vietnam visa

If we travel from Cambrodia on mekong express shall we need to have our visa before we leave the uk?

vietnam visa

Get your Vietnam visa before you leave home. You can%26#39;t get one at the border.

vietnam visa

If your passing through Sihanoukville on your travels you can pick up a visa there at the consulate quite cheap and quick (same day service)

I Caught a bus to the border , walked across and had no problem getting a Vietnamese visa , having said that , I have read so many controvercies , you can , you can%26#39;t etc . It would be prudent to obtain a visa before you board the bus , once bitten %26#39;tis too late to be shy .

night cream

cambodia & vietnam photos

Hello,

We had an AMAZING time in Vietnam %26amp; Cambodia over the holidays...check out my new photo site - enjoy

smallwoodvietnamcambodia.photoworkshop.com/

thomas

cambodia %26amp; vietnam photos

Wow they are fantastic Thomas! Thanks for sharing them.

cambodia %26amp; vietnam photos

Hi Thomas,

Your photos are awesome, not your standard holiday snaps! Truly beautiful, I assume you are a professional photographer?

Sarah

xx

Sarah,

Thanks so glad you like them. My career has been one as a creative director [ I would direct photographers for advertising jobs ] I%26#39;m only now starting to show my own work. Thanks so much for the nice words.

thomas

Other journeys...

doubleexposure.com/ImagIndustry_Smallwood.sh鈥?/a>

doubleexposure.com/HimbaJourney_Smallwood.sh鈥?/a>

Yep - as per previous poster - great great pictures.

love girls myspace

just some info needed...

Hi there-

Im planning to do some travelling around Thailand for 4-5weeks in the summer, but Ive always been interested with Siem Riep and Angkor Wat temples etc. Few questions regarding about going there!

is it only bangkok airways that go to siem riep from bangkok? or are there other airlines or other methods to get to cambodia?

Since it is a trip to thailand, i wouldnt have a large amount of time to stay in cambodia- prob between 2-4days. apart from the temples, is there anything I should do or see? i havent done a lot of research- i still have to tell my fellow travellers about my ideas! From the forums i see that it is advisable to get a tour guide for the temples? Is this obligatory? any info regarding what I should do would be great!

Thanks

just some info needed...

I always fly from BKK to Cambodia via Thai Air (usually to Phnom Penh).

I%26#39;d recommend spending the entire 4 days seeing the temples at Angkor- there is so much to see. When you arrive in Siem Reap, you can hire a tuk-tuk driver at your hotel and have him take you to get your Angkor Wat pass (3-day pass is $40). If you go after 4:30pm, you can get in to see the sunset. Most drivers know the routes so you could see the Small Circuit(group of temples concentrated in one area) + Angkor Wat one day, the Grand Circuit (temples spread out around the Angkor complex) and the Roluos Group (13 kms out of town) and then on the third day visit some outlying places such as Banteay Srei or Beng Mealea. Grab a guide book and do some reading before you go. I have been to this area twice and have seen pretty much everything, and have never used a guide. I prefer the solitude of going at it alone, at my own pace. Guides are not necessary, but some folks like to hear historical information and be led around the temple sites. Cheers

just some info needed...

yes at the moment it is only bangkok air that flies from bangkok to siem reap so its very expensive but very quick..can go via pp but time is taken up with the pp to siem reap bit..approx 6 hours on the bus..recommend seeing the floating village and or flooded forrest as it will show you how cambodian live on the great lake.tour guides are not needed as its a very easy town to get around and the temples are well documented in books and mags ect.check out the markets,landmine musimum,lakes,silk farm,pub street ect ect...have a great trip

don%26#39;t bother with a guide - get a copy of Lonely Planet (either a genuine one from home or buy a %26#39;copy%26#39; from one of the kids near the temples) and away you go. I%26#39;d recommend before you go so you can do some reading and decide what you want to see.

Check out my JBR ';Cambodia... Just Wonderful'; for an idea of what we did in 3 days (I wish we%26#39;d had more)

you can also check out

canbypublications.com/siemreap/sritinerary.h…

good place to start, also gives you a general idea of how much time you need to spend at each of the various temples.

If you%26#39;re coming all the way from Dublin it would be crazy not to do a side trip to Angkor - twist your travelling companions arms if necessary but do visit.

have fun

Helen

You can get from Bangkok to Cambodia via Poipet. See talesofasia.com for information. It is best to get evisa to make it a bit easier. We did this in October and it wasn%26#39;t bad at all. We did hire someone to meet us on the Cambodia side which I highly recommend. It does take a full day to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap.

ciggy's and grog

Hi previous travellers to Cambodia and people who live there, eg Odd Ball, Ellenem

When I was in Vietnam I could buy cartons of western cigarettes, eg.Malboro for 150,000VND ($9.30US) and 750ml bottles of vodka for $3 (rip-off of Smirnoff or Absolut). This was off the streets and in supermarkets, not duty free shops.

Is this possible in Cambodia as well?

These would be to bring back for family and friends.

Thanks

Cooperellie

ciggy's and grog

Hi Cooperellie,

Can%26#39;t help with grog (spirits by the bottle) prices but can tell you that you can buy grog in a couple of the supermarkets in SR. We did buy beer (400ml cans or thereabouts) were 67c a can for brands like angkor and some of the other asian brands - hand over US$1 and get riel as change - kept our minibar stocked with our own supplies and then put theirs back as we checked out.

Cigs were, (I think) about $1 US a packet

We did buy cartons of cigs at KL airport on the way home, put them on the card and after conversion, the bill was about $17 per carton - sure beats the $80+ we pay here!

happy trip planning

helen

ciggy's and grog

Hi Cooperellie ,

I smoke LM red cancer sticks made in Switzerland , cost is $3.80 per carton of 212 in packs of 14 , packs of 20 , 200 carton cost #4.20 . I drink Bacardi %26#39;Oro%26#39;from the Bahamas , cost $9..00 per litre . Marlboro are available for around the same cost as LM .

Thanks both of you for your replies. Sounds like, compared to Vietnam,ciggy%26#39;s are cheaper and booze is slightly more expensive,(but still really cheap).This all helps with the planning.

Coopy

Lonely Planet books - Angkor Wat & Siem Reap

Good day to all!

I am looking for some books abt Siem Reap and Angkor Wat before my trip there in May 09. Pre-owned books are welcome.

Thanks.

Lonely Planet books - Angkor Wat %26amp; Siem Reap

I recommend Dawn Rooney%26#39;s book Angkor, Cambodia%26#39;s Famous Khmer Temples. She covers all of the temples and a bit on Siem Reap.

Lonely Planet books - Angkor Wat %26amp; Siem Reap

Not sure about whats available where you live- is there a library? I haunted ours before I left and then brought the guides once I arrived in the country off the street guys. In seim reap theres a brilliant book called ancient angkor by michael freeman and claude jacques we purchased that gave you overview with pics and maps and detail of all the ruins and temples inthe area.

i used dawn rooney%26#39;s book. it was a good guide and it included some tips on how on how to maximize ur time at the temples.

when u get to the temples however, u will see so many books for sale and at very low prices, i was so surprised. i bought the ancient angkor book as well at 7USD only to find out that the next boy was selling it at 5USD. :)

i got the second book more for a souvenier as it had colored pics while that of dawn rooney%26#39;s i read before going to siem reap.

Just to add, the books on sale at the temples, although cheap, are fake copies - some good some bad.

this sale of fake copies of copyrighted books, is what has lead some authors to not publish books for a while or so frequently

yeah, i was thinking it would be fake copies just like the lonely planet book i got in hanoi. and u can right away tell from the quality of the pics and text. but the one i got for 7USD didn%26#39;t look like it was fake, good pictures and clear copies/text. i was really wondering how it is sold for such a price....unless i got a really good copy of a fake one?

there are some very good fake copies out there, its usually the seams that give them away, esp with the LP ones, as they%26#39;re no-where near as robust as proper copies

Buyer Beware

Beware of shrink wrapped fake guide books. A seller may show you a nice colour one and give you the wrapped one. This is inevitably not so god quality sometimes with crudely photocopied pages which fall out after a few days. If you buy one before getting into your tour bus you may not find out you have been ripped off until too late.

Since my most recent trip to SR and AW this past fall, I started a weblog just cuz I loved the place so much. I recently wrote a bit about some guidebooks, including two downloadable guides I found handy and helpful and one downloadable guide that is incredibly extensive from Maurice Glaize and some downloadable info explaining AW temples from a astronomic/cosmic point of view. You can directly access this specific weblog post at angkortuktuk.net/apps/blog/show/346339-every…

Have a great trip!

SORRY for typo in above mentioned link. This one should work: angkortuktuk.net/apps/blog/show/346339-every…

Sakura Hotel - does anyone have any info?

Does anyone know of the Sakura Hotel in Street 242? I can see that it%26#39;s not close to the ';action'; but I think the area looks OK for seeing the Palace and S21.

I can%26#39;t find anything much in the way of reviews. Any info will be appreciated.

Sakura Hotel - does anyone have any info?

Bump.

Is there a local expert who can help with this question?

Are there ATM machines in Siem Reap?

I will be in Siem Reap in Febraury 10th. It is possible to find ATM machines in Siem Reap?

Are there ATM machines in Siem Reap?

yes, you%26#39;ll have no probs

Are there ATM machines in Siem Reap?

