Cambodia

Cambodia was somewhere we'd wanted to visit for a while, and Angkor Wat was obviously a big part of the reason for going. But what surprised us most was just how much we enjoyed Siem Reap itself. It turned out to be a superb city break, with incredible temples, great food, markets and plenty happening once the sun went down.

We stayed at Navutu Dreams, a small boutique hotel which turned out to be an excellent choice for what we wanted. It was peaceful and relaxed after busy days exploring, and ultimately we were very pleased we'd chosen it. We visited Raffles for lunch too, which was pleasant and has a huge pool, but for us Navutu was the better fit.

The temples were every bit as magical as we'd hoped. Angkor Wat is extraordinary, but we also loved exploring Bayon Temple and the wider temple complex. There is something special about moving between the ruins and imagining the enormous civilisation that once occupied this landscape.

Back in Siem Reap, we loved wandering through the markets and exploring around Pub Street. We found Madam Fan for drinks and Lost City Pizza for a great meal — exactly the sort of places that made the evenings feel relaxed, lively and fun.

The combination of extraordinary temples, a great little hotel and a town that is genuinely enjoyable to explore made Cambodia one of those trips that worked perfectly as a short break.