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Raffles Le Royal – Iconic Heritage in Phnom Penh

The grand and historic Raffles Hotel Le Royal is one of the finest hotels in Cambodia and a leading address in Phnom Penh. Built in the early 20th-century, this colonial landmark has had an interesting past and clientele, from writers and journalists reporting on the Cambodian war to distinguished royalty who have stayed here over the years, as well as starring briefly in the film, The Killing Fields. 

A sweeping driveway leads to the graceful building that began life as Hotel Le Royal 80 years ago. Inside, polished black-and-white floors, teak stairway and Art Deco furnishings embellish the high ceiling lobby. Friendly and polite staff, some in Khmer dress, look after both business and leisure travellers. The 170 rooms follow the same style; old fashioned but comfortable, high ceilings with shutters on the windows. Even the lead in Landmark Room has a balcony overlooking the pool.

The main complex at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal, is centred around a beautiful peaceful tropical garden courtyard. Its five restaurants and bars offer everything from poolside snacks to refined Cambodian cuisine to English afternoon tea. For relaxation, there are two swimming pools and the tranquil Amrita Spa where you can indulge yourself after a day enjoying the city's attractions. As one of Asia's essential destination hotels, it has been the iconic resting place for the well-travelled since 1929.
 


Stay 
Raffles Hotel Le Royal features 170 luxury rooms, ranging from State Rooms to the expansive Royal Suite. Each of the spacious rooms are tastefully appointed with Cambodian art style furnishings. State Rooms are a blend of colonial charm and modern comfort with a private balcony. We recommend that you book a State Room Pool View which are very quiet and overlook the central courtyard and pool. Business travellers will appreciate the extra space in Colonial Suites.

In the original heritage building of the Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Landmark Rooms have high ceilings, wooden floors, historic marble bathrooms with claw-foot bath. Some rooms have a small balcony with views of the pool or gardens. The Personality Suites are each individually dedicated to famous dignitaries who have stayed at the hotel and contain artefacts and memorabilia associated with the guest.


ChildCare 
Children are welcome to stay at Raffles Hotel Le Royal. There are interconnecting rooms available which are suitable for families. There is also a swimming pool and babysitting services can be arranged on request.


Dine 
The five restaurants and bars at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal, feature everything from traditional French cuisine to buffet-style Cambodian breakfasts. Restaurant Le Royal is Phnom Penh’s most elegant dining room and serves Royal Khmer and modern French cuisine. Café Monivong has a relaxed colonial feel with the option of outdoor terrace dining. Enjoy an afternoon G&T at The Writers Bar or light snacks and specialty iced tea at the Poolside Terrace. But it is the Elephant Bar that is still an institution in the city where you can enjoy signature cocktails and live piano music.


Relax 
The Amrita Spa at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal offers carefully selected treatments and therapies from around the world and there is also a fully equipped gym, sauna, Jacuzzi and steam room. There are two swimming pools including the outdoor 80-foot pool, which is shaded by mature palm trees and frangipanis.


Experience 
In the surrounds are numerous historical and cultural attractions that you can visit on an organised tour through Raffles Hotel Le Royal or independently. Set aside 2-3 days to explore Phnom Penh. It takes half a day to visit the Museum of Genocide at Tuol Sleng Prison and the Khmer Rouge ‘Killing Fields’, which is about 16 km away. The rest of the popular sites can be squeezed into a single day.
 


 
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Best time to go

Nov-Mar

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Average High

32°C

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Nearest Airport

PNH

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Timezone

GMT+ 7

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Currency

Cambodian Riel (KHR)

Location The Raffles Hotel Le Royal is located in the Wat Phnom district of Phnom Penh, deep in the heart of this riverside Phnom Penh city. Majestically colonial in feel, this iconic hotel still retains the secret charm of Cambodia and is the perfect base for your stay in Phnom Penh. 


Getting There There are no direct flights to Cambodia from the UK, but good connections are available from major Asian destinations. You can fly with Thai Airways to Bangkok, Malaysian Airlines to Kuala Lumpur or British Airways via Hong Kong. From there you can take the budget airline Air Asia or Dragon Air. The total journey time, excluding transit, is about 15 hours. Phnom Penh airport is 30 minutes from the centre. Your hotel will pick you up. From Phnom Penh you can take direct flights to Siem Reap, which now operates on daily basis. 


When to go The ideal time to visit Cambodia is between November and February when it is cool and dry. In the beginning of March, the heat begins to build until April when it can be quite oppressive and uncomfortable. In May and June the southwestern monsoon brings a measure of relief and also high humidity. The wet season, lasts until October but it rarely rains all day. It generally rains short spurts mostly in the afternoon or evening. Although the wet season can be a low season for tourism it has its own advantages. It is when the Angkor complex is at its most beautiful, the vegetation is lush, the moats for full of water and there are less tourists so you can explore the temples in peace.  
 

Hotel Group

Raffles

Destination

Central, Cambodia

Hotel Type

Historic

Location Type

City/Town

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