HE jungle temples of Angkor need no introduction. Their very mention brings on enraptured visions of quintessential adventure and breathtaking stone-hewn architecture. As a classic, colonial-style confection, solid and simple yet quietly eloquent, the regal Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor is an essay in understatement. Blending effortlessly both with history and the steaming tropical surrounds, this is unquestionably one of the best Siem Reap hotels where service, while brisk and professional, always comes with a smile.

It is a hotel with heart and its staff bring welcome cheer to the most mundane of tasks. Seeking inspiration from the awesome temple complex of Angkor, overlooking the swimming pools is a frieze mirroring the bathing pools of the Khmer kings of yore. Bayon bas relief and Khmer artefacts – some of them dating to the 9th century – complete the visual mix. Raffles has also succeeded in energetically restoring the 60,000sq m Royal Crusade for

Independence Gardens adjacent to the hotel. The verdure and flowering shrubs have re-engaged the interest of local residents. Lodgings at this top Angkor hotel are classic with gleaming wood underfoot, period furniture, ornate carpets, and more than a few four-poster beds. Landmark Rooms mix Cambodian décor with modern Wi-Fi to ensure the past keeps pace with the present. Fans whir lazily overhead. Fear not, there is air-conditioning throughout, along with satellite TVs, safes, hairdryers, 24-hour valets, and exhilarating views in all directions. Move up to a Studio Junior Suite or try out a Two-Bedroom Villa Suite for size.

A superb escape for a small company meeting or perhaps a romantic honeymoon, all guests must sample the de rigueur cocktails at the Elephant Bar followed by a slow unwind at the Raffles Amrita Spa where rejuvenating treatments abound. Not surprisingly, this is one of the best Angkor hotels on this rain forest block. Twin your break with sister property Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh.