Cambodia, Asia

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Apple & Orange > Type of trip > Adventure > Cambodia, Asia

TRAVEL GENERAL INFORMATION

Period of this trip:	December 2014
Country:	Cambodia
Currency used:	USD mainly – Riel
Duration:	3 weeks
Number of travelers:	2
Budget:	ca 2.600 GBP or (1.300 GBP pp)
Best Period:	All year
Guide used:	Lonely Planet
VISA:	YES on arrival
General Info:	Cambodia is a very easy Country to travel. I would not book hotel in advance as it’s very easy and cheaper to book on arrival. I traveled to Cambodia from Bangkok by bus. This tour can be linked to Vietnam or Thailand. Travel by plane is very easy and affordable with many low cost flights such as AirAsia. Bus or mini bus are also popular way to reach all Cambodian destinations or the neighbour countries.

TRAVEL PLAN

Day	Area	What to Do
1	Siem Reap	Bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap (7 hours) – alternatively fly to Siem Reap from Bangkok, HCM, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Europe/Australia.
2-6	Siem Reap	As soon you arrive inSiem Reap, localtuctuc will offer you all type of accommodations from 10 USD per room. We choose to stay near the night market and city centre in a mid range hotel with swimming pool for just 30 USD per room. How to visit the temple area: negotiate a tuc tuc tour for a minimum of 3 days, you can book trough the hotel (more expensive) or you can find a driver easily in the town. tuc tuc will offer more or less the same type of tour and you can manage the day as you want. Do not pay more than 20 USD per day. A tuc tuc can fit easily 4 people. the tuc tuc will wait for you at each of the temples. there are different entrance fees: 3 days (40 USD) or 7 days (60 USD). You can use the 3 or 7 days whenever you like. So if it’s rain you can decide not to go to the temples and you don’t lose the day. In Siem Reap you can: enjoy the swimming pool after all day in the temples enjoy full body massage or spa for less than 10 USD per hour enjoy the night market (very touristic) and negotiate at least half of the initial price for everything you want to buy have dinner at the night market or in one of the many restaurants in the city centre There is the possibility to do other activity in Siem Reap such as visiting the floating villages if you plan to stay longer.
7-8	Phnom Penh	From Siem Reap to Phnom Penh there are several buses or mini buses from 6 USD to 12 USD, all with AC. It is worth spending a couple of days inPhonPheng and visiting: Royal Palace History Museum with a big collection from Angkor Wat Night Market – for dinner and music Central Market (art deco) Russian Market (ok, but nothing special)
9-11	Silhanoukville	Silhanoukville is the Cambodian version of Pouket in Thailand – so no much to say. We stayed only a couple of days and then we moved for the most relaxing Kho Rong Samloem, island paradise just 45m by boat from Sianoukville. Said so, in Silhanoukville we hired a scooter for 5 USD a day and explored the beautiful beaches of “Other Beach”, just 7 km far from the village. In Other Beach we saw lots of bungalow resorts which look very nice, all budgets (from 15 USD to 50+ USD).
12-15	Kho Rong Samloem – Saracen Bay	There are many ferries from Silhanoukville to Kho Rong Samloem and Kho Rong (open return ticket is 20USD) If you are a party person, go to Kho Rong. It is also more developed and got WIFI and ATM. If you prefer a relaxing place, mostly inhabited environment… then Kho Rong Samloem is the right place for you! Beach, Beach, Beach, sea food…relax, beach…more beach. As there is no WIFI in all island, I suggest to buy a local SIM card to use in your smart phone. We stayed in the Saracen bay beach at “The Beach Island Resort” in one of the Delux bungalow (60 USD), but accommodations starts from 8USD for dormitories. There are also private bungalow with en suite bathroom from 20 USD. We found out that the resort Saracen Bay Resort is the best in Saracen Bay, but it was fully booked at the time we arrived…shame! But we had our breakfast and most of our dinners and lunches in their restaurant. Staff is super nice. From Saracen bay, you can reach 2 more beaches on the other side of the island with a short 30-40 min walk in the forest…Lazy beach is spectacular!
16-20	Kho Rong Samloem – Eco Sea Dive	Same island, different beach. We stayed at the Eco Sea dive in the attempt to do some diving, but the weather was not great. However we enjoyed the bungalow, food and absolute peace. In a short walk you can reach the fishing village which is quite interesting.
21	Phnom Penh-London	From Silhanoukville take a fly back to Phnom Penh or mini Bus. We spent one more night before flying back to Kuala Lumpur and then back to London.

TRAVEL COST LIST

Hotel Siem Reap
– 6 nights –

Parent Heritage Angkor Hotel‎
Pash Kraoum Road,
Siemréab, Cambodia
Phone: +855 12 627 148
web:www.parentheritageangkorvilla.com

– Hotel with swimming pool (decent size)
– 300 meter from Old Market, Night Market and Pub Street
– 30 USD per room

$180

Phnom Penh Hotel
– 2 nights-

Cozyna Hotel
Preah Sisowath Quay
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phone: +855 23 222 366
web:www.cozyna-hotel.com

I would recommend this hotel because it’s super central and it’s the most affordable of the area with sea view and shared balcony 25 USD or room with sea view at 35 USD.

$50

SihanoukVille
– 2 nights –

Many cheap option with AC from 10$

$40

Kho Rong Samloem Resorts
– 8 nights –

BEST CHOICE:

Saracen Bay Resort
Koh Rong Sanloem Island,
Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia
Phone: +855 16 997 047

$55

The Beach Island Resort & Beach Club
Serecen Bay Koh Rong Sanloem,
Koh Rong Sanloem, Cambodia
Tel: +855 16 997 047
web:www.ecoseadive.com

Delux room for 60USD

$240

Eco Sea div
Serecen Bay Koh Rong Sanloem,
Koh Rong Sanloem, Cambodia
Tel: +855 34 934 631
web:www.ecoseadive.com