Cambodia and Vietnam

Pollycat

PompeyPete wrote: »

The problem with Tour companies is that you are more or less bound to follow their itineraries. Travelling independently you set your own pace, and if you fancy loitering somewhere, which you will, then you simply tweak your programme.

I appreciate the issues with escorted tours.

I was just pointing the OP to companies who do them to see what places they visit and in which order so she could get a feel for what she might want to do, rather than suggesting she book an escorted tour.

PompeyPete wrote: »

I got most of our advice from the Trip Advisor discussion forum, and Lonely Planet/Rough Guide.

That's why I pointed the OP in the direction of Tripadvisor.

Doshwaster

I loved Phnom Penh, one of the most fascinating places I've been to. As above, 3-4 nights to probably the right length of visit but you can squeeze in a lot of activity. The Killing Fields and the genocide museum really are heartbreaking but a visit does help you understand this ancient but very young country.

Now is a good time to visit as the signs are that the city is developing quickly. I'm sure that in 5-10 years time it will have totally changed and be full of international hotel chains and shopping malls.

It really is a wonderful place - friendly (even the tuk tuk driver are honest!), cheap and nice change from the craziness of Bangkok.

PompeyPete

Pollycat wrote: »

I appreciate the issues with escorted tours.
I was just pointing the OP to companies who do them to see what places they visit and in which order so she could get a feel for what she might want to do, rather than suggesting she book an escorted tour.

And I was simply suggesting to the OP that Tours are very rigid, and that independent travel in SE Asia is very easy and flexible. Not only that with the Tours, but you are also stuck with the people on the tour! I wasn't trying to criticise what you wrote.

Pollycat wrote: »

That's why I pointed the OP in the direction of Tripadvisor.

And the more people that point the OP in the same direction the more likely the OP is of taking that route.

Doshwaster

elantan wrote: »

Accommodation wise we want to go business to luxury class as this is our anniversary and we want to spoil ourselves a wee bit .... to give you an idea we have enjoyed places like the Merlin beach in phuket, Hotel aqua in icmeler ( well we are going there soon so cant exactly say if we love it but it looks like the type of place we would enjoy) coconut residence in The Gambia and Qubus in Krakow ( not trying to show off or anything but trying to give you an idea of what we like) but wouldnt mind going a wee bit cheaper if its good accommodation.

In terms of accommodation, do try to stay away from the international chains. They are the same wherever you go in the world. There are some fantastic locally owned hotels in PP in the $50-100 price range full of Cambodian character. I would especially recommend The Pavilion and its sister properties (http://www.thepavilion.asia/links.html)

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

I would especially recommend The Pavilion and its sister properties (http://www.thepavilion.asia/links.html)

The Blue Lime is one of the sister hotels. I've stayed there, and wouldn't recommend it, especially for the price. It's got a pleasant smallish pool, but I thought the rooms were dark, the stairs steep, noisy A/C, no lift, and concrete furniture that might appeal to Fred and Wilma! So not really what should be expected for US$50+, and there must be much better vfm.

In March we stayed at The Billabong, which was better VFM than The Blue Lime. The room was on the small side, but at least it was as advertised, and everything else was fine.

totallybored

I've just spent the last couple of weeks in Cambodia and I was also there and Vietnam last year. No need to book a tour, it's very easy to plan yourself. I started in Phnom Penh (Air Asia from Bangkok for £50) at the Plantation which is very nice. Pool is lovely and the rooms without views are fine. I then went to Kep which is on the coast and stayed at Knai Bang Chatt. I booked the sea view room and got the first floor one in the blue building. Pricey but I loved it. Then Kampot which is a sleepy town but did Bokor Hill Station and a firefly boat trip which was excellent (pay for your own boat, don't go on the backpacker ones). Back to PP for a couple of nights then on to Siem Reap (I really enjoyed quad biking here). Finally Battambang then overland back to Bangkok.

It's easy and cheap to get around. I could have got buses which are very cheap and reliable but I took taxis everywhere (PP to Siem Reap $70, Kampot to PP $40, Thai border to Bangkok £40).

You can get an Evisa online rather than on arrival. It costs a few extra dollars but it was worth it at PP airport as the on arrival queues were long when I arrived. It's also valid at land crossings at Bavet (Vietnam) and Poipet (Thai).

I prefer Cambodia to Vietnam, if you search by old posts I did a trip report on Vietnam last year when I did it all on my own by train.

