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.

M Wong	05 December 2003
Stayed at Bopha Angkor - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Renting a bicycle is a great way to explore the closer temple sights of Angkor. I rented a guide and car for the first day in Siem Reap; it was a great way to orient yourself and perhaps to explore one of the more distant ruins such as Roulous or Bantei Srei. Having a good guide book or guide will enhance your experience at the temples. Numerous $5 colour guides are sold by children near the temples.
J Bowyer	27 November 2003
Stayed at Angkor Village Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Great destination. Angkor Wat and surrounding historical sites are fascinating. Our only mistake was not allowing enough time to explore. Recommend at least three full days and preferably four. Tours, including a driver, air-conditioned (recommended) van, and tour guide are available for only $55/day (inclusion of a tour guide added only $20 to the basic $35 fee for the van and driver). The use of a tour guide is highly recommended; our guide was extremely knowledgeable and provided a wealth of information beyond what could be found in several books that we had with us.
N Tychowski	26 November 2003
Stayed at Passaggio Boutique Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Booked a van from the hotel for touring the monuments - $25 a day - worth every cent to have freedom, airconditioning, etc. Ask the driver or your guide how to best to avoid the crowds - some places get extremely busy at some times but are empty immediately after. Lots of good restaurants in town - Soup Dragon, Red Piano etc.
D Evans	23 November 2003
Stayed at La Residence d' Angkor - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Always carry US dollars, especially small denominations. Have a passport photo and US dollars on arrival at Siem Riep Airport for Visa. Good economical restaurants in town serving western food are Red Piano and William Tell.
C Kramer	20 November 2003
Stayed at Bopha Angkor - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
I would highly recommend the Soup Dragon restaurant.
E Eskin	17 November 2003
Stayed at Princess Angkor Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
I hired the driver who took me from the airport also for visiting Angkor and he was good. Taxi from the airport is US$5 no matter how far you go and the only alternative is a motorcycle for US$1. You can get a visa at the airport for US$20 and 2 visa photos for US$2. Enjoy Angkor, it's wonderful.
R Oliver	12 November 2003
Stayed at Passaggio Boutique Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Best method to visit is taking a private driver for USD 20 per day. We got a driver from the hotel which could speak good english and was very helpful and knowledgeable. Don´t leave out the baloon ride with a fantastic view of Angkor Wat from a height of 200 meters.
B Hugman	10 November 2003
Stayed at Mysteres d' Angkor - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
With only five days in Siem Reap, modest trips, but recommend - Terre Cambodge sampan trip on Tonle Sap (the great lake) with small boat trips through the flooded forest (seasonal only); obviously the whole temple complex, though we found a few hours in the morning, followed by a rest and two or three hours in the late afternoon more than enough for one day; The Old Market is great for all kinds of fabrics, clothes and handicrafts; for serious carving in stone and wood go somewhere like Khmer Angkor Art of Carving or the (excellent) Chantiers Ecoles Artisans d'Angkor. Food delightful - almost everything available, including, of course, great Khmer food, reminiscent of Thai food, but much less spicy. Lots of French and international cuisine available, and, unusually for parts of asia, lots of good bread and pastries. Generally very good value: main courses in decent restaurants $2; soft drinks about $1 and beer about $1.50. Dollars main currency, though riels acceptable everywhere also ($1/4000 riels). Friendly, safe town, as far as we could see, though some talk of pickpockets in crowded areas (well, where won't there be?) Many people speak some English (including moto-drivers) and a few French, though they say all the old French speakers were killed because they represented the imperialist bourgeoisie. There are lots of very, very poor people and many, many amputees and disabled beggars; you have to steel yourself to ignoring 90% of them or your heart would break and you'd be broke. A lovely, friendly, deeply-disturbing place to go.
O Fabre	27 October 2003
Stayed at Angkor Village Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
If you can get yourself a driver (a car not a bike) I seriously suggest visiting the far flung site of Beng Mealea. It doesn't come as part of the package of temples included the Angkor Wat pass but for two dollars (and another two dollars for a guide to help you avoid mine fields and the tangles of jungle) you get to experience (well, at least a faintly similar experience) of what the first white explorers may have felt when they discovered the other temples in the jungle. Mind your step though, the rubble can be treacherously slippery. Not recommended for the faint of heart and the out of shape.
P Flanders	24 October 2003
Stayed at Princess Angkor Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Most restaurants good but my favourite is the Red Piano. Good food and friendly atmosphere. Beer good too!! They have a happy hour where drinks are half price until 7pm. The tiger draft is really good. The highlight of the trip was the Angkor Temples and we had a really good taxi driver. His name was Inn Sokha he was the best taxi driver that I have used on my travels over the years. I would recommend him highly. Email address siemreapagh@yahoo.com

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