Staying at Jaya House River Park in Siem Reap – The Best Hotel in Cambodia

I walked into Jaya House River Park in Siem Reap and my breath caught in my throat.  Set in a serene, almost jungle-like setting, Jaya House River Park has been rated as the best hotel – in all of Cambodia – and it was easy to see why.  With luxury at every corner, two swimming pools, and beautiful decor, the staff at Jaya House was waiting with big smiles and open hearts welcoming each guest.

Of (impressive) note, in 2023 Jaya House not only ranked as the number one hotel in Cambodia (for six years straight), but also ranked as the number eight hotel in Asia and the number 25 hotel in the world according to TripAdvisor.

This is what you can expect when you stay at Jaya House River Park.

 

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For more luxury hotel stays in Southeast Asia, don’t miss:

• Staying at the Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok

 

Where is Jaya House River Park?

An ideal location, Jaya House River Park is only a 10-minute drive from the famed Angkor Complex and a 5-minute drive from downtown Siem Reap.  It’s location in-between downtown Siem Reap and Angkor make Jaya House feel remote, intimate, and quiet; but also easy to access the “main events”.  Plus, a perk to staying at Jaya House is that they offer free tuk-tuk rides to and from downtown Siem Reap from 7 am-10 pm.

 

If you’re traveling to Siem Reap to visit the Angkor Complex, don’t miss:

• What You Need to Know About Visiting Angkor Wat
• The Ultimate 3 Day Siem Reap Itinerary

 

Checking in:  What to Expect When You Arrive to Jaya House

Pulling up to Jaya House is an ethereal experience in itself.  Set amongst a dense brush of trees (all of which were planted by Jaya House) you truly feel like you’ve left behind the bustling city of Siem Reap and walked into your own magical wonderland.  When the tuk-tuk stopped, I heard a faint clapping noise and before I knew it smiling employees were there to whisk my bag up to my room.

As I walked through the entrance I was greeted by more smiling staff members who immediately gave me a cold towel, water, and an americano (of which I requested).  (Something that I love about Jaya House is that they treat everyone that enters the hotel this way – from guests to tour guides!  Everyone is greeted with a smile, cold towel, and glass of water).

 

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The Staff Jaya House

Perhaps what intrigued me most with Jaya House (and why I was drawn to the hotel) was their commitment to the people of Cambodia.  Aside from the Managing Directer, Christian, the entire staff at Jaya House is Khmer (Cambodian).  Christian implements a policy that I whole-heartedly agree with – treat your staff well and in turn, they will treat the guests well.

One thing that I learned about the staff at Jaya House is that every employee is a full-time, year-round employee.  This can be rare in Siem Reap because some hotels cut staff during low-season.  But at Jaya House, every employee is full-time all the time.  They are payed fair wages, given health insurance, and other benefits that employees would expect in a western country (but that isn’t always offered in Cambodia).

 

The Decor at Jaya House

The beauty of Jaya House doesn’t stop at the entrance.  All throughout the hotel the attention to detail is absolutely magnificent.  And when I learned that every single piece of furniture, art, etc was made in Cambodia… I was seriously impressed.  This boutique hotel is timeless in its design, pulling influences from all over Cambodia.  Plus, there are 400 antiques that can be found in the hotel!

From the “pink corner” to the pools (yes, plural – there are two) and everything in-between, its evident that every inch of Jaya House was thought out in great detail.  (Even the laundry bags!  Apparently a NYC art collector put a photo of one on Instagram and it started trending!).

 

The Rooms at Jaya House

This boutique hotels boasts 36 hotel rooms ranging from deluxe twin rooms to junior pool suites.  From experience, I can say that the rooms are elegant, luxurious, and comfortable.  Whether you’re staying in a twin room or a junior pool suite, here are some amenities that are included in with your room…

• Bathrobe & slippers
• Turn down service
• 60 minute spa service per person per day
• Complimentary poolside treats
• Complimentary daily laundry service
• Complimentary wifi
• Complimentary minibar & daily fruit platter
• Refillable water bottle (Jaya House is completely plastic free!)
• Organic home-made tea selection (Jaya House makes 10 different types of tea)
• Jaya organic amenities
• Complimentary breakfast
• & more!

 

The Pool(s) at Jaya House

As I mentioned earlier, there are two pools at Jaya House.  A “big” pool and a “small” pool.  There are no swimming hours meaning that you’re free to use the pools at all hours of the day and night.  Of course, each lounge chair comes with towels and a pillow (which is very underrated) but the cherry on top is that a staff member is always coming around to offer cold water and complimentary ice cream cones.  This was such a nice touch for a hot day!

The main difference between each pool (besides the size) is that the big pool is more in the sun (although there are umbrellas offered with lounge chairs) and the small pool is a bit more tucked away under trees offering more shade.

 

The Food & Drink at Jaya House

Of course, Jaya House has its own on-site restaurant and bar.  You can get delicious food – and a complimentary breakfast – at the Trorkuon Khmer Restaurant daily from 6 am-10 pm.  I loved that the restaurant served both Khmer food and western food.  And every time I either sat down at the restaurant to eat or had food delivered pool-side, my meal was always delicious.

