We ask travel experts not where we’ll all be going in the future, but where they’re going now. Today we talk to Andrea Ross of Journeys Within.
by Jordan Kisner for Archetypeme.com
The Expert:
Andrea Ross is founder and CEO of Journeys Within, a tour company and boutique hotel based in Siem Reap, Cambodia, that specializes in custom tours in Southeast Asia. An advocate for philanthropic travel, Ross also founded Journeys Within Our Community, a nonprofit devoted to improving the lives of Cambodians. She has divided her time between Cambodia and California for the past decade, and her expertise in the region has earned her inclusion in Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialist Collection for the past five years.
The Destination:
Tucked between Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, Cambodia is widely known for the civil war that devastated the country until the mid-’90s and made it largely inhospitable to outside visitors. But the past two decades have seen a marked improvement in Cambodia’s fortune, and infrastructural improvements in the past few years alone have hugely increased its accessibility. There’s a lot to discover: ancient Buddhist temples, lush forests, pristine beaches, and elephant sanctuaries. And according to Ross, now’s the time to do the discovering.
Why and How to Go:
“People have been going to Angkor Wat for years, usually for just a few days tacked on to a larger trip. But now as Cambodia is becoming more accessible it’s a destination in its own right. People are beginning to take full two-week trips there, who are going to get below the surface and see the country in new, exciting ways.
Go visit the Preah Vihear Temple, which is up in the north near the border with Thailand. There was a dispute over it so it’s been closed for years, but it just reopened. I think it’s the prettiest temple in Cambodia, and right now it’s completely overlooked. On the way you can stop to see the temples at Koh Ker, which are pretty spectacular.
I love the beaches in the south, particularly less-traveled seaside towns like Kep and Kampot. Going there is more about the culture and the people and eating crab at the local crab shacks, or taking boat rides out to some of the more remote islands. It’s ideal for people who don’t want the overrun, crowded beaches in Thailand or Vietnam.
Lastly, I’d visit Ratanakiri in the northeast of the country. It really hasn’t been accessible, but now the roads are opening up and I think it’s a great destination. There’s a lot of culture to see: Ratanakiri is where the hill tribes are, so you can see their way of life, and now that Cambodia has started protecting their elephants there are elephant sanctuaries up there. ”
Insider’s Tip:
“I recommend hiring a car and driver. It makes everything so much easier. But more importantly, the trick to Cambodia is patience. The people are so kind and so good. Sometimes there are language barriers, and some visitors arrive expecting to get ripped off, but if you go into it with patience and trust and an open mind and a good attitude, it makes for a really rewarding experience. Cambodians are incredibly warm.”
For the original article see: https://www.archetypeme.com/article/tomorrow%E2%80%99s-trips-today-cambodia
By: April Cole- US Director of Operations and Tours
I know it may seem silly to post a hotel review of our hotel on here, but I actually do think it’s fitting. The reason why is because Andrea was putting together an itinerary for someone and she said she wanted a “really nice hotel” and I asked her why she wasn’t including Journeys Within? I think sometimes we feel like we’re including the hotel just because it’s ours and not because of the hotel itself and sometimes we actually sell the hotel short. Sooooo, if I want to treat the hotel like any other hotel then I need to review it! Whew! That felt like a ridiculously long explanation!
Journeys Within Boutique Hotel- EntranceEvery room is poolside
The rooms:
I’ve been lucky enough to stay in almost every room at JWBH and I’ve really liked them all. All JW rooms have:
Wireless internet throughout the property
Netbook computers to use in your room
Mobile phone, preloaded with minutes
Complimentary laundry service
Sodas in the minibar
Unlimited filtered water
Breakfast each morning, made to order
Free tuk-tuk rides to and from town each night
Flat Screen TVs
JWBH has a few different room types which are fitting for different travelers.
The original rooms:
I stayed in these rooms on my first trip to Cambodia four years ago. I loved them then and I love the upgrades they’ve made to them now. Like all JW rooms they are styled with a touch of Khmer design but not overdone. When you step into your room you really feel like you can relax as the rooms are spacious and well appointed. We stayed in a room with a king sized bed and had a baby cot and still had plenty of room for our luggage and for our little one to play. The upstairs rooms each have a balcony overlooking the pool and the bay window looks out on the village area behind the hotel. The down stairs rooms have a patio with pool access. The original rooms are perfect for couples as they are quiet since the bungalows built as separate units.
