Fans of Bill Bensley will love the first property of the American designer’s eponymously-named hotel brand, the striking Shinta Mani Angkor – Bensley Collection, which recently opened in Siem Reap. Nick Walton checks out the cultural capital’s new design diva.
So, it’s a new hotel?
Kind of. Shinta Mani Angkor and adjacent sister property Shinta Mani Shack, both of which were designed by Bensley, have been thrilling travellers for a few years now. The new addition of ten lavish pool villas marks the debut of the designer’s own signature brand.
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Set in the heart of the city, but with the feel of a chic urban retreat, Shinta Mani Angkor – Bensley Collection’s shophouse-styled villas bring new levels of luxury to the former imperial capital thanks to tropical landscaped gardens, private lap pools, spacious rooftop living areas, and of course plenty of inspired design elements, ranging from captivating wall art, wicker chandeliers and antique trunks, to heritage accents that harp to the city’s colonial roots.
So, we’re talking about somewhere pretty special?
In a word, yes. The villas are already sought after by Cambodia’s own glitterati for staycations and city escapes, while also welcoming visiting celebrities and royalty – as I checked in the royal motorcade of a monarch from a neighbouring country arrived ensuring I was in good company during my stay. The new villas also add a new dimension to the Shinta Mani experience offered by the other two hotels, which are both elegant and whimsical but not as distinctly luxurious.
What are the villas like?
Once you’ve made it past the rather clumsy antique padlock on the front door you enter a space that’s both private and refined. A tiled courtyard – the perfect spot for an in-villa lunch – skirts the lap pool and leads to an al fresco minibar and coffee counter. Outdoor stairs climb to the lofty rooftop relaxation area with dining table and views across the street to the local football pitch (due to the heat I rarely venture upstairs, preferring the shaded courtyard instead).
From the courtyard traditional timber double doors lead into a vestibule; there’s the bedroom with a king-sized bed, a day bed, a flat screen television, a full-height engraved wall mural inspired by the rippling robes of Jayavarman, and picture windows looking onto the pool and the internal garden respectively, as well as a half bath to one side.
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Beyond the bedroom, through more double doors, the lush internal garden, with its large stone bathtub and outdoor shower, wraps around double vanities and a spacious dressing room in a glass cube. The overall effect is that of a private residence; the art is intimate, the linens luxurious, the walls high, and the world blissfully removed.
So, there’s a strong focus on art?
It’s more than just art – think of it as cultural immersion, or, as Bensley describes it, ‘escapism’. Every detail has his touch, from pops of Khmer orange to the eye-catching monochromatic tiles to the locally-produced linens, to the bathroom amenities. It’s more than just nice pieces hanging on a wall, each villa is a living museum; a homage to the Khmer culture, past and present.
What about the service?
This is another area where the Bensley Collection has elevated the local luxury scene. Guests are escorted to their villa by the first generation of ‘Bensley Butlers’, local ladies and gentlemen that have gone through intensive training to be nothing less than indispensable.
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Resplendent in Bensley-designed uniforms, your butler is your consummate guide throughout your stay and is there to enhance your experience, whether it’s guiding you through fast-tracked immigration on arrival, running you a rose-scented bath in your villa, acting as interpreter during a visit to the ruins of Angkor, or, in my case, accompanying me on a tour of the agricultural projects of the Shinta Mani Foundation, the hotel group’s charity arm.
Guests can dictate how much or how little they see their butler – my little shadow, Bora, was very eager to be of service and always seemed to be waiting whenever I emerged from my villa.
What did you love?
Whiling away a hot afternoon in the lap pool to a backdrop of birdsong was pretty blissful. Sunset from the rooftop terrace with a cold beer in hand was also a moment I wouldn’t mind reliving again and again.
What didn’t you?
During my stay the hotel-within-a-hotel was still working on a rather nasty mosquito problem, with the little pests loving the regularly watered internal gardens, meaning no outdoor baths and leading to a compulsion to double-check doors before I went to bed. However, a specialist was coming in from Thailand the next week and Bora was confident the problem would soon be rectified.
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What’s Next?
Look out for Bensley’s next creation, Shinta Mani Wild (which made our recent top hotel list for 2018), a remote but equally lavish tented camp nestled in a pristine game corridor in the Cambodian jungle, opening Q4 2018.
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