Cambodia ...

totallybored

I've been to Cambodia 3 times now and I love it. The last time was 2 summers ago and I took my 69 year old dad (who isn't keen on anything too "foreign") and he loved it too. I prefer Phnom Penh over Siem Reap as I'm not really into temples and found it less touristy.

On my last visit I flew to PP, then went to Sihanoukville, Kampot, back to PP and then on to Siem Reap before flying to Bangkok. On a previous trip I went to Kep and Battambang and then went overland back to Bangkok.

Although coaches are very cheap I only took one on my first trip. I prefer to hire a car and driver to get between places. I can't remember the costs but I just asked hotels to organise me a taxi to my next destination. On my last trip it was normally an SUV (the first visit the cars tended to be an old Toyota).

I find hotel costs are excellent value in Cambodia. I'm not as frugal as some on this thread as I like my luxury but apart from Kep I've never paid more than $100 a night.

In Phnom Penh I prefer the Plantation. The standard rooms are fine and I love the pool and breakfast area. I've also stayed at The Pavillion, Blue Lime and Rambutan, all of which are nice.

I stayed at the Tamu Hotel in Sihanoukville which was lovely. Its on a quiet bit of beach and while I was there I hired a tuk tuk for a couple of days and went on a trip around the town and to the waterfall that I somewhat stupidly climbed down.

Someone else has mentioned Rikkitikkitavi in Kampot. It's a great hotel on the riverfront and really cheap too. I hired a driver for the day and went up Bokor mountain. There's an old hotel, church and waterfall which is enjoyable even in torrential rain!

In Kep I stayed at Knai Bang Chatt which is the most expensive hotel I've stayed in in Cambodia. However, the views are stunning and I had a fabulous couple of days there.

In Siem Reap I can recommend the Rambutan (used to be called the Golden Banana). It's a small hotel and the rooms around the pool are lovely. As others have said, hire a guide and tuk tuk for the temples. I found 1 day of them more than enough. I also went quad biking but make sure your insurance covers you for this.

One of my favourite things to do in Cambodia was the bamboo train in Battambang. I got lucky and we went the whole length of it without having to stop to let someone else past. I got my tuk tuk driver to take me to Racharna Handicrafts on the way back. It's a very small NGO sewing workshop that makes some lovely things. I bought loads of presents there.

I've found it easier to apply for my visa in advance online. You can take a selfie and then print your own visa. My last couple of visits I've flown to Bangkok and then taken an Air Asia flight. However, now Emirates fly to PP from Dubai I might do that next year.

I hope this is helpful.

bylromarha

totallybored wrote: »

I've been to Cambodia 3 times now and I love it. The last time was 2 summers ago and I took my 69 year old dad (who isn't keen on anything too "foreign") and he loved it too. I prefer Phnom Penh over Siem Reap as I'm not really into temples and found it less touristy.

On my last visit I flew to PP, then went to Sihanoukville, Kampot, back to PP and then on to Siem Reap before flying to Bangkok. On a previous trip I went to Kep and Battambang and then went overland back to Bangkok.

Although coaches are very cheap I only took one on my first trip. I prefer to hire a car and driver to get between places. I can't remember the costs but I just asked hotels to organise me a taxi to my next destination. On my last trip it was normally an SUV (the first visit the cars tended to be an old Toyota).

I find hotel costs are excellent value in Cambodia. I'm not as frugal as some on this thread as I like my luxury but apart from Kep I've never paid more than $100 a night.

In Phnom Penh I prefer the Plantation. The standard rooms are fine and I love the pool and breakfast area. I've also stayed at The Pavillion, Blue Lime and Rambutan, all of which are nice.

I stayed at the Tamu Hotel in Sihanoukville which was lovely. Its on a quiet bit of beach and while I was there I hired a tuk tuk for a couple of days and went on a trip around the town and to the waterfall that I somewhat stupidly climbed down.

Someone else has mentioned Rikkitikkitavi in Kampot. It's a great hotel on the riverfront and really cheap too. I hired a driver for the day and went up Bokor mountain. There's an old hotel, church and waterfall which is enjoyable even in torrential rain!

In Kep I stayed at Knai Bang Chatt which is the most expensive hotel I've stayed in in Cambodia. However, the views are stunning and I had a fabulous couple of days there.

In Siem Reap I can recommend the Rambutan (used to be called the Golden Banana). It's a small hotel and the rooms around the pool are lovely. As others have said, hire a guide and tuk tuk for the temples. I found 1 day of them more than enough. I also went quad biking but make sure your insurance covers you for this.

One of my favourite things to do in Cambodia was the bamboo train in Battambang. I got lucky and we went the whole length of it without having to stop to let someone else past. I got my tuk tuk driver to take me to Racharna Handicrafts on the way back. It's a very small NGO sewing workshop that makes some lovely things. I bought loads of presents there.

I've found it easier to apply for my visa in advance online. You can take a selfie and then print your own visa. My last couple of visits I've flown to Bangkok and then taken an Air Asia flight. However, now Emirates fly to PP from Dubai I might do that next year.

I hope this is helpful.

I remember helping you plan your first trip. It's reasons like this that I love MSE. Cambodia just gets under the skin, doesn't it? I'm wondering how much it will have changed when we hopefully return next summer. Won't be moving classrooms next summer I hope, so an asia trip is doable.

MUM40

When we went we flew from Manchester with Ethihad, and went
Manchester - Abu Dhabi - Bangkok - PP

We left Manchester at 0930 am on a Thursday and arrived Friday 0930 am.


