Cambodia has many different cities and beaches but I only managed two cities in a short stay of 5D4N - Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Phnom Penh
is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since French colonization of Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security, politics, cultural heritage, and diplomacy of Cambodia. - Wikipedia
Once the ‘Pearl of Asia’, Phnom Penh’s shine was tarnished by the impact of war and revolution. But that’s history, and Phnom Penh has risen from the ashes to take its place among the cool capitals of the region. Delve into the ancient past at the National Museum or struggle to make sense of the recent trauma at Tuol Sleng Museum. - Lonely Planet
Siem Reap
is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia, and a popular resort town as the gateway to Angkor region. - Wikipedia
At its heart, Siem Reap is still a little charmer, with old French shop-houses, shady tree-lined boulevards and a slow-flowing river. But it is expanding at breakneck speed with new houses and apartments, hotels and resorts sprouting like mushrooms in the surrounding countryside. The tourist tide has arrived and locals are riding the wave. Not only is this great news for the long-suffering Khmers, but it has transformed the town into a pulsating place for visitors. Forget the naysayers who mutter into their beers about Siem Reap in the ‘old days’, now is the time to be here, although you may curse your luck when stuck behind a jam of tour buses on the way back from the temples. - Lonely Planet
How to travel Cambodia on a cheap?
1. Book Air Tickets early!
- Booked my tickets via Tiger Air
- It costed me less than SGD 150 for 2 ways.
- Also, try not to add check in luggages and go for a light bag pack. Save the baggages fee.
2. Cheap Accommodation
- Stay at a hostel! I stayed at Mad Monkey while I was at Phnom Penh and the staffs are so friendly! They have ample rooms ranging from a 2 men bunk to a 8 men bunk. Toilets were shared but good news is, they are clean and bright! They do have options for attached bathroom but of course, you got to pay more for them. They have events lined up every night for their in-house guests and they provide FREE WIFI.
- I paid about USD 8 per person per night for a 2 men bunk with comfortable bed, air-con, free WIFI, fan, multi-purpose plug. It's just a basic room for you to sleep.
3. Budget your spending on food
- USD 5 per meal
- I used that as a guideline and ordered my food within that range. A typical meal at a cafe or restaurant cost about USD 5 including drinks. Their beer are going for USD 1 per can/bottle ;)
4. Cheap Transportation around the city
- Tuk Tuk drivers will recognise you as tourists and they will try their best to rip you off. DO NOT fall victim to their trap. A rule of thumb - a ride from the airport to Mad Monkey hostel costs USD 7. You can haggle the price and make sure that you get the price right before boarding the Tuk Tuk. Also, please give exact amount as they wouldn't give you back the change. Do remember to tip them if they provide good service, driving in Cambodia isn't easy and it's very tiring.
- However, you can hire them to be your personal driver for the day, they will bring you to places like Choeung Ek Memorial (The Killing Fields), Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21). While you walk around inside, they will wait for you outside and bring you around. I paid USD 15 for 2 person.
- Another option is for you to walk. Well, I covered on average about 20km of walking for the 2 days I was in Phnom Penh. Roads are not dangerous but better to be careful.
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