Travellers tips for Siem Reap
While planning our trip to Asia, Kingdom of Cambodia was on the 'maybe' list, along alongside Vietnam. We would loved to conduct maintain seen both, but to create Thailand, Hong Kong, Phuket, Dubai, Kingdom of Cambodia AND Vietnam inward 2 weeks seemed a footling crazy. So nosotros settled on Cambodia, mainly because of the attraction of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument inward the world.
We had a i black rest inward Siem Reap, which was only plenty fourth dimension to absorb the iii master copy temples together with explore a footling of the locality.
It was besides neat to explore a house which was much to a greater extent than relaxed together with serene than the hustle together with bustle of Bangkok, I tin meet why Kingdom of Cambodia is known every bit a gentle community.
But earlier my lowdown, I've thrown inward some tips for if you're planning to see the city.
Travellers tips for Siem Reap #1 - Allow fourth dimension for immigration
When arriving at immigration inward Cambodia, nosotros were greeted alongside a rather lengthy procedure. We visited at the fourth dimension of the Ebola scare, thus nosotros had an additional wellness cast to boot, but fifty-fifty without this, at that topographic point was a iii trouble whip for your paperwork. So go prepared for a lot of stamping together with checking. In all, I'd tell nosotros were spent most an hr going through the diverse checks.
Travellers tips for Siem Reap #2 - Take a passport photograph alongside you
At immigration, nosotros were told nosotros needed to render a passport photograph to accompany our documentation, or pay $5 USD for them to accept one. So manifestly it's worth taking a choice alongside you, every bit $5 could become towards a repast inward the city. Which brings me to my side yesteryear side point...
Travellers tips for Siem Reap #3 - They bargain inward dollars
That's the States Dollars. Believe it or not, Siem Reap prefers the States Dollars over their currency - the Riel. Even inward the marketplace stalls they prefer dollars. The Riel itself is inflated insanely - I intend it was 2,000 Riels to the pound. So you lot experience similar you're something of a millionaire when exchanging.
Dealing inward dollars is to a greater extent than convenient, particularly if you're from the US, or are planning a trip there. It's besides easier figuring out if you're getting a proficient bargain on your buys. However, when giving modify smaller than a dollar, shops together with restaurants tend to manus you lot dorsum some Riels, thus it's best to role them on minor buys during your stay.
Travellers tips for Siem Reap #4 - Invest inward a tuk tuk driver
Having had our fill upward of bartering alongside tuk tuk drivers inward Bangkok, I didn't fancy doing the same affair inward Cambodia.
However, that was until I realised that inward Siem Reap it was the norm to majority a tuk tuk driver for the whole hateful solar daytime for a fixed rate, together with they'd hold off for you lot every bit you lot see all the sights.
We paid $15, the going charge per unit of measurement for a tuk tuk driver, for the whole day. He was polite, courteous, together with patient. And he fifty-fifty offered to drib us off at the drome for our flying back.
With the same driver, you lot instruct a feel of comfort together with security, together with it turns out much meliorate to pay a tuk tuk driver to accept you lot around, rather than i of the committee driven drome cabbies. But that's some other story for some other article.
Travellers tips for Siem Reap #5 - Be ready for pushy salespeople
Whether it was a marketplace stall or a store, nosotros were sold at inward Angkor Wat similar no other place.
Oh my, you lot choice upward i particular together with 4 people come upward up to you, alongside a handbasket inward hand, ready to fill upward it alongside items. We were stalked unopen to a handicraft store, nagged to purchase inward the marketplace. By the end, nosotros didn't dare expect at anything inward whatever shops. I idea the souks of Marrakech were pushy. This was a whole novel level.
Travellers tips for Siem Reap #6 - One temple tickets gets you lot iii sites, together with a black view
Hubby together with I paid $20 each to see Angkor Wat, together with we're pleased to remove heed that nosotros got to meet the other 2 master copy temples, Angkor Pho together with Angkor Thom, alongside the same ticket.
Also, a tip our driver gave was that if nosotros see Angkor Wat the black earlier later 4.45pm, it's gratuitous to instruct into if you lot purchase a ticket for the side yesteryear side day. So essentially, you lot tin instruct the sunset sentiment from the hills, together with thus see the sites the side yesteryear side hateful solar daytime all alongside the same ticket.
So those are my travellers tips for Siem Reap, I'll side yesteryear side go posting my things to do.