check. Soundproofing: Hope it is true! Telephone: Basic. Toiletries: Useful. Towels and Umbrella: Essential! Wake-up service: Good. Wi-Fi [free]: Yesssss.
Things to Do (Relaxation Station):
This is where the hotel can REALLY sell itself. Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna and Steamroom: This is a dream come true. Swimming pool: Absolutely. Pool with view: The best.
My Spa Experience:
Okay, confession time: I'm a spa junkie. And the spa in this hotel…oh, it was something else. The view from the infinity pool? Stunning. I spent an hour in the sauna, emerging feeling like a new person. I had a massage that was so good, I almost fell asleep on the table. The therapist, bless her heart, was amazing. She knew exactly where my knots were. Afterwards, I just sat by the pool, sipping a tropical smoothie, and soaking in the sun. It was pure bliss. Honestly, that spa experience alone almost makes me want to move in.
The Messy, Imperfect Bits:
Okay, now for the realism. The check-in process? A bit slow. The website said "express check-in/out,” but it didn’t really feel “express”. Small hiccup, nothing major, but worth noting. And the soundproofing in my room…well, it wasn't perfect. I could hear the occasional door slam and the murmur of conversations in the hallway. It wasn't a dealbreaker, but if you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs.
My Verdict (The Honest Truth):
This hotel has its flaws, sure. No hotel is perfect. But the good FAR outweighs the bad. The spa is AMAZING. The location is fantastic. The staff, for the most part, are friendly and helpful. The rooms are comfortable. The free Wi-Fi is a godsend. And honestly, the overall vibe is just…relaxing. I'd absolutely go back. Would I say it's perfect? No. But is it a great place to get away and unwind? Absolutely.
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Alright, buckle up buttercups and get ready for a chaotic, glorious, and probably slightly hungover week at Viroth's Hotel in Siem Reap. This isn't your perfectly curated Instagram feed; this is the raw, unfiltered, me-lugging-around-a-travel-sized-bottle-of-Tums-and-a-deep-seated-fear-of-crawling-things edition.
Day 1: Arrival & Oh. My. Gods. This Pool!
Morning: Flight landed. Passport control. Sweat. More sweat. A very persistent tuk-tuk driver who I almost hired based solely on his charmingly broken English. Almost. Then, finally, the sanctuary: Viroth's. The lobby? Chic. The welcome drink? Deliciously cold, thank the universe. The smell? A blend of frangipani and "oh thank god I made it".
Afternoon: Checked into my room. (It’s ridiculously stylish, all dark wood and minimalist chic, making me feel like I should apologize for my general disarray.) Unpacked. Sort of. (Clothes haphazardly thrown everywhere, naturally.) Then… THE POOL. Dear sweet merciful Buddha, this pool. It’s got me, completely. First swim. Followed by a solid hour of "just staring at the sky and feeling alive." This is what vacation should be, people. Pure, unadulterated bliss.
Evening: Wandered into town. Watched the sunset at Pub Street. The noise! The flashing lights! The sheer overwhelming-ness. Briefly considered running back to the tranquil embrace of the hotel, but then… I found a stall selling (questionable) spring rolls. Ate three. Regretted nothing.
- Dinner: Fine Dining at Cuisine Wat Damnak. I’d read such rave reviews, that I even made a reservation. The food itself was innovative and delicious. Definitely worth the very long and sometimes difficult drive.
Day 2: Temples, Temples, and More Temples (and Possibly a Panic Attack)
Morning: Woke up earlyish. (Jet lag, the gift that keeps on giving.) Hired a tuk-tuk driver, a lovely bloke named Sophan whose English was better than mine, which is saying something. We headed to Angkor Wat. So many people. So much sun. So many stairs. I swear, I almost died. I was probably the most dramatic tourist since forever.
Afternoon: Angkor Thom. The Bayon. The stone faces that follow you. (Creepy. But amazing, and the photography potential is unlimited.) Had the most amazing lunch at a tiny cafe outside the temple complex. Some of the best food I've had ever.
Evening: Dinner and Apsara dance show. The performance was pretty, if a little… slow. The costumes were gorgeous. My main takeaway? I really need to learn how to sit cross-legged for longer than five minutes. Dinner was just okay. By the way, I'm still trying to figure out why the entire world wants to feed you rice. I LOVE rice, don’t get me wrong, but I am so full. This might be a problem.
