Siem Reap, Cambodia travel tales and tips

Siem Reap, Cambodia travel tales

Our customers share their travelling experiences in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Read about first hand stories on travel tips and guides, events, entertainment,shopping, food, business and transportation. Also, you might want to read our Angkor / Siem Reap city guide, and Phnom Penh city guide.

B Keller	17 February 2004
Stayed at Angkor Century Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Talking about jaw dropping, awe-inspiring temples, Siem Reap has it all to offer. Hire a guide and a car to take you around (combined at $50 a day). While Angkor Wat is the most well-known, the Bayon and Ta Prohm were out of this world. Think Indiana Jones or Tombraider for those movie buffs. I'm one that gets easily "templed" out, but these sites kept me transfixed in their grandeur. Prices are high. As the main source of hard currency, they realize tourism is where they have it made. Multiple huge hotels going up which may saturate the market in a few years. Food at FCC (aka Foreign Correspondence Club) was a trowback to "high sixties style." A good place to get a broad variety of meals. Do take a tuk-tuk tour around town at nite to admire the small town charm.
E Gowdy	16 February 2004
Stayed at Angkor Village Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Siem Reap is a lovely little place. We thought we'd stay 3 nights and ended up there for a week. The main "street" where all the bars are is worth a visit. In particular the staff and owner at Brodies are super (and the food is excellent). Tigre du Papier shows free films every night (free if you buy a drink - no great hardship) based in the region e.g. Killing Fields, Tomb Raider. Finally, the "Khmer Kitchen" down an alley way beside "The Angkor What?" is a super little restaurant. The food is excellent. Apparently Mick Jagger went twice when he was in Siem Reap.
L Breeden	12 February 2004
Stayed at Passaggio Boutique Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Cambodia is an amazing place with amazing people. Smiles and happiness, despite poverty and years of war. But it is a rough existance. Don't wear anything you hope to ever get clean again. But do experience the Cambodian service. Get a haircut (which includes a shave and ear-cleaning). Get massages. Hire a tour guide. You usually get more than your money's worth. The temples are, of course, amazing. We also took a boat tour of Tonle Sap Lake. Quite an experience I'll never forget. (floating villages and smells of raw sewage/fish paste). We enjoyed the Soup Dragon Restaurant and had good massages at Dr. Feet. But beware of what you consume. It is a dirty place and my friend got sick for several days after eating a "bad" meal. There are no ATMs in Cambodia, so we used only USD, which are widely excepted. But it was more expensive than I imagined... so take more than you think you'll need (entry visa, departure tax, temple entrance fees, tour guide & drivers, food = in 3 days I spent about $280 without hotel).
N Roberts	10 February 2004
Stayed at Angkor Century Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Highly recommend visiting Siem Reap. Temples are magnificent--do with private guide--very reasonable with car and driver along with guide. Tuktuks are great fun for short rides around town. Recommend Bopha Angkor restaurant--good Khmer food. Also, see Artisans d'Angkor--both carving school and silk farm. Massages away from hotel $3/hr.
D Fralix	07 February 2004
Stayed at Borei Angkor Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
We were able to see all of the temples we wanted to see in two days, including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Srie. Ask for a guide with a car and expect to pay about $20-$25 per day. Otherwise, you may end up with a guide AND a driver which will cost about $20 extra. Overall, it's well worth the price. Otherwise, you'll just walk around the temples and not really know what you're looking at - much better to have a guide explain what you're seeing and point out the interesting things you might otherwise miss.
M Faltheim	03 February 2004
Stayed at Angkor Century Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Spent two days touring Siem Reap area. Very worthwhile with incredible sights to see and visit. Hired air conditioned car with a driver and guide from the tourist office. Very professional and courteous service, and most comfortable way to visit the air. Very knowledgeable guide from the local tourist office. Plan USD 50/per day for car + driver and guide and well worth the money.
H Taylor	30 January 2004
Stayed at Angkor Saphir Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Three day pass to Angkor Wat cost $40. 1 and 7 day also available. We used both a car and driver and pedal bike to get around. Really enjoyed the day on the bike but would have been too much for every day. The car was effortless! Car $20. Guide $20.
A Wargo	29 January 2004
Stayed at Angkor Village Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Siem Reap is very tourist friendly. Rent a car with air conditioning (USD 20.00 per day) and take a break and have a swim from 12:00 to 14:00 as it gets too hot. Don't go to sunrise at Angkor Wat as it is too crowded. Best time of the day to see (almost alone) the monuments is at 7:30 am to 9:00 when all the sunrise people got back to get breakfast. Do go the 40 km. out to see the jungle-covered ruins to the east of town.
L Chan	28 January 2004
Stayed at Princess Angkor Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Old market area is great. Recommended lunch at the Grand Raffles or the Victoria hotel. Soup Dragon in old market excellent value for money and ambience esp on the roof garden.
D Yamolas	26 January 2004
Stayed at Angkor Village Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Siem Reap is a small town with an exotic look: palm trees, lots of vegetation, small river, thatch-roofed huts, monkeys walking over electricity wires (!), dusty roads, traditional markets, friendly local people. It's nice to have one more day to stroll and watch everyday life! The reason to visit the place is of course one: ANGKOR temple's area! Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Phrom etc. are magnificent temples located in the world's largest temple site. Angkor Wat is one of the 7 wonders of the world! When I first saw a picture in a "World Culture" exhibition I promised myself I'll go and visit the place! It was impressive and the only negative thing was the huge tourist crowds. The most comfortable way to visit the temples is an a/c car (from 20$ per day), but motorbikes and tuk tuks are available for less. If you want to go at the most quiet time try noon to 3pm, when everybody has a break (if you can stand the heat). This would be good for Bayon and Ta Phrom temples, which are the crowdiest! The others are fine any time. If you want to see Angkor Wat from above, try the "balloon ride" (11$ for 10') Everyone goes to Bakheng hill around sunset for that, but it's soooo crowded! Apart from the temples, we visited the Old Market (Cambodian silk, cheap books about Angkor, a hammock for 2$!) and the "Crocodile farm" which was nothing special and too expensive (2$). In the city we walked or took a tuk tuk (1$ per ride, they ask more at first, but stick to the 1$). We had Khmer and Thai food in little restaurants on Wat Bo road (where "Angkor Village Resort", the hotel we stayed, is located), but for western food we'd like to recommend FCC (Pokambor Ave, near "Grand Hotel D'Angkor"), great ambience and food, but a little more expensive. The "Red Piano" bar & restaurant is also good and famous, since "Tomb Raider" film crew used it as headquarters. They offer "Tomb Raider" cocktail, "Lara's favourite". In high season it's hard to get a table there! We had a good time at the "Banana Leaf" bar; very friendly owner, but they need to improve the drinks' selection! Don't miss the "Apsara Dance Show" (we went to "Angkor Village Resort's Apsara Theater"), it's really traditional! If you have time, it's good to visit also the capital city Phnom Penh. Most people stick to Siem Reap and Angkor, but without seeing Phnom Penh you haven't really seen Cambodia. The palace, the riverfront, the temples, the museums are a must! Especially the "Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum" where you learn how much the Cambodian people suffered. It's the "dark side" of Cambodia, given that the bright side is the historical greatness of Angkor Wat.

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