Many banks in Siem Reap with ATM(s) that dispense US dollars. ;)

thank you so much for your replies

cheers

night cream

is it tough being a woman

Advise a nice tutu driver-- Chansy

A good tutu driver would be a very important part of your Angkor visit !!

It’s 100% true. I really appreciate Chansy—my tuk tuk driver, I have a wonderful experience in Siem Reap with him.

He:

Get exactly what you want. His English is good, beside common communication on itineraries, he could also show you a “real Khmer”—Cambodian new year in April, Red-Khmer period, the King who built Angkor Thom and also a God to locals. His advices on itinerary are very wise too, lest we missed the beautiful Angkor Wat sunset.

Always take care of your need with patient. You won’t need to worry about you cannot find him after sunset and with lots of tutu drivers around. He can find you first.

Never be late!! Even I leave hotel at 4:50am, ten minutes early than we arranged, he’s there waiting for you.

His tutu is in good condition and he always drives carefully.

His price is reasonable. For second day Beng Mealea trip, our car upgraded to a van, really enjoy it.

His e-mail : chansy_siemreap@yahoo.com

Advise a nice tutu driver-- Chansy

Hello Kimi

You said his price is reasonable - what did it cost per day.

Thanks

Advise a nice tutu driver-- Chansy

Hi Nanna，

There%26#39;s a package of Chansy%26#39;s service at $95,including :

Day 1 ( tuktuk )pick-up at bus station, Bakheng sunset;

Day 2 (tuktuk)Angkor Wat sunrise, Ta Prohm, Ta Keo, Ta Nei,Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat sunset ( back to town to have lunch during midday)

Day 3 ( van)Banteay Samre ( really lovely ruins), Banteay Srey, Kbal Spean and Beng Melea, the Roluos group ( Beng Melea is a ';lost temple'; quite far from the main circuits)

Day 4 (tuktuk) Sras Srang sunrise, Banteay Kdei,Prasat Kravan, East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean, Preah Khan, Angkor Wat, Pre Rup sunset ( back to town to have lunch during midday)

The price above includes the toll charge for Beng Melea. And if you prefer to take tuktuk to get there, the total price will get much cheaper. That%26#39;s all up to you.

You could send your own itinerary to Chansy, he will tell you the exact price on you plan.

Hi Kimi

It is great to have your information. I have three days in Siem Reap, so will see what can be squeezed into the time.

Thanks again

Nan

Seabreeze Hotel

Has anyone stayed at the Seabreeze Hotel?

I think that it is located on Independence Beach. Is this a good beach in Sihanoukville?

Mekong Express Bus location Siem Reap

Hi,

Can anyone tell me where exactly the Mekong Express Bus Terminal / office is in SR please. Also I understand that you can choose which seat you take on the bus when you book your ticket with them.......would this be the same if booking through a hotel? I%26#39;ve done a ten hr bus trip in Vietnam and unfortunately got stuck on the central seat on the back row.....nightmare, I don%26#39;t want to be repeating that again ever!!

Thanks, BaggageAllowance

Mekong Express Bus location Siem Reap

The bus station (where all the buses arrive %26amp; depart) is 5 minutes or so out of town. Yes, you are free to choose your seat if you book in advance. They can do this at the hotel. I have very long legs and I try to make sure I book a seat with ample legroom.

Mekong Express Bus location Siem Reap

Thanks for the info :-) i don%26#39;t suppose anyone has a rough address do they??

Cheers, BA

I have never seen a ticket stand at the actual Bus Terminal (off Route 6 east of the river) If you%26#39;re wondering where to get tickets, any travel agency in town or your hotel/Guesthouse can get them for you

Thanks for that, just a bit dubious of using travel agencies and hotels as they often charge an ';admin fee';.

BA x

If they do, what%26#39;s it going to be, say 50 cents on top of the $7 it costs from there to Phnom Penh? They didn%26#39;t add anything on at my guesthouse, so I really wouldn%26#39;t worry about it...

Hi! Bus ticket is $5 to $11 from Siem Reap to PP depending on the bus company.

I%26#39;d be happy at 50 cents, unfortunately there are a lot of people out there who would want to make MORE than 50 cents profit from backpackers (I know this from experience)!!! But thanks for your input.

BA xxx

Gotta Have Kim Soryar as Your Tuk-Tuk Driver in Siem Reap

MANY MANY THANKS to all those who recommended Kim Soryar as tuk-tuk driver in Siem Reap!!! Indeed, Soryar fit the comments of what had been described by Cartisan, Dennis %26amp; NicoleLew. My family and I were in Siem Reap from Jan 7-Jan 11, 2007 and we REALLY had a FANTSTIC TIME in Siem Reap with Soryar as our van driver. Yes, instead of taking a tuk-tuk, you can hire him as driver(either car or van). A very obliging person, soft spoken, genuine, trustworthy, attentive, thoughful and always looking out for his guests comfort. We really can%26#39;t ask for more!!! We also enjoyed the breakfast, lunch and dinner places that Soryar took us. The prices in these places are reasonable and the foods are wonderful especially those dinner places. My family and I especially like one of the Khmer restaurants that Soryar%26#39;s cousin owned/managed and a Thai restaurant that served FANTASTIC %26amp; AUTHENTIC Thai foods that we had to go back for the second time to have the Green Curry %26amp; Tom Yum. On foods, the only regret that I had was I forgot to ask Soryar to recommend a Chinese restaurant that serve fresh fish daily but it is minor since we are very HAPPY as is.

Also, I detailed out all the places that I want to visit in Siem Reap and emailed Soryar before the trip and he fulfilled my list of places when we were there. He also took the time to explain and shared his knowledge of the temples that we visited. We even have the priviledge to visit his parents home during one of the temple visits and tasted the different coconut juice, freshly plucked from the trees at the front of the house. And, Yes, each of us received a sovenirs from Soryar before we left Siem Reap. A cute little weaved basket that contains a colorful scarf with his contact phone # and email address. Soryar really put a nice touch into this for his guests. Soryar professionalism and hospitality truly amazed me and he is indeed a great asset to his country and community and I truly wish him well in any of his future undertakings.

So, if you go to Siem Reap next, you just have to have Soryar as your driver and you will not be disappointed of his services. WE DID NOT AND SO DID THE OTHERS WHO CHOSEN HIM.

Have Soryar, will travel in Siem Reap ;-)

Gotta Have Kim Soryar as Your Tuk-Tuk Driver in Siem Reap

hihi

may i have Kim Soryar email address so that i can contact with him.

thanks so much for ur reply

Gotta Have Kim Soryar as Your Tuk-Tuk Driver in Siem Reap

Hi AngleWing,

Soryar email address is kimsoryar@yahoo.com or you can reach his mobile phone which is 855-1222-1883 Just tell him that Elaine and her family who went there in Jan 2007 recommend you and I am sure he will make sure you are well taken care of.

Kim Soryar is an excellent tuk-tuk driver if you have party of 2 going but if you have 4 or more, you might want to do car or van. The price difference is not that much but the comfort is just great especially when youa e on a van, you get to see things at a higher ground level. rest assured, Soryar rate is very reasonable. Just check with him as to his availability.

Have A Wonderful Time There!!!!

Hi to All Who are Interested to Know More About Kim Soryar from Siem Reap------Words of Mouth from Other Tripadvisor Users, here is the link and I hope it works. Just highlight below and use Control+C and then Control+V to paste it into your browser program.

tripadvisor.com/…5414036

hi starofjupiter

Really Thanks for ur kindly reply.

i already contact with soryar.

Appreaciate ur help :)

love,

wingAngle

Unfortunately we had already booked a tuk tuk driver called marom when we were told about Soryar. However we used Soryar%26#39;s brother for our border pickup... he was lovely... Soryar organised it all and was the most amazing person... so sweet and thankful for us to visit his country. We were sad that we couldnt use him in Siem Reap but I didnt want to let our already booked tuktuk driver down.

I would highly recommend Soryar off our dealings with him (via email and phone) and if he is unavailable please consider our tuktuk driver Marom....

You can see more at my blog www.travelblog.org/bloggers/reet

What does Soryar charge for per day for tuk tuk and for a day in a car. We are three people travelling. Thanks!

Hi Longleat,

Since you have 3 person, I am not sure how much a tuk-tuk would cost for 3 person in a tuk-tuk but the standard rate of a tuk-tuk for a whole day service for 2 persons is USD10 per day

We paid USD25 per day for car and USD30 per day for a van since we have 4 and we prefered A/C %26amp; the comfort of car/van.

Gasoline, car/van and the driver(Soryar himself) are included in the rate quoted. And, if you go to Banteay Srei, it will be an extra flat rate of USD10 because that place is really far.

Email or call Soryar. I am sure he doesn%26#39;t mind answering your questions and doubts you have in your travel arrangements. Soryar is pretty honest and good person at heart. Even if you are not his customer, he still make sure that your concerns be answered or recommend someone who can help you with some of your travel arrangement.

Good Luck and Have Fun Travel.....wherever you are going...

Great post! I just contacted Soryar -- we are arriving in Siem Reap tomorrow -- and he said he%26#39;s busy but his brother Bin (sp?) will pick us up. The connection wasn%26#39;t good so I%26#39;m not sure what the details will be but I think he said he (Soryar) will drive us at least one of the four days we%26#39;ll be there.

