HotelChatter

Amansara is the former vacation home of the current Father-King, Sihanouk. Whereas the temples (and the other hotels in town for that matter) use size and ornament to prove their value, this place is old money at its most subtle.

The really wealthy have nothing to prove, and behind this simple, unmarked gate is a modern, plain hotel that epitomizes class. Straight lines, dark teak wood, and stone walls protect each suite, which come equipped with a private swimming pool, outdoor bed, and pond.

Guests arrive to an awaiting hot bath filled with folded lotus flowers and a plate of spring rolls and cold limeade.

Needless to say, this place is legit. There are more five-star hotels in Siem Reap than in all the rest of Cambodia. And even the managers at the competing establishments agree that Amansara is in a class of its own (it's true; we talked to them).

At about $1,000 per night in a country with a per-person annual income of about half that, it better be good. The hotel's manager and its rivals agree that it's more than the facilities that set it apart.

The resort takes guests through the temples, complete with a personal guide and tuk-tuk, who know how to avoid the crowds and explain each and every carving.

Jackie O stayed here once, and with the wide-brimmed straw hats the hotel provides guests to protect them from the Cambodia sun while the tour the ruins, its hard not to feel like a member of Camelot.