HotelChatter

Pierre, a former paratrooper who came in with the French military alongside UN forces in the 1980s to help establish peace in the civil war-torn country, owns the place. He's not always around, but the eccentric owner has loads of funny tales about his years as an expat and arranges tours to nearby sights, such as Yaklorm lake, a perfect, crater-form circle with crystal water perfect for an afternoon's swim.

Terres Rouges boasts lovely, wooden rooms in both a two-storey building and a row of private bungalos. Spacious verandas with lounges provide plenty of opportunities for lazing around and enjoying the Birds of Paradise-filled, lovely gardens.

The enormous, stone, semi-outdoor bathrooms in the six bungalow suits, with rainfall showerheads and giant tubs, transform bathing into an indulgence. Pencil drawings of Khmer scenes adorn the walls of the various rooms. This is the place to splash out on a scrumptious French meal in Ratanakiri, in the open-air restaurant lit by antique lamps.

As reward for the pain of accessing it, the prices are remarkably reasonable for the high-quality of the facilities provided, ranging form $35 to $65 per night.