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SOME TIPS |
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RE
PREPARATIONS
 | Vaccinations:
It is important to get good advice from a doctor with
knowledge of requirements in developing countries at least two
months before leaving
and, for example, to get appropriate vaccinations.
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| Bringing
gifts from home:
Before loading up your suitcase with gifts for people here, remember
that most items, such as reading books and pencils for example, can
be purchased much more cheaply here, thus also helping the local
economy. If you wish to
donate resources to Helping Hands please ask us what is needed.
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| Pre-reading
References:
Our volunteer manual includes a number of references for you
to consider reading, if you have time, before you come. Watching the
movie “The Killing Fields” also helps you to gain an insight to
what the country has been through in the relatively recent past.
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| Visas:
A visa is required
for anyone visiting
Cambodia
. If you are staying less than one month you only need a tourist
visa (USD $20). If you
are staying more than one month you will need a business visa (USD
$25)*. Visas can be
obtained two different ways:
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 | A
visa can be purchased at the airport upon arrival in
Phnom Penh
. It is a relatively simple
process.
You will receive an application form on the aircraft prior
to arrival in
Cambodia
. Simply bring two
passport photos with you and present them with your completed
application form, fee and your passport upon arrival at the
airport in
Cambodia.
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| The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has
launched e-Visa which enables you to apply for a Cambodian travel
visa online. The
website is: www.evisa.mfaic.gov.kh
Only tourist visas can be applied for this way. |
* Amounts correct as of March 2007 but may be
subject to change.
| Accommodation
options (costs):
In both Siem Reap and
Phnom Penh
there is a very large range of accommodation options available.
Prices start from as low as $4usd a night for those on a
tight budget. $10usd a
night will get you a decent but very basic room in a guest house.
A comfortable room with air-conditioning and hot water can be
found from approximately $20usd a night.
A highly recommended website to gain an idea of accommodation
options, prices and contact details for establishments is:
www.canbypublications.com
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| Note re accommodation: Sleeping at the village or Helping Hands’
school is NOT an option for a variety of reasons.
The main two being: 1.
the personal safety of the visitor cannot be guaranteed, and
2. to ensure the safety
of our children (in line with our Child Protection Policy).
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| Food:
In both Siem Reap and
Phnom Penh
there is a wide variety of food available, both local and
international cuisines. Prices
for a meal range from around $2usd to $6usd.
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| Travelling
between Siem Reap and
Phnom Penh
:
There are a number of options:
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| Flying
– Ask you travel agent for price details.
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| Bus
– this is Deborah’s preferred way to travel.
Tickets are only about $4 usd, the buses are relatively comfortable,
the road is okay and you get to see more of the country.
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| Private
taxi – none of us have actually experienced this.
Deborah feels it’s not the safest option due to sometimes
erratic drivers.
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| Private
car or van – obviously more expensive than bus or taxi.
Deborah can put you in touch with a trusty driver in
Phnom Penh
who has a modern minivan.
