Cambodia Hotels | Thailand Hotels | Laos Hotels | Vietnam Hotels

Signature Hotels

After living and playing in Southeast Asia for the last 6 years we have had many hotel experiences. We have been lucky enough to stay in some amazing properties and we have definitely have had some less than appealing places…web sites can be deceiving!

I have done hotel inspections in every country, in every city we go to and we have found some hotels that we feel embody the spirit of Journeys Within. Our Signature Hotels are in all price ranges and in all countries, they are the places that when we travel we like to stay. We feel these hotels give a little more than is necessary. We consider them our partners in making each trip we run special and memorable. We have stayed in all of our Signature Hotels and we have included reviews from other tour consultants as well as from guests so you can get a real sense of each property.

Our rating system is described below, my good friend Dawn Johnson once warned me that it was a “socks on” hotel and I loved the mental image and expanded on her clever description. We are still compiling our years of experience into hotel reviews and will be completing this page very soon!

We will also continue updating the reviews, pictures and comments so you have the most recent information to review. In the meantime, if you have any questions about any of the hotels we have listed, but we haven't gotten to the review - email or call us. We will be happy to share our experiences with you personally.

Cambodia Hotels

Journeys Within B&B and Bungalows
Siem Reap, Cambodia

Of course this is one of our Signature Hotels, in fact it is THE signature hotel! Started by Brandon and Andrea is 2003 Journeys Within started as simple rooms in the main house, but in 2005 new bungalows were added and a beautiful pool as well. The true beauty of Journeys Within…beyond the crystal clear pool, unique showers, delicious food and lovely landscaping…are the staff. Genuine, kind and fun, the Journeys Within team from cooks to guides, are what make the stay such an amazing experience and are the highlight of any stay. One aspect guests appreciate is the dedication to the local community. Journeys Within B&B and Bungalows partners with Journeys Within Our Community and guests are invited to be involved in the projects.

Rating: Socks Off
Upside: The service and the experience of being at a hotel that truly cares about the community. Being able to talk to westerners living in the country.
Downside: A little ways out of town so you can’t walk to restaurants or shopping.
Insider Tip: Ask Sela his life story and ask Brandon or Jesse for a tour of the JWOC projects. And for an afternoon snack request the caramel corn.

Reviewed by: Andrea Ross

Amanjaya
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

My favorite hotel in Phnom Penh, Amanjaya is a wonderful oasis located on the banks of the Mekong River, walking distance to restaurants and shopping. All the rooms are spacious and have balconies overlooking the street and the river – my highlight stay was during the water festival when we sat on the balcony watching a million people celebrate below and the boats race by on the river. The staff at Amanjaya are wonderfully trained and highly professional, but they have great smiles and a real desire to please. They remember guests names and are a wonderful example of how a boutique hotel should be run.

Rating: Socks Off
Upside: Location is fantastic and the very well run
Downside: Only has double beds and no pool or fitness center

Reviewed by: Andrea Ross

Hotel de la Paix
Siem Reap, Cambodia

We watched this hotel get built in Siem Reap and then saw the excellent results that followed, from our guests included. This year we spent our anniversary here and really enjoyed it. The location is fantastic right downtown, with the plus of that being the rooms are amazingly sound proofed so despite the town just below you, you wouldn't know it from the room. The rooms are a nice size, simple in décor and the beds are lovely. The pool is a highlight, with an amazing design that makes it usable in the rain and shine…a real plus in Cambodia. We had dinner at their restaurant and it was excellent with delicious food and a nice atmosphere. Breakfast was also good with a big selection menu as well as a buffet. We especially like this hotel as they are very socially conscious and do a lot for the community as well as treat their staff very well.

Rating: Socks Off
Upside: The location is great and they do a lot of good in the community
Downside: The hotel is a bit pricey and the spa is as well, especially when you can pay $5 across the road!
Insider Tip: There is a dance performance put on by the hotel free of charge, get there early to get a good seat. If you want to have dinner after make sure to make reservations for dinner, it fills up. The spa, though expensive, has a steam room that is free for guests, first come first serve.

Reviewed by: Andrea Ross

Vietnam Hotels

Sofitel Metropole
Hanoi, Vietnam
There are definitely some cities where it is worth upgrading and Hanoi is just such a place. There is a big jump here from the three and four star hotels to the five-star. The other reason to upgrade in this city, the Sofitel Metropole. As you enter the lobby, you are transported back in time to a colonial era of high opulence and even higher service. Everything in the Metropole is flawless from the beautiful colonial phones, to the perfectly presented staff, to the imported flower arrangements. The hotel has two wings, the Opera Wing and the Historic Wing. Again, it's worth the upgrade to the historic wing with its hardwood floors and classic elegance. All of this comes at a price, but it also is an experience in itself and it's always fun to be spoiled. reviewed by: Andrea Ross

Rating: Everything Off
Upside: It’s perfect.
Downside: You have to pay for perfection.
Insider Tip: The concierge can get reservations for all the best restaurants!

Zephyr Hotel
Hanoi, Vietnam

While I do rave about the five-star hotels in this city, I also know the value of value-for-money. When I look for a good value hotel I have to keep certain things in mind: cleanliness, service, location and safety. The Zephyr meets all these requirements. Though the carpets and sheets are not new, they are clean, as is the rest of the hotel. The staff are lovely and eager to please and the real feather in its conical hat is that it is literally around the corner from Hoan Kiem Lake and, more importantly, Fanny's ice cream! Right in the heart of the Old Quarter, this hotel is a great place to get a simple nights sleep when you're real goal is to get out and explore.

Rating: Socks On
Upside: Location! Location! Location!
Downside: The rooms are nothing special, but they work for sleeping.
Insider Tip: Fanny's Ice Cream shop is right around the corner (yummy!). Make sure to ask for a room with a window. If your room is not up to par, be sure to ask for a different room and they will happily move you.

More of Our Favorite Hotels

Journeys Within Bed & Breakfast – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Amanjaya Pancam Hotel – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The Pavilion – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Jasmine Hotel – Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Sokha Beach – Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Sofitel Silom – Bangkok, Thailand

Silom Serene – Bangkok, Thailand

Centre Point Silom – Bangkok, Thailand

Kata Beach Resort – Phuket, Thailand

Kata Thani Beach Resort – Phuket, Thailand

Yaang Come Village – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Pam’s Bed & Breakfast, “The Nest” – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Fern Resort – Mae Hong Son, Thailand

La Residence de Phou Vao, Pansea – Luang Prabang, Laos

Les 3 Nagas – Luang Prabang, Laos

Green Park Boutique Hotel – Vientiane, Laos

Sofitel Metropole – Hanoi, Vietnam

Thang Long Opera Hotel – Hanoi, Vietnam

Victoria Sapa Resort – Sapa, Vietnam

Pilgrimage Village – Hue, Vietnam

Hoian Riverside Resort & Spa – Hoian, Vietnam

Hoian Hotel, Hoian, Vietnam

Victoria Hoian Beach Resort & Spa - Hoian, Vietnam

Majestic Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

Park Hyatt Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam