La Villa is a converted colonial house on Battambang riverfront converted lovingly by its owners, a French-Vietnamese couple, into a gorgeous boutique guesthouse and restaurant.

Free-standing bath tubs in the rooms, art deco fans and a really beautifully-done restaurant and bar area make this well worth the 50 USD a night or so rate.

Just be sure to arrive here by boat from Siem Reap (you'll feel you've earned a bit of luxury!) and take advantage of the Smokin' Pot cookery school nearby, one of the highlights of our Cambodia trip.

N 185 Pom Romchek 5 Kom
Rattanak Srok Battambang - Cambodia
Tél. :(855-53) 730 151
lavilla@online.com.kh
www.lavilla-battambang.com

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I had great fun taking a day trip into the countryside near Battambang with a local moped driver. You can see a couple of sights - a killing field area and temple - but the best thing is just seeing the small villages and hearing a bit about how locals live. There's a crazy thing called the 'bamboo train', powered by outboard engines on the underused railway line that you can ride. A most unusual means of transport.

One of the Battambang hotels will set you up with a guide.

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Learn Khmer cooking! Learn how to make fish amok or lok lak beef - all that yummy Khmer food. A visit to the local wet market is also included. Unlike Thailand, there are hardly any cookery schools in Cambodia. It's well worth visiting this one and it's a nice little restaurant too.

www.smokin-pot.com/index.html
No. 298, Group 8, 20 Ousephea Village, Svaypor Commune, Battambang District, Battambang Province (near Angkor Hotel)
Tel: +855-12-821400

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Okay, so you are not really going to live like a king at this place. The rumour goes that it used to be filled to bursting with NGO staff, but now times are hard and the rooms are vacant. So for under $10 for a double room with fan, bathroom and cable TV, who's complaining?

Prek Mohatep Village, Khum Svay Por, 50m from Psah Nath Market
Phone: +855 16 944 955 / 16 912 034 / 12 894 862
E-mail: royal_asiahotelbb@hotmail.com / royalasiahotelbb@yahoo.com
Or just let the touts bundle you into the minibus at your point of arrival.

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