Gloria Angkor Hotel

Planned in 2008 as a residential development of terraced houses on a 2.5-hectare site, the project stalled after that year's financial crisis and was later reworked as a wellness resort. It sits in Siem Reap, about five kilometres from the gates of Angkor Wat and under three kilometres from the town centre. The switch in direction shows in the layout: what were meant as private houses are now suites and multi-bedroom residences, several with their own kitchen and balcony. The one-bedroom suite runs to 94.2 m², while the largest, a five-bedroom villa, spreads across 252.8 m² with five bathrooms. Facilities built for a wellness programme rather than a housing estate now fill the grounds: a spa, a yoga centre, a gym with boxing and cross-training areas, and a sound-healing space set apart from the rest. A Japanese-style bathhouse adds saunas and cold plunge pools. The bio pool uses no chlorine. Children have their own club and a separate pool with a slide. You can hear little beyond birdsong and water across the gardens, a contrast to the crowds at the temples nearby. Ahara restaurant serves Khmer and Western food, with a juice bar and café alongside. Check-in is at 2pm, check-out at noon.