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Cambodia Travel Tips

Eating in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh has a cracking selection of restaurants that showcase the best of Khmer cuisine, as well as offering a healthy hitlist of international food’ that includes Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Thai and French. 

Entertainment in Phnom Penh

For news on what’s happening here while you are in town, check the back page of the Friday edition of the Cambodia Daily, or look at the latest issue of the Phnom Penh Post or the monthly Bayon Pearnik.

Shopping in Phnom Penh

There is some great shopping to be had in Phnom Penh, but don’t forget to bargain in the markets or you’ll have your ‘head shaved’, local-speak for being ripped off. Most markets are open from around 6.30am to 5.30pm. Some shops keep shorter hours by opening later.

Siem Reap Travel Guide

Siem Reap (see-em ree-ep) is the gateway to Cambodia’s spiritual and cultural heartbeat, the temples of Angkor. The town was a quiet, sleepy backwater until a few years ago, but it’s quickly reinventing itself as a sophisticated centre for the new wave of visitors passing through each year. 

Sights in Siem Reap

Visitors come to Siem Reap to see Angkor. The sights in and around the town pale in comparison, but they are a potential diversion for those who find themselves templed out after a few days.

Drinking in Siem Reap

Siem Reap is really rockin’ these days, a big change from just a few years ago when there were no real bars. One street now has so many drinking holes that it has earned the nickname Bar St and we are happy to go with that given the lack of street names in town! It is definitely worth hitting the bars at least once – each place has its own character, making it prime pub crawl territory.

Eating in Siem Reap

The restaurant scene in Siem Reap has evolved at a dizzying pace and there is now something from every corner of the globe on dining tables around town, as well as the traditional taste of Cambodian cuisine. 

Entertainment in Siem Reap

Several restaurants and hotels offer cultural performances during the evening, and for many visitors such shows offer the only opportunity to see Cambodian classical dance. 

Shopping in Siem Reap

Much of what is seen on sale in the markets of Siem Reap can also be purchased from children and vendors throughout the temple area. Some people get fed up with the end- less sales pitches as they navigate the ancient wonders, while others enjoy the banter and a chance to interact with Cambodian people.

Sihanoukville Travel Guide

Sihanoukville is the closest thing you get to the Costa del Cambodia, but fear not, development here is light years behind most Thai resorts, let alone Spain. 

Sights & Activities in Sihanoukville

The beaches at Sihanoukville are in a state of flux, as developers move in to cash in on the tourism boom. The best all-rounder isOccheuteal Beach; the northern end has emerged as quite a popular traveler hang-out nick- named Senndipity Beach, while further south it is popular with Khmers and midrange tourists staying in the nearby hotels. 

Eating in Sihanoukville

There’s a healthy selection of restaurants and cates in Sihanoukville. Most are open from about 7am for breakfast and close after dinner at around 9pm or 10pm. 

Drinking in Sihanoukville

Nightlife in Sihanoukville continues to gather pace with more and more travellers crossing by land from Thailand. The late-opening spots are all in the centre of town or at Serendipity Beach, but there are a whole lot of beach shacks further south on Occheuteal that heave until the early hours. It is hard to recommend any by name, as they may not be around much longer, once the new resort opens in this part of town.

Business Hours

Most Cambodians get up very early and it is not unusual to see people out and about exercising at 5.30am if you are heading home – ahem, sorry, getting up – at that time.

Activities

Tourism in Cambodia is catching up fast, but there are still fewer activities on offer than elsewhere in the region. Phnom Penh is an exception – the large population of foreigners has led to a boom in leisure activities, such as go-carting, jet-skiing, tenpin bowling and a variety of conventional sports like swimming and tennis.

Children

Children can live it up in Cambodia as they are always the centre of attention and almost everybody wants to play with them.

Disabled Travelers

Broken pavements (sidewalks), potholed roads and stairs as steep as ladders at Angkor ensure that for most people with mobility impairments, Cambodia is not going to be an easy country to travel. Few buildings in Cambodia have been designed with the disabled in mind, although new projects, such as the international airports at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and top-end hotels, include ramps for wheelchair access. 

Courses

Cooking 
If you are really taken with Cambodia cuisine, it is possible to learn some tricks of the trade by signing up for a cooking course but there ale very few courses on offer compared with neighboring Thailand and Vietnam. 

Festivals & Events

The festivals of Cambodia take place according to the lunar calendar so the dates vary from year to year. Check against any Cambodian calendar for the dates.

Food in Cambodia

Cambodian cuisine may be less well known than that of its popular neighbors Thailand and Vietnam, but it is no less tasty.

Holidays

Public Holidays
During public holidays and festivals, banks, ministries and embassies close down, so plan ahead if visiting Cambodia during these times. 

Getting there, away

ENTERING THE COUNTRY
Cambodia has two international gateways for arrival by air, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and a healthy selection of land borders with neighboring Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. 

Gay & Lesbian Travelers

While Cambodian culture is tolerant of homosexuality, the gay and lesbian scene here is certainly nothing like that in Thailand. 

Insurance

A travel insurance policy that covers theft, property loss and medical expenses is more essential for Cambodia than for most other parts of Southeast Asia. Theft is less of a problem in Cambodia than some might imagine, but in the event of serious medical problems or an accident, it may be necessary to be air-lifted to Bangkok, an expense that stretches beyond the average traveler’s budget.

Internet Access

Internet access is available inmost town throughout the country. In Phnom Penh price just keep dropping, thankfully, and now average US$0.50 to US$1 per hour. Siem Reap is a little more expensive to US$1.50 per hour, while in other provinces it can range from US$2 an hour to as much as US$5 an hour, thanks to expensive domestic phone call.

