The Best of Cambodia & Laos

pleasant indeed with casual but smart furnishings and plenty of light. The other half have
exactly the same furnishings but no windows and no light at all and feel like a mausoleum.
The rooms with windows are superb value. Pay the extra two bucks and embrace
the sun.
St. 2. & 053/953-999. 29 units. $13 double without window; $15 double with window. In room: A/C,
TV, fridge
Khemara Battambang Hotel This is a solid businesslike option with four stories
built around a courtyard with parking. They call themselves “boutique,” but that is
delusional on their part although that fact actually does not detract from what the Khemara
has to offer. The rooms are palatial, spotless, and airy. At present they do not accept
credit cards but they hope to change that.
East bank of the river. Old NH#5. & 053/732-727. Fax 053/737-979. www.khemarahotel.com. 50 units.
$15 double. No credit cards. Amenities: Restaurant; Internet. In room: A/C, TV, fridge.
La Villa La Villa continues to reign as the top luxury option in Battambang.
The luxury is packaged with immense style, in a beautiful colonial French villa on the
east bank of the river. The villa has been extended but in such a way that it is hard to tell
the old from the new. The beauty of the building is complemented by muted but tasteful
Art Deco period furnishings. All the rooms are different—we particularly liked the loftstyle
room on the top floor with its rustic wooden beams and scattered floor cushions.
The rooms have sturdy four-poster beds with draped mosquito netting and faded blackand-white
photos on the walls. The casual and slightly vague Francophone management
go out of their way to be helpful without getting in your hair. The newly added swimming
pool is a godsend in the hot season and is a great place to enjoy an early evening
drink. If you’re not staying here (and it is an expensive option, even though it is worth
every dollar) it is worth dropping by for a meal or some refreshment just to soak up the
atmosphere.
185 Pom Romchek. & 053/730-151. www.lavilla-battambang.com. 7 units. $60 standard; $85 suite. MC,
V. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; Internet; outdoor pool; room service. In room: A/C, TV, DVD player.
Royal Hotel This hotel next to Psar Nath is part of a small chain. They have an
eclectic range of rooms and will happily let you pay less if you don’t want to use the airconditioning,
the TV, or the fridge. It is a sort of modular, do-it-yourself, go ahead and
assemble your own hotel room approach. The rooms themselves are large with balconies
and a real touch of style. It is in no way boutique, but they have borrowed some boutique
flourishes with silk cushions, traditional wall hangings, potted plants, and the perennial
plastic flower placed artfully on the bedspread. The staff are helpful and speak English.
It is a very good choice at a very acceptable price. They have a slightly scruffy but very
convivial rooftop restaurant if you are up to the vertical hike. If booked up, the nearby
Asia Hotel (near Psar Nath; & 053/953-522) and Star Hotel (near Psar Nath; & 053/
953-522) are identical in facilities to the Royal Hotel and part of the same chain (the
Star Hotel also offers suites).
Near Psar Nath. & 053/953-522. 42 units. $6 double bathroom, fan, and TV; $8 double bathroom fan,
TV, and fridge; $10 double A/C; $13 large double A/C; $20 king-size double. MC, V. Amenities: Laundry
service. In room: A/C, TV, fridge.
Seng Hout Hotel Even by the excellent standards of Battambang, the
Seng Hout stands out for both quality and value. This brand-new hotel is filled with light
and has a well-proportioned sense of space. Best of all, there are a number of very pretty
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