Cambodia - Travel Tips

Transcription

1 Cambodia - Travel Tips 1) Visas are available on arrival (also known as the "VOA"), cost US$20 and only take 5 minutes or so to process. One can also apply for the visa online ("E-visa"), the link is below. Do note that at some border crossings they do not accept the e-visa, be sure to check which crossings accept them on the site prior to purchasing the e-visa. 2) While in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh you can gain a lot by hiring one tuk tuk driver during your whole stay. This is one way to build a rapport, to get good continuous service and to remove some of the hassle factor in having to flag down a tuk tuk. 3) Booking internal travel from Siem Reap to other centers such as Battambang or Phnom Penh is generally easy with most every hotel and guest house having good local knowledge. Ask your hotel/guest house manager and they will be sure to help. Bus services are pretty good (modern coaches) and the boat ride is another option, but do know that safety standards are not up to par with western standards. 4) If you are really stuck for internal travel - for example buses are booked, the boat isn't operating (during the driest of the dry season) then consider hiring a taxi. Siem Reap to Phnom Penh is around $US70 and split two or three ways as a group makes for an economical option. However, fasten your safety belts! Taxi drivers have quite modern Toyotas (no problem there) but drive aggressively, with one hand poised on the horn for a good proportion of the journey - as they navigate roads that are populated by cyclists, cattle, motorbikes, pedestrians and huge army trucks. A memorable journey is guaranteed - not for the faint-hearted.

2 FAQs for Cambodia Travel 1. Q. Is Cambodia safe? Yes, Cambodia is a relatively safe country. There are occasional reports of petty theft, and the occasional bar fight, but these can easily be avoided (especially the latter) if you exercise common sense. Do not leave your bag sitting at your feet while riding around in a tuk-tuk (hold onto it!), and leave your expensive jewelry and watches at home. And never, ever leave cash or valuables unattended in your hotel room. Some travelers opt for money belts that can be worn inside the clothing, or hanging around the neck under the shirt. 2. Q. What's the weather like? The cool, dry season is from December to February. The temperatures still get up to 30 degrees C during the daytime, but the evenings and early mornings can be quite chilly. A thin layer of fleece is recommended. The real heat & humidity really starts to set in around March, and April is by far the hottest month, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees C. The rain begins in May and lasts through November, but the real "monsoon" months are September and October. The rain is not constant, however, and may be characterized by afternoon or evening downpours. Some roads in the countryside may be impassable at this time as they get flooded or washed out. 3. Q. How much is the Angkor Wat pass, how does one get it, and how is it used? The Angkor Wat pass can be purchased at the toll booth en route to Angkor Wat. You will have your photo taken for the pass. A one-day pass is USD 20, a 3-day pass is USD 40 (good for one week*) and a 7-day pass is USD 60 (good for one month. If you purchase your pass at 5:00pm, your pass will not be activated until the next day, allowing you into the complex to get a free sunset. You must have your pass on you at all times, as they will check them at the entrance to the temples. It is also a good idea to bring a plastic carrying case in case it rains. Temple hours: The Angkor Wat complex opens at 5:00am and closes at 6:00pm. Banteay Srei closes at 5:00pm, and Kbal Spean closes at 3:00pm, so plan your itinerary carefully. Passes are not required for the following, however there is a toll levied- Phnom Kulen ($20), Koh Ker ($10), Beng Melea ($5). 4. Q. Is a visitor required to have a guide? No, a guide for the Angkor Area is not required, and it is an entirely up to the visitor to decide if he/she needs one or not. A guide will definitely enrich your experience and can offer you detailed cultural and historical information, but many prefer to go without a guide. An English-speaking guide will generally charge $25 per day (more for other languages). They can arrange drivers as well, from tuk-tuks to cars to mini-vans. Prices will range from an additional $15-$60 for transportation.

