• Part 1:  How I Got My $40,000 for $3,000
  
• Part 2:  Flight Review: Emirates First Class
• Part 3: Touring Oman
• Part 4:  Flight Review: Etihad Business Class
• Part 5:  Hotel Review: Park Hyatt Saigon
• Part 6:  Touring Vietnam
• Part 7:  Hotel Review: Park Hyatt Siem Reap
• Part 8:  Touring Cambodia
• Part 9:  Touring Singapore
• Part 10: Hotel Review: Park Hyatt Maldives
• Part 11: Touring Abu Dhabi

After flying from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam I arrived at Siem Reap airport in the evening and had a tour operator pick us up at the airport for a minimal fee.  Travel time from the airport to the hotel was about 20 minutes.

Booking

Since this is a Category 4 hotel, the points plus cash rate per night was 7,500 points plus $100.  I was able to use my diamond suite upgrade (DSU) certificate for the three nights I stayed here.  Standard rate for three nights in a suite here would have been $2,892.  Utilizing points plus cash with a DSU only cost 22,500 Hyatt Points + $300 for the three night stay.

Check-In

Check-in took place inside a beautiful room that looked like a library.  We arrived late so there was no line to wait in and we were in the room in a matter of minutes.

Location(4/5)

Location was situated within walking distance of the main attractions in the town of Siem Reap and about 20 minutes drive from the popular ruins like Angkor Wat.  There are plenty of places to eat and drink near the hotel so, I actually only ended up eating breakfast at the hotel.  There are some great places to eat across the street at a cost of $3USD for dinner for two.  That is if you don’t mind sitting on those tiny plastic chairs as mopeds drive past you on the street.

There are also very inexpensive quality spas all around the hotel worth checking out after a day of hiking around the ruins.

The only downside of the hotel location is there is no view at all from the rooms.  My room had a view of KFC out one window and construction out the other window.

Room (5/5)

The room was huge, beautifully decorated, had a large bathroom, walk-in closet, and two televisions.   The quality of the furniture and hardwood floors was impressive.  There are plenty of power outlets on both sides of the bed which is always greatly appreciated.

Food(4/5)

The breakfast buffet had a good selection of food and the restaurant was beautiful.  However, compared to other Park Hyatt hotels, the food was pretty average.

Pool Area (5/5)

Considering the pool area was on the roof, they did an amazing job utilizing the space and making it feel you are not at all in the city.  It felt more like you were in a Japanese zen garden that you could swim in.  Plenty of trees are spread throughout the pool area and surrounding the outside of building to make it seem you were in a bamboo forest.

Service (5/5)

Hotel was staffed well and I never had to wait long to find someone to help with any requests.  Most likely, you’ll be interacting with your tour guide and spending most of your time outside of the hotel since there are so many things to do and see around Siem Reap.  Having said that, service should not be to much a priority, but they are there if you need it.  The hotel is also well guarded and they screen people coming in to ensure they are guests.

Conclusion

This is a beautiful hotel located within walking distance from many attractions in the town of Siem Reap and only a short drive to many of the ancient ruins.  If you have available Hyatt points and you are a diamond member, there is a lot of value in redeeming points for a stay at this location.  There are many options in town for places to stay, but if you are a Hyatt regular and want to stay at a five star hotel, this place is perfect.  Stay tuned for part eight of this trip where I discuss all the exciting things to do in Siem Reap.