Toilets

Although the occasional squat toilet turns up here and there, particularly in the most budget of budget guesthouses, in general, Cambodian toilets are of the sit-down variety. If you end up in the sticks, you will find that hygiene conditions deteriorate somewhat, but rural Cambodian bath- rooms are often in a better state than those in rural China or India.

Tourist Information Offices

Cambodia has only a handful of tourist offices, and those encountered by the independent traveler in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are generally unhelpful unless you look like you’re going to spend money.

Visas to Cambodia

Most nationalities receive a one-month visa on arrival at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports. The cost is US$20 for a tourist visa and US$25 for a business visa.

Women Travelers

Women will generally find Cambodia a hassle-free place to travel, although some of the guys in the guesthouse industry will try their luck from time to time. 

Work

Jobs are available throughout Cambodia, but apart from British teaching or helping out in guesthouses, bars or restaurants, most are for professionals and arranged in advance. 

MOTORBIKING THROUGH CAMBODIA

The best way to explore a country is to have your own transport. Whether it’s a car, a motorbike or a bicycle.
The price for a car (especially if it’s a 4×4 truck, with which you can go off road) can often be very costly and not affordable for a single traveller. To go by bicycle is a great way to see a country but you need time to go around. So these were the thoughts when I decided to drive around Cambodia by motorbike…

Travel guide to Kampot, Cambodia

Sleepy Kampot sits on the east bank of the Kampot River and enjoys spectacular views across to Bokor and Elephant Mountains, which make up the sizeable Bokor National Park. 

DON’T MISS: Beng Mealea , a less-visited Angkor temple

Beng Mealea
Did you know that Angkor Wat has a stepsister?  Born to the same father, King Suryavarman II, little is known about her, not even if she is older or younger than her much more cared for family members. 

Bike Riding Through the Cambodian Countryside

The vivid colors, open air and bicycles were all in the Cambodian countryside. The experience taught me an important and unforgettable lesson: One of the best ways to spend time exploring a new country or city is to do so through bike riding.

Adventure tour will be developed in Cambodia

Cambodia is a place where you would never fall short of fun and excitement. The beautiful lush green fields, winding mountain ways, and long stretched beaches allow the local people as well as the tourists to indulge into a number of Adventure and Recreation in Cambodia.

Cambodia in the eyes of a traveller

It’s been two months since we’ve been to Cambodia and I am trying to remember why I liked its capital city that much. Not an easy task, since we spent not more than 18 hours spread over two days. The shabby roads, the no-traffic-lights system, and the sheer poverty of most neighborhoods make that even harder. But truth is I had a great time and felt more at ease than anywhere in Asia.

The complete Siem Reap experience

The town this lake is accessed from — Siem Reap — is essentially famous for being the gateway to the temples of Angkor. But with more than three million people living on or around the lake in floating villages, the Tonlé Sap is a stand-out attraction in its own right. 

Dangers & Annoyances

As memories of war grow ever more distant, Cambodia has become a much safer country in which to travel. Remembering the golden rule – stick to marked path: in remote areas – you’d be very unlucky to have any problems. But it doesn’t hurt to check on the latest situation before making a trip few other travelers undertake, particularly if traveling by motorcycle.

Tips for travelers when visit Cambodia at Khmer New Year

Cambodian New Year or Chaul Chnam Thmey in Khmer is the name of the holiday that celebrates the New Year in Cambodia. There’s plenty of fun to be found, but visitors should be prepared for busy roads, closed banks and increased interest in their personal belongings.

Travel experience from Cambodia trip

There are a lot of temples to see in Cambodia. So, armed with our digicams, water bottles and a thirst for adventure, we journeyed to where the action was, or at least where it used to be.

How to plan a trip to travel Cambodia

As the increasing international visitors to Cambodia arrive by air at either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap in recent years. ActiveTravel Asia ( www.activetravel.asia ) show some travel tips & information for travelers who intend to plan their trips in Cambodia and Indochina.

And you thought I was sick of temples….

Christopher Parkin told his interest when traveling around Angkor temples.
September 15th 2008

Cambodia Launches Campaign to Welcome Gay Community

Cambodian tourism businesses have launched a colorful, global campaign, Adore Cambodia, to let GLBT travelers know they are especially welcome in the Kingdom of Wonders.

Green stamp on jungle style

In a country best known for its temples, Jane Dunford finds a floating ecolodge that’s a gateway to a pristine environment.

Top 5 Reasons to Cycle Cambodia

Cambodia is well-loved for its exotic temples and spicy cuisine.Rachel Hugens shares some of the reasons why this southeast Asian country is a current hot-spot for bicycle tourists.

Cambodia Adventure Travel Tips

Taking part in an adventure tour is a great way to explore Cambodia . Many visors to the Khmer Kingdom simply head straight for Siem Reap, spend a few days ambling round Anchor Wat, and then head back to Thailand or East to Vietnam . THIS IS A BIG MISTAKE.

Legal Matters

Marijuana is not legal in Cambodia and police are beginning to take a harder line on it, although usually for their own benefit rather than a desire to uphold, the law. 

Money

Cambodia’s currency is the riel, abbreviated in this guide by a lower-case ‘r’ written after the sum. Cambodia’s second currency (some would say its first) is the US dollar, which is accepted everywhere and by everyone, though change may arrive in riel.

Photography & video

Airport Security
The X-ray machines at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports are film-safe. If you are carrying 1000 ASA or higher film, you should store it separately and ask to have it inspected by hand.

Telephone & Fax

Cambodia’s land-line system was totally devastated by the long civil war, Ieaving the country with a poor communications infrastructure. The advent of mobile phones has allowed Cambodia to catch up with its regional neighbors by jumping headlong into the technology revolution; Mobile phones are everywhere in Cambodia, but landline access in major towns is also improving, connecting more of the country to the outside world than ever before.

 
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