The Best of Cambodia & Laos

138
BATTAMBANG & NORTHERN CAMBODIA
7
BATTAMBANG
WHERE TO STAY
In times past the only acceptable hotel in Battambang was the Teo. That has all changed
and now the range and quality of accommodations are very impressive. For $15 a night
you can find yourself a palace. Establishments are cash only unless specified.
Bungalow Guesthouse If you wish to stay a little bit out of town, the Bungalow
Guesthouse is a great choice. It is in the southern part of town on the west bank of the
river. It is very pleasant with two huge rooms with very shiny floors in the house itself
and three less impressive bungalows at the back. The rooms in the house are far and away
the better choice, and cost the same as the bungalows. There is a good restaurant on the
site with Thai and Khmer food. The place is hard to find, but its website includes a map
and all the motodups will know where to take you.
144 Phum Kamakor Sangkat Svay Por. & 012/916-123. www.thebungaloweb.com. 5 units. $15 double.
No credit cards. Amenities: Restaurant; Internet. In room: A/C, TV, fridge
Bus Stop This is an excellent guesthouse run by an Australian-Khmer couple with
constructive contributions from their boisterous 2-year-old son. The owners have put a
lot of thought into the facilities. Rooms are small but light with gleaming tiled floors,
and are very well equipped with reliable Wi-Fi throughout. There is a big-screen TV in all
of the rooms and the rate includes a hearty breakfast and free laundry. They also organize
tours of the local sites and can rent you out a motorcycle or bicycle. The downstairs restaurant
also serves as the local pub of choice for the small expat community (p. 140).
149 St. 2. & 053/730-544. www.busstopcambodia.com. 6 rooms. $9 fan double; $12 A/C double; $18
deluxe balcony double. Amenities: Restaurant; Internet. In room: A/C, TV, fridge.
Chhaya Hotel Conveniently situated near Psar Nath, the Chhaya Hotel has had a
major makeover and rebranded itself as the number-one choice of the newly arrived
backpacker collective. It is absolutely enormous, and a 17-floor extension at the back of
the hotel is in the works, so soon the Chhaya will rival the Pentagon in Byzantine architectural
complexity. The rooms are absolutely spotless and newly tiled, grouted, and
furnished. They also rent out bicycles and motorcycles, and sell bus and boat tickets. Mr.
Lee, the manager, is a cheery soul and is a font of local information. If you are a budget
traveler, this is the place to hook up with your compadres.
St. 3. & 012/733-204. 100 units. $5 double fan; $10 double A/C. Amenities: Internet. In room: A/C,
TV, fridge.
Golden Palace Hotel Like the Spring Park, the Golden Palace is pretty monstrous
from the outside but the impression changes once at reception. This clean, functional
hotel is aimed largely at the business traveler and is of a very high standard if a
little antiseptic. Rooms are large, light, and functional. They have Wi-Fi throughout as
well as LAN satellite Internet connections in the rooms. The newly located Cold Night
Restaurant is on the hotel grounds and is a good option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
East bank of the river, Old NH#5. & 053/953-901. Fax 053/953-903. www.goldenpalacehotels.com.
50 units. $15 double; $20 superior. MC, V. Amenities: Restaurant; Internet. In room: A/C, TV, fridge.
International Hotel This newly renovated hotel is in a superb location near both
the market and the river. Everything is sparkling and unlike many of their competitors
they haven’t renovated only the rooms, they have also renovated and decorated the corridors
giving the hotel a unified feel. What the renovation has not been able to achieve
is to change the layout of the hotel itself. Half the rooms have windows and are very