3 5. Q. What's the best way to get around? The tuk-tuk is the cheapest and most comfortable (and most fun!) and you can take a short ride for a couple of dollars or hire a guy for the day for $10 or more (depending on distance). Guys on motor (motorcycles) are also for hire but use these at your discretion, especially on the crowded streets of Phnom Penh. For longer journeys, ask your driver if he has a spare helmet to lend you. Air-conditioned cars are also available and start at $25 per day for trips around the Angkor area, but for longer journeys (Phnom Penh-Siem Reap/ Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville) expect to pay upwards of $70. For long journeys, buses are super-cheap and quite comfortable. Bicycles can also be rented, but after a day or so experiencing the tropical humidity, you may decide against it. You can rent motorcycles In Battambang and Phnom Penh, but tourists are no longer allowed to rent them (or cars) in Siem Reap. If you do decide to rent a motorcycle it is highly recommended to get insurance that covers motorcycle accidents before you leave your country. It is a good idea to decide the fare with your tuk-tuk driver before heading off in order to prevent confusion at the end of the ride. 6. Q. Should a visitor take malaria medications? What else should one look out for? This is a personal choice. While malaria may not be a problem in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, there ARE malaria-carrying mosquitoes around the Thai-Cambodia border area. Unfortunately, the malaria parasites in that area have recently become increasingly resistant to the usually highly-effective artemisinin based drugs. There is also dengue fever to worry about, so it is recommended to wear a good DEET-based mosquito repellent when you are outside, and re-apply periodically. Long pants and long-sleeved shirts are also good to prevent bites. At any market, you can also pick up mosquito coils to burn if you happen to like sitting outside at dusk, when the mosquitoes are out. Vaccines: If you will be spending more than a couple of weeks traveling in Cambodia, it is a good idea to get a hepatitis A & B shot, as well as to update your tetanus shot. If you will be spending a good deal of time in rural areas on farms, working with livestock or in areas with rice paddies, you may want to look into getting a Japanese encephalitis vaccine. See the CDC homepage for detailed information on these diseases. 7. Q. Can I buy "women's products" in Cambodia? A. Sanitary products for women are available in Phnom Penh at large markets and also in Siem Reap at some of the mini-marts. In Asia, pads are favored over tampons, so you may not find much of a selection. If you have a favorite brand (or size), it is recommended you bring them with you from home. Many female travelers opt for a Mooncup (or Divacup) so they don't have to worry about bringing these items with them. You can buy a re-usable menstrual cup from Western Pharmacy in Phnom Penh, Peace Cafe in Siem Reap, and Bantreay's Women's Spa in Kampot for 15 dollars.

4 8. Q. What kind of currency is used? While the official currency in Cambodia is the riel, U.S. dollars (USD) are accepted everywhere. Grocery stores have prices in both USD and Cambodian riels. You will usually get your change in riel. Small bills (USD 1) are good to have around for tipping, as is spare riel. Smaller bills are preferred for shopping at local markets, as a lot of vendors will not be able to change anything greater than a USD 20 bill. There are ATMs in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap which dispense dollars, and credit cards are accepted at a lot of hotels, higher-end restaurants, travel agencies and souvenir shops. There are numerous money changers as well. The vendors will usually expect the customer to pay the 3% bank fee for using a credit card. Very important note: Make sure your dollars are not torn or old or discolored. Shops, restaurants, hotels and airport will not accept these bills. As much as possible, keep them looking new. 9. Q. What's the departure tax for flying out of Cambodia? As of April 2011, this is being included in the cost of the air ticket. When booking, ask your travel agent if the departure tax is included, just to be on the safe side. 10. Q. How does one get a Cambodian visa? First, make sure your passport will not expire within six months. Visas are available on arrival at the airport in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh for USD 30 (bring one passport-sized photo). You will get the application forms to fill out on the plane. Visas are also available at the land border crossings from Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. One-month visas are available at Cambodian embassies. The e-visa is also available on this site Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and costs USD 25 for a 30-day visa. You simply fill out the form, download a photo and process your payment by credit card. It takes from 24 hours to 3 days to process the visa, which you will print out and attach 2 copies to your passport. Visa on arrival is available with passport validity of up to 3 months. Data reconfirmed with Royal Embassy of Combodia on Oct20, Your airline may differ, so please reconfirm with airline before you fly. 11. Q. What kind of clothing is suitable? A. People should wear whatever they are most comfortable in, but a fair amount of modesty should be exercised. It can be extremely hot and humid and while some are comfortable in loose-fitting cotton, others feel better in quickdrying synthetics. Garments made from "wicking" materials are available at outdoor/ adventure wear stores. This special fabric absorbs perspiration and dries while it is on your body. These items also launder easily, dry very quickly and do not wrinkle. White or clear colored clothes are a good idea. Having a dry shirt at hand to change during the day is also a good idea. A hat is also recommended to keep the hot sun off your face, as is a good sunscreen (mosquito repellent goes over the sunscreen). While hiking boots would be too hot in the tropical climes, walking shoes/sneakers are good but sturdy hiking sandals (those made by Teva, Keens, Chaco, Merril, etc.) are ideal. Opt for a thin cargo pant or Capri-length pant instead of jeans, which are too hot for the tropics. A definite no-no in Asia is showing too much

5 skin. Women, keep it modest with the cleavage, showing a bare midriff or wearing short shorts. Swimwear is acceptable on the beach (you will notice the locals swimming in shorts and T-shirts!) but cover up when heading into town. Cambodia can get quite chilly late at night or in the early morning in the cool months (December, January) and it is a good idea to bring a fleece jacket. It's also good to have this for bus travel as sometimes the A/C can get downright cold. When visiting active temples in Phnom Penh women should cover their shoulders. It is required for women to wear a long-sleeved blouse in order to enter the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. Those who are not dressed respectably will be turned away.