Room 1- Buddha Bungalow
Room 2- Bamboo Bungalow
Room 3- Discovery DenRoom 4- Rattan Room
The Ramayana Retreat:
The original family suite that was designed for longer stays as it has a relaxing resting area upstairs and a usable living area downstairs complete with a full kitchen, bathroom with shower, and a pull out couch for extra sleeping space. The upstairs living area is an absolute oasis. The king sized platform bed is like sleeping on a cloud. The upstairs room has a sitting area with a bay window overlooking the village area behind the hotel and, of course, the room has the classic JW spa rain shower. I love this room for a couple who is looking for a large suite with extra space, those who are staying for a longer time, or families with tweens or teens. The pull out couch is usable, but isn’t ideal for extra adults as it’s on the smaller side. This room would have been wonderful for my husband, me and our son as our son would have hung out in the downstairs living area, but my wild 18 month old daughter would be climbing those stairs non-stop, so I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who is traveling with a little one who isn’t sturdy on their feet on stairs.
We recently stayed in the new family suites and I couldn’t have been happier with the room. After having kids and traveling as a family, my husband and I always book a suite, preferably a two bedroom suite, so the kids can go to sleep and we don’t have to sit in the dark and be quiet at 7pm ; ) ! I am not being biased when I say these were the best family suites we’ve ever stayed in. You have two full rooms which sit side by side and have a connecting door. The “kids” rooms are set up with two full sized beds, lots of play space, a bay window and a desk area. The connecting “parent” rooms have a king sized bed, bay window and desk area as well. The rooms are the same layout as the original rooms with the exception of being built next to each other so they could be connecting rooms instead of only separate bungalows. I was very pleased at how quiet the rooms were. We had a family with two young kids staying in the units above us and we only heard them when they went up and down the outside stairs. I also liked that the rooms got really dark when you closed all the curtains – if you’ve ever tried to get a little one to take a mid-day nap while on vacation I’m sure you’d appreciate this fact too! It was a great set up for us traveling with two little ones and I would highly recommend the family suites to those traveling with kids or teens.
The Kids Klub is a great space for the younger ones to have supervised play while you enjoy a quiet meal on your own or while you head out to the temples. The staff is friendly and I felt like my children were not only having fun but that they were really safe. My kids read books, colored, played with blocks and even played Wii – while we had time to have breakfast, while I attended work meetings, and while my husband and I went out on a date!
My little one loving Kids Klub.
Sabai Sabai Restaurant:
First of all I love the name- Sabai Sabai means ‘Happy Happy’ in Khmer, and Sabai is the name of one of the staff’s daughter – and she is just about the sweetest, happiest little girl you’ve ever met. Understandably, I instantly loved the name just as I love baby Sabai. The restaurant is gorgeous. It was originally designed to be open air but it just didn’t work out as Cambodia can get really hot and really rainy – so they ended up building it with glass walls so you felt like you were outside, but had the creature comfort of AC (a must in Cambodia!). I was pleasantly surprised to see that even though a full sized restaurant was being built, the quality of the food is as good as it’s always been at JW. I highly recommend the Pumpkin Curry Soup and the Mango Salad. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a look at the pool menu. From the pool menu you can order crickets and frogs, true Cambodian delicacies. I will admit, I wasn’t feeling adventurous and kept to the main restaurant menu during my stay. Also, if you’re traveling with kids, they do have a kid friendly menu!
Just another delicious meal at Sabai Sabai RestaurantGreat food only comes from great staff
This is my favorite of the new rooms and if it hadn’t been full since we opened them I would have snuck over here for a night! This room features blue silk in the windows and chairs and our Nikaya Handcrafted pillows on the king sized bed. Just before we opened the rooms I went to visit Pisey in the old market and found the amazing silverish green pillows now on the chairs, they were the perfect finishing touch. The art in this room are stunning photographs by Doc Now Media (see their bios and information below). Jeff and his family traveled with us a few years ago and became big supporters of JWOC. Jeff and Ryan returned last year and stayed with us while shooing an amazing documentary on modern-day leprosy. Their photographs of Angkor Wat and the temples are stunning and complete this room perfectly!