Day 3: The Elephant Experience (Where My Heart Nearly Exploded)
Morning: We’re going to be honest: So many temples can get boring, and the crowds were becoming crushing. After waking up one day, I decided I was done with the crowds for a while, and made a great decision to have a unique experience. I booked a visit to an elephant sanctuary.
- Anecdote: I'd seen the horrors of the Angkor Wat crowds, and I needed to do something different. So, an elephant sanctuary it was… Now, look, I'm not one for petting zoos or anything that feels exploitative, but this place? Different. They'd rescued these beautiful beasts from work camps. I got to get in the water with the elephants! I scrubbed their massive, wrinkled backs with a brush. I fed them bananas so big, I could hardly lift them. I just… I spent an hour sobbing from happiness and just marveling. That evening I was so full of joy, that I was sure that this was the best day of my life.
Afternoon: Relaxation. Pool. Book. Bliss. (Repeat. See, I am learning to pace myself.)
Evening: Had some of the worst street food of my life. Ate the best ice-cream of my life (Mango Sticky Rice flavor).
Day 4: A Day of Reckoning and Regret (aka Shopping, Getting Lost, and Almost Buying a Fake Rolex)
- Morning: Decided to be "cultured." Went to the Landmine Museum. (Gut-wrenching. Cruel. Absolutely necessary.) Then a craft workshop. (Tried my hand at pottery. Failed miserably.)
- Afternoon: Shopping in the Old Market. (Lost. Overwhelmed. Negotiated like a pro. Then, almost bought a fake Rolex. (I don’t even wear watches! What was I thinking?) Escaped before I committed any fashion crimes.
- Evening: Back in the sanctuary of Viroth's. (A gin and tonic, thank you very much!)
Day 5: More Temples (But Maybe a Little Less Crazy This Time)
- Morning: Banteay Srei. Some less popular temples, also beautiful, and also, blissfully, less crowded.
- Side Note: The air conditioning in the tuk-tuk was a godsend. Seriously, Cambodia, your heat is intense.
- Afternoon: Poolside reading (finally finishing that novel I'd been pretending to read for the last four days).
- Evening: Trying to locate my missing suitcase (I'm sure I will find it).
- Dinner: Dinner at a Khmer restaurant. Good, not too good.
Day 6: Relaxation, Massage, and a Final Sunset (and the realization that I'm probably returning home with a suitcase full of souvenirs and a soul rejuvenated)
- Morning: Massage. (A one and a half hour. Absolutely amazing. All the knots. Gone.)
- Afternoon: Pool. Final swim. Said goodbye to the pool.
- Evening: Watching the sunset over the rice fields. The light, the colors… It's so worth it. So very worth it.
- Dinner: Dinner near pubstreet.
Day 7: Goodbye, Cambodia. (Until Next Time, You Enchanting, Confusing, and Exasperating Place)
- Morning: Last breakfast. Packed (haphazardly, of course). Said goodbye to Viroth's. (I'm legitimately sad to leave, despite the chaos.)
- Afternoon: Flight home.
- Overall: This trip has been a rollercoaster—amazing, exhausting, confusing, and utterly unforgettable. I can't wait to come back and be confused again.
Notes & Imperfections:
- My appetite has been fluctuating wildly.
- My mosquito bite count? Over 10.
- My ability to navigate a tuk-tuk? Improved slightly.
- The only thing I'm sure of? I need another vacation. Like, yesterday.
- I may or may not have left my phone charger on a table somewhere (I'll find it when I get home…)
- And hey, if you're reading this, please tell me what happened to my suitcase.
- I will be returning next year for sure.
Okay, Let's Wrestle with This: FAQs About... Well, Life, Basically. (Maybe.)
1. So, What *IS* the Point, Anyway? (Besides Existential Dread?)
Ugh. That's the big one, isn't it? Honestly? I've asked myself this while staring at a particularly stubborn stain on the carpet. The "point" feels fluid, you know? Like trying to grab a handful of smoke. Sometimes it's about the tiny things: a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, the sun hitting your face just right, a laugh that bubbles up from your belly. Other times… it's about surviving the week. Or, if I'm being dramatically honest, surviving the *hour* I’m stuck in this endless email chain. Remember that time I thought I had a breakthrough and realized the point was eating a triple-chocolate fudge brownie in sweatpants? Pure bliss. Then the sugar crash hit… Still, I hold onto that brownie-fueled bliss. It’s a starting point. Maybe. Don't ask me, I'm just a person.
