Chhaya Hotel

I can't comment on the rooms because I didn't stay here, but Mr Lee was so nice, friendly and helpful that I wanted to mention him. Our Guesthouse wouldn't sell us a bus ticket, so we went to Mr Lee after chatting with him a couple of times when we'd bought a drink. He arranged our tickets, then gave us bananas, coffee and water for free when we came in the morning for the ride to the bus station. He's a truly kind gentleman who understands customer service. If we return to Battenbang, we'll stay here. It's near the river, the day market for fruit and the night market.

It's cheap as hell, with no AC and really old rooms, but I didn't mind. The fan worked great, there was a bit of natural light, and the staff didn't judge me for the late hours I like to explore.

The people were nice and I felt safe, so three stars. The hotel is central and sits on a corner, with an entrance at the front and another at the back. My room was shabby, with a rusty fridge and outdated decor and furniture, though the TV worked. I had a fan room. There's Wi-Fi and a restaurant downstairs, but the food is just OK. On street 121, there are some nice places to eat for vegetarians.

It's one of the cheaper places in the town centre, and the location is good, just three minutes from the main market. A room with a fan and cold-water shower was US$5 a night. It's simple and basic, but at that price you can't complain much. If you pay more, there are rooms with hot water and air-con. In hot Battambang, a hot shower isn't a must. The owner can help with bus tickets or arrange a tuk-tuk driver for nearby sights like the bamboo train. Be sure to ask clearly what kind of bus they're offering.