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.

D Grant	25 January 2004
Stayed at La Residence d' Angkor - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
As it was our second visit, we could avoid all the must-do temples. We concentrated on the smaller out of the way sites. The highlight was a visit to Bang Melia, which is just opening up to visitors. Totally unrestored andd way off the beaten track, it is a wonderful peaceful place.
O Tremblay	24 January 2004
Stayed at Angkor Saphir Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
If you are very short on time, i.e. just one day, hire a car with driver. Just $20 for the day. Have an early start and you can visit the majorities of the temples, without running. Change some money in riel, local currency. You will pay one bottle of water 1000 to 2000 riel instead of $1. You will save 75% of the price. Same for the food. Try to negotiate to pay in riel because everything is in $$$. Instead of buying post cards from the kids waiting for you outside of the temples, bring some pens and paper to give it to them. Like that they will go to school.
B Dickinson	23 January 2004
Stayed at Borei Angkor Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The hotel sorted us out with a good, English speaking guide and car costing a total of US$40 per day. Is a must though if you want to fully appreciate the temples. The FCC and Red Piano are both very good places for the evening. And the Old Market offers very good stuff.
A Yuen	20 January 2004
Stayed at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Angkor Wat is an incredible place. The jungle temple was by far the best. Strongly advise going to see the Floating Village. It was extremely interesting and although humbling very beautiful. Best advice we received before we left: take lots of passport photos, bring USD and bottled water.
T Langen	16 January 2004
Stayed at Bopha Angkor - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Some very good restaurants are in the old market area of Siem Reap, we tried "Soup Dragon" and "Khmer Kitchen", both were excellent. Transport in Siem Reap and around the temples is easy by Motorbike taxis (short distances) or Tuk-Tuks (longer distances, they are not the noisy and smelly ones like in Thailand, very pleasant!) Always negotiate the price before! 95% of the cambodian population are very poor, you get an impression of this as you travel out of town into the countryside to see the more remote temples or on the trip to Tonle Sap Lake. But most were very friendly, you can find smiles everywere. If you can, visit swiss medic Dr. Beat Richner in his new children's hospital Jayavarman VII. Every Saturday at 7:15 pm he plays cello, shows films about his work in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and talks about the medical situation for children in Cambodia. Very impressive and recommended. Free of charge.
L Didron	14 January 2004
Stayed at Princess Angkor Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
It's the third time we went there and we were disappointed to see that everything is becoming expensive, we sometimes felt cheated, for example, we were asked 5 dollars for a plate of "snacks" consisting merely in a handful of dried raisins and 10 to 15 cashew nuts! This was at the " Live Cafe " .
E Morgan	13 January 2004
Stayed at Passaggio Boutique Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
We had 2 full days here, which is adequate if you want just a quick survey of the major Temples (we managed 9 or 10) but don't want to or can't explore the area in greater depth. Dinners were at the Red Piano (great) and the Barrio (ok). Lunches were at spots across from Angkor Wat - the Angkor Cafe and one of the more local eateries. The latter was probably a slightly better value, but the former has western-type toilets. :-) Our biggest surprise was how much only two days cost. At a minimum, bring sufficient USD for your visa (20), exit fees (25), temple admission (20/day). After that, a guide and a car will also cost $40 minimum (20 each), with the car cost increasing if you want to visit outlying temples. You can save money by getting around with a tuk-tuk or moped taxi and staying in a guesthouse vs. a hotel, but the point being, if you're trying to keep your spending under control, plan carefully. At least the food is cheap!
K Tin mui	13 January 2004
Stayed at Passaggio Boutique Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
As for the temples, Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei are not to be missed. The way to Tonle Sap and Tonle Sap itself is interesting too. By the way, massage centres in the old market area are not worth going.
M Hanna	03 January 2004
Stayed at Angkor Village Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Angkor is great. But one word of advice: to really appreciate it, you must miss the crowds of tourists (especially in the high season). To do so, wake up SUPER early and hit the temples right at sunrise (avoid the popular sunrise temple of Angkor Wat) to beat the crowds. When the masses start showing up, then head back to your hotel for a late breakfast, and head out again at lunch time and swelter in the heat but enjoy the peacefulness.
D Astley	02 January 2004
Stayed at Passaggio Boutique Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
We had an excellent dinner at the Tell Restaurant (five star quality for three star price), and some very good lunches at the Balcony Cafe & Gallery (upstairs, across the road, diagonally opposite the Red Piano) - both within five minutes walk of the Old Market. Kokoon (I may not have the spelling of that quite right, but it will be close enough for you to recognise the place) just up the road from the Old Market serves good coffee.

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