Has anyone met/employed Bin?

How about a 4-day itinerary? Ideas? Food?

We%26#39;re staying at the FCC, FYI.

Thanks to all for such a great resource!!

S %26amp; A from Berkeley %26amp; London

Hi Secolbur,

Great to hear you are able to get hold of Soryar even though he is not able to spend the whole 4 days with you, but he at least referred you to someone. I have not used his brother before since Soryar is our driver for the entire stays while we were there.

I would recommend that you write down the places that you want to visit or plan it a day by day with places that you want to visit. I surfed the net and follow the standard tour packages and wrote down places I want to visit and emailed to Soryar prior to my arrival as well as printed a copy out and shown him upon my arrival so that we all know where we would be going. Check out this link adn write it down in a piece of paper to show Soryar brother where you want to go in Siem Reap. cambodiahotels.biz/tours/daily_tour_angkor_w…

Here is my schedule if you want to follow:

Day 1-Arrive in Siem Reap at 11:05 am. Transfer to hotel for check in. Take a boat trip on the Tonle Sap to see Fisherman Villages and enjoy sunset at Phnom Bakheng.

Day 2-Watch early morning sunrise at Angkor Wat and breakfast. Visit South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphoun, Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. Tour to Angkor Wat in the afternoon.

Day 3-Visit Prasat Kravan(one of the Grand Circuits) and Small Circuit which include Chau Say Tevoda, Thommanon, Takeo, Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm(Dedicated to King’s Mother) and Srah Srang(Royal Bath).

Day 4-Tour Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre. Visit Ta Som(Buddhist temple), Krol Ko(all crumbled down)and Neak Poan(royal reservoir). Grand Circuit include East Mebon, Pre Rup and Preah Khan(Temple of Sacred Sword, Dedicated to King’s Father). Visit Rolous Group which include Prasat Preah Ko, Bakong and Lolei.

Anyway, check out the link I mentioned above and browsed at places they have in SiemReap.

Have A Wonderful Time in Siem Reap!!!!!

Ps. Try to have your breakfast %26amp; lunch outside of the Angkor Wat/Angkor Thom area because it is better value and food more delicious and more choices too if you eat outside of the entire Angkor complex.

Hello all,

I am really glad to read about all the wonderful experiences that so many others have had in meeting Kim Soryar, and having him as their guide/tuk-tuk driver. It is now more nearly 4 months since i had the privilege of having him as our guide, during our 3 day visit to Siem Reap in Oct-2006 (as detailed in my earlier posting on the other Tripadvisor thread)

Amazingly, until today, Soryar still emails me regularly, just to say ';hello'; and to wish me n my family well. Can u imagine anyone else doing that, just out of ';good-heartedness';, and not for monetary / personal gains ??!! That is a true reflection of the authentic, humble and ';beautiful'; person that he is - and hence it is indeed a true PRIVILEGE if you were to have him as your guide and driver :)

Judging from the more recent comments here - it seems like Soryar is indeed getting ';hard to get'; these days - so make sure u contact him early (he is easily reachable at his Yahoo email). And recently, I have heard that he also has access to a tourist van, so if you have a bigger group, or if u wish to travel a bit further, he can now offer u an alternative form of transportation too :)

May u all be blessed with the privilege of meeting the wonderful Kim Soryar in your travels to Siem Reap, Cambodia!!

best wishes,

Dennis

Melbourne, AUSTRALIA

Good budget guesthouses on the beach in Sihanoukville

Can anyone recommend a good budget hotel/guesthouse which is on the beach, is safe, clean and affordable for a long stay.

How to clean military surplus wool blankets

Single female traveller needs safe place/guesthouse to stay

As above, need ur 2 cents worth of advice on where to stay in Phnom Penh.

Arriving on the 20/02 but staying for a night before going to Siem Reap the next day and will be back again in Phnom Penh on the 23/02 - 25/02.

I guess my expectations are quite little. Must be a humble clean guesthouse that of course does NOT serve as a brothel cos i did read there are some guesthouses which bring in sex tourists. No thanks to that as i%26#39;m a single female traveller.

Location prob near the Mekong Bus terminal or opp the Royal Palace area and cheap accomodation ranging from USD 8 - USD 12 a night. Need jus basics like fan and hot water. =)

Help.

Single female traveller needs safe place/guesthouse to stay

I think you have your last sentence backwards Brit LOL . Seriously , use the Indonesia hotel , clean and safe , $10.00 and up dependant on tourist numbers , if the Ido 2 is full , the Indo 1 is not far away .

E-mail :indochineahtl@camnet.com.kh

They can arrange bus ticket for Mekong Express also , $12.00 .very nice people .

Single female traveller needs safe place/guesthouse to stay

Yeah well I guess my post got zapped!!! LOL Not exactly sure what they would expect to see, prob no worse than Orchard Rd, Singapore.

Any rate found FCC to be quite good, but obviously way over budget for the OP. :)

night cream

Passport Photos

I%26#39;ve read conflicting reports on whether I need a passport photo to obtain my visa on arrival at Phnom Penh (airport). Does anyone have up-to-date information. Also, do I need any special documents to receive a business visa? I need this because I%26#39;ll be there for five weeks.

Passport Photos

I do not know what the current ruling is as regards passport photos , i%26#39;ve been on a buissiness visa for 3 years , I always have photos with me when I travel just to play it safe .

When you fill out your form on the plane for immigration , just ask for buisness visa , no special documentation required from the states .You can renew your visa at a travel agents , normally do not give more than 1 month on arrival , but you could ask , they are quite obliging .

Passport Photos

Im fairly certain that I handed over pics with visa application and money at customs/ VOA point when I went into Cambodia via Mekong ( im 100% sure I did in Laos as well)

We got Visa%26#39;s a Siem Reap airport - handed over one passport photo (4yrs old) US$20 and passport with completed visa application form (given out on the plane).

Only comment was the changed state of my husband%26#39;s hairline!

can%26#39;t add anything on business visa - sorry.

cheers helen

The buisiness visa cost is $25.00 , as I mentioned before , easily extended at travel agent for 1 month up to 12 months , no hastles .

I%26#39;ve just come back from 5 weeks in PP. Yes you need a black %26amp; white photo upon arrival. A cheap one from kisok at mall works. You can easily get an extension in a couple days to cover your 5th week. You will need another photo when you apply for the extension.

hi does this photo need to be black and white ,most you get in uk are coloured ones cheers ,going in april time

koh rung samloen

does anyone have info on this island or any others in Cambodia/?I saw the lazy beach resort and it looked great. the only thing was the boat ride..any info appreciated

koh rung samloen

All I can say is : GO, it%26#39;s wonderful.

The boat is long, and if the sea is choppy it could be a bit yucky. The guys who run the boat aren%26#39;t the most friendly chappies you%26#39;ll meet, but once u get to the island it is truly beautiful and incredibly good value for money. We were very sad to leave.

koh rung samloen

We are planning on taking our 6 year old son next January (2010). Can you see any potential issues with taking children? He%26#39;s a very strong swimmer so would have no problems if the boat can%26#39;t get close. He is also a good walker so shouldn%26#39;t have any problems if we have to come in on the other side of the island. Would love to hear more about other islands also if anyone has any advice. thanks

Hi,

Can you please tell me if you get there from Sihanoukville or Kep?

Thanks!

The boat leaves from Sihanoukville, and it would be a perfect place to take children. You have to swim out to the boat (up to about 4 foot or so, and at the island their is a pier where u get off. If you have to be delivered to the other side of the island it is an easy walk through beautiful jungle. I cant tell u about the other islands as we didn%26#39;t visit them. But i think the only other one that has accom. is bamboo island, but i recall reading that this one wasn%26#39;t so great. I cant recommend lazy beach enough. The staff let you do ur own thing and don%26#39;t interfere when they are not needed. It%26#39;s only a year old, so the beds are pretty new and comfy. The huts are basic but comfy, and the food is great (specially if u order fresh seafood the day before). Go there. You wont be disappointed.

Tip: book early and request a beachside cabin. There are 7 on the beach and 3 behind them a little further away. They still seemed lovely, but being able to walk out and straight on to the beach is great.

Another Tip: go soon before the island gets developed because i%26#39;m sure it will.

Luxury accommodation in Siam Reap?

Myself and 5 girlfriends will be travelling to Siam Reap next month for a few nights. Can anyone suggest some luxury accom in Siam Reap? It is a farewell to Asia trip for one of our friends so we want it to be lovley.

Luxury accommodation in Siam Reap?

My wife and I stayed Hotel De La Paix 03nights during our visit to Angkor Wat in Dec%26#39;08 book throught our very good travel agent in Cambodia inclding on our Private tour. It is lovely and worthy of the 5-star rating. The rooms were clean ,breakfast was superb and on time every morning. The spa, clean and professional. I loved the bar and the ambiance. The location is in the centre of town, within very easy walk to the Pub Street and Old Market.

Hightly reccomend Hotel De La paix.

Happy holidays

Jarrod

Luxury accommodation in Siam Reap?

FCC, Hotel DLP, Raffles ...

Recommendations for scuba

My husband and son wish to complete their scuba certification with their open water dives. Does anyone have any recommendations for a safe, reliable operator in Sihanoukville.

