Since opening in 2005, the Hotel de la Paix has been our go-to option for our more luxury-oriented travelers and for those looking for just a little treat. Located downtown in Siem Reap it offered not just luxurious accommodation, but a true sense of community and a wonderful trendy and modern feel…a pioneer in seeing Cambodia’s potential! While I love the Park Hyatt in Saigon I just can’t help but be saddened that this lovely boutique option is “selling out to the man” so to speak and becoming what everything else is…big and impersonal. I hope they work hard to keep the Giving Back components that de la Paix has been known for and that the spirit of de la Paix can continue on. For now, we have a break as they remodel and then we’ll judge for ourselves when they reopen next year.
I’ve been meaning to write this post since before Christmas, but I got distracted by, well, Christmas and then New Years and I feel guilty that it’s just now that I’m sitting down and writing about this, but perhaps it will help as a way to keep the holiday spirit alive. This year Hotel de la Paix in Cambodia created a piece of art for Christmas. It took them over 10 hours, but they hung hundreds of feathers to make a Christmas tree like no other I’ve seen. It hung there, so fragile, yet so powerful, it was the perfect homage to Christmas and to Cambodia.
A beautiful tree made of feathers hung in the Arts Lounge
This Christmas Tree wasn’t just beautiful, it truly reflected the spirit of Cambodia and the future of this amazing country. For so long Cambodia has had negative connotations attached to it…civil war, landmines, orphans, this is the land of Pol Pot and the Western media won’t let you forget it. I’m not disregarding history, living here I’ve gained a deep respect for how this history plays into the lives and futures of the communities, but it isn’t ALL they are and that’s what De La Paix reminded us. Yes, Cambodia has a tough past, but they have an exciting presence and a bright future and this amazing tree paid tribute to all of these things – a past of pain, a present of fragility and a powerful potential for the future.
It’s no coincidence that this tree sat in the Arts Lounge at the Hotel De La Paix. You see, this hotel is the embodiment of Cambodia’s present and future. It’s the 5-star property we partner with here in Siem Reap, not just because they have stunning art installations, but because their influence goes beyond that. In the last few years they’ve partnered with MasterCard and donated 1000 bikes to students that needed them, their sewing school has graduated 160 women and set them up with sewing machines to allow them to truly make the most of their new skills. During the floods Hotel De La Paix was surrounded by water, but rather than moping about their own state of affairs they started fundraising and together with Green Gecko Center they gave food supplies to over 7000 people in the areas hardest hit by the floods. They donate uniforms, they get their guests involved and engaged, and they truly make a difference to the community around them. This to me is what makes an amazing hotel and it’s why we book our guests here and why our guests rave about the property.
Aebe Christian De Boer - Hotel de la Paix Director of Sales Manager - handing out supplies to flood victims
A few years ago Conde Nast Traveler wrote a piece about guilt-free travel and in it they looked at how staying in hotels and traveling with tour companies that “did good” made a traveler feel good and also allowed them to enjoy the luxuries of travel! Hotel de la Paix is about extravagance – it has an amazing tree made out of feathers, some of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever tried and an amazing restaurant, but when our guests tell us what they like about the hotel, it isn’t these things, what they mention is the kids art displayed in the lobby, the information they saw on the sewing project and the fact that they enjoyed staying in a place that was clearly so connected to the community. Many of our guests express that they wish more of the higher-end hotels shared this desire to help their community and as I’ve been saying for a long time, consumers are seeing these hotels and booking them because of their community programs.
So maybe it is appropriate to be celebrating this tree long after Christmas is done because Hotel De La Paix takes that holiday spirit, that desire to do something bigger and better and they apply it year-round to the work they’re doing with the community here in Cambodia and that is what makes them such a unique hotel! That, and the coolest Christmas Tree ever!
A close up look of this amazing tree
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Dinner at AHA is a great experience. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is relaxed yet trendy, and the wine list can’t be beat. AHA is just off of Pub St, on the end of The Passage. The menu is quite limited, but there is something there for pretty much everyone. They have small plates, which is a set of three tasting dishes of mostly Khmer food. I suggest the cheese plate as a starter, and it is easy to share with a group. The three cheese dishes were all very different, and all very tasty. There is a great selection of salads as starters, or as a full meal if you opt for the larger size. The main dishes are all Khmer inspired, or you can get a nice juicy filet if you are tired of curries and pineapple stir fries. All of the food we had was delicious, and our bottle of Australian Pinot was the perfect accompaniment. Then, for dessert, you absolutely have to try the honeycomb ice cream. It is ice cream perfection, and no trip to AHA would be complete without it.
The cool lights inside AHA
For such a nice restaurant, set just off of Pub St, the prices are very affordable. This makes AHA a much more accessible option, and one that I will certainly be taking advantage of again. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during high season. Lunch and dinner are served daily.
