Hint: It’s not only about that classic baby cake-face photo, but also the gift of new experiences. At Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh, baby Hugh lived like a little prince for his first (luxury) birthday party. Cuteness ensued!
THEY SAY A FIRST BIRTHDAY is as much a celebration for the parents for surviving the previous 12 months as it is for the baby who’s transitioning to toddlerhood. It’s no surprise then that most parents mark this milestone with a major production—these days, a carefully-chosen theme, a mountain of toys, and elaborate cupcake towers are de rigueur.
A last-minute business trip dictated that we had to spend our son’s first birthday in Cambodia, far away from our friends and family in Ireland. So instead of a big party, we chose a different approach: a first birthday weekend at what was the country’s first luxury hotel, Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh. Clearly, I took the “congratulations to the parents” part to heart.
Our son, Hugh, was treated as a Very Important Baby (VIB) from the moment he arrived. He was welcomed by the iconic Raffles doorman, who wears the same costume as the royal palace’s bodyguard, and was carried into the hotel’s airy lobby. He was then given a tour of the room, which was already set up with a vintage wooden cot (in keeping with the nearly century-old interiors) with a cute Raffles bear. During his room tour, Hugh was completely mesmerized by the wooden ceiling fan. He probably thought it was the coolest thing ever… but then again he lives in Dublin where any kind of fan is a rare sight.
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A Very Important Baby
His VIB status was in full force the next day at Le Phnom 1929, a French-style brasserie where breakfast is served. Restaurant manager Sapath led us to a spacious area that already had a high chair in place. He then came back to deliver a plate with Hugh’s favorite fruits—raspberries and strawberries—that he enjoyed with native Cambodian bananas and local dragon fruit, the latter a whole new taste for him.
When we arrived at the swimming pool mid-morning, a stylish cabana was already reserved for his first swim in Cambodia. He loved splashing around the pool in the balmy weather; he also enjoyed picking up the tropical flowers and leaves that fell into the cabana.
Then came a surprise: Upon returning to the room, we found the bed made up with his toys, his cot decorated with balloons and a string banner hung at the window. A procession of staff then came in bearing a birthday cake topped with a huge candle.
The cherry on top was dinner at Le Royal, a stunning fine dining restaurant serving up dishes crafted from the Cambodian royal family’s recipes. Going to a fancy dinner is almost impossible when you have a baby, but Le Royal went the extra mile to make us feel welcome.
The team prepared a quiet spot for our family of three and wisely put other guests in another area, so we didn’t feel like we’re bothering anyone. They whipped up a special off-menu dish of mashed potato with vegetable broth for Hugh, while my husband and I enjoyed seared elephant fish with tamarind sauce and grilled beef with lemongrass and Kampot pepper sauce. Even the live pianist was in on it: he played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star especially for Hugh.
The following week brought us to their sister property in Cambodia, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap. During turndown service, the butler brought Hugh another surprise birthday cake. Two cakes for one birthday celebration? That is how Raffles rolls.
So while our son’s birthday celebration didn’t have the hallmarks of a blowout first birthday party, our little guy certainly felt the love. There was exemplary warmth from the staff at Raffles and he felt so at home despite being 10,000 miles away from his own crib. Most importantly, Hugh had plenty of firsts and new experiences in a hotel that you might deem an “adults only” place, proving that travel is best embraced young—and that, for me, was the very best gift.
The Details
Raffles Hotel Le Royal, 92 Rukhak Vithei, Phnom Penh 12302, Cambodia; +855 23 981 888; from US$330 per night
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Khum, 1 Vithei, Charles De Gaulle, Siem Reap 17251, Cambodia; +855 63 963 888; from US$336 per night
BOOK YOUR STAY AT RAFFLE HOTEL LE ROYAL VIA AGODA.COM
BOOK YOUR STAY AT RAFFLE HOTEL LE ROYAL VIA BOOKING.COM
BOOK YOUR STAY AT RAFFLES GRAND HOTEL D'ANGKOR VIA AGODA.COM
BOOK YOUR STAY AT RAFFLES HOTEL GRAND D'ANGKOR VIA BOOKING.COM
Photographs by Kissa Castañeda, unless otherwise noted.
Written By
Kissa Castañeda
Kissa Castañeda is an editor and lifestyle journalist based between Europe and Asia. Her love for travel was sparked by her father, a pilot, and to date she has called more than five cities home and travelled to 60 countries and counting. Formerly Editorial Director - Homes and Travel of Tatler Asia, she’s always on the lookout for beautifully designed ..Read More