Thanks.

Recommendations for scuba

Considering what is available there, I%26#39;d recommend diving in Thailand instead.

Recommendations for scuba

check it out here :

www.EcoSea.com

Phone in Cambodia 012 606 646 Miss Koyoko

My tuk-tuk man Sokhon recomended this .

The have a bungalow on an isleland $15.00 per night , take you in a large boat .

ittwit

Golden Mekong Hotel

No reviews anywhere on this hotel. Has anyone stayed there?

Golden Mekong Hotel

Bounced - wondering myself

Budget hotel/guesthouse on the beach in Sihanoukville

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive/budget hotel in Sihanoukville which is on the beach, safe, clean and affordable for a long stay.

Thanks

H

Budget hotel/guesthouse on the beach in Sihanoukville

Have a look at this page

canbypublications.com/sihanoukville-cambodia鈥?/a>

Budget hotel/guesthouse on the beach in Sihanoukville

sihanoukville-cambodia.com/about-sihanoukvil鈥?/a>

Although not directly on the beach, we stayed at Deja Raja and loved it. Well maintained and spotlessly clean. It is only a short walk to the beach which has the added benefit of no late noise if you want to get some sleep.

We have some pictures and a story of our trip here... www.bobandjanette.com

Happy %26amp; safe travels

We stayed at ';The Cove Beach Bungalows'; $15US per night on Serendipity beach. Great spot and great view, 011 4104 46. They do not take bookings but a steady change over every day happens. On the dirt road to the beach there are some free places. How it works I do not know.

thecovebeachbungalows@yahoo.com

Regards David

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Travelex cash card

Hi there, myself and a friend are going to travel around Cambodia for 6 months later on this year, can anyone tell me if the ATMs there take the Travelex cash card, or will we need travellers cheques

Travelex cash card

We were in Cambodia in November 2008, didn%26#39;t have any problems with Travelex card. All ATMs we used were ok. Had a couple of issues in Vietnam with particular branded atms but most were ok.

My daughter is in Siem Reap at the moment and we send her money via the Travelex. The advice I would offer is to get a card loaded with US dollars. All withdrawals in Cambodia are in US$. The terms and conditions on my card advise that there is a 8% adjustment on the exchange rate if the card is in a different currency.

For example, my daughter just drew some US$ and the exchange rate on my statement said it was at US$0.62 to the Australian $. At the time the A$ was being quoted nearer to US$.65. They also charge abour 1% to load the card in the first place.

That being said, I would still recommend the card and intend to use it again in July on my return, albiet a US$ one this time.

Travelex cash card

I would get yoursel to Nationwide and open their Flex account, they dont charge to use their cashcard and credit cards abroad, so you get quite a good deal. If you set up a direct debit payment on your credit card, at least for the min payment, then you can make sure that any payments are made without paying late charges etc

Visa at arrival.

Hello,

I am flying into SR, I will get a visa at arrival, I believe, I need 2 photos and $25, then fill up a form. I hope it will not take too long.

Thanks

Visa at arrival.

Hi there, Its all easy to do on arrival, we have done it 3 times and it did not take long, heres some more info on visas, if you want you can also do it online before you leave.

Cathy

http://www.cathyandgarystravelpages.com/visa%26#39;s_-_airport_taxes_etc.htm

Visa at arrival.

Its very easy, and relatively quick

visas on arrival are 20$, and need one photo. visas online - when it works is 25$

It%26#39;s an extremely efficient airport. We had visas and luggage within 10 minutes of arrival.

Hi All,

Thanks very much for the visa infor. I will do it at arrival.

e-visa for Cambodia

Could anyone tell me if there is another address to get e-visa , while the one I found 谋s not working .

evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/index.php?version=eng

Thanks a lot.

e-visa for Cambodia

Should you be flying into Cambodia , no need to bother , going through immigration is a walk in the park , just have your $20.00 , 2 photos and the forms filled in that they supply on the plane ready to present to the officer . Customs is no sweat either , make sure you have your form all filled out , never seen a bag opened .

e-visa for Cambodia

We will be flying in to PP then on to Hanoi. Do we need to get the VN visas ahead of time or can we them at the airport too?

Thanks,

You have to get visas for VN ahead of time. You can get them in Cambodia pretty easily if you have enough time on the ground.

Thanks a lot for the information ODBAll

Apparently, you can now get VN visas on line as well. They are quite inexpensive. Google it...

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The enigma of the Golden Mekong Hotel

This hotel (phnom penh) is listed in the lonely planet book but seems to be absolutely nowhere else, including the lonely planet website.

Have tried this site, travelfish, LP thorntree and google and cant get a mention of this place except for their own website.

Hotel looks decent enough (basic but cheap) and in a good location (i believe) behind the palace.

It also seems to be the only place in phnom penh that actually responds to emails (is that a good thing or not?) - well i have tried about 3/4 anyway with no luck (billabong and indochine2 are 2).

I have booked in now but has anyone stayed here? It looks ok from the website...

Interested in anyones thoughts. I know there was a previous post asking the same thing but a complete blank on the response front.

The enigma of the Golden Mekong Hotel (meant to be PP forum)

This hotel (phnom penh) is listed in the lonely planet book but seems to be absolutely nowhere else, including the lonely planet website.

Have tried this site, travelfish, LP thorntree and google and cant get a mention of this place except for their own website.

Hotel looks decent enough (basic but cheap) and in a good location (i believe) behind the palace.

It also seems to be the only place in phnom penh that actually responds to emails (is that a good thing or not?) - well i have tried about 3/4 anyway with no luck (billabong and indochine2 are 2).

I have booked in now but has anyone stayed here? It looks ok from the website...

Interested in anyones thoughts. I know there was a previous post asking the same thing but a complete blank on the response front.

Koh Rong Saloem Island, places to stay.

Hello there, I would like to know if anyone can recommend me places to stay in this Island. Thanks alot!!

Koh Rong Saloem Island, places to stay.

a number of people have had good things to say about here

http://www.lazybeachcambodia.com/Home.html

Koh Rong Saloem Island, places to stay.

Hello alr837 thanks alot for the website seems really nice place!! :) looking foward alot for this trip!!

No probs! Report back if you can and let me know how it is so i can think about adding it to my list of where to head next!

Enjoy

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Vietnamese Embassy Opening Hours

I am trying to find out what time the Vietnam embassy in Phnom Penh opens and closes.

I need to get a visa for Vietnam and will wait until I am in Cambodia, but I only have a limited time.

Vietnamese Embassy Opening Hours

1) I NEVER deal directly with the VN embassy, I have ALWAYS gone through an travel agent who can get the visa in 2 days for $31 / 2week visa $32 / 4 week visa

(Don%26#39;t ask me why $1 different for 2+weeks !! )

2) When you get to PP, if you are near St86 beside the PhnomPenh Hotel, turn left at the Mosque and there is a reavel agent down there on the right in %26#39;Backpacker land%26#39; who gets me my visas

Blue Lime Hotel: Good or Not Good... yet?

We really like the look of the newish hotel BlueLime (sister property of Pavilion) but the reviews here on TA indicate that they are having some electrical/plumbing, etc. issues. We understand that there are always unforeseen and unavoidable issues with any new hotel, restaurant, etc. and we want to believe that all the elements of the hotel will be in working condition and fully operational, but of course would not want to book and find they are still dealing with birthing issues. Does anyone know the operational status of the BlueLime? Are they still having operational snafus? We would stay at The Pavilion but they do not have a room for all the nights we require.

Blue Lime Hotel: Good or Not Good... yet?

Hi Kayeen. We also tried to book Pavilion but after being told it%26#39;s full, we decided to try Blue Lime. We%26#39;ll be leaving tomorrow and will let you know the condition of the hotel when we return next week.

Blue Lime Hotel: Good or Not Good... yet?

Thanks travelerKualaLumpur! We would really appreciate your feedback. Enjoy your trip!

Hi Kayeen. Had a lovely stay at Blue Lime. Wanted to do a review but couldn%26#39;t load the photos just yet, so I thought I%26#39;d just let you know how it went first.

The hotel was operating fine as far as I could tell. There were a few minor repairs and maintenance work going on in one of the rooms and around the pool, but it didn%26#39;t bother anyone and it certainly didn%26#39;t stop guests from enjoying the pool. Didn%26#39;t see any wires sticking out where they shouldn%26#39;t, LOL.

I think the hotel was quite full while I was there but it didn%26#39;t feel crowded at all. Overall, the hotel has a very cosy yet funky feel to it. The cabanas by the pool were just lovely to chill in. The staff, especially the self-proclaimed security guard c u m bell boy and the receptionist, Geraldine, were very friendly and cheerful. They really made me feel very welcome. The location is just great too. Right behind the National Musuem and Royal Palace and s short walk (about 10 mins) to the Riverside and Street 240.

Downside is there are no lifts, so if you don%26#39;t like climbings stairs, ask for a room on a lower floor. And do remember to print out the map and address from the website as most drivers do not know the place since it is quite new. And don%26#39;t be put off by the alleyway leading to the hotel. Once you enter the hotel%26#39;s gate, you%26#39;re in a different world.

