This modernist guesthouse, commissioned by King Sihanouk in 1962, is the place to stay in Siem Reap. Like most of the Amanresorts, Amansara is intimate, luxurious, and relaxing. When you arrive at the serene compound—likely in the hotel's 1965 Mercedes limousine—you'll be welcomed "home." The concept sounds gimmicky at first, but with just 24 suites (half clustered around the slate pool; the others, each with a plunge pool, flanking a grassy courtyard), a staff that has mastered the art of hospitality (leave muddy sneakers outside your door, and they'll be scrubbed clean), and a pervasive "as you wish" attitude (no need to make dinner reservations—the kitchen's ready when you are), it does start to feel like you own the place. In the suites, an unembellished design of dark wood, ivory fabrics, terrazzo floors, and a subtle bas-relief wall decoration makes for a meditative space—one that's best for couples, given the open plan (the soaking tub is within view of the king-size bed) and glass-walled shower open to the private courtyard. The highlight of staying here, however, is entrée to Amansara's exclusive temple excursions—you'll be outfitted with a private guide and remork (moped-powered pedicab) driver. Hotel manager Siddharth Mehra enables guests to see the Angkor sites in as adventurous a way as they can handle: by motorcycle, by balloon, by helicopter, you name it. Want to dig deeper into the local culture? The library is stocked with books on Khmer civilization; scholars and artists give house talks and performances; the spa utilizes Cambodian techniques and products; and both Khmer and Western menus are available in the dining room. The tariff at Amansara can be breathtaking (rooms start at $750 per night, not including the compulsory half-board charge of $100 per person, per day); yet when you're welcomed back from a sunset outing by smiling staff proffering chilled, lemongrass-scented towels, and find intricately folded lotus blossoms floating in the bathtub, you have to admit, it's a pretty magical place.—Updated by Lynn Suhrie

The FCC—which stands for Foreign Correspondents Club—is probably the best deal in town. Set in the grounds of a former French ambassador's vacation home along the west bank of the Siem Reap River, it's a very pleasant mix of colonial and contemporary styles. The main building is a breezy two-story structure that houses the very popular restaurant and several boutique shops. The 31 modern rooms are simple but elegant, with polished concrete floors, modernist furniture, and open airy bathrooms.

Located in a renovated shophouse alongside sister property the One Hotel in the middle of Siem Reap's nightlife district, the three-room Hotel Be is more casual than its neighbor but no less interesting. Guests access the hotel through Aha, a hip tapas café that also serves the hotel's breakfast and will deliver meals day into night. The three guest rooms are beautifully rendered, and decorated with works by Siem Reap–based artists. The Saffron Room, accessible by an interior bridge, is filled with the funky monk-themed artwork of Filipino artist Loven Ramos. Its sunlit living area features a Bose iPod docking station and stylish loungers, while double-glaze laminated glass provides soundproofing. Plenty of closet space and an expansive sunken rain shower enhance this room's good value. All accommodations come with modern essentials like Wi-Fi and a 32-inch flat-screen television; those in search of Siem Reap's low-tech offerings can tour the food market with a Khmer-speaking French chef.

What's old is new again. La Paix, as it's locally known, originally opened in 1957. In 2005, the landmark hotel reopened after a complete renovation—as in, they tore it down. Rebuilt in Khmer palace style, there's a large enclosed tropical garden and a swimming pool. Even the rooms are princely in size and come with every modern convenience. The modern spa focuses on total well-being and offers meditation and tai chi along with aromatherapy and facials. Meric, the in-house restaurant, serves both Khmer and Western fare.

This Orient Express hotel is a deluxe all-wood compound modeled on the centuries-old Khmer style, with gorgeous gardens, pitched roofs, and wide terraces. The 54 guest rooms (and one suite) have colorful silk pillows, bamboo screens, and oversize bathtubs. It's a luxurious, serene oasis by the Siem Reap River in the center of town. And if the lovely deck off your room or the calming, shaded saltwater pool area (adorned with 45,000 green tiles) get boring, you can always play a game of chess or read in the hotel's cozy library, or head out into the Old Market, which is a ten-minute walk or $1 tuk tuk ride away.

