Royal Hotel, Battambang

The Royal Hotel is a medium sized hotel located in the centre of Battambang town in Cambodia. This a cheap hotel with a good standard of room and a friendly atmosphere. The hotel gets a lot of repeat custom and people staying for extended periods.

Good points about the Royal Hotel

The Royal Hotel is located near Pasar Nat, which is the central market in Battambang, and is walking distance from both the train station and the main bus station. The town’s best bars and restaurants are all located within a 400 metre radius of the hotel as well, making this an ideal location to stay during a visit to Battambang.

The second thing we really liked about the Royal Hotel is that it is great value for money. Large air-conditioned en-suite rooms cost from $6 USD a night. Battambang is not an expensive place to stay, but nonetheless what you get for your money at the Royal Hotel really makes the place stand out. The same quality of hotel in Phnom Penh, for instance, would cost you three times as much and for travellers looking for somewhere to stay and relax for a few weeks the Royal Hotel would be an excellent choice. I can see this town and this hotel becoming popular with digital nomads as prices become higher in nearby Thailand, and visa requirements more onerous.

The third major selling point of the hotel is the friendly service. This is a family run hotel with the adult children pushing the business forward with a good command of the English language and a general desire to provide good customer service. You can always tell the difference between a hotel which is managed by the people who own it, compared to a hotel that is managed by people who are paid by the owners. The hotel is small enough (it has only 30 rooms) for the service to be focused on the needs of individual customers. Anything you need you can be sure that the owners will help you organise it.

Rooms at the Royal Hotel

The rooms at the Royal Hotel are surprisingly well decorated. The furniture and the decor is a mix of new and old fashioned Khmer style items. No issues with cleanliness at this hotel and the rooms smell fresh as well, which is no doubt in part due to each having a private balcony which means no one needs to smoke in the room.

Rooms have satellite TV with English language channels, free WiFi which was acceptably fast, kettles, and a small refrigerator with a couple of bottles of free water. Rooms also come with a large wardrobe which is useful if you are planning to stay a while. The air-conditioning worked well.

The bathrooms are functional with moderately hot water coming out of the shower. The bathrooms could be improved to bring them up to the same standard as the rooms, however, bear in mind that this is a $6 USD a night hotel and by that standard these bathrooms are great. Free soap, shampoo and single use tooth brushes are also provided. 

The rooms at the Royal Hotel are amongst the best you will find in a budget hotel in Cambodia and a strong contender for being the best value for money anywhere in the country.

Facilities at the Royal Hotel

There is a restaurant on the roof, which unfortunately was closed for refurbishment when we last stayed in September 2018. Reports are that this facility has no reopened serving mid price range Western and Asian style food. The full English breakfast for $4 gets good reviews.

Each level of the hotel also has a communal seating area, as does the reception area. I am not entirely sure what the purpose of these seating areas are, maybe in case someone needs a rest whilst negotiating the stairs. This is a hotel with no lift, although it does have rooms at ground level and only costs $6 USD a night. If you have an issue with climbing stairs you should ask when you book. However, there is benefit a to opting to stay on a higher floor as you get a better view from the balcony to your room and it will be quieter.

Location of the Royal Hotel