So you want to go to Cambodia, we’ve got the ultimate Cambodia guide.
Everything you need to know to visit Cambodia is all in one place. So let’s start out with the logistics. You will need a passport that won’t expire within six months of your travel date. You’ll need to apply for a visa, which is only valid for one month, at the airports in Phnom Penh or at the borders. It cost about $30 and it’s a sticker they imprint on to a page in your passport. you’ll need a full passport page for this. I’ll link to this website which goes into more detail about the visas and where you can get one. I purchased mine at the Siem Reap border and went on my merry way.
Now for vaccines.
The CDC and my physician recommended I get Hepatitis A booster and a Typhoid shot. Always confirm information with your physician as they will know your history. Be mindful that not everywhere is going to have the typhoid shot so plan accordingly. Both also highly recommended Malaria tablets which you need to take a few days before, during and after your trip to Cambodia. I know a few people who didn’t take their pills for whatever reason and they were fine. Every Cambodia guide will tell you different things, do research on your areas and determine if the areas you will be in are high risk.
Here’s some good news everything is super cheap in Cambodia, and I mean super cheap. You can literally eat massive meals for a couple of dollars. For every 1 American dollar you get 4060.3 KHR (Rieis). To put that into perceptive, a pack of Marlboro’s cost $1.50, imported beers $2 and domestic beers $1. Everything is super affordable so don’t pull out too much money. I took out enough to have $40 every day and enough for 4 days, so I’d take out about $160 worth out. It was more than enough for everyday use and if I lost the money and it got stolen it wasn’t a big deal.
Cambodia is a third world country so you will see extreme poverty.
Most people will shy away from this, and ignore it, I implore you not too. One of the most amazing things you can gain from travel is perspective and knowledge. Until you see first-hand how people from all different walks of life live, nothing will change. So go visit the slums and don’t ignore the dirty “ugly” places you see.
I recommend visiting New Hope orphanage and school. There they cooked traditional Cambodian food and we got to try some delicacies like crickets and rice with fire ants. Both were shockingly delicious. It was a truly beautiful experience I had in Cambodia. Interact with the people, let them tell you their stories and their history. You will be glad you did for you will learn so much more than what you can read in a book. We got to visit the killing fields and hear about a genocide I had never heard about from survivors. We got to learn
Now for some safety talk.
I’ve been to thirty plus countries as of now and the best advice I can give you is BE SMART. Everywhere you go whether you live in Nebraska, NYC, Paris or Bangkok there are going to be dishonest and shady people. I’ve never worn a money belt and I never will. I carry a cross body bag and I put my money, id and passport in a zipper compartment inside the bag. In case anyone slices your bag open from bottom keep that stuff in a zipper compartment instead of floating in your bag. I also make three copies of my ID and Passport. One stays home with my family, another copy is on me at all times and one I keep in the bottom of my suitcase. I also take pictures of my credit cards and leave them with my family in case they need them for any reason.
You have to use common sense anywhere you are.
Don’t walk home alone, be careful what you drink, don’t tell strangers where you’re staying . I acted no different in Cambodia then I did in NYC, except for maybe speaking in a lower voice. I never felt unsafe during my travels but I also never put myself at risk. You are going to stick out no matter what, especially if you have white skin, so just be aware and mindful about your surroundings.
Side note: Asians value white skin and everyone seemed to be amazed by us. People will probably take your picture and stare. They are not being rude they may have never seen a white person so don’t be alarmed. My friends and I were in a Pharmacy and the people who worked there were staring and taking pictures. We started to get frightened, and the women explained to me that they were fascinated by our skin color and features and told us we looked like dolls.
We hope that we answered some if not all your questions in this Cambodia guide. Now that you have all the info you can focus on where you want to go and how you’ll get there. Keep your eyes posted for more to come on Cambodia and Vietnam soon.
Written By:
Hi, I’m Jay. A twenty-something-year-old living in New York. There’s not all that much to say about me other than; I love to eat, drink and travel. I’ve lived in some incredible cities from Paris to New York to Florence, and along the way, I’ve crossed off a ton on my bucket list. I hope we inspire you to go out there and see for yourself, just how beautiful life can be.
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