Currency & Best Time to Visit Siam Reap

Hi,

Im thinking to visit Siam Reap this coming July, anyone know if that is a good month to be there ?

And also i read from forums, but kinda confused, whats the major currency use in the transaction there, USD / Khmer?

Is it safe for a girl to travel there ??

Appreciate if anyone could contribute me some feedback on above...Thank Q..

Currency %26amp; Best Time to Visit Siam Reap

%26gt; And also i read from forums, but kinda confused, whats the major currency use in the transaction there, USD / Khmer?

So you want everybody to re-state their confusing opinions in this thread as well? ;)

Ok, I%26#39;ll start: take US dollars, you don%26#39;t need riels.

%26gt; Is it safe for a girl to travel there ??

Yes, for a reasonable girl ;)

Currency %26amp; Best Time to Visit Siam Reap

We are also going again in July so I%26#39;m hoping the weather is OK.

ATMs dispense US$, most things are quoted in dollars, change from small purchases are in Real, you%26#39;ll end up with a bit of each.

Usual things with safety, watch where you go late at night etc, same as any large city/town. Don%26#39;t put yourself in risky situations.My daughter is in SR for 2 months at the moment and has had no problems.

We have stayed at Heart of Angkor guesthouse and Mandalay Inn (our favourite). Plenty of good accomodation, restaurants etc.

That should have been Riel of course.(not Real)

Thanks for the information ,joffa777.

Im actually planning to go there somewhere in July as well, but am not too sure if the weather will be alright as from what i read in the internet, that might be a wet season.

You did mentioned that Mandalay Inn is your favourite, so my guess is this not your first trip to SR?

Wonder if a 3D 2N trip is enough to cover most of the places.

Im looking for some budget accomodation but yet safe :)

July is hot (and humid) and a bit rainy, but no worries.

The dollar is widely used, and you will usually get riel as change. There are no coins, just bills.

Yes, it is safe indeed for a girl to travel solo to Cambodia. I have done it 3 times.

There are a zillion places to stay in the budget category. Check out Golden Temple Villa. I just returned from a week in Siem Reap and stayed there. $15 a night.

Oh, and yes, 3 days and 2 nights is sufficient, but 4 days and 3 nights is better, as the Angkor Wat pass is for 1 day/3 days/one week ($20/$40/$60). There is so much to see, you should plan your trip so you don%26#39;t have to rush around.

woww...thats such a great info ...Thanks !!

Yeap, i actually try to get few suggested itenary from friends who been there, but seems everyone have their own say...will have to do more research on that.

Do u suggest me to get a personal guide to bring me around the place? Or its alright with a map?

When you check into the guesthouse, they can get you a tuk-tuk driver. The next morning, you can go purchase your Angkor Wat pass and begin the tour. A guide is hardly necessary. The driver will drop you off at the entrance of each temple (you have to show your pass at this time so keep it on hand), and leave you there to walk around at your leisure. There are 3 general routes the drivers will take you on-

1st day- small circuit. You will navigate most of this on your own, on foot.

2nd day- large circuit- you will be taken here %26amp; there to temples a bit further out in the park complex + Angkor Wat.

3rd day- you can see the Roluos Group of temple (14 kms out of town) plus head out to Banteay Srei, etc.

DEFINITELY get a guidebook, and see what interests you fo rthe 3rd day. There are some cool, outlying temples, but you will not have time to do all of them. Pick a few and then plan your route.

You can opt to pay a few dollars more to get the driver at the crack of dawn to take you to see a sunrise, if you want...

Hi Maneki-neko

From your suggestion for 3 days trip, I will arrive at SR about 9am, check in at hotel.

Will I have enough time to take the large circuit?

On the 3rd day, I have to catch a flight @ 7pm, do you think I have enough time to go to Banteay Srei?

Will the restaurant and market accept $US?

Thanks

Yes, it might not be enough time ot see everything, but you can do the large circuit for as long as it%26#39;s light out. You might want to hang around and catch a sunset after that. Get all your stuff packed up and ready to go and then go out to Banteay Srei the next day. It%26#39;s about 90 minutes out of the city so if that will be your only destination that day you shouldn%26#39;t feel rushed...