Accommodation

There are plenty of accommodations in Cambodia, from guesthouses to five-star hotels. You shouldn't have too much difficulty in finding a place to stay in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. If you wish to visit other provinces, please contact us to know beforehand the accommodations available in that area.

Food

Restaurants are abundant in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap., whatever your food preferences are. May we suggest to all travellers not to try street food as the hygiene involved in food preparation might be questionable. For those who have just arrived or who have a sensitive stomach, try to avoid raw vegetable sand fruits, make sure that your food is well-cooked and opt for hot water, soft drinks or juice instead of bottled water (unless you boil it). It may also be convenient to carry with you diarrhoea medicine in case you get sick. If your diarrhoea or vomiting persists, there are some foreign clinics you may go to.

From the airport

Many eager drivers (taxis, motorcycles and touk touks) will be awaiting you at your descent. There is a fixed-price taxi counter available at the airport for a fare of US$7 to the city center. You should expect to pay US$7 for a taxi ride into the city, US$2 for motorcycles and around US$4 to US$5 for touk touks. Having the address of your accommodation on hand will also be helpful.

What to bring:

- a camera

- solar cream

- a hat

- basic medicines (for diarrhoeas, headaches, etc.)

- mosquito repellent

Hassles

One of the main hassles tourists will have is when dealing with locals. This problem is due to the misconception locals have of foreigners. They believe that foreigners have more money than them (which is true in most cases). And some of them want to benefit from that money in a way that may be annoying. The lack of education and their struggle to make a living play a large role in creating such a behavior.

This hassle is part of Cambodia's everyday life. You cannot change the attitude of the locals but you can change yours. What should you do? Well, if you know that you would be bothered by such hassling, shoving, pushing and grabbing, it would be wise to contact us to and make necessary arrangements to avoid having to negotiate for transportation, accommodations or restaurants on your own and thus reducing the risk of having to deal with those kinds of people. For others who think they can handle it, then remember that no matter how annoyed or disappointed you are at how a person has treated you, please remain calm and just walk away. Expressing your anger will not help much and so as much as possible, please avoid doing so.

Scams

The most known scam to Cambodia is the bus ride from Bangkok to Poipet sold at Khao San road agencies in Bangkok. You will have hassles at the border where the price of a visa will increase and where you will be "sold" to guesthouses. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Another prevalent scam concerns gems. The region of Pailin in Cambodia is known for its beautiful rubies and sapphires. However, most of the quality stones are sold to the international market and so most of the stones sold in the country are copied - they look very beautiful but they are not authentic. To avoid unpleasant discoveries, only buy if you trust the seller or if you know your stones. We can put you in touch with reputable jewellers.

Cautions

When travelling on motorcycle taxis or touk touks, please beware of thieves who could snatch your bag.

Due to the country's poverty, many are forced to pickpocket. If you don't want any unplesant memories, put only a few dollars in your pocket and place all valuable documents and the rest of your spending money in a "security" bag that you carry on yourself.

There are no strict regulations as to what you should or should not wear. However, caution is needed when wearing sleeveless tops or short skirts or pants. You might want to have a pair of long pants and a t-shirt to put over if you decide to stay late at night.

Please remember that we do not seek to offend anyone but we truly believe in this proverb: Prevention is better than cure!