This was a good flight for us, as our daughter lives in kampot, and had arranged for a taxi from pp to kampot

We did the same journey home

DUKE

totallybored wrote: »

I've been to Cambodia 3 times now and I love it. The last time was 2 summers ago and I took my 69 year old dad (who isn't keen on anything too "foreign") and he loved it too. I prefer Phnom Penh over Siem Reap as I'm not really into temples and found it less touristy.

On my last visit I flew to PP, then went to Sihanoukville, Kampot, back to PP and then on to Siem Reap before flying to Bangkok. On a previous trip I went to Kep and Battambang and then went overland back to Bangkok.

Although coaches are very cheap I only took one on my first trip. I prefer to hire a car and driver to get between places. I can't remember the costs but I just asked hotels to organise me a taxi to my next destination. On my last trip it was normally an SUV (the first visit the cars tended to be an old Toyota).

I find hotel costs are excellent value in Cambodia. I'm not as frugal as some on this thread as I like my luxury but apart from Kep I've never paid more than $100 a night.

In Phnom Penh I prefer the Plantation. The standard rooms are fine and I love the pool and breakfast area. I've also stayed at The Pavillion, Blue Lime and Rambutan, all of which are nice.

I stayed at the Tamu Hotel in Sihanoukville which was lovely. Its on a quiet bit of beach and while I was there I hired a tuk tuk for a couple of days and went on a trip around the town and to the waterfall that I somewhat stupidly climbed down.

Someone else has mentioned Rikkitikkitavi in Kampot. It's a great hotel on the riverfront and really cheap too. I hired a driver for the day and went up Bokor mountain. There's an old hotel, church and waterfall which is enjoyable even in torrential rain!

In Kep I stayed at Knai Bang Chatt which is the most expensive hotel I've stayed in in Cambodia. However, the views are stunning and I had a fabulous couple of days there.

In Siem Reap I can recommend the Rambutan (used to be called the Golden Banana). It's a small hotel and the rooms around the pool are lovely. As others have said, hire a guide and tuk tuk for the temples. I found 1 day of them more than enough. I also went quad biking but make sure your insurance covers you for this.

One of my favourite things to do in Cambodia was the bamboo train in Battambang. I got lucky and we went the whole length of it without having to stop to let someone else past. I got my tuk tuk driver to take me to Racharna Handicrafts on the way back. It's a very small NGO sewing workshop that makes some lovely things. I bought loads of presents there.

I've found it easier to apply for my visa in advance online. You can take a selfie and then print your own visa. My last couple of visits I've flown to Bangkok and then taken an Air Asia flight. However, now Emirates fly to PP from Dubai I might do that next year.

I hope this is helpful.

Yes indeed it is, loads of good info there thanks totallybored!

I'd like to try the bus, but am also keen on a car as it's faster, although they did say on TA to close your eyes in the car :eek:

I've got the hotel for a few nights in PP on the way there, & SR for 7 nights. Now it's suddenly dawned on me that I'll be going back on myself if I go to S'ville from SR. I was originally flying to REP, but changed to PP as it was cheaper & better flights. In all the excitement I wasn't thinking straight. Ah well I'll see. Must now continue my search for more hotels.

totallybored

DUKE wrote: »

Yes indeed it is, loads of good info there thanks totallybored!

I'd like to try the bus, but am also keen on a car as it's faster, although they did say on TA to close your eyes in the car :eek:

I've got the hotel for a few nights in PP on the way there, & SR for 7 nights. Now it's suddenly dawned on me that I'll be going back on myself if I go to S'ville from SR. I was originally flying to REP, but changed to PP as it was cheaper & better flights. In all the excitement I wasn't thinking straight. Ah well I'll see. Must now continue my search for more hotels.

I've not had an issue with the cars. The roads are improving since my first visit 5 years ago. The road between PP and SR was almost all tarmac 2 summers ago so I imagine there isn't much orange dusty road left now. I remember the road from PP to Sihanoukville was tarmac and once you leave PP there isn't much traffic at all.

It can also be nice if you get a driver with good English as they tell you a lot about the country. I hired one in Kampot and he drove in his spare time as well as being in the local police force. He drove a brand new lexus SUV and was an interesting guy and his wife ran a local hair salon where I got a hair cut for a dollar!

PompeyPete

totallybored wrote: »

I've not had an issue with the cars. The roads are improving since my first visit 5 years ago. The road between PP and SR was almost all tarmac 2 summers ago so I imagine there isn't much orange dusty road left now. I remember the road from PP to Sihanoukville was tarmac and once you leave PP there isn't much traffic at all.

It can also be nice if you get a driver with good English as they tell you a lot about the country. I hired one in Kampot and he drove in his spare time as well as being in the local police force. He drove a brand new lexus SUV and was an interesting guy and his wife ran a local hair salon where I got a hair cut for a dollar!

The problem with improving the surface of PP toSR road is that the standard of driving hasn't improved in tandem.....in fact the complete opposite, the road is faster so the kamikaze jockeys behind the wheel go for it, which why I'd never do that journey in a car. The saving grace is that the road verges are often very wide.

DUKE

Hair cut for a $ sounds good!

Must have a good think about this now.

Still looking for hotels, I love it Almost forgot to look at what we're going to do there apart from the temples. We usually have one day out doing stuff, & one day just wandering about shops, eating & drinking.

MUM40

Duke, have you been to Cambodia yet?