And if you have any dietary restrictions – no problem!  Not only does Jaya House make it a point to ask about dietary restrictions, but they also have a variety of plant-based options on their menu for those who are vegan.  (Finding plant based option throughout Southeast Asia can be challenging so the fact that Jaya House went out of their way to offer multiple vegan dishes on their menu is very impressive).

The bar at Jaya House – Skybar – is located on the top floor of the hotel.  Again, the thoughtfulness of the hotel extends to the Skybar.  With a section overlooking the treetops, you’re perfectly positioned to watch the sunset from Skybar.  Whether you’re eating dinner at the hotel or taking a complimentary tuk-tuk ride to town for dinner, head to Skybar first for a cocktail and sunset.

 

Amenities at Jaya House

The amenities at Jaya House are endless!  I’ve touched on several things already, but here’s an overview of some of my favorite amenities at Jaya House.  And know, that this list is long, but not exhaustive!  There are so many perks to staying at Jaya House; here are some of my favorites…

 

The Spa

The spa at Jaya House utilizes both Khmer and Southeast Asian techniques to deliver a relaxing and rejuvenating experience for all guests.  When you book a room at Jaya House, you’re given a one-hour complimentary spa treatment per person per day of stay.  This was such a nice touch to an already amazing stay!

 

Complimentary Tuk-Tuk Rides

Another one of my favorite amenities is the complimentary tuk-tuk rides that come with your stay.  From 7 am-10 pm you’re allowed to utilize this service for anywhere in the city of Siem Reap.  The way you’re able to get ahold of the hotel for a pickup ride is that they give you a cell phone.  When you dial “0” you’re connected to the front desk where you can then request a ride.  This is the first time I’ve ever seen a service like this!

Also, if you stay at Jaya House for more than one night, you’re give a complimentary ride to and from the Siem Reap airport located an hour out of town.  If you’re staying for only one night, you’re subject to a $35 charge/way.

By the way – when you leave Jaya House you’re sprayed down with non-chemical mosquito spray!  I loved this thoughtful addition.

 

Jaya Organics

Another amenity that I was completely impressed with is the Jaya Organics line.  Did you know, that every hotel around the world sources their hotel shampoos, conditioners, etc from either China or Thailand?  Not Jaya House!  Jaya House makes all of their own skincare and hair care products – which you can also purchase to take home.

When I used the shampoo and conditioner in my hotel room, I was immediately impressed.  Not only did it smell incredible, but it didn’t leave my hair feeling dry like most hotel products do.  And of course, each product focuses on ingredients from plants native to Cambodia and natural fragrances found in Cambodian essential oils.

 

Single Use Plastic Free Environment

Now I’m saving the best for last – Jaya House is a COMPLETELY single use plastic free environment!  One thing that always makes me cringe when I’m traveling around Southeast Asia is the amount of plastic that’s utilized.  When Christian started Jaya House he knew that he wanted it to be completely plastic free, and he’s made good on his promise.  With the slogan, “Refill Not Landfill”, Jaya House successfully ensures that every hotel guest is equipped with a refillable water bottle and given free drinking water in every room.  When you’re served water out at the pool (or in the restaurants), you’re given a glass with safe drinking water or you can ask for bottled water (coming from glass, not plastic).  This is perhaps, my favorite thing about Jaya House.

By the way, “Refill Not Landfill” extends beyond Jaya House.  It’s a global initiative founded in 2016 that aims to reduce the millions of plastic water bottles discarded each year by encouraging the use of reusable drinking bottles, replacing single-use plastic bottles, and offering free water refill stations at participating businesses around the world.  You can read more about it here.

 

How Jaya House is Fighting Climate Change

If you haven’t guessed it yet, of course Jaya House is involved in several measures to fight climate change.  Jaya House is a signatory of the Global Tourism Plastic Initiative (GTPI) lead by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.  Jaya House also spreads awareness to the issues that using single-use plastic brings around the world helping other businesses in tourism to reduce their plastic usage.

 

BOOK YOUR STAY AT JAYA HOUSE RIVER PARK

 

Essential Cambodia – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Cambodia

 

When you stay at Jaya House, not only are you getting a one of a kind, luxury experience, but you’re also supporting a boutique hotel that is making a positive impact in Cambodia and beyond.  I can’t recommend Jaya House enough for travelers visiting Siem Reap.  If you have any questions about the hotel, let me know in the comments below!  And if you want a more visual look at Jaya House River Park, check out my Instagram reel about the hotel here!

 

If you’re planning to travel to Cambodia, don’t miss:

• Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to Cambodia
• The Ultimate 10 Day Cambodia Itinerary

 

This was a hosted stay.  As always, all opinions are my own.  A huge thank you to the staff at Jaya House for the most wonderful experience.  It was an honor to experience and share Jaya House.

 

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