| T Viadieu |
30 April 2003 |
Stayed at Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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Hotel is located very close to temple area so that you can have a break in the swimming pool at lunch time.
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| M Cable |
26 April 2003 |
Stayed at Pavillon Indochine - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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The hotel can set you up with a car and excellent guide to visit the nearby ruins.
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| S Ferreira |
21 April 2003 |
Stayed at Angkor Village Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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Angkor is a magic place. It is a must visit if you are in Asia. If you like photography try to go to the temples very early in the morning or after four o'clock in the afternoon so we can get a better light. We went during April, but I would try visiting Angkor in October when the water level in the lakes and rivers surrounding the temples are higher.
Don't miss visiting the center for arts & crafts where they teach the local people how to do wood-carving, sculptures in stone, different items in silk and metal work.
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| L Rathje |
06 April 2003 |
Stayed at Angkor Village Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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The reason you go to Siem Reap is Angkor, there is no doubt about that. I purchased a 3 day pass which is more than enough to see the highlights and also some of the "lesser know" temples.
I had great success in hiring a guide through the taxi driver sent by the hotel, to pick me up from the airport. He spoke good English and 45 minutes after my arrival he came back to the hotel with Sophat who, though he appeared to be young, was government certified and had 5 years of leading tours under his belt and was very knowledgeable. The driver also took me to see an Aspara dance show one evening and remained at the restaurant to take me back to the hotel at its conclusion. There is also a dance show directly across from the hotel, but it was quite a bit more expensive. I would also recommend the Madame Butterfly restaurant with excellent food and nice atmosphere.
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| J Waiss |
03 April 2003 |
Stayed at Passaggio Boutique Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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We hired a driver/car and tour guide he did it all. This was just by chance. Most guides charge $40.00 with car and driver. My advice March/April very hot and humid be prepared. Most restaurants have very good food. We ate at Banyon for lunch also Madame Butterfly for dinner very good.
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| W Burnett |
01 April 2003 |
Stayed at Passaggio Boutique Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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I met up with a driver called Sam Aon (samaon02@hotmail.com), he had some sort of built in radar that alerted him to the exact moment that I would leave a temple and would be there with the engine on and air-con running ready to pick me up, this perfect timing was either down to magic or an accumulated knowledge of exactly how long it takes an overweight middle aged English bloke to get around a temple before expiring in the heat.
This exceptionally pleasant chap is very polite and helpful and speaks very good English. Quick recommendations, take your own US dollars (they are expensive to buy in Cambodia and time consuming to get hold of), drink a lot of water, go out early and get back at midday to hibernate for a few hours before going out in the afternoon, allow yourself 3 full days to do see the temples, and one day for a trip to the floating village.
Beware of young men dressed as monks wishing to practice their English whilst giving you a guided tour of the temples, they will demand 10 dollars from you and will get really stroppy if you don't pay up. Give a donation of 50 dollars to the local children's hospital, it will salve your conscience when you refuse to give any more money to the hundreds of tiny children that swarm around you begging for money or trying to sell you some crap, though one small child broke my heart when I refused to buy a scarf, she said "if you buy a scarf you can wipe the sweat off your sweaty face." Beware of policemen selling you genuine "Military Police" badges.
To get to Siem Reap from Phnom Pehn, take the river boat, it is an experience in itself and you can take comfort knowing that you will be able to fly back.
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| G Claverie |
31 March 2003 |
Stayed at Angkor Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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We had booked our guide and driver through the hotel and were really happy with both, especially keeping a stocked supply of cold water for us in the car during the day. The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the temples, life in Siem Reap and Cambodia in general. The driver drove carefully at all times with respect to us and others on the road. I would definitely recommend them both.
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| J Mayfield |
23 March 2003 |
Stayed at Apsara Angkor Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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Cambodia was amazing - highly recommend the driver the hotel whet us up with for seeing the city. Make sure to ask for David if you decide to get a driver for the day. Also, Chivit Thai is a fantastic restaurant just down the street (Route 6) for dinners/etc.
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| D Vandewalle |
21 March 2003 |
Stayed at Passaggio Boutique Hotel - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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For visiting the temples, hire a local motorcycle or tuk-tuk. Much cheaper than a taxi. Unless you know nothing about the temples, forget about the official guides--they're not worth the money. Much better to study beforehand, and then explore by yourself--with your motorcycle driver waiting for you...
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| D Steiner |
16 March 2003 |
Stayed at Bopha Angkor - Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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I spent 3 days touring with a guide and driver - 2 days of the temples that everyone else has mentioned (that's enough time) and 1 day on Tonle Lake and visiting a silk farm/school and wood-carving school.
I hired the guide before I left on the recommendation of a friend, and he was wonderful. I paid $45 a day for him and a driver in an air-conditioned car. He even met me at the airport and took me back to the airport when I left on the 4th day at no charge. His name is Moun Monirom (email/monirom2002@yahoo.com) (phone/85512630621) I was a woman traveling alone and I felt very comfortable with him.
Stayed at the Bopha Angkor and ate most of my meals there. Loved it for the price.
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Traveller's Tales: Things to do in Cambodia
