family hotel: Billabong or Kabiki?

Hi, we%26#39;ve narrowed down our choice in PP to these two hotels and would like to ask your advice. We%26#39;re a family traveling with 3 adults and 2 kids ages 11 and 13. Having a pool is essential - we are hoping to sightsee from early a.m. then return for some pool time at midday. We%26#39;d like a place with some character, that feels like PP as opposed to someplace that could just as easily be some other country.

Both Billabong and Kabiki have gotten great reviews here (Kabiki somewhat less b/c they are only opened a year or so). Both kid friendly; Kabiki somewhat higher in price than Billabong. Kabiki seems to have really large beds :) is this the case? What about location, being able to walk around town and markets, and what are the neighborhoods like where these hotels are located? Anything else we should be thinking about? We will not be eating at the hotel. Our style is to travel low key, talk with as many local people as we can.

Thanks in advance for your opinions. It%26#39;s wonderful to be able to get ideas and hear other travelers%26#39; experience on this forum!

family hotel: Billabong or Kabiki?

We stayed at the Billabong and would certainly go back there on our next visit. The salt water swimming pool is excellent. Rooms spacious, minibar, great bathroom and large beds. Best rooms are ground floor opening on to the pool.

It is a short walk to markets or a short tuk tuk ride to everywhere in town. Sorry can%26#39;t comment on your other option.

We have some pics, maps and stories of our trip to Cambodia.... www.bobandjanette.com which may help.

Happy %26amp; safe travels

family hotel: Billabong or Kabiki?

I know the Kabiki well and have no hesitation as a regular traveller to KH/Phnom Penh in using it. In fact, its large garden setting is very plesant indeed. It is a companion hotel to the Pavillion and the Blue Lime, both of which have good pools and are great places to stay at. Especially if you like the quiet colonial style and friendly Khmer staff, which I do. If you need a ';full service hotel'; then none of these very plesant establishments are for you. The Kabiki is a small, boutique ';hotel'; within the grounds of a rented royal villa. A very quiet and relaxing place indeed within Phnom Penh. Main potential drawback for some is the fact that PM Hun Sen is building a very large villa overlooking the Kabiki. Given his ';popularity'; he has sealed off the adjoining roads/lanes for ';security'; reasons. This means you will have to walk about 50 metres from the boom gate barricade %26amp; guard, to the entrance of the Kabiki. You will have to vacate/leave your vehicle at the boom gate/barricade. Personally, I do not find this a problem at all and a small price to pay for the tranquility of your surroundings. Could be a problem in the wet season though. But if you are old or infirm this may become a consideration. As the Pavillion, in street # 19, a very interesting street to walk along towards the rear of the Royal Palace, National Museum and the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA)etc, is only about 100 metres or less away, there are always plenty of motodops or tuk tuks available from near the entrance to the Pavillion and easily attracted with a hand signall from the boom gate.

To my way of thinking, the Kabiki has more class than the Billabong but having said this I will probably never get another cold beer again there!

Cheers and all best regards. Ian aka Angkorlad