March 25th, 2006 | The lowdown by Gordon Candelin

The Billabong Hotel.

Located on a small side street a few blocks south of Psar Tmei, the Billabong is an excellent spot to relax and beat the blistering hot summer days. (Are there any other kind here?) On a weekday, $5 will get you use of the pool (towels supplied). An extra $2.50 will also get you a lunch special which changes daily .

The Billabong also has a wireless connection, which at $2.50 for a full day, makes every other place offering wireless a rip-off.

The hotel itself is not a bad deal either. It's as close to a boutique hotel as you'll find in Phnom Penh, and rooms run $35 + for a simple yet stylish ensuite and balcony. The rooms have all now been fitted with ethernet connections as well.

An afternoon at the Billabong is becoming increasingly popular, so if you want to be a bit more tranquil, come over on a late weekday morning rather than the weekend.

My recommendation, if you're traveling on the cheap, get a $5 room at the lakeside and then splurge on a relaxing day at the pool.

If you do choose to stay here, book well in advance. The Billabong is popular and is often filled to capacity.