This tasteful hideaway on a tiled, pedestrian-only lane between Pub Street and Psar Chas (Old Market) couldn't be more romantic—or exclusive: There's only one room. The minimalist suite is well-appointed, with hand-woven silk pillows, a custom-built king-size bed, and capacious shower and tub, topped by a terrace with a daybed and open-air Jacuzzi. The waiter, Sima Sen, will set out breakfast (omelet, flaky croissants, and coffee) on the rooftop of this former private row house overlooking the town's colonial quarter. Three additional staff members, whom you'll also see working at owner Martin Dishman's Linga Bar, attend to every other wish. Outside, the Passage is springing to life with new restaurants and art galleries. When you weary of shopping the nearby market and traipsing about the ruins, local temples, and villages on The One's customized tours, retreat to this air-conditioned iPod- and flat-screen-equipped cocoon.

The attractive Art Deco decor is probably this famed hotel's greatest draw. Definitely don't bother staying here if you can't get one of the "landmark" rooms in the original section (that was recently renovated), many of which overlook the lush, landscaped gardens. The new wing is fairly charm-free, with rooms that are noticeably smaller than those in the main house. But do stop by to have a Sidecar in the classically "IndoChine-Style" Elephant Bar, and then stick around for one of the best Apsara (classical Khmer dance) performances in town.

Sister property of the sparkling Hôtel de la Paix, the Shinta Mani may be older, but it remains one of the best values in Siem Reap. The place has its own very quiet charm—the name, derived from Sanskrit, means "the gem that provides everything that one desires"—and the service is excellent. Rip a shirt pocket, for instance, and a maid quickly performs seamstress surgery. The rooms are on the small side (unless you spring for the "deluxe") and could use some updated furniture and plumbing. Staying here, however, is still a pleasure, as you're helping the community—directly. At Shinta Mani, about 20 percent of your bill goes to fund the hotel's admirable on-site Institute of Hospitality, which helps train low-income locals for positions in the industry.

From the waterways that flow throughout the grounds (representations of water are the Khmer symbol for woman) to the white sandstone sculpture of a mother and child by the pool, this all-suite hotel offers an almost maternal experience. The service throughout could not be more attentive, with doting though never overbearing butlers assisting with everything from unpacking to babysitting to the 20-minute drive to Angkor Wat. In the 39 suites, claw-foot tubs, bouquets of red roses, and thickly upholstered settees with silk roll pillows create a romantic ambience. There's even a bedside copy of Cambodia's most famous love story, Tum Teav, translated into English. Rooms overlook the striking gold-flecked slate-tiled pool, which was modeled on Angkor's Srah Srang, where kings bathed. The market-fresh Khmer cuisine at Chatra restaurant, named for the chandeliers that hang from its 45-foot-high ceiling, is excellent.

Sitting squarely in the sweet spot between cheap guesthouse and big-box hotel—and unbeatably priced—Viroth's has a simple, clean design that is accented by gray Khmer tile floors, rosewood railings, and the occasional indigenous objet or scarlet wall. The ground-floor saltwater pool (in full view of the reception desk) may be best for exhibitionists, but the bamboo-walled massage area and rooftop thatch-covered breakfast/lounge nook are more private sanctuaries. Each of the seven artfully lit rooms also has its own balcony or terrace that looks out over the street, pool, or small private courtyard. The hotel is located just across the river from the bustling Old Market; the helpful staff can arrange a tuk-tuk there or to Angkor Wat, three miles away. For dinner, walk the two blocks to Viroth's Restaurant, which the hotel's French owner opened four years ago on a moat-enclosed patio, and which serves Khmer and Western dishes.