Dear travelerKualaLumpur! What a thrill that you remembered my little post and were true to your%26#39;s with your perfect reply! What great news that you enjoyed your stay and that it is the charming place it promotes itself to be!! Nothing like a little firsthand report to give one full assurance! Stairs are no issue as long as it%26#39;s no more than four levels. So glad you enjoyed your stay! So thrilled for your positive and detailed reply! Glad too to hear there%26#39;s no exposed active wiring around the pool... I do hate stepping on live wires with wet feet while on vacation! Blue Lime here we come!!!!!!!

KitKatKL,

I am waiting patiently for your trip report. If you post one, I’ll be the first to read.

Welcome back TLK! Do you happen to know if internet access is available in guest rooms or only in the lobby at Blue lime?

I look forward to reading more about your trip :)

Thanks

KitKatKL Thank you

I didn’t realize you stayed there %26amp; like Land %26amp; Villy keen to read about your trip.

The Blue Lime was great! We completely enjoyed the property, service, facilities, room, decor and location!!! All aspects of the hotel were functioning in perfect order. Will write a review soon.

Hello,

We are looking to stay at the Blue Lime in March, and I%26#39;m wondering if there is a room we should request, or stay away from! There will be 5 of us traveling, so I%26#39;m thinking we will need a twin (superior or standard??) and the Triple.

Any thoughts would be welcome!

Thank you.

We stayed at The Pavilion for our first 2 nights in PP and loved it! So we tried to book rooms for our last 2 nights but it was full. We wandered off to the Blue Lime but they too would be full. Nevertheless they let us have a look round, and it was lovely!

The reason I am replying is thet seeing how disappointed we were at having nowhere lined up for our last 2 nights, the guy on reception asked us for our hotel criteria and got on the phone to a number of hotels on our behalf. Now, he had no need to do this, he just offered and went to loads of effort. That, fellow Trip Adviseans, is top service!

Hope they do well - based on this experience, they deserve it. Hats off to them.

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Map to Angor Wat

Hello,

When we buy the entrace ticket, will they provide us a walking map or any explantion?

Thanks

Map to Angor Wat

They don%26#39;t give you anything other than the ticket, which is good for most of the temples (a few farther out ones are separate fees). You won%26#39;t be walking around, though. The area is huge. Tuk tuks and cars are available for you to charter for a day or more, and guides are also an option if you want a person to show you around. Your hotel can set you up, or you can do it on your own.

You might browse www.canbypublications.com if you haven%26#39;t already. A guidebook would be a good investment, too.

Map to Angor Wat

http://www.cambodianonline.net/angkormap.htm

the map above may give you some insight into size of area where all the temples are.You will be visitng them via tuk tuk or car or bicycle if youre really keen !

ankor wat had a few places inside where there was information displayed about the frieze or some feature but the other temples were dismal in terms of information boards or displays which is sad really as they certainly taken the $$$$ off the tourists, so a small investment in signage wouldnt go astray ( theres been much said about the minister whos company owns the tourist rights to ankor wat- how much money it earns and how little of the $$$ comes back to cambodians)

I brought the book ancient ankor off one of the kids outside the temples , which had excellent information in it

get hold of a copy of the Lonely Planet guiodebook - either at home before you go to really read up on what you want to see or from any of the dozens of street vendors around SR or the angkor ark itself.

If you do some research before you go, you can then tell your tuk-tuk driver which temples you want to see. They will drop you at the first one, wait for you to come out, and take you on to the next one on you list - easy.

there are a number of drivers who can be contacted via email - some details are posted in the forums, others (like me) prefer to send that information via a PM)

there are also several booklets and/or folding maps available at some hotels and around town.

happy travels

helen

Hi there,

Thanks, I thought Angor Wat is the same a Machu Pichu, you buy ticket and walk aroung.

Okay, How much approximately will it cost to hire a taxi for a day to visit Angor Wat? I just do not want to overapy.

Thanks

We hired a tuk tuk in Siem Reap and his daily rate was about US$12 - US$15. He took us out to the temples in the morning, back to the hotel for lunch and a swim, and then back out to the temples for an afternoon session.

Our driver had relatively good english which helped as he gave us some insight to the temples.

We have some pics and stories of our visit here... www.bobandjanette.com which may prove useful

Happy %26amp; safe travels

The Villa Siem Reap vs. The Kool Hotel

Am drawn to these two hotels, honestly because of the reviews. And though both of them do not have swimming pools, with the limited time we have I don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ll be wasting my time in the water.

So which is better in terms of location? Quality of accommodation and service?

Mekong Express from Battambang to Phnom Penh

Is it possible to take the Mekong Express from Battambang to Phnom Penh? How long would it take?

Also is it better to take the boat from Seim Reap to Battambang or better the reverse way? Finally, should we really go to Battambang? I thought that it might be fun to take the cooking class there and to also ride the bamboo train. We plan on spending two nights in Battambang. Would this be enough time?

Mekong Express from Battambang to Phnom Penh

Hi, I know that this answer may be too late for you, but as I have just returned home from Cambodia and other SE Asian countries, I wanted to respond to this thred.

Firstly, as far as I know Mekong Express bus does not run from Battambang to PP. We used Paramount Angkor Express, which is a local ';VIP'; bus. I was airconditioned, but that was all to make it ';VIP';. Good run though, 5 hours, no incidents.

Secondly, Battambang has been a beautiful town sometimes, there are beautiful French villas and mansions, wide river boulevards, some interesting wats, good Market etc. I only wish I had seen the place 50 years ago! Now it is badly in need for repairs and cleaning up!

I dont know about the boat trip, as I have not done it myself, but I have heard people enjoying it.

Mekong Express from Battambang to Phnom Penh

Thank you Ramblergirl,

We will be in Cambodia in July and I%26#39;m trying to get our trip together. Much appreciate your info on the bus to PP. How long were you in Battambang? We wanted to see more of Cambodia than temples and killing fields. Seeing how the people live is important to us. Did you get a guide while you were there?

Hi again,

we were only 2 days in Battambang, wish it could have been a longer stay. We stayed in Teo Hotel, which is very clean, quiet and friendly place. We did not have a quide, but tuk tuk drivers are good and knowledgeable, you can always hire one of them.

We are staying at La Villa and appreciate your info.

Cambodia vs. Thailand

In the very early stages of planning a trip to VietNam, Cambodia %26amp;/or Thailand. The problem is we probably have about 3 weeks. First issue we need to decide on is where to spend more time - Cambodia or Thailand? What are the pro%26#39;s %26amp; con%26#39;s?

We are early 60s, quite fit, and have been to a lot of countries but not in Asia (except as a VN vet). Have never done a tour (but thinking here is the place to do it for the convenience) enjoy culture more than ';things';, dive, willing to get lost. However, also enjoy a comfortable bed and willing to spend a fair $ for it.

Sure would be interested in hearing your opinions.

Thanks for your time %26amp; input!!!!

Cambodia vs. Thailand

If you only have 3 weeks, then I%26#39;d be inclined to say I%26#39;d stick to cambodia and vietnam, and depending on where you fly/out of, then 1 or 2 nights in Bangkok

As you are quite well travelled, I wouldn%26#39;t think that you would need to consider a tour group, it is very easy to travel yourself - get a good tuk tuk or driver, and it will be fine!

There is a wide variety of accomodations to suit all budgets, so I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll find something you like - what sort of price are you looking at? There are comfy guest houses from under 30$ a night, or upwards of 100

if you search through the posts here, you%26#39;ll see that the bare minimum people would suggest for Cambodia is 3 days in SR and 2 days in PP, that will enable you to see the main sites, and get a bit of shopping in. Some people can spend less time, others much more. And there is much more to see than just SR and PP

Cambodia vs. Thailand

I agree with previous posteer regarding itinerary, but to really get the most out of Vietnam, I%26#39;d spend all 3 weeks there. Once you%26#39;re in Vietnam, you%26#39;ll understand why.

doomo arigatoo! I appreciate your input. I think we can stretch it out to 4 weeks. Figure we will only take this one opportunity to travel to that part of the world and want to experience more than just VietNam. I have to admit that I am rather nervous about going back to VietNam (bad memories), but am confident I will get through it.

Well if you%26#39;ve got 4 weeks then, definitely head to Siem Reap, to see the Angkor Wat area (spend 4 days there) and then down to Phnom Penh for the remainder of the trip.

We were in our mid 60%26#39;s and doing a first ever trip to Asia last year. We took 5 weeks and decided to see as much as we could as we might not get back again. We only spent 3 nights/4 days in Siem Reap but they were the highlight of our trip. We considered a tour from Bangkok but after reading the recommendations on this forum we went on our own, booking our hotel on line. We also booked a guide and driver, which made our trip more special, but it is not really necessary - we just like the security of having things preplanned. We spent 11 nights in Thailand and chose to spend most of that in Khao Lak so we could snorkel the Similan Islands. Thailand has so many places to visit it was hard to limit ourselves but felt we got a sense of what Thailand was like even with the short time there - the same can be said of our Cambodia trip. Unfortunately, we did not include Vietnam in our trip, so maybe we will have to head back that way again as it is supposed to be spectacular!

Hi Jocko,

You will be amazed how your trepidation about going back to vietnam will just vanish once you are there. I%26#39;m not a vet (too young) but we found the vietnamese people so lovely. they do not appear to harbour any anamosity towards those involved in the %26#39;american war%26#39; as they call it. Perhaps it is their Buddhist faith which calms their lives. I felt very safe and very comfortable in vietnam, and until our trip to Cambodia, it was my favourite holiday destination in Asia.

