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TRAVEL GUIDE TO CAMBODIA
Airport Taxes
Airport Taxes are not included in your tour fare.
These fees are subject to change, all quoted per person and payable in
US Dollars cash.
International airport tax from Phnom Penh US$ 20
Domestic airport tax from Phnom Penh US$ 10
International airport tax from Siem Reap US$ 8
Domestic airport tax from Siem Reap US$ 4
Baggage
On Domestic flights,
passengers are allowed 44 pounds of luggage per person. On International
flights, passengers are allowed two pieces of checked luggage. Excess
luggage fees will be charged if you check more than the stated
allowances, and these charges are your responsibility. At most
major airports, baggage carts are available for your luggage, usually
for a small additional fee.
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Climate
and Clothing
Climate in Cambodia is fairly consistent year round. The average
temperature is 90°F during the day and 75°F at night. Two monsoons set
the rhythm of rural life in Cambodia. The cool, dry, northeastern
monsoon blows from about November to March and brings little rain. From
May to early October, the south-western monsoon picks up moist air from
over the Indian Ocean, bringing strong winds, high humidity, and heavy
rains throughout the country. The weather is transitional between the
seasons, but even during the wet season it rarely rains in the morning.
Most of the rain comes in afternoon downpours. Visitors should be warned
that roads in the northeastern regions in particular, can become flooded
during the rains. Travel in these areas should be avoided during the
peak of the wet seasons.
Communications
International Direct
Dialing is available to and from Cambodia. Prepaid telephone cards are
available in post offices, hotels and supermarkets for public phones
around Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The country code for Cambodia is +855;
the city code for Phnom Penh is (0) 23, and the city code for Siem Reap
is (0) 63.
Airmail to Europe
takes four to five days and to the USA one week to ten days. Internet
cafes are available in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Currency
The currency of Cambodia is the Riel. At the time of writing US$1 =
4000 Riel (June 2003) though with an average inflation rate of four
percent, it is advisable to check again before traveling. However, for
tourists, the real currency of Cambodia is the US dollar. Riel are
useful mainly for tipping and small purchases. Since travelers are often
given riel as change for purchases made in dollars, most find that they
quickly collect enough riel for their needs.
It is also advisable to carry only US dollars. Visitors are not
allowed to take Riel into or out of country. All foreign currency
should be declared on arrival. Keep all exchange slips in case you need
to submit these on departure.
There are no ATMs in Cambodia, and the use of credit cards is not
widespread. Travelers’ checks are difficult to exchange outside Phnom
Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang and Kompong Cham. Although
cash advances on credit cards are available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap,
Sihanoukville and Battambang, associated fees are high.
Customs Regulations
According to related laws and regulations, the
luggage of inbound and outbound passengers must come under customs
supervision and control. Passengers should make accurate declarations to
customs officials regarding the luggage they carry into or out of the
territory.
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Electricity
Electrical appliances will require an adapter
that can change the shape of the plug prongs, as well as an electrical
voltage converter that will allow a normal 110-volt American appliance
to take 220 Volts AC. Power cuts do occur. Large hotels and
businesses have generators. Outside Phnom Penh, electricity is often
available only in the evenings from 1830-2130. Most hotels have a hair-dryer in each room.
Food and
Water
Avoid all water that has
not been thoroughly boiled or sterilized. Drink only bottled water.
Supposedly, a plant in Phnom Penh makes all of the city’s ice using
sterilized water, but to play it safe, avoid any ice. You should not eat
any uncooked vegetables and do not eat any fruit that you have not
peeled yourself.
Heath
Matters
We strongly recommend having a good health
insurance and carrying a good first aid kit. There is a chronic shortage
of trained medical help and hospitals. Therefore, you should avoid
treatment in Cambodia. Evacuation to Singapore, Thailand or Malaysia is
recommended.
The Royal Government of Cambodia does not require you to have any
vaccinations, except for cholera if you are coming from an infected
area. Please consult your doctor for recommended vaccinations.
Although the main tourist areas of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh are not
malarial, malarial drugs are essential for tourists traveling deeper
into provincial Cambodia. The best protection against malaria is to
avoid being bitten in the first place: make sure to bring mosquito
repellent. Check with your physician about taking a course of anti-malarials.
If it is considered necessary given your itinerary, you might need to
begin before your trip and continue for a time after you return.
Dengue fever, which is also transmitted by mosquitoes, is often mistaken
for malaria. Its symptoms are severe pain in the joints, high fever, and
extreme headache. Aside from avoiding being bitten altogether (this
mosquito is active in daytime and is often a striped variety), there is
no prevention available. Hospital treatment is urgently required.
Holidays
New Year’s Day - Jan 1st
International Women’s Day - Mar 8th
Cambodian New Year - Apr 13-15th
Royal Ploughing Day Ceremony - Apr/May
Labour Day - May 1st
Visaka Buja Day (Birth of Buddha) - May 16th
International Children’s Day - Jun 1st
Constitution and Coronation Day - Sep 24th
Phchum Ben Day (Feast of the Ancestors) - Sep/Oct (two days)
Paris Peace Agreement - Oct 23rd
King’s Birthday - Oct 30 - Nov 1st
Independence Day - Nov 9th
Water Festival - Nov (three days)
UN Human Rights Day - Dec 10th
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Passports and Visas
Visas are required to enter Cambodia. You may get a visa in advance
at your nearest Cambodian embassy or obtain visa upon arrival at Siem
Reap Airport, Pochentong Airport in Phnom Penh, Aranya Prathet-Poipet
border, Trat-Koh Kong border, and Moc Bai-Bavet border. One
passport-sized photo, a photocopy of passport valid for at least 6
months, and US $20 are required. Cambodia visa is valid for 30 days from
the date of issuance. You can also extend your visa at the Department of
Immigration, located opposite of Phnom Penh airport.
Time Difference
Standard time in
Cambodia is 6 hours ahead of Central European Time (CET), 7 hours ahead
of GMT, 12 hours ahead of time in New York, 3 hours behind time in
Sydney, two hours behind of Tokyo and in the same time zone as Bangkok.
Tipping
Not obligatory but widely practiced in
hotels and restaurants in addition to the service charges shown on bills.
On tours with private sightseeing, gratuities of $5-$10 for travel
guides, $2-$3 for drivers per person per day is customary.
Transportation
In
each city, a local English-speaking guide will meet you upon arrival and
handle all arrangements, including sightseeing commentary, while you are
in that city. All transportation is included in our tours and provided
via private car and guides.
Taxis can
be hired in main cities. However, cyclos (tricycles) or motodops
(motorcycles) are an inexpensive alternative and provide a slower but
charming method of exploring the cities. Other forms of public
transportation (trains, buses, boats) are available but not recommended.
What to Pack?
Bring light clothing that is easy to wash and
iron. Sandals and light shoes are adequate. A sweater is handy for cool
season nights and drastically air-conditioned buildings.
Valid Passport.
Travelers Checks. Copy of Your Airline Ticket. Your Medicines. Departure
documents. Travel alarm clock.
Camera(s), batteries & films. Sunscreen/Tan lotion. Pocket size
Kleenex. Extra luggage locks/keys. First Aid kit. Soft, foldable
slippers. Extra set of eyeglasses. Folding Umbrella. Comfortable
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