Are you out there?

Concerning Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, how does transportation and tour guide work?

Do I have to hire both a tuk tuk/moto driver and an English speaking guide? or is it fairly easy to find a combo driver/guide.

What is a fair going daily rate for driver/guide?

I am assuming I also have to pay for his entrance to the places we visit during the tour. Is this true?

Fio, did you travel alone? was it safe for a single female to walk around at night taking normal precautions? any extra safety precautions?

I will be staying at the Cara Hotel in Phnom Penh (near Tonle Sap Riverfront) and Mandalay Inn in Siem Reap (near Old Market area).
Are these good locations?

Are these fairly easy walking cities. The maps make it look like I coud explore most of the sites on foot if I wanted to.

Appreciate any hints from you two or from anyone else familiar with Cambodia and these areas.

Thanks in advance - Khun Pamela

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Be a traveler, not a tourist.

Lets start with Siem Reap - a driver of a tuk tuk or car is not usually a licensed guide and will not be allowed into the temples. He/she may be very knowledgeable and help as to what temples are best seen at the best times to avoid the main tourist crowds (there will always be lots of people except at some of the outlying temples) What one usually does is hire both a driver and a guide for at lest part of the time. A good guide can make all the difference in explaining what you are seeing. A tuk tuk will cost $10-12 a day and an a/c car (highly recommended) around $20-25. A guide is about $25. Slightly higher for those temples further away. You do not pay any entrance fee for a guide. I don't know anything about the Mandalay Inn but the location is good. And yes the town of SR is easy to walk around. Be warned that even in the cool season it is hot and humid.

In Phnom Penh it is best to hire a tuk tuk (or a/c car) for a day to see the main sights but you do not really need a guide here. I would not call PP a easy city to walk around, the main streets are okay but get off them is entirely different - not unsafe but not that pleasant. The best is along the riverfront and do stop at the famous FCC club for a cool one. To understand some of Cambodia's past history visit the Tuol Sleng Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields. Can be very disturbing so be warned. The Cara seems to be in a fair location. You might also look at the Billabong Hotel (close to the bus station) which have be gettin good reviews and it has a pool. Around the same price.

Hi Pamela

I don't know the Mandalay Inn either but as you can see on this map Map - Siem Reap Cambodia
the old market area is right in the thick of things, so yes a good area as everything's very close by. I stayed about a 10 minute walk away at a GH in the Wat Bo area myself.

The riverfront in Phnom Penh is also the main upmarket tourist area so you should be fine.

I agree with everything scotters said...good info. The tuk tuk driver I used was knowledgeable and friendly but didn't come into the temples himself...he had to wait outside and we joined him for lunch etc. I'm rather allergic to organized guided tours but a proper guide might not be a bad idea to get the best out of your visit. Failing that you can buy a decent guidebook about the temples.

I travelled with some friends for part of the time but was also on my own for some of the time. I wouldn't walk about Phnom Penh too much on your own late at night if I were you. During the day you'll be fine in both SR and PP, just take the usual precautions.... beware of scams, pickpockets etc.

You'll find that hordes of kids constantly try to sell you postcards, counterfeit LP guides, souvenirs, coca cola etc.... much more so than Thailand...but they have to make a living I guess. Keep an eye on your belongings though. I know someone who managed to get a bracelet nicked by clever little fingers on the beach in Sihanoukville!

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (AKA S-21) is an absolute must. You'll probably come out in tears though....even the birds don't seem to sing in what was once a school playground. More info here. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Fio - that is a great article on the Museum. I had not read it before. And you are so right that you feel so sad after a visit

THANKS A BUNCH Scotters and Fio for the insight. I have been researching and reading quite a bit about both of these areas but your firsthand accounts are always greatly appreciated as I need to confirm what I read about. The Genocide Museum and Killing Fields are actually the only things on my to do list and I know it will be very horrifiying emotionally but I believe that I need to visit it because too many people in the world like to mentally blot out the difficult and pretend such things didn't or don't happen and I personally think that's why we have similar situations today - Darfur etc. I don't intend to walk too much at night beyond the main riverfront as I have read a lot about the usual dangers. Thanks again and if I have other questions, I'll ask. I can't wait to visit Cambodia and with your help, it will be a certainly be a trip to remember.

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Be a traveler, not a tourist.

Cambodia is on our list of places to go so the advice has been really helpful. I also think that it is important to become involved in the history of a country - it's not all about the nice bits. By learning about the history you respect what the people have been through.

I have had some emotional moments in Singapore (Changi jail) and Thailand (Kanchanaburi) and perversely they are the ones that I seem to remember most.

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Alison

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It's Better to Burn Out than just to Fade Away!