CAMBODIA FAQ’s

Cambodia has a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons: the rainy season from June to October when the countryside is lush and green, and the dry season from November to May when there are long days of glorious sunshine and clear skies. Temperatures in Cambodia remain fairly constant and warm throughout the year.

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Boil or sterilise water for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice. Bottled water is widely available. Milk is also unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is an advisable alternative to fresh produce. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Hygiene is something travellers should be aware of when travelling to Cambodia. Roadside street food stalls and restaurants are fun to try but may not have the strictest cleanliness habits. Stick to freshly cooked piping hot foods to avoid sickness.

As is the case elsewhere in South East Asia, the quality of the food is a draw in its own right. Khmer cuisine shares much with that of both Thailand and China, although it tends to steer clear of excessive use of spices. Quality restaurants are found in all areas that see mainstream tourism, while cheap but tasty food stalls are ubiquitous around the country. Most meals are rice-based.

Riel (KHR; symbol CR) is the country’s official currency but locals prefer to use dollars. Riel notes are in denominations of CR100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Dollars notes (not coins) are widely accepted, yet visitors in small villages and shops vendors may not have change for high notes (including $10+). It is advisable to keep hold of small Riel change wherever you can as it is very useful.

The import and export of local currency is prohibited. Foreign currency may be exported up to the limit declared at customs on arrival.

US Dollars are widely exchangeable and can often be used as payment in their own right. Thai Baht can be easily exchanged close to the Thai border, but other currencies are generally only recognised at banks and airports.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 08h00-15h00. Some banks are open on Saturdays 08h00-11h30.

Credit cards are now more widely accepted in upmarket hotels, shops and restaurants catering to visitors. There are plenty of ATMs in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville that accept international cards including Cirrus, Plus, Maestro, Visa and MasterCard. It is always best to carry cash (US Dollars if necessary) in small denominations.

Traveller’s cheques are generally not recommended as they are not widely accepted. Traveller’s cheques in US Dollars can be changed at banks and some hotels, but can be difficult to change outside major cities

There will not be shortage for items to shop. Some shops may have fixed prices whilst at the markets it is customary to haggle. Our advice is, do not start bargaining about things that you don’t want to buy. One method is to offer price that you think you are willing to pay even if it’s very low.

Tips are appreciated in hotels and restaurants where no service charge has been added, and by tour guides.