If you have 4 weeks - spend 3 in vietnam and 1 in Cambodia - and you won%26#39;t regret a minute.

forget also, the %26#39;convenience%26#39; of a tour and go it alone - there are enough people on TA to provide you all the info you will need and now with the internet, you can book online at ease.

for cambodia check out

canbypublications.com/siemreap/sritinerary.h…

- a great site for getting all that %26#39;early info%26#39; planning done.

we stayed at the Day Inn - we too like to have our creature comforts at the end of the day but are quite happy to rough it during the day. We rarely eat in hotel restaurants - prefering to explore the streets and see what takes our fancy.

can email you (or PM) a contact for our tuk-tuk driver if you wish. also check out my JBR %26#39;Cambodia Just wonderful%26#39; for what we did in our 4 days in SR (wish we had more and are planning on returning in march or april 2010)

happy planning

Helen

Thanks for the info and the encouragement. Any and all information, referrrals, suggestions, etc will be taken seriously and greatly appreciated.

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SR in 3 days

Hi All,

Reading from the posts, there is no need to get a tour guide.

I will arrive to SR about 9 am on Friday to Sunday evening, I plan to get a visa on arrival, then heading to the hotel in town. Now, Should I get a three days pass to the temple or please suggest any ideas.

Beside Ankor Wat, is there any other sites that really worth a visit with my 3 days in SR,

SR in 3 days

Hi

We did 3 days in SR in September. Check out my JBR (Cambodia... Just Wonderful) for an idea of what we saw.

I%26#39;d also recommend you check out

canbypublications.com/siemreap/sritinerary.h…

It%26#39;s a good place to start and will give you an idea of basic times required to see each of the temples - this way you can get an idea of how much you can fit into a day because there is way more to see in SP than just Angkor Wat.

Don%26#39;t miss Preah Khan first thing in the morning before the crowds arrive - it is beautiful and very scerene.

Don%26#39;t forget to ask your tuk-tuk driver to lunch - chatting to them will allow you to learn way more about Cambodia than you%26#39;d ever get from a guide book.

I also agree - no need for a guide - get lonely planet and read up.

happy planning

Helen

SR in 3 days

A 3 day pass works out economical at US$40. Angkor Wat is just one temple in the area. You will easily occupy your time exploring the remaining temples.

As mentioned there is no need to get a guide. It will help though if your tuk tuk driver can speak relatively good english as he will give you loads of information.

Pics and stories of our recent Cambodia trip here... www.thebobmarsh.com

Happy %26amp; safe travels

Hi All,

Thanks for the very good information, now, another question:

About the 3-day Pass, is it for Angkor Wat only or for most of the Temple in the area too?

There is a huge complex that covers the Angkor area. You can see Angkor Wat included in either the ';small circuit'; (a cluster of forest temples in one area accessible on foot and can be done in 1-3 hours depending on how devoted to temples you are) or the ';large circuit'; which has to be navigated by tuk-tuk, car or motorcycle as the temples are fairly spread out. You can spend a day each at each circuit. (You can also ask the driver to take you to the Roluos Group either day, about 13 kms outside of the Angkor Area, very worthwhile, and you will need the pass for that, as well as some extra cash for the driver.) On your third day, you can opt to see some of the outlying temples such as Banteay Srei (pass is needed), Kbal Spean or Beng Mealea. Your driver will cahrge you mreo to get there as it is a bit of a haul (45 min one way) to get to any of those palces. Check out Akira%26#39;s landmine museum if you hit Banteay Srei. Definitely worth a look. Cheers!

Hi Maneki-neko,

You mentioned about

**';Small Circus'; do you mean Angor Thom, Bayon, Elephant Terrace, Angor Wat and Phnom Baken, including sunset. I believe, I can just walk to see this area.

**Large Circus'; do you mean Preah Khan, Tasom, Tre Rup, Pasat Kravan and Ta Prphm? I need a full day taxi service?

I am so confused about this trip, Can I get a driver (car) from the hotel, do you know how much will it charge for a day?

**Where is the best place to see sun rise, and sunset? How much more the taxi will charge for early service?

You think how much more I have to pay for a taxi to got to Banteay Srei?

Thanks

I just sent you a private message. Let me know if you get it as the PM system has been weird here lately.

Cheers

Hello Maneki-neko,

You said you just sent me a private message, I did not receive it, could you please resend the message.

Thanks

I just sent it agian. It looks like it went through...

Hi Maneki-neko

I%26#39;m also trying to work out an itinerary for my trip to Siem Reap in April. Have been reviwing lots of options on the internet and the options are confusing. I would really welcome any expert input that you could add. Would you be able to also send me any specific information on where to go first, where is best to see sunrise or sunset? We will be there for 3 days. Many thanks - Lally

Guys, get the guide book!!! Lonely Planet makes a good one! This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and you want to make the most of it, right? I have no idea what you like, and there is enough in Siem Reap to keep you bust for 2 weeks! (I just returned from 7 days there, this was my second trip to Siem Reap). Once you figure out how long you want to stay, what you want to see and do, and what your budget is, come back here and we will give you details and more details! Cheers!

software

Do you really need to prebook your tour?

Arriving on the evening of the last Friday of February. Only have the full day of Saturday and Sunday to see the sights as we are leaving afternoon of Monday.

Am contemplating if I will book those advertised room+tour packages, or contact a driver and guide by email, or just arrange with the driver and guides there.

What would be best?

Do you really need to prebook your tour?

No need to pre book any tours. If your arriving by aircraft you will be met by 100s of tuk tuk drivers at the airport all wanting to be your guide for the next few days.

Select a driver who has reasonable good english as he will pass on plenty of info during your tours. Average cost is about US$15 per day.

Take a look at our recent trip here for some ideas... www.bobandjanette.com

Happy %26amp; safe travels

Do you really need to prebook your tour?

With such a short amount of time you might want to make sure that you are going to get a great experience. If English is your preferred language a great English speaking guide can be reached at angkor-guides.com. you will not be disappointed!

Do it when you get there. There are DOZENS upon dozens of people who will be willing to schlep you/guide you anywhere. According to my buddy who lives there, there%26#39;s not such a glut of tourists at the moment so you have nothing to worry about.

Its better to book ahead as the best guides are in high demand. Taking a driver at the airport is a lottery; some will be OK but drivers are not allowed to guide; so they will leave you at the temple gates.

A good Guide can really enhance your experience, so if you can get a good recommendation I%26#39;d take it.

Anybody Played Golf in Siem Reap

Traveling end of Feb to play golf and view the temples. Would like to hear any experiences relating to golfing Cambodia. Thanks

Anybody Played Golf in Siem Reap

hi, there are two golf courses currently opened here in Siem Reap, the more popular one is Angkor Golf Resort, Nick Faldo designed course just ten minutes from their partner hotel, Victoria Angkor Resort %26amp; Spa. they offer shuttle transfers and if you stay at Victoria Angkor, they give pretty good rates as they are the preferred hotel partner (and also the place where Nick Faldo stays whenever he visits Siem Reap). check out the site at www.victoriahotels.asia, they also offer interesting packages.

Anybody Played Golf in Siem Reap

When I was in Siem Reap last year after the tour at temples. I went to play golf. It is on the way to airport, 16Km from city. It was great! My favorite sport.

Anyone interested in sharing a guide?

Hello- I will be in Siem Reap Feb 18-21. Would anyone that is going to be there the same dates be interested in sharing a guide to the temples/surrounding area? Thought I%26#39;d give the forum a try..

Anyone interested in sharing a guide?

Hey PP just above you from Seattle. I will be there and gone before you By 1-2 day%26#39;s But, I%26#39;ve been told with all the info provided (at the entrance) just take a Tuk tuk to a certain temple and explore on your own. Then another Tuk tuk and continue on. The guide books provide all the info that a ';guide'; will provide. However, Guides can be warm and useful. Just trying to save you a few bucks.

Regards,

Anyone interested in sharing a guide?

Dear Poshpacker,

I have just returned from a trip to Siem Reap. I was referred, by a friend, to a guide there who showed me around Angkor Wat and the surrounding area. No doubt a guide book would have provided me all the factual information about the Wats and surrounding area but what made my trip so incredibly special was being shown around by a local who loves his country, his people and his culture and takes great delight in sharing his culture with others. His sense of order of which Wat to visit first, and when to go where, proved to be perfect. When the sightseeing was done I really appreciated how the order in which we visited the different Wats enhanced my enjoyment of each. In addition to guiding, Chhay is also a University student and is studying subjects that enhance his skills as a guide.

He took care of all arrangements prior to my visit, including booking me into good budget accommodation (a service you may or may not want to take advantage of.) Of course he can book you into any class accommodation you desire. I hired a car and driver to get around to the Wats but other means of transportation are available. Chhay prides himself on offering tourists ';the smooth way'; (an expression I have taken home with me). He is very honest and trustworthy. His focus is to give people a positive experience of his country and at the same time meet their needs, desires and budget constraints of which he was extremely respectful.

I have no doubt that my experience of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap and Cambodia was greatly enhanced by my experience with Chhay.

If you are interested in pursuing this referral Chhay can be reached at chhay2005@hotmail.com, +85512444079, web www.angkorwattrip.com.

