Cambodia ...

DUKE

bagby wrote: »

Would also be interested in replies so have subscribed to thread. Can't fathom out wher to fly from and to, how to travel in Cambodia and Vietnam and best time to travel.

For me it was cheaper to fly to Pnhom Phen rather than Siem Reap, & the flights were cheaper & shorter, flying Emirates too.

I'm quite familiar with the tuk tuk. We'll probably get a driver too.

DUKE

forklifttruck wrote: »

Take the train if you have time to travel across the country, otherwise fly in and out. The roads are bad and coach travel is uncomfortable and takes ages.

Get hold of as many low denomination USD as possible.

The train sounds interesting, I'd heard of the boat :eek: & bus, but not heard much about the train?

DUKE

MUM40 wrote: »

We went last year to vist a family member who works in kampot, so will give some brief information.

From phnom phen you can either get a taxi, around 60 US Dollars, or get a local bus, but these buses are limited time. Travel time is around three hours. Would suggest that you get internal flight to Siem Reap.

For local tourist attractions then use the tuck tucks, but negotiate the fair first.
Have plenty of 1 dollar notes for tips, by tipping goes a long way with the locals.
We went towards the end of September, and the weather was good, just one night of rains and thunderstorms that cleared the next day.

We only stayed in kampot and phnom phen, so can give you details of tourist attractions that we visited if you wish

Oh yes was considering a taxi too, thought it took about 5 hours?

We'll be going September too.

DUKE

blindman wrote: »

Went to Cambodia in late May this year, at the end of the Vietnam trip

Flew into Siem Reap first, then got a Bus to Pnomh Penh
Think it cost $8 each one way. Loads to choose from, easy to buy tickets-but not from your hotel!

Took about 3 1/2 hrs-Not too bad-I've had worst!

Booked hotels through Booking.com, really cheap TBHO.

Siem reap
Need 3- 4 days to see ALL temples-though after day 2 it get a bit boring TBHO :cool:
Easy to hire a Tuk-tuk + driver for about 15$ per day who will take you anywhere and wait for you.
They have a 3-day Temple itinerary mapped out.
3 day pass for temples is $66 IIRC-Cash...Go late in the evening as no crowds and you can use the pass that evening-before the 3 days start.
Ankor What-Sunrise-Don't bother-Better to see at sunset.

PP
Possibly 3 nights max-Killing fields can be done in one day, then it's just a big city.

Haggle-First quoted price is usually 75% too high :cool:

As has been said-Take $$-they are accepted everywhere and easier to work the exchange rate as the £1 = 5324 Cambodia Riel!

When you arrive in PP you will need to buy a Visa on arrival-In Cash-With $$

Enjoy.

I'd've loved to have done Vietnam too, but didn't think we'd have the energy to do both at the same time.

DUKE

PompeyPete wrote: »

Hi Duke. Another good read...

http://www.canbypublications.com/

Thanks Pete, loads of good info there that I'll be sifting through shortly.

DUKE

bylromarha wrote: »

In PP, the silver pagoda & royal palace are fascinating. Take a boat trip on the Mekong. Get into the Russian market...it's much more civilised now than when I first went...you can now pass people in the aisles without getting intimate! Try lots of the little diners you see locals in. The food is amazing in some, cheap in all. The pop up ones which appear in the evenings are great. FCC has to be done at some point. And my favourite coffee shop is the Blue Pumpkin by the river. If Apple did coffee shops...

If you want a swim and your hotel doesn't have a pool, most of the upmarket hotels let you use theirs for the price of a drink. Can't advise on where to stay as we stay with friends.

If you want to go lots of places, you can hire a tuk tuk driver on a daily rate. We last paid $10 a day in 2014. Cinemas are about £1 a showing, but take a jumper as they whack up the air con to full. Massages/facials/manicures very cheap. I had 3 treatments over 4 hours for £15.

Siem Reap much pricier. Journey PP-SR, about an hour in it between plane & bus, once you factor in checking in. Up to you what you want to pay. Giant Ibis have a good service on a comfy coach. We've also used a minibus. $7 one way and far more local! We stopped off at the roadside butchers stall for the driver to get his dinner & a little cafe for the toilet. Easy enough to arrange the minibus online. Trip advisor has lots of recommendations.

Loads of good places to stay in SR. We've never done more than 2 days at the temples. We get bored. Hire an air con taxi for the day. They carry chilled water, cold flannels and they're just what you need after an hour temple traipsing! Aside from the temples, SR is just a big tourist town. Make sure you get a cambodian bbq with crocodile.

Cambodia is far more than PP & SR. If you have time, try to get to Kep or Kampot. My friend likes Battambang, but not been there myself.

English is widely spoken, but they appreciate you trying out hello, goodbye, thank you, bill please and other stock phrases in Khmer. We always got a big smile when our 8 year old asked for the bill. Cambodia is a great country with fabulous people. You'll have a great time.

Thanks. What would you pay for a taxi for the day?

DUKE

PompeyPete wrote: »

Yep, it's still running...

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g303666-d2073065-Reviews-Bamboo_Train-Battambang_Battambang_Province.html

Top Tip: If you're doing the Bamboo Train as part of a day trip into the countryside by tuk tuk, ask the tuk tuk driver to take the padded bench seat out of the vehicle for you to sit on on the train.....saves a bit of discomfort.....here's a video, see what they do when oncoming trains meet @ 2 minutes into the video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilJAczgfmHk

Listen out for the call to prayers from the local muslim village mosque too

:cool::cool:

I had visions of a nice comfy train similar to the Northern Explorer in NZ. Looks great fun though! HAHAHA!

DUKE

Thanks so much everyone for all of your replies, what a superb response!

blindman

bagby wrote: »

Would also be interested in replies so have subscribed to thread. Can't fathom out wher to fly from and to, how to travel in Cambodia and Vietnam and best time to travel.

Several threads on Vietnam
PompeyPete is a major contributor

PompeyPete

blindman wrote: »

Several threads on Vietnam
PompeyPete is a major contributor

He's not always right though.....fact.:)