First Trip From Bkk To Phnom Penh - Clueless

[TenDreams]

Always a question that's shot down when i see it posted by newbs coming to Thailand, but, I gotta ask it...will be changing my Baht to dollars tomorrow, but have no idea how much will be adequate (will have baht in reserve of course)...

male, young-ish, going from 29th-1st by plane (have passport photos and cash for visa, anything else i should know?), expect (hope) to spend 10-15$ a night on a room (not really fussy about quality), probably triple that on drinking, and whatever the going rate is on additional recreation - no travel/tours, maybe guns, no gambling, food i suppose, and other foolish pursuits of happiness, perhaps. Expect to blow out a bit cos of the season, if I were in Bangkok, would probably get through around 10K I would imagine.

figured there would be some people on here who have some rough answers, please dont bother wasting your own time replying with further questions just to make me look like a twot unless i have blatantly left something out from the details above, I tried not to.

Oh, and any specific guesthouse recommendations would be more than welcome.

Cheers, any help appreciated, and happy new year to all!

[ged]

http://www.cambodiaphnompenh.com/DV8%20Gue...hnom%20Penh.htm

Try here! get a driver your guesthouse will know of one , it can be dangerous -be safe!

and one more

http://www.canbypublications.com/cambodia/cambodiahome.htm

Sorry you sad specific, Hope and Anchor hotel on the riverfront $20, a little more than you want but well worth it they have good food ,good bar ,good ladies ,what more do you need?

Edited December 27, 2007 by ged

[zink]

Even in high season Cambodia is significantly cheaper than Thailand.

For $10-$15 should get a decent accomodation. Going rate for additional recreation starts from $10/$20 (depending of the lenght of recreation).

Just like in Thailand, many people in Cambodia try to overcharge clueless tourists. That's why it's a good idea not to tell everybody that you are visiting Cambodia for a first time, especially when negotiating the price.

[Rinrada]

Havnt been for a couple of years now but assuming you dont mind a bit of noise the Walkabout would probabally suit you.

From Potch Airport a taxi is about 7 dollars US and the the place it located on the strip at 174/51 st.

Other bars nearby include thew Heart -Howies -Shanghai............our old Irish Rover and Irish Greyhound Bars however have long gone.

If feeling adventurous and Waka-b. full there is a Chinese Hotel on 174 next to where the old Greyhound bar used to be .

Last time I put people up in there it was 5 bucks a nght and not 2 bad...

Moto-Dops (motobike taxis) are everywhere and they know all the hangouts and gin joints....mai peng....

couple of handy khmer words.....

Hello ...Sok sabai..

Bye Bye.....Lee hai....

and

thanks ...Arkun Sharan ...Tom Tom ....always gets a laugh

http://www.walkabouthotel.com/contactus.html

[phuketrichard]

ok; visa on arrival $20. taxi to anywhere downtown $7 , can take moto ( motorbike for half that)

i have done that. Dont take lots of money just take your atm as the atm spit out $$$$. also go change into Riels around the market for the best deal

If your only willing to spend 10-15$/night your looking at low class guests houses not something really nice. I usually spend about $25 and get a very nice air con room on the river front. food is same as Bangkok and you can get some great meals in many of the riverfront restautrnts for $4-$7

Flamingos is a nice place and guest friendly http://www.flamingos.com.kh/promotion.php bit more than u want spend thou.

Walkabout is open 24/7 and has some decent rooms but get the better one with a balcony overlooking the street.

http://www.walkabouthotel.com/

PLenty of evening entertainment :-) all night about $20 for Vietnamese or cambodians. Shanghai' (run by an ex Phuket guy) Sharkys, cat house, Martini's, are the best stay away from the heart as can be dangerous as gets the rich khmers who sometims pack .. ( the only bar left with a sign at the door telling you to check your guns)

Bar areas street 51, street 104 off the riverfront

Make sure you visit the Russian market and Tuol Sleng museum and take a trip out to the killing fields (about 18 Kms outside tonw on a VERY bumpy road Also stroll on the riverfront at sunset and see all the Cambodians enjoy the sunset.

Have fun, its a great country and great people and super friendly, reminds me of thailand 20 years ago and hence the reason after 22 years here i am relocating there next year. If you speak thai you will be able to make urself understood as i can get around easily with it there (PP)

http://www.khmer440.com/

http://www.cambodiaforum.com/index.php?&CODE=01

http://cambodia.baronbonk.com/

http://www.canbypublications.com/phnompenh/ppnight.htm

http://www.webcom.com/leongsam/cambodia.html

Edited December 30, 2007 by phuketrichard

[phuketrichard]

yea street 104 is picking up and some nice places to sip a cold one. BUt i stilllike Sharkeys as not only alot of freelancers but the food is great!!

Rooms atart at $18>> mmm rooms start at $11 at walkabout but i wouldn't stay in them.

Are you refering to changing thai Baht to $ here in thailand? I always use my Bangkok bank atm and they weren't charging anything to use it as some atm's

Make sure you pick up some riels as it beats paying $ 1 for eveything :-)

Last time i went to the to the killing fields was over a year ago and i didn't mind the bumps. Make sure you pay a visit to the local primary school right out side the gates., they kids and teachers love seeing westerns there.

[ngangu]

It's been 4 years since I've been there and it sound like things have changed.

There were NO ATMs.

I actually got better exchange rate at the local shops, and they took Baht just as well. I wouldn't change too much as you lose money everytime you change. Since you're only there for a few days you surely don't want Riel as they're worthless outside of Cambodia. Unless that's changed too?? You'll get some as change for anything less than a dollar, no coins.

[crazyeddie]

Looks like those others have covered most of the main points. Take along a passport photo or two for entry visa, be sure to have $US25 or so for the exit visa at airport, ATM machines spit out $US no problem, dunno about any special surcharge. I stayed at some big Chinese owned hotel near the Thai Embassy, it was OK and the "karaoke bar" downstairs had a lot of scantily clad staff working, for some reason? All around the Riverfront area were pleasant drinking establishments. It was last April when I was there and I enjoyed my stay, and was glad to get back to Thailand when the time came.

[phuketrichard]

one thing, Many of the places will pick you up at the airport when you arrive for free SO go ahead and book a better place as u will save $7.

Flamingos will pick you up/breakfast and free wifi for $25/night

http://www.flamingos.com.kh/promotion.php

Edited December 31, 2007 by phuketrichard

[TenDreams]

Thanks for the great advice everyone - awesome and accurate!

had a great time, everything posted was spot on!

[Chuckler]

this is a great thread, I'm posting in it so I remember to read it again later.