Wishing you a fabulous trip.

AdShToronto

Traveling solo to Phnom Penh & Ho Chin Minh City

Hi,

I am female, who will be traveling solo to Phnom Penh later this year and will also be visiting Ho Chin Minh City, Vietnam during that time. Was wondering if it is safe or do i need to be worried about anything? Would also appreciate it if anyone could suggest places to stay (safe and clean) as well as the dos and don%26#39;ts. Appreciate it and thanks in advance.

Dharsh

Traveling solo to Phnom Penh %26amp; Ho Chin Minh City

Safe, yes. Use common sense- leave the gold jewelry at home and watch your valuables like a hawk. Never leave anything of value in your room.You will need to dress conservatively (cover shoulders, no shorts) when visiting the Palace in Phnom Penh. It is also nto advised to be walking the backstreets in Phnom Penh late at night, although the riverside area where a lot of good restaurants are is pretty safe. Don%26#39;t know your budget, but you can check here for general hotel/guesthouse info-

http://www.canbypublications.com/

2 days in sihanoukville

Hi

I am going to Cambodia as part of a cruise and are being taken to sihanoukville. What should we see whilst there and are we close enough to visist other places of interest??

2 days in sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is mostly beaches, not much more. Go there to enjoy the sun and local food. And beer...

2 days in sihanoukville

As mentioned Sihanoukville is a beach resort area.

If you wanted to you could do an overnighter to the capital, Phnom Penh. It is about a 3-4 hr taxi ride which would be very economical if shared with 3 others.

We have some pics and stories of our trip to Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh here.... www.bobandjanette.com which may prove useful.

Happy %26amp; safe travels

You can also opt for a bus to Phnom Penh- only $7 and it takes 4 hours. Buses run from 8am-noon, and from Phnom Penh back to Sihanoukville similar times.

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streamreader

Anybody to go Siem Reap on Fed 20th - 23rd

Looking for travel-mates!!

Siem Reap beginning of June

Does it usually rain a ton at the beginning of June in Siem Reap? I don%26#39;t mind rain, but if it%26#39;s so much that it halts activities that could be a problem.

Siem Reap beginning of June

We spent 3 weeks in Cambodia during May/June and the weather was hot and dry, with only a very occassional afternoon shower.

In Siem Reap we spent most lunch time in the pool before heading back out to the temples of an afternoon. Some pics and stories here.. www.bobandjanette.com may be of some use to show what conditions we experienced. Sihanoukville was definately beach weather.

Happy %26amp; safe holidays

Siem Reap beginning of June

It is hot and dry in May, but in June it rains some. Both months are good to visit because it will not be crowded. Thanks. Have a good trip.

Photo required for Angor Wat ticket?

Hello,

I read from some website, it mentioned that photo is required for ticket to temples?

I know I have to pay $40 for entrace fee, but not sure about photo@@!!??

However, how many photos is required for visa at arrival? some website said 2 photos but some said, it is only one photo for visa??!!

very confusing.

Thanks

Photo required for Angor Wat ticket?

Your photo is taken when you go to purchase your ticket and it is instantly on your ticket. You go to the ticket office which is a couple of ks out of town your tuk tuk driver or driver will do this before going anywhere else.

Photo required for Angor Wat ticket?

US$40 will get you a 3 day temple pass and no photo required as it is all digital now.

Buy your tickets after 5pm and you can stay in the park for free that evening getting a head start or watching sunset over Angkor Wat.

It pays to carry a couple of passport photos, 1 or 2 reqd for visa on arrival.

Pics and stories of our recent trip here... www.bobandjanette.com which may help

Happy %26amp; safe travels

Thanks

BobnJanette,

Do you mean if I buy the 3-day ticket after 5pm, I can hang around AAP for the evening and the actual Day 1 starts the next morning?

Ami

That%26#39;s correct. Similarly if you only have one day, you can buy after 5pm and stay in the park to get a head start and watch sunset.

Your time on the pass starts from when the park opens the following morning.

Thanks, BobnJanette.

By the way, I%26#39;ve read your travel blogs - very nice and neatly done. I%26#39;m impressed and will read from time to time.

Cheers!

Ami

looking for a worthwhile cause to make a documentary on

I have six to eight teenagers who are looking for a story to tell that will benefit a local cause any ideas?

looking for a worthwhile cause to make a documentary on

One such place that springs to mind is The Lighthouse Orphanage situated on the outskirts of Phnom Penh just across the Tonle-sap river . The man who runs it has a reputation for honesty and he is the property fixer-upper also , no government funding here .It could do with some attention being brought to it , should give it the boost it deserves .

looking for a worthwhile cause to make a documentary on

You should contact AAC (association Artisans Cambodia) in Phnom Penh who works with around 50 organizations in Cambodia which supported disabled persons (www.aac.org.kh).One of them is Samatoa based in Siem Reap. They are very open and you can visit the workshop in siem Reap and the silk farm in Phnom Srok (www.samatoa.com).

please see childrenofcambodia.org they have several projects in Siem Reap including teaching street kids at a free school that a couple of monks set up.

Cambodian New Year

Just planned our trip and realised we are going to in Siem Reap at New Year, is this going to make it tricky to get accomodation, tours etc or is it business at usual? finally does anyone know if this impacts on prices. Thanks very much, just bad planning usually try to avoid public holidays !

Cambodian New Year

I assume you mean Khmer New Year in April.

It won%26#39;t affect hotels and tours too much.

Some shops/banks might be closed.

It might affect availability of seats on buses, etc. You may want to book those ahead of time.

It%26#39;s a festive time to be in Cambodia.

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Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

Anyone know how long it takes by taxi from Airport and how much it costs and what the alternatives are? Arriving late afternoon, travelling alone, and not that intrepid!!

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

Personally I would stay overnight in PP and get the Mekong Express bus the next morning. Taking that route would get you into Siem Reap about 1pm.

We have some pics and story of our trip here...www.bobandjanette.com which may prove useful.

Happy %26amp; safe travels

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

The boat ride is much better than the coach in my opinion, but it does cost you a bit more. $35-40 US Gets you into Siem Reap around 12:30. :)

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Bangkok to Phnom Penh - Bus?

We are probably flying into Bangkok and spending some time there, but definitely want to see Pnhom Penh and other sites in Cambodia.

Would the best way to get into Cambodia from Bangkok a bus? If so, how long is the trip and appox. how much would a ticket be?

Bangkok to Phnom Penh - Bus?

We took a minivan than taxi from Bangkok to Seam Reap. Be SURE to read talesofasia.com before attempting this. We felt it was safe, just a LOT of rip-offs. You need to be aware to avoid them. I would also highly recommend you have someone on the Cambodia side meet you. This will help you avoid a lot of the problems.

We paid $20pp for minivan which attempted to rip us off by stopping at a restaurant for us to purchase Visas. We paid $50 for two for a taxi from PoiPet to Seam Reap, which was great. Arranging ahead of time lets you avoid the taxi mofia, the tuk tuk rip offs, and the guest house touts. I can recommend someone if you like.

Bangkok to Phnom Penh - Bus?

I forgot the timing. It took about 9 hours from Bangkok to Siem Reap.

I would fly with Air Asia as I just did in January. Fast, Cheap, and Easy!

10 days enough?

Hi everyone

I%26#39;m planning on travelling through Cambodia on my way to vietnam. Planned for about 10 days - is this enough and where do you recommend I go (aside from Angkor Wat) ...

Thanks!

Mel

10 days enough?

Unless you are an archeologist or art historian or something similar I would think that 10 days are over the top. Depending where you stay (with pool %26amp; gym?) you can use the days for relaxing. Don%26#39;t forget it is a hot place %26amp; stumbling over rocks %26amp; stones and up and down will leave you exhausted aftr 3 days.

There isn%26#39;t much else to do in the Siem Reap area. In General infrastructure for tourists is still rather basic. Roads are being improved but only main routes so far. Getting to more remote areas is still not so easy.

If you are really a keen sightseer then try to get to Kohker ruins. Mines have been cleared (but stick to the paths). You will have to find out in Sie Reap or Phnom Penh how to get there. A bit tiring but I think it is worth it. Also make sure about entrance charges. Cambodia changes rules overnight.

When you are in Siem Reap go to Barrio restaurant. Lots of their expat guests work for Apsara (Angor restauration people). Many of the French work for them and will know about Kohker. Perhaps you can meet a guy called Eric, a French arechologist.

Jemima

10 days enough?

We spent 4 days in Siem Reap (which allowed us to see 15 temples) and 3 in Phnom Penh. If I did it again, I%26#39;d trim it to 2 days in PP and go to Sihaunoukville for a few days.

Hi Mel

Highlights of Cambodia:

Pnohm Pehn: at least 2/3 days

Angkor Wat: 3/4 days

Kampot: including Bogor Hill and Kep (both definitely worth a

visit:) 3 days

Sihanoukville: 2days

Mutua

10 days is more than enough. Spend 5 days of it is Siem Reap. Aside from the temples, go an experience eating insects and bugs, an experience you won%26#39;t forget .

travelling with lil children

We plan to travel to PP at the end of the year with children 4 years old n 2 years old.

Was wondering about other places of interest other than the museums which I am concern that it%26#39;s a lil too much for the children. We are not really into temples either:) So far, we were told the palace n the quay are good choices.