Air Asia start flying Siem Reap to Bangkok later this year for about £40.

PompeyPete

Good posting Totallybored. You can't beat genuine first hand experiences.

No intent on being critical, rather just to expand on what you've said...

The general standard of driving in Cambodia is woeful...

http://www.irinnews.org/report/91410/cambodia-traffic-accidents-take-humanitarian-toll

The bigger the vehicle you are in the safer you [should] feel, especially on the main highways, which because they've been improved in recent years means the traffic can go very fast. The road from PP to SR road is a race track, and all sorts of traffic use the road.

We took the Giant Ibis bus, which was very comfortable, and only cost US$13 a per ticket. The driver constantly had to use the horn, and sitting in the front seats must be cringeworthy, but it's a lot safer than a minibus or a taxi. You can have the best driver in the world, but some of the idiots coming at you head-on or emerging from a side road are nutters.

On the two occasions I've flown in to Phnom Penh, the visa process has taken no more than 10 minutes...

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g297390-i9163-k6759538-Visa_Voa-Siem_Reap_Siem_Reap_Province.html

PP airport isn't a major International Airport, and getting through should be a piece of cake. The secret is to make sure you bag a seat as close as possible to the front of the aircraft, and complete the Visa form on the aircraft. That should guarantee that you'll be close to the front of the queue in the terminal.

There's 3 forms in total to complete, one for the visa, one for immigration, and one for customs.

If you leave Cambodia by land at Poipet to go to Bangkok, then a very pleasant way is to have an overnight at the Market Motel in Aranyapraphet, which is a short tuk tuk drive from the Thai side of the border. Then the following morning, have an early start, and catch the 0640 train from Aranyapraphet to Bangkok. It's a great 6 hour trip, got 42 stops, always something going on. And it costs the staggering sum of 48 bahts (£1.10)!

totallybored

I'd read about road safety and decided to risk taxis. The problem with buses is they're full of other people and I don't like people the worst journey was leaving PP for Kep when the taxi overtook a truck that was already overtaking a lorry and 3 oncoming vehicles were doing the same. Not for the faint hearted! PP to Siem Reap wasn't actually too bad as there didn't seem to be much traffic.

The only reason I recommend the Evisa is I arrived just after flights from KL and Korea and there were long queues for visas then immigration. My flight was less than half full so it would have been fine had it not been for the other flights. I'm unlucky when it comes to immigration throughout the world. I always land after flights full of people who can't fill in arrival forms etc.

If the OP is looking for somewhere nice I found a private island which I like the look of for next time. I think it's called song saa.

claire16c

Vietnam is amazing. Hoi An was our favourite place.

We got around by internal flights with Vietnam airlines, it's like flying with BA but paying easy jet prices. We also did one train journey, the staff in the hotels will literally walk to the train station & buy the tickets for you - and they didn't even charge us. Thr service we had in 3 star hotels costing around £15 a night was amazing. What is also great is that everything in the mini bar is soo cheap you can actually eat & drink stuff from it which makes a change!

We also visited Hue, HCMC, Hanoi where you must visit the beautiful Ha Long bay. And a few other places. In Hue we had a taxi driver take us around the sites all day, think it cost us about £10, he would sleep in the car whilst we looked at the citadel and other sites etc, and provided us with umbrellas when it rained! The people there yes some will try to con you but mainly we found them incredibly friendly & accommodating.

The food is amazing we did a cooking lesson in Hoi An.

Would love to go back one day. I used to work in London so I got our visas from the embassy in my lunch break.

PompeyPete

Vietnam bods - How long did you stay in the country? Was it long enough? Anywhere you wished you'd gone that you regret missing out? If you hadn't used internal flights to get around how much extra time would you have needed to see what you saw?

Although I've never been to Vietnam I think it will deserve at least 3 weeks. I don't like internal flights because you see fascinating countries and meet the people at ground level, so I expect I'd have to say 4 weeks travelling by road and rail.

If I was the OP and only had 4 weeks in total then I'd just go for...

a. Vietnam; or

b. split the time between Cambodia and somewhere really interesting in Thailand [like Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya]; or

c. split the time between Laos (Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang) and Cambodia; or

d. split the time between Myanmar (Yangon, Bagan, Myanmar, Inle Lake) and Cambodia; or

e. goodness me, it's such a great part of the world the options are endless.:)