Cambodia Travel Basics – CorneredGlobe

Best Time To Visit

High Season

November To March: This period offers the best weather and it’s the peak tourist season.

Shoulder Season

July To August: It’s hot and humid and there’s a good chance for thunderstorms, but the landscape is a lush green.

Low Season

Remaining Months: High humidity and the mercury touches 40°C. Honestly, I don’t want to imagine what it would be like to visit during this time.

Visa Requirements

Getting a visa to Cambodia is very easy. Most nationals qualify for a one month visa-on-arrival for $30. The visas issued at the airport are single entry, but it can be renewed for an additional 30 days for a $45 fee.

Visitors from Afghanistan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Nigeria need to apply for a visa from a Cambodian embassy prior to traveling.

Apply For Visa

Currency

I’d heard that the US dollar was widely used in Cambodia, but I was shocked to find that it could qualify as its primary currency. Everywhere I went I did my purchases in dollars, also many ATMs issued the greenback. The only time I saw the Cambodian currency was when I received change from my purchases.

The local currency is Rieis (KHR) and the exchange rate is roughly 4000 Rieis to $1.

Accommodations

Cambodia is one of the cheapest countries in SE Asia. Major cities will have wide range of dorms/guesthouses to choose from. They’ll also have plenty of mid range and some luxury hotels. Wifi availability and speed was surprising good at the accommodations I stayed at. I was able to comfortably stream video content. Below is a quick guide to prices you can expect to pay.

- Budget Hostels/Guesthouses (Cost $5 – $15 a night)
- Midrange Guesthouse (Cost $25 – $75 a night)
- Upscale or Boutique Hotels (Cost $75+ a night)

Food

The one thing I absolutely didn’t enjoy in Cambodia was the food. I couldn’t adapt to the local cuisine and felt uncomfortable with the sanitary conditions. That said, the price of food from street vendors and local restaurants is quite cheap (from $1 – $4). Cambodia also has western restaurants, which usually come with western prices (from $5 – $10+).
The local currency is Rieis (KHR) and the exchange rate is roughly 4000 Rieis to $1.

Transportation

Getting around Cambodia is fairly inexpensive. Within major cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap the main mode of transport I used were the bikes and Tuk Tuks. For long distance travel you can use local plane carriers and buses.

Airlines: Surprisingly, Cambodia has a good selection of local carriers to choose from. They include: Bassaka Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Sky Angkor Airlines. Prices on these airlines are quite reasonable. When I traveled on Bassaka Air from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, the ticket cost $48 (after baggage fees and taxes).
Buses: This is the cheapest option for long distance travel within Cambodia.
- Most bus services are privately run companies.
  - The biggest bus operator is Phnom Penh Sorya. Tickets are cheap: $4 from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville and $6 to Siem Reap.
  - Giant Ibis and Mekong Express operate luxury express buses on most popular routes.
- Always make sure that if you travel by bus you keep all your valuables in your hand luggage. Theft is common occurrence.
Local Transport:
- Tuk Tuks: Traveling in the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap I used Tuks Tuks exclusively. They’re quite cheap:
  - Short trips (about 5 minutes) cost about $1 -$2.
  - A Tuk Tuk from the airport to Phnom Penh costs about $5-$6.
  - When we were in Siem Reap we booked a Tuk Tuk for the day to do the temple tour for around $18.