| G Proske |
10 August 2005 |
Stayed at Inter-Continental Phnom Penh - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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You always need taxis in Phnom Penh, so the location is not really a problem. Go to the Russian Market and see one of the most nicest tourist markets in Asia. Very cheap souvenirs.
Silver Pagoda, King's Palace an National Museum are average. Not to compare with temples in Bangkok. Two days are enough for sightseeing in Phnom Penh.
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| C Bachmann |
17 April 2005 |
Stayed at Raffles Hotel Le Royal - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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We had 2 weeks to spend which seems quite fitting to take in most of the highlights: 3nights PNP, car to Battambang, next morning boat trip to Angkor, 3 full days Angkor, flight to PNP and car via Kampot (overnight) and Bokor to Sihanoukville. It was a good experience to see smaller towns like Battambang and Kampot, which do not feature too many interesting things but give you some impression of "normal life" besides all the bars and internationalised restaurants in the more touristy places. The roads to both towns are sealed and in good condition. Be aware that during the dry season boats from Battambang take more than 7 hours (we even had to go by pickup for the first 1,5h - extremly dusty experience).
Take a taxi from the pier to SiemReap since the road is very bad. Angkor: If you know vaguely which temples you want to see, it is easy enough to hire a tuctuc (usually through your hotel) for the day (USD 12) and the driver will tell you which things to do first etc. Even during the hottest season I wouldnīt recommend taking a taxi since a) the difference in temperature can be quite dangerous and b) the tuktuks offers more direct contact to the environment. (Donīt be afraid: practically all roads around Angkor are sealed). Try "Khmer Kitchen" next to Old market for delicous and diversified Khmer food and donīt miss the Apsara Theatre. In Kampot the new "Long House" has a nice outward appearance (havenīt seen the rooms)- unfortunately the food is quite westernized. Bokor hill station is nice for the trip through the jungle and the spooky feeling at the remains of the hotel but donīt expect more than a fine half-day excursion.
We spent the last days at Sokha Beach which offers all you can expect from a new resort (=lacks a bit of atmosphere) and has a magnificent private beach and a good seafood restaurant. All other beaches we saw (though principally of the same quality) were rather dirty (plastic etc). Donīt miss Claudeīs crow-nest for dinner - excellent wines and wonderful seafood. In PNP, SiemReap and Sihanoukville free copies of restaurant/hotel guides are available: very useful and reliable!!
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| E Walstedt |
27 January 2005 |
Stayed at Cambodiana Hotel - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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The restaurant by the pool serves good food with a nice view of the river (probably too hot April-June however). As early morning walk North along Sisowath Quay as the sun comes up is highly recommended.
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| A Forsyth |
28 December 2004 |
Stayed at Pacific - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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After a couple of days in Phnom Penh, I travelled by boat to Siem Reap. If you don't already have a hotel booking in Siem Reap, it is a good idea to enquire of your Phnom Penh hotel about partner hotels in Siem Reap as they will also send someone to pick you up from the boat. After exploring the temples at Angkor, I went on a very scenic river journey to Battambang. The river is very low this season, so it took about nine hours. From Battambang back to Phnom Penh I took a shared taxi. For the four hour journey door-to-door it cost only 10 dollars. Very efficient!
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| G Brown |
27 August 2004 |
Stayed at Raffles Hotel Le Royal - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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Great little restaurant is Rega's, just near the Holiday International hotel, itself just near the French and British embassies. Enjoy a wonderful three course French meal for just US$5. The chocolate mousse is superb. And a great place for massage is Bliss on Street 240. The treatment rooms are in a stunningly renovated colonial building. Have a steam and plunge in their pool as well. And if you like organza, measure your windows and have curtains made here very cheaply at the Russian market. Organza is a buck fifty a metre and it costs about the same to ask a seamstress to sew curtains to your design.
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| J Goss |
27 June 2004 |
Stayed at Holiday Villa Phnom Penh - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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Central market and Russian market are nice trips. For those interested in "dark tourism": Tuol Sleng is a gruesome must-see; the "Killing fields" at Chuong Ek is a long drive, and it is not well preserved, but it can be a moving experience. Take plenty of sunscreen and water for the boat trip to Siem Reap!
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| A Yngve |
15 May 2003 |
Stayed at FCC Phnom Penh - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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Visited during low season. Then no need to prebook transport for sightseeing. We took a moto to the Tour Sleng Museum, but had already booked a driver for the "Killing Fields" and a tour outside Phnom Penh.
After Phnom Penh we went by air to Siem Reap to visit Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat. In Siem Reap we stayed at Yaklom Angkor Lodge, with small simple cottages and a very good Thai restaurant attached. For touring Angkor Wat we had booked a car via Siem Reap Tourist Service, with a very good English speaking driver. We were very pleased with our journey. But coming from Malaysia, we found Cambodia a bit pricey. You will spend more money than you expect.
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| G Peters |
08 May 2003 |
Stayed at Cambodiana Hotel - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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Phnom Penh is a pleasant city and seems to get better as every year goes by. It's so nice to walk by a relatively unpolluted river in the heart of an Asian city and dine by the riverside. It's a safe city despite what some say.
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| P Woodcock |
29 January 2003 |
Stayed at Cambodiana Hotel - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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Phnom Penh itself did not have a lot to offer as a tourist attraction. We visited the prison which housed prisoners during the regime of the Khmer Rouge and also one of the killing fields. Both were sombre places to visit and we were asked why the rest of the world just watched it happen. Mittapheap Tours organised our transports and visits for us and I can thoroughly recommend them.
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| J Mccullough |
15 January 2003 |
Stayed at Tai Seng Hotel - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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Phnom Penh is not very interesting, but it is nice to run along the river in the morning and eat there in the evening. The Riverhouse restaurant is excellent. I drove to Koh Kong enroute back to Thailand. The road was OK and it was fun to take four ferry rides (100 baht each) and see part of Cambodia where the Thai baht is more useful than dollars. Otto's was a great restaurant in Koh Kong.
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Traveller's Tales: Things to do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