2. How Do You Deal with Bad Days? (Because, Let's Be Real, They Happen)
Oh, honey, buckle up. Bad days? I'm practically a connoisseur. I’ve developed a whole *system* of coping. Ok, not really a *system*, more like a haphazard compilation of strategies. First and foremost: Acceptance. Which means muttering "This is fine..." while the world implodes. Then, the big three: Chocolate (dark preferred, combats the impending doom), Music (loud, angsty, and preferably involving a screaming vocalist - anyone but my neighbor's awful flute music!), and talking. Mostly to my dog, Winston. He’s a great listener. Doesn't interrupt with unsolicited advice about ‘positive thinking,’ unlike certain family members. And sometimes... a nap. A glorious, guilt-free, escape-the-world-for-an-hour nap. The nap is key. Don’t underestimate the power of horizontal silence.
3. What's the Deal with... [awkward silence]... Self-Doubt?
Oh, self-doubt. My old friend! We’ve been through a lot together. It's that whisper in your ear that makes you question everything, right? Like, "Are you *really* qualified to do *that*? Does anyone actually *like* you? Is your hair a mess?" It's exhausting. I went through a phase of constant self-doubt about my ability to...make toast. Seriously! Perfectly toasted bread became a monumental challenge. I burnt so much toast that I set off the smoke alarm three times in one week. My apartment smelled like charcoal for a week. It was a dark time. My coping mechanisms? Reminder notes: "You. Are. Awesome." (Written in glitter pen, naturally), and a healthy dose of "Fake it 'til you make it". It’s a work in progress, folks. We’re all just winging it, hoping the plane doesn't crash.
4. Favorite Things? (Besides Chocolate and Naps, Obviously.)
Beyond the essentials? Hmm… Good question. I adore a ridiculously comfortable pair of socks. Seriously, finding the perfect sock is a life achievement. Rain on a tin roof. The smell of old books (I'm a sucker for the musty scent of a library). Kindness. Genuinely, unexpectedly kind people. Watching the sunrise, even though I'm usually asleep at that hour (a rare treat). That time I saw a double rainbow *and* a hummingbird at the same time? Pure magic. I almost cried. And then I tripped over my own feet. But still, magic! Okay, maybe I should limit my coffee. And, of course, witty conversation. So, if you’re reading this, feel free to leave a witty comment. Or just tell me your favorite sock. The world needs to know.
5. What's Your Biggest Fear? (Don't Hold Back!)
Okay, deep breath. Here we go. My biggest fear? Being utterly, completely *forgettable*. The idea of living a life that leaves no trace, that makes no difference… that haunts me. Also, spiders. And clowns. But the forgettable thing is a real, existential fear. There was this one time, I went to a reunion of childhood friends, and I swear, half of them didn't even recognize me. They were all busy living *their* lives, with their amazing careers and families. I just felt invisible. Like a ghost. It was a long car ride home. And I may, or may not, have secretly considered adopting a tarantula, just to, you know, make things interesting… I guess that's why I'm here, writing this, trying to connect, even if it’s just with you, dear reader. And to remind you, that you are not forgettable, you are unique, you matter. I mean, probably. Maybe. We'll figure it out together, okay?
6. What's Your Advice for… (Insert Life Difficulty Here, You Pick One!)?
Ugh, okay, let's pretend you’re going through something awful -- breakup? Job loss? Stuck in a fluorescent-lit office with a boss who only speaks in buzzwords? (I've been there, the office one is particularly soul-crushing) My advice is… (and it might not be great, I’m still figuring things out, remember?) …Be kind to yourself. Honestly. It's the only thing that consistently seems to work. Forgive yourself for mistakes. Don't compare yourself to others. Take a break. Go for a walk (even if it's just to the fridge for another snack). And, if all else fails, remember that feeling bad is a *normal* human experience. It might not feel like it at the time, but it usually passes, like a particularly nasty stomach bug. So hang in there. And maybe eat some ice cream. Because, science.