Srey Room has a connecting door to Sita Room and together they make the Srey Sita Suite, a perfect escape for families!
The bed sits in the middle of the room and looks out over the balconyThe silverish pillows add a pop of color amongst the dark blueFresh flowers are placed around every room and bathroom when guests check in
Jeff Johns is an award winning photographer, journalist and documentary filmmaker living in Los Angeles, California. He has lived and worked in Thailand, the Philippines and Bangladesh, and continues to pursue projects both domestically and abroad. Recently, in late 2011, Johns finished producing his fifth length documentary “STIGMA”, which sent a team of 2 journalists around the world to document the still present plight of leprosy still affecting millions of people in almost every country.
A native of Washington, D.C., Johns attended the Washington Waldorf School for 12 years, an institution to which he attributes a great deal of his creative talents. He went on to study art at the University of Redlands, and in 2010 graduated from the Brooks Institute of Photography with a B.A. in Visual Journalism. Along with his B.A., Johns was the recipient of the prestigious “Outstanding Achievement Award” for his work on two international documentary projects as well as his lengthy record as a volunteer after natural disasters worldwide. Jeff is also an alum of the Eddie Adams Barnstorm Workshops.
Ryan Loughridge is an award winning visual journalist based in Los Angeles, California. While receiving his education at Brooks Institute, Loughridge was awarded with the First Year Award in Visual Journalism. Also during his time at Brooks, Loughridge won a Bronze medal in the 64th Annual CPOY contest. After receiving his BA in June of 2010, he attended the XXIII Eddie Adams Workshop. Also in 2010, Loughridge worked on two feature length international documentaries, taking him to South Africa and Southeast Asia. His print work has been featured in various publications, museums and print galleries. “I aim to create visually stunning multimedia. Whether it be photography, design, film, or audio, I want to blow the minds of anyone who experiences my work. I strive for excellence. Self expression is held in the highest of my regards.” Loughridge shoots to bend the rules of art and movement, while incorporating that which is the human experience.
Founded in 2010 by award winning photographers and journalists, Jeff Johns and Ryan Loughridge, Doc NOW Media is a multifaceted visual journalism team. Specializing in an array of visual mediums, Doc NOW is part photo collective and part production-company delivering multimedia packages needed by businesses, media outlets, organizations and foundations in today’s modern age.… Read more »
This room is on the ground floor and boasts a large king bed facing the bay window. The bed is made from Rattan, matching the unique chairs in the bay window. A corner desk holds a netbook computer, available for guests use, and above the desk is a photo of the Mekong River in Laos. On the far wall is a photo of Cambodian hands as they work with Rattan. The last wall hangs a beautiful woven hanging made by Ock Pop Top in Laos and featuring the colors of the Mekong.
This room connects with Brodal Bedroom to create Neak Brodal Family Suite!
The large rattan bed faces the bay windowsThese unique chairs make for a nice reading spot under the bay windowsA picture of rattan being gathered on the banks of the Mekong in LaosThe wall hanging is also from Laos, and was made at a great local weaving companyThese weavers are amazing!Our famous spa bathroomAll of our signs were hand made by our Wood Man in Siem Reap
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When we were first building our bungalows six years ago there weren’t many families coming to Cambodia. However, my parents wanted somewhere they could stay when they came to visit, so we built one bungalow that had a living room, two bathrooms and a small kitchen, allowing them to have their own unit. Of course times were changing, and Cambodia started to become more of a destination and my parents still haven’t enjoyed more than a couple of days in the Ramayana Retreat as we are constantly booked with families! This room is perfect for families with older kids, as the stairs are a little steep for smaller toddlers. The couches downstairs pull out to become beds and upstairs features a king bed and a large bathroom. Families love this room and the Ramayana paintings and carvings dotted around it remind you where you are!
The spacious living room and kitchen make this the perfect space for a familyAll of the chairs and couches downstairs fold out into bedsThe big bay window is a great spot to spend the morning reading, or the afternoon relaxingThe large upstairs bathroom is big enough for the whole family, or luxurious enough for the two of youThe upstairs king bed looks out over the balcony with a great view of the pool
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