How about the cruise is it safe to bring children?

We plan to be there for 4 days n 3 nites... Is it too long? Will there be enough for us to do?

travelling with lil children

Hi there

We just returned from a week in Cambodia with our 2 children (5 and 3) and found it a very easy place to visit. We were only in PP for 1.5 days, but felt another day or so would have been good to get a real feel for the city. We stayed at a great hotel called The Kabiki. It was very central, designed with families in mind and had 2 pools (one for the little kids %26amp; one for us bigger kids). It also has a restaurant attached with pretty good food in case you want to eat there. Our kids could only handle a little site-seeing at a time (they did like the palace etc), so we broke it up with stops at cafes etc. Ours loved the chocolate milkshakes at Cafe Fresco (bottom of the FCC building). We also found a great cafe (Le Jardin, 16, street 360) a lovely outdoor setting with a sandpit, treehouse %26amp; toys! Also, at the base of Wat Phnom is a large outdoor play area with (surprisingly) very good quality equipment. Ours had a great time playing there, but it does get quite busy. I hope that helps? Cheers.

travelling with lil children

We plan to travel to PP at the end of the year with children 4 years old n 2 years old.

Was wondering about other places of interest other than the museums which I am concern that it%26#39;s a lil too much for the children. We are not really into temples either:) So far, we were told the palace n the quay are good choices.

How about the cruise is it safe to bring children?

We plan to be there for 4 days n 3 nites... Is it too long? Will there be enough for us to do?

travelling with lil children

Hi there

We just returned from a week in Cambodia with our 2 children (5 and 3) and found it a very easy place to visit. We were only in PP for 1.5 days, but felt another day or so would have been good to get a real feel for the city. We stayed at a great hotel called The Kabiki. It was very central, designed with families in mind and had 2 pools (one for the little kids %26amp; one for us bigger kids). It also has a restaurant attached with pretty good food in case you want to eat there. Our kids could only handle a little site-seeing at a time (they did like the palace etc), so we broke it up with stops at cafes etc. Ours loved the chocolate milkshakes at Cafe Fresco (bottom of the FCC building). We also found a great cafe (Le Jardin, 16, street 360) a lovely outdoor setting with a sandpit, treehouse %26amp; toys! Also, at the base of Wat Phnom is a large outdoor play area with (surprisingly) very good quality equipment. Ours had a great time playing there, but it does get quite busy. I hope that helps? Cheers.

best way to sihanoukville from phnom penh airport?

Anyone know what the best way to sihanoukville from the airport in phnom penh? Is there a direct bus or do I have to go to a bus station in town? Are there any minibus services that are affordable? Thanks for any info

best way to sihanoukville from phnom penh airport?

Buses run from town to Sihanoukville morning and afternoon but not at night. You would have to get into town to get a seat.

Taxis are quite cheap especially if your sharing with other passengers. You should allow 3-4 hrs for the journey.

We have some pics and story of our trip here... www.bobandjanette.com which may be useful.

Happy %26amp; safe travels

best way to sihanoukville from phnom penh airport?

Well I%26#39;ve got a story about this, that maybe I can give as a good tip. Last week after spending about 17 days in Cambodia, mostly in Sihanoukville, my wife %26amp; I decided through my friend who lives there to arrange a taxi at about 40 dollars back to the airport. I knew like on the way down it takes about 4-5 hours by Paramount Angkor bus which was OK but we thought we%26#39;d go direct plus with all the heavy luggage. When he arrived I asked him how long to airport he said 3hrs, I thought gosh thats a bit quick, then 10 minutes when we got out of downtown snooky I could see why! For over 2 and a half hours sheer hellraising driving- overtaking on long rows of lorries, cars, tuk tuks COWS! You name it, and even one or two overtaking in front of us and were right behind No.3-4 up hill inclines, using mobile whilst overtaking, no seat belts, the time we got off we%26#39;d aged 10 years! People may say I was unlucky, but from what I was witnessing it seem like wacky races on the artery road to PP. To top it all, we were well early for our flight and sitting there waiting for our check in for ages, it can only happen in Asia cant it,-Whats on the TV right in front of our eyes?? The showing of Plane crash investigation on National Geographic Channel how good is that!! Right in the airport. My point is take this into consideration if you decide to use tarnsport to airport, looking back we%26#39;d opt for the bus now. Good luck.

You just described a similar trip to what we did, just ours was in a bus. The common denominator isthe driver, not the vehicles.

There is an answer to your predicament , I have known and used a respectable taxi owner in Phom Penh for 3 years (+) , he is calm and speaks good English , e-mail him and see if he can accomodate you .Colin .

rasi_pang@yahoo.com

I have only once been on a bus with a somewhat reckless driver to Sihanook-ville , have not heard of one going off the road , which appears to be a common occurance in Thailand on some routes .

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Why is it so difficult to decide on where to stay?

Well better than having so limited choices...

Looking at rooms from USD$30-70. And up to now, am very surprised that with this amount, you can book a cheap hotel, or an expensive hostel room, or a boutique hotel. I guess the hotel categories have thin lines here.

Reading the reviews made it a lot more confusing.

So I need some help please since my trip is end of February already and havent made my reservations yet.

Am looking for a good, clean, safe place to stay for 4 days and 3 nights. Aside from the temples, I%26#39;d like to try a lot of food and do a bit of shopping, so am actually looking into somewhere near the city center (walking distance). A lot of reviews mentioned the need for a swimming pool after a hot day at the temples so i guess I%26#39;d need that too.

So far am looking into Stueng Siem Reap hotel, The Kool hotel, and Soria Moria, unless there are newly opened boutique hotels recently close (walking distance) to the markets and center, and with a pool.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

Why is it so difficult to decide on where to stay?

Hi implusetraveller,

I stayed at Steung Siem Reap in sept. 2006 in the first building. At that time the second building had not yet opened. So, my information may not be up-to-date.

Location is great: in a quiet and small street, less than 5 min-walk from pub street, money changer, old market.

My room was comfortable, clean and quiet (double-glazed windows).

Breakfast was ok but not fantastic. Internet was very very very slow.

Heard that the second building - now opened - has a swimming pool.

Why is it so difficult to decide on where to stay?

Hi,

I was is Siem Reap 3 days ago and stayed at the Bou Savy Hotel. Three of us paid $18.00 per night with free breakfast ( 2 eggs, coffee, baguette, jam plus banana and pineapple) The room had aircon, hot water, tv and was safe. It was not in the center of town but this is not a problem in Siem Reap as the town center and Pub Street in particular is only around 5 minutes away by Tuktuk which for which I paid $1.50 per ride for the 3 of us.

It had no pool but we did not find it to be a must.

It is a small guest house with only 25 rooms but we liked it that way. The owner runs the place and was very helpful in everyway.

I am just putting this as an alternative for you.

Enjoy your trip Kabayan.

During our stay in Siem Reap we stayed at the Day Inn and couldn%26#39;t have been happier. Magnificent swimming pool and a fantastic full buffet breakfast each morning.

They had a great internet special which was something like pay for 3 and stay 4 with free airport pick-up.

We have some pics of the hotel and our trip here... www.bobandjanette.com which may prove useful.

Happy %26amp; safe travels

We tried to book the Day Inn for March 9 and it was booked out. We have chosen to stay at the Steung instead.

Lindy.

Try the Bopha Angkor. On the river just across from the center of town. Saltwater pool. Very relaxed and in your price range.

Bangkok-Siem Reap by bus

Has anyone done Bangkok-Siem Reap-Bangkok by bus? How bearable is it?

Bangkok-Siem Reap by bus

If you buy a bus ticket in Bangkok thru to Siem Reap expect visa and money change scams. you will be invariably be sold to a commission paying guest house after arriving late and have to negotiate with a GH manager who has paid money in advance to get you there!

In low season the situation gets worse; so it’s best to contact your hotel for a car pick up to take you to your chosen hotel.

Going by Public bus or train to Aranyaprathet is best and get a taxi from the border. Only buy your visa when you have passed out of Thailand or better still get an Cambodia E Visa online Ignore the persuasive touts who will tell you otherwise.

Cars from the border and buses are now taking people to a central point in Siem Reap where tuk tuk drivers are now taking people to commission paying guests houses and telling customers that their chosen hotel is closed or not good. I run a small hotel here and almost everyone who comes via Poipet has some kind of problem . The only solution is to book a car in advance which includes an outrageous $20 tax to the authorities, making the cost $60 for the 3 hour journey . At least you will get to your chosen hotel without hassle.

If you want to avoid this you will have to pay the overpriced fares on Bangkok Airways.

It’s better to avoid Thailand altogether and go to Malaysia and fly Air Asia direct to Siem Reap

Siem Reap.

Bangkok-Siem Reap by bus

Thanks for the info. Maybe it will be less problematic to have a fully arranged package from Bangkok, that includes hotel, transport and tours.

I would avoid all packages from Bangkok.

The agencies look very good, claim to be TAT Tourist Authority of Thailand agents; but the likelihood of being scammed is still high.

Having taken this trip several times, I second what peace is saying. Don%26#39;t do a tour and don%26#39;t take a bus on the cambodian side, taxi instead.

If you%26#39;re concerned about being able to get a good taxi, have your guesthouse/hotel arrange the pick up.

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