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 Cambodia travel tales
Our customers share their travelling experiences in 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.
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| A Farber |
16 January 2005 |
Stayed at Angkor Diamond Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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Angkor wat and the surrounding temples are phenomenal. We had a guide ($20/day) and a car ($20/day) take us around; while that's not the cheapest way, it was the most informative because the guide knew all sorts of information and when you've seen that many temples, you don't want to inhale exhaust or feel the heat. We did two days, which we think was enough to see all of the 2stars + temples and more would be too much to remember anyway. We also had a really good meal at the Buddha Lounge and a really good massage at the Island Traditional Khmer Massage place catty-corner from the old market. Siem Reap is very walkable and cute, but again, for two days not more. Also, the guide told us that if you stay in a 5-star hotel, like the Raffles, you end up paying more for EVERYTHING!
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| M Fisken |
14 January 2005 |
Stayed at Borei Angkor Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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We were only in Siem Reap for 3 days and wanted to make sure we got to see the temples we wanted to see in this time without having to race around like headless chooks. We took the advice of many travellers comments on this website and also friends who have travelled to Siem Reap and booked a travel guide (Phan Virak phanvirak@yahoo.com) and driver organised by the guide. We decided to book before we arrived so we did not lose valuable time to see the temples, but could also take breaks during the heat of the day and have a swim at the hotel. We also read up on the temples and made a list of what we wanted to see. Our guide was recommended to us and he was very knowledgeable and interesting having worked with the Tomb Raider film crew. Some of the temples were a great distance across rough roads but we were so pleased that we chose to visit them as you could immerse yourself into the temple without being surrounded by tourists. We were told that we had chosen the best time to travel to Cambodia (mid January) as it was cooler (but still over 30 degrees Celsius) and the humidity was low.
Some of the temples we visited were in remote areas and we got to see how everyday villagers lived. These areas are very poor and parents struggle to send their children to school. Any assistance with pens, pencils, writing pads etc will be welcomed. We were so pleased that we still had pens and pencils left to hand out to these children and they were so excited when we gave them to them (they did have kiwi themes all over them as well).
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| D Sun |
11 January 2005 |
Stayed at Pacific - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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T & Coffee across the road about 50 yards. Great Trung coffee and cakes and crossants. Most restaurants on Sisowath Blvd are good. Great Italian restaurants.
Be prepared to pay 5 USD for short return trips from your hotel from Monivong Blvd to Sisowath quay for example.
Bargain with taxis before getting in, fix dollar charges for trips, avoid motorbike pillion riding, unsafe. Be careful crossing roads, few traffic lights; if any, the Red lights not observed, Cambodians follow the chaotic french system of driving on the wrong side of road; hazardous unruly traffic.
Cambodians are gentle friendly people, do not let your cultural expectations color your views negatively. Poverty is rife, on the opposite spectrum, extreme wealth - both equally astonishing.
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| L Langley |
10 January 2005 |
Stayed at Borei Angkor Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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We spent 3 nights in Siem Reap and would definitely recommend at least 4 or more if one has the time. We took a guide and driver recommended by the hotel and spent 2 days visiting the temples. It was completely fascinating and we were pleased that we had a guide as we felt we would have missed a lot had we done it alone. That said, we were exhausted at the end of each day. Extra days would have been good so that we could return to our favourite temples and just sit and soak up the atmosphere. Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor, was sold at all the temple complexes. This is a must read and we would highly recommend buying and reading it at home before your visit. Passes to the temple complex cost $20 for a 1-day pass and $40 for a three day. Passport photo required. Passport photo also needed at Siem Reap airport for a Cambodian visa which costs US$20. No autobanking machines in Siem Reap so we just ensured that we arrived with plenty of US$.
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| R Brouwer |
08 January 2005 |
Stayed at Phnom Penh Hotel - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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Zen Japanese restaurant is great. FCC is good to hang around. Riverside area is okay. Good City Tour. Please don't take a boat going to Seam Reap!!! Better take a taxi.
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| S Chu chee louh |
06 January 2005 |
Stayed at Passaggio Boutique Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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This time of the year (Jan 2005), siem reap is all dusty and full of tourists. Four days of visit starting with the ancient ruins were just nice and beyond words. The local guide book & 3D maps are available at hotels for free and they are full of information. Restaurants to visit: Blue Pumpkin (a must try) with it "white" decorated restaurant/cafe on the 2nd floor. Food served are fusion food and portion is big and nice. Their Banana youghut shake is just to my liking. Soup Dragon Restaurant (Opposite Blue Pumpkin). A variety of western, cambodian and vietnamese food served. Must trys - Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Cambodian Green Mango Salad, Cambodian Beef Fondu. Price reasonable.
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| M Wong |
06 January 2005 |
Stayed at Angkor Diamond Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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Must visit the usual temples in Angkor and Bantay Srey - a little bit further out of town but worth the trip. The Landmine Victims Refuge is a sobering place to call in. Favourite restaurants in Siem Reap were Dead Fish Tower, Soup Dragon and IndoChine, the last a bit pricier but ambience made up for it.
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| L Liang |
04 January 2005 |
Stayed at Ta Prohm - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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For a nice place to eat, boh pha hotel restaurant was very good...it was up the river about 10 minute walk from the hotel. It is about 10 dollars per person but it is a very nice restaurant and the food was very good! Do not go to la noria recommended by loney planet...the food was very bad. Be careful about tour guides as well...the hotel called a guide for us but his english was poor and accent difficult to understand. We had to pay him a lot just to ask him to leave after the initial 45minutes.
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| B Beckord |
03 January 2005 |
Stayed at Phnom Penh Hotel - Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
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One of the more 'hip' cities in Asia. Try Herbie's Pizza for great food and make the effort to get to the Killing Fields.
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| T Liow |
01 January 2005 |
Stayed at City River Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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Siem reap is a great getaway from the urban hustle and bustle. With lush rainforest vegetation, temples dating back to 9th Century, rich history and friendly locals, it's a place you will not regret visiting.
MUST VISIT: Ankor Wat, Angkor Thom, Banteay Srei (if you can afford the time), Land Mine Museum, Tonle Sap River,
OK TO MISS: Siemreap Cultural Village (which is essentially a B-grade "theme park").
PREFERED TRANSPORTATION: a "tuk-tuk" which is a motorcyle driven "chariot" comfortable enough for 2 adults. During my entire stay in there, I hired the services of "Ryu-Gen", a warm and good natured tuk-tuk driver who not only provided great transportation service but acted as our "guide" as well. With an open air transport like a tuk-tuk, you are totally in touch with unique ambience of SiemReap - the sights, the sounds, the smell and the dust - awesome!
For those into fine dining, check out Bopha Ankor Restaurant (beside City River Hotel) which provide highly delectable authentic Khmer cuisines!
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