Top Khett Siem Reab hotels
Cute kids are everywhere in Cambodia... they'll sell you copies of Lonely Planet for US$2 or bottles of water for US$1 at every corner, within the temple grounds, in town, everywhere... they'll even offer you to take a photo with them for US$1! And yes... they work in US Dollars! If you only have riels to give... they'd want at least 4 or 5 riels (which is equivalent to US$1, so these kids know about the value of money!)
Some monks speak English so take the opportunity and have a chat with them. The ones near the Killing Field type monument were very knowledge and worked in the community to help people recover. They appreciate any donation which you can provide.
This is the Vannarith family. They run a roadside restaurant and store about 10km south of Siem Reap. I was on my way back for a swim at Tonle Sap and I called in for a late lunch.I initially just sat down down for a meal but I was treated so well - they did their best to chat away to me in English and a bit of French. The owner said foreigners never came to his shop. The family living room seemed to form part of the restaurant; Dad was watching Cambodia play Thailand in the Tiger Cup; most of the kids were trying out a new karaoke machine (to the annoyance of Dad).It was a great `local` experience and a bit different to the restaurants and bars in the town proper. A great way to observe and mingle with the locals.There are many restaurants and places like this on the outskirts of Siem Reap and beyond. I had to pay in riels for my meal, so make sure you have local currency.
If you are flying from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, your bag will be x-rayed in PP and then inspected once you reach Siem Reap. As a tourist, if you are carrying over USD10,000 in cash you must declare it. Even if you have your ticket booked, be sure to get to the airport early. During busy tourist times, your ticket doesn’t necessarily guarantee your seat.All visitors to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap must have a valid tourist visa. These can be obtained upon arrival at either airport and is valid for 30 days. Of course you must have a valid passport which extends 6 months past your visit. If you are travelling overland into Cambodia then you must obtain a visa which clearly indicates your entry point prior to reaching the Cambodian border.
There are 4 seasons in Cambodia. Sept-Oct are cool and wet. Nov-Feb are cool and dry. Mar-May are hot and dry and Jun-Aug are hot and wet. The most the temperature will be is around 35C and it will only probably get as low as 20C. Monsoon time is between June and October when it is usually clear in the mornings and raining for 1 to 3 hours in the afternoon. Make sure if you go in the hotter months that you carry water to rehydrate yourself.
US$ are generally accepted throughout the country and change is given back in US$ unless the amount is under US$1 where local currency is given. Some credit cards can be used. In my hotel I could pay any additional charges with my credit card but I could not buy a book from the hotel on a credit card (unless I had it charged to my room). Travellers cheques are usually accepted at major hotels, banks and some shops.
We found while in SR the people to be very friendly and helpful. In our hotel TaSom GH the whole family and more were more than happy to assist us in anyhting we needed. This is where we ate our meals surround by the family we only had to ask and we had several people scurrying around to assist us in our needs. They were also very interested in our life in Australia and very eager to speak English. Unfortunately we did not find the same friendlisness with the people from PP
Most toilets in the region are the "two tread in the floor" type -- this is a sign seen in a toilet near Angkor Thum -- apparently there was a real problem with people squatting on the new-style commodes!
I found this funny...a wash room within the Angkor Wat complex has instructions on how to use the toilet. Guess most locals are use to squatting so the sign instructs not to put your feet on the toilet seat.By the way, the wash rooms were surprisingly very clean and modern.
The Cambodian riel takes about 4,000 to get $1 U.S. dollar. It is easiest to deal in dollars though as everything here is quoted in dollars. A good idea is to bring a stack of $1 and $5 bills before making the trip.If need be, you can also exchange riels for Japanese yen and Thai baht.
La Residence d'Angkor Siem Reap
1 Review and 372 Opinions The hotel is simply splendid. The spa is the ideal manner for relaxing after a long sightseeing of...
Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa Siem Reap
1 Review and 424 Opinions The Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa was our haven during our stay in Cambodia, and it was wonderful!...
The Kool Hotel Siem Reap
1 Review and 514 Opinions Rooms are a quite big size, clean and comfortable. We Stayed at this place for 4 nights. staff are...
Reviews and photos of Khett Siem Reab attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Khett Siem Reab sightseeing.
Q: Hello, I'm scheduled to arrive in Siem Reap on November 13 (and leave on November 16, originally to go to BKK, but will have to...
A: My brother who lives in Siem Reap wrote a couple of days ago to say that the flooding has eased in Siem Reap. He runs the Mandalay Inn and had very few guests but he kept...
Read 5 Replies
