Korean Job Discussion Forums

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

I'll be heading there this summer. Any advice on places to see? What about youth hostels in Siem Reap? I plan to be there about 9 days. Is it easy to get around the country to see other cities? Any info very much appreciated. Ticket is 855,000....can I get it any cheaper?

wishfullthinkng · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

i really enjoyed phnom penh. more so than siem reap. siem reap is more touristy i feel. in phnom penh it's not difficult at all to really to get down and hang out with locals there as many of them are super friendly and will take you to where they normally go. even the tuk tuk louts seemed to be more relaxed and not so in-your-face in pp.

as for traveling around you can take buses, cars and tuk tuks, but it all can kind of be a crap shoot.

Modernist · Joined: 23 Mar 2011 Location: The 90s

jfromtheway · Joined: 20 Nov 2010

It's nice to hear people talking up Phenom Penh. I love dirty, semi-dangerous cities. I thoroughly enjoyed the week I spent there. Had a crazy night with a French girl who was leaving town at 7 am. I was staying half way across the city, and ended up attempting to ride my bike back to my hotel during morning rush hour. Drunk, no sleep, motor bike/traffic hell. All I recall is three hours of madness and being incredibly lost in awesome Cambodian terror. I finally gave up, put my bike in a tuktuk, and right as he took off, half the bike tire that was hanging out got bent in half against a parked car. The funny thing was that he refused to accept the $1 ride we had agreed on, and I ended up paying exactly $1 to the place that rented me the bike. I also got surrounded by a group of 12 year old Cambodian gangster kids while riding my bike on a different night when I stopped to ask for directions around 1 am in some really ghetto area. Luckily, I broke out of that situation on my 80s Schwinn rental. Good times.

I didn't think Siem Reap was that bad, but the only reason you go there is to visit Ankor Wat. I've said it before... but get your hands on a bike, a sack, and load whatever MP3 device you have with tons of Pink Floyd, Shpongle, Farina, or whatever else you like. Take your three day pass, ride around, chief up behind the temples, enjoy fully awesome days of exploration, and it will result in you becoming an improved individual.

My input was likely not very helpful, but have a good time.

alljokingaside · Joined: 17 Feb 2010

T'way Air. At least, it was last Jan. Booked my return ticket for around $300, a month-ish in advance

only downside is that you might need a Korean translator

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

Great input. I will end up more than 9 days in Cambodia. Working now on finding some hostels or guest houses. Has anybody been to any of the beach towns and which beach is the best?

austinmc86 · Joined: 23 Feb 2010

I too am interested in Cambodia. Do I need to obtain a tourist visa before, or can I get a visa on arrival?

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

I was told on arrival you get it at the airport.

lemak · Joined: 02 Jan 2011

Visa available on arrival. Around 20 bucks. Make sure you have some passport pics handy.

wishfullthinkng · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

i highly recommend california 2 hotel if you are going to phnom pehn. clean rooms with aircon and seemingly endless k-stations if you are going through withdrawal, and a wicked 24/hr bar and restaurant at the main floor. for the price you will not find better, i guarantee it.

email jim the owner and he will be more than happy to help you out with rooms and even any information you might want to know about cambodia.

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

Great..I will search that place. BTW, did you take a phone with you there? DId you have roaming if you did?

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

Just checked the prices for california 2 guesthouse. A bit expensive for me at $25 a night. I am in range of $5 a night. Do you know any in that range wishfulthinking?

wishfullthinkng · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

hehe...i might change my mind after one night with no A/C Smile

thrylos · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

There are places to stay in PP for under $20/night, with AC. Depending on where you want to stay, check out Agoda.com. If you want to be near the Riverside/Royal palace (tourist attractions-- but for a day or two, max), check out Bright Lotus and/or Rory's. If you prefer being close to the nightlife, look at St51 and Nana GH. (most bookable thru Agoda). For the backpacker ghetto, look up BKK1 area, south of the Independence Monument (no recommendations, haven't stayed there).

canbypublications.com is a decent online guide (though not as complete in the hotel/GH section as it could be).

Maybe book 1 night online so you have somewhere to tell your cab or moto driver when you arrive, then look around a bit and find something to your preference.

Also, if you have no checked bags and are flying into PP or SR, consider getting an evisa--$25 instead of the 20 on arrival, but you jump the line of those needing a visa, proceed straight to passport control and can be out of the airport in 5 to 10 minutes after arrival. The first person in line at the visa desk still is waiting for them to put a visa into their pp and you're already outside haggling with motodups and smoking your ciggy after the flight. Wink

http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/

Even if you're entering by land through Thailand, it still might be worth getting it online, as it MAY help you avoid overpayment scams at the border, since you already have it. (Check to make sure they'll accept it at the border crossing you're considering-- not all land border checkpoints accept evisas).