Angkor Wat, Cambodia – More Information

Banks

– There are several banks in Siem Reap with International ATM’s throughout town. How things have changed in a few years! All the banks are located near the center of town most around the Old Market.

Guides

– The small free magazine called The Angkor Guide is published once every 6 months and is a must have for tourists. It is more up to date than most guidebooks and tourist publications and it is available at many of the guest homes and restaurants. You may see people selling “fake” guide books at Angkor including copies of Lonely Planet. These books appear real from the outside (the cover looks just like a real Lonely Planet guidebook), but upon further inspection will you see the inside pages are all photocopied. These sell for only a few dollars.

Malaria

– The local guidebooks and magazines say that Malaria has been eradicated from the town of Siem Reap, but there is still a chance of contracting it in the nearby jungle.

Money

– Cambodia’s unit of currency is the riel. At times, Cambodia has not always had its own currency. During Pol Pot’s reign, he banned currency. Thai baht is readily accepted near Poipet and in villages on the way to Siem Reap. Some places also accept baht in Siem Reap. The US dollar is widely accepted in Cambodia and once you spend a little time in Cambodia you might think the US dollar is their main currency!

Phone Calls

– Buy a local sim card and use this for local or international phone calls – or in conjunction with Skype. Old phone booths, a relic from the past are still scattered around town.

When to Visit

November, December & January are the driest and coldest months. Many people chose to visit during these months. March and April can be unbearably hot. July is nice even thought it is in the middle of the rainy season, because of the rainy season months it gets a little less rain, its not as hot, there are not as many tourists, and much of the rain falls at night, not during the day.

General Travel Information