Well, I've got the flights organised and thought I had the hotel in Siem Reap THEN I got the email from the online booking service advising that there's a "compulsory" gala dinner on at the hotel on Dec. 24th at a cost of 30USD per person!!!!!!Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
No mention of it on the hotel website and no details of what's on offer - just expected to pay up.

Yes, we can afford it - the amount is not the issue but we don't celebrate Christmas Eve (we do lunch on Chrismas Day and would probably spend this amount anyway but we CHOOSE what and where we eat, rather than be forced to pay high prices for who knows what?)
I feel that there's a principle involved here (I refuse to be railroaded) so cancelled the booking, but have since trawled around various booking websites and it seems the majority of the hotels are having "compulsory galas" on Christmas Eve.
So unless we want to stay at a guesthouse or hotel without a restaurant, it seems we either pay up or don't go at all. Anyone know of a nice hotel in Siem Reap that DOESN'T engage in this practice?

This seems to be the practice of many higher end hotels not just here but in Thailand also. They get you also for newyears. What is the price range you are looking for so we might suggest some.

I'd been looking in the 70USD-90USD approx. and chose what I thought were the best in this range (nice rooms with creature comforts, pool, balcony and range of creature comforts ). Day Inn, Prince D'Angkor and Borei all have "compulsory galas".

The site I sometimes use for hotel booking (Agoda) shows the Day Inn and the Borie as having compusary dinners but does not show the Prince D'Angkor as having one. Other hotels you might look at are the Le Maison D'Angkor, the Empress and the Bopha Angkor. The latter is only 3 star but gets very good reviews and where I usually stay. If you use the Agoda site for checking you have to go through the booking process to find the net cost and if any extra charges such as dinners. Cambodia Hotels - Online hotel reservations for Hotels in Cambodia

Hi Scotters.
I just thought I'd let you know that I tried the site you suggested and checked with their online customer service. No gala dinner for Prince D'Angkor so I booked it.
I've also booked Himawari in Phnom Penh for later the same week.
I'll post a JBR if anyone's interested.

I am sure that many would be interested in a JBR. Do Post and have a great trip

Thanks, will do.
15 days and counting!