Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fares on the streets but instead congregate outside
major hotels or, in the capital, on the riverfront.
In Phnom Penh you can order one by phone
(see p.79); fares are around $4-8 per journey.
In other towns you'll need to find a
car and
driver
. These can be hired for both short hops
around town and long journeys (expect to pay
around $40 per day for running around town, or
$40-80 for an out-of-town trip, depending on how
far you plan to travel).
TOP 5 BOUTIQUE HOTELS
The 252, Phnom Penh
See p.81
Knai Bang Chatt, Kep
See p.276
The Pavilion, Phnom Penh
See p.82
Sala Lodges, Siem Reap
See p.148
Terres Rouges Lodge, Banlung
See p.231
booked accommodation in advance, some hotels
and guesthouses will send someone to pick you up
from the bus, boat or plane for no extra charge.
Note that
camping
in Cambodia is technically
illegal and also potentially dangerous due to the
risk of land mines.
Organized tours
If you're short on time, or simply don't want to do it
yourself, then you might consider an
organized
tour
, which can get you around the country to the
major sights with minimum effort. An increasing
number of travel agencies and tour operators in
Phnom Penh (see p.77) and Siem Reap (see p.145)
arrange individual tours offering a convenient if
relatively expensive way of seeing the country -
allow upwards of $120 per person per day,
excluding food.
Budget accommodation
Budget
accommodation in Cambodia is generally
excellent value, available in a range of guesthouses
and hotels (note that many places which call
themselves guesthouses are actually more like
small hotels). Most places are functional concrete
boxes, rather lacking in character, although a few
livelier establishments geared towards Western
backpackers can be found in the major tourist
centres. Sihanoukville and the islands have a
plethora of bungalow resorts; these are very simple
timber affairs (usually with shutters rather than
glass windows) perhaps with a fan (although this is
rare on the islands), that can cost as little as $5 for a
simple room.
Most budget rooms
cost
in the region of $7 a
night (slightly more in Phnom Penh and Siem
Reap) and are usually clean and tidy with cotton
sheet(s), basic toiletries and towels, a TV and
ceiling fan, and sometimes with optional air
conditioning for an extra $5 or so a night. A lot of
budget guesthouses and hotels also have fancier
rooms with air conditioning for around $15 a
night. Virtually all except the very cheapest
budget rooms come with en-suite
bathroom
with Western-style toilet and sometimes hot
water as well.
Wi-fi
is now available in the vast
majority of places, although
mosquito nets
are
only rarely provided - bring your own.
A few places also have
dorm beds
, typically
costing around $3-10 per night, and there are a
Accommodation
Finding accommodation is seldom a
problem. Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and
Sihanoukville all have plenty of accom-
modation in all categories, and even
smaller towns usually have a reasonable
choice of guesthouses and a couple of
modest hotels.
In most towns
touts
meet incoming transport
and will take you free of charge to their favourite
establishment; if you don't like it, feel free to go
elsewhere. Sometimes tuk-tuk and moto drivers get
a dollar or so in commission for dropping you off at
a particular guesthouse - this premium may be
added to your room rate. In Sihanoukville some
drivers may resist taking you to a guesthouse of
your choice, asserting that it has closed or is full of
prostitutes or some such excuse in the hope of
being able to take you to a place that pays them
commission. Mostly, however, they're just keen to
introduce themselves and to secure work driving or
guiding you for the duration of your stay. If you've
Accommodation
prices
throughout the Guide are based on the cost of the cheapest
double
room
or
dorm bed
available at each particular establishment in high season (Nov-Feb). Prices
tend to fall during the rainy season (June-Oct), particularly at more upmarket places, where
rates can drop by up to a third.
