Siem Reap, located in the small Southeast Asian country of Cambodia, is one of the few places left on the planet where modern tourists can enjoy the comforts of western living alongside the authenticity of the rural past. Both collide here in Siem Reap where a proverbial time warp leaves guests feeling both incredibly lucky and spiritually fulfilled as they pass on to a neighbouring land.
If you are coming from Thailand, you can get a bus from the capital city of Bangkok that will take you to the Cambodian border before piling you into a smaller minivan in order to drive nearly two hours to the small but famous Siem Reap town. One scam that you will want to watch out for, though you may not be able to do much about it, is extra visa charges. Traveling around Southeast Asia can be a bit tricky even in a more developed country like Thailand. People in this region rely heavily on tourist dollars and as such do everything that they can to make high season dollars sustain them throughout the rest of the year. Before you reach the border, your bus may likely stop at a local restaurant where you will be asked to purchase a Cambodian visa from the owners there. The cost is slightly higher than you would pay at the border, but there will be no wait times once you arrive. Should you choose to wait and purchase your visa at the border you may be left behind to find your own transport into Siem Reap.
Something else to be warned about when crossing the Cambodian border en route to Siem Reap is a scam that takes place at the border currency exchange. Many Cambodians accept US dollars for goods, but should you need Cambodian Riel you will want to exchange it once you have reached the city centre. Many high-end Siem Reap city centre hotels will be able to help you exchange money though there are also a number of ATMs and banks located in the city centre. The men at the border can be quite pushy and you may receive some hostility for not paying their exorbitant exchange fees, but it is worth waiting particularly if you are on a tight budget. It is also worth noting that while many merchants take US dollar, they do not often give it back as change. It is a wise idea to keep up with the current exchange rate between all the monies that you will be using as well as learn to shrug your shoulders and walk away if things don't always add up.
Once you arrive in Siem Reap, you may not have a choice of where to stay. You will most likely be taken to a hotel as a group where the driver has a deal with the hotel owner. As it may be late at night and dark outside, you might feel obliged to stay at the hotel for one night with the option of moving to a new location the next day. There are a few tourist centers located around the city centre where you can book various kinds of adventures such as horseback riding in the countryside or going on an off-road vehicle adventure. It is also a lovely the idea to rent a bicycle while you are in the city. This is an easy, hassle-free way to explore the rather small area and see some of the lesser-known sites that you might not be able to explain to your taxi driver. At night, instead of taking the bicycle, you might opt for an old-fashioned bicycle taxi, which is both enjoyable and inexpensive.
If you are coming from Thailand, you can get a bus from the capital city of Bangkok that will take you to the Cambodian border before piling you into a smaller minivan in order to drive nearly two hours to the small but famous Siem Reap town. One scam that you will want to watch out for, though you may not be able to do much about it, is extra visa charges. Traveling around Southeast Asia can be a bit tricky even in a more developed country like Thailand. People in this region rely heavily on tourist dollars and as such do everything that they can to make high season dollars sustain them throughout the rest of the year. Before you reach the border, your bus may likely stop at a local restaurant where you will be asked to purchase a Cambodian visa from the owners there. The cost is slightly higher than you would pay at the border, but there will be no wait times once you arrive. Should you choose to wait and purchase your visa at the border you may be left behind to find your own transport into Siem Reap.
Something else to be warned about when crossing the Cambodian border en route to Siem Reap is a scam that takes place at the border currency exchange. Many Cambodians accept US dollars for goods, but should you need Cambodian Riel you will want to exchange it once you have reached the city centre. Many high-end Siem Reap city centre hotels will be able to help you exchange money though there are also a number of ATMs and banks located in the city centre. The men at the border can be quite pushy and you may receive some hostility for not paying their exorbitant exchange fees, but it is worth waiting particularly if you are on a tight budget. It is also worth noting that while many merchants take US dollar, they do not often give it back as change. It is a wise idea to keep up with the current exchange rate between all the monies that you will be using as well as learn to shrug your shoulders and walk away if things don't always add up.
Once you arrive in Siem Reap, you may not have a choice of where to stay. You will most likely be taken to a hotel as a group where the driver has a deal with the hotel owner. As it may be late at night and dark outside, you might feel obliged to stay at the hotel for one night with the option of moving to a new location the next day. There are a few tourist centers located around the city centre where you can book various kinds of adventures such as horseback riding in the countryside or going on an off-road vehicle adventure. It is also a lovely the idea to rent a bicycle while you are in the city. This is an easy, hassle-free way to explore the rather small area and see some of the lesser-known sites that you might not be able to explain to your taxi driver. At night, instead of taking the bicycle, you might opt for an old-fashioned bicycle taxi, which is both enjoyable and inexpensive.