We loved staying at the Borann and, as a family, voted it as our overall holiday favourite. The staff were warm and friendly and so helpful. (The receptionist Bunna even took all our postcards to the post office for us on the day we were leaving as we had run out of time to do this.) They offered great advice on how to spend our 3 days exploring the Angkor Wat area. Our tuk tuk driver Pad who was employed by the Borann was great, a gentle man who drove our noisy family around wherever we wanted to go with good humour and grace. Spending time in his tuk tuk, waving at the many families we passed, was one of our children's favourite activities.
The setting was beautiful, nestled in a lush and tropical garden on the outskirts of Siem Reap. The lovely saltwater pool was particularly welcome after a long hot day visiting the temples. We loved the fact it was chlorine free and we could swim with our eyes open under water without goggles. The children particularly enjoyed jumping in during a heavy monsoon rain shower!
The rooms were very clean and comfortable and we loved the simple, graceful design in fresh white and reds with traditional Khmer leather carvings on the wall. (You could buy these from Little Angels, a great initiative for disadvantaged children in Bakong District, NE of Preah Ko temple). Also, we quickly became converts to the Khmer showers, a big ceramic pot filled with cool water with a bowl to dip in to douse yourself (there was also an electric shower option if you preferred).
The Borann is linked to a humanitarian organisation called Khrousar Thmey. In Siem Reap they have a centre that provides a home for disadvantaged children. They also provide training, such as massage training for blind young people. You could book to have a massage from these blind massuers through the Borann and they came to your room. My husband and I both had a massage and they were fantastic. It was good to feel that in staying at the Borann and also supporting this massage initiative that at least some of our tourist dollars were going to worthwhile causes. We were so impressed by the friendliness and positivity of the Cambodian people that we met, and also by the range of initiatives around that aimed to help the countries most disadvantaged. The Khrousar Thmey centre in Siem Reap is open to visitors, and hosts a free exhibition on Khmer cultural heritage. Unfortunately, we did not have time to visit, but would love to next time!
The food at the Borann was also top notch. Fabulous breakfasts (included in the price) of delicious fruits and croissants to rival the french, as well as eggs and bacon if you fancied the full monty. We had a delicious fish Amok (a traditional spiced fish dish cooked in coconut milk) in the evening too. Another treat was an early evening gin fizz sitting by the pool surrounded by the soft hum of the garden's resident crickets and gheckos, watching the children playing in the water.
And as for the temples... epic, awe inspiring and beautiful. Three days just wasn't enough and we would love to go back one day. And if we do we will definitely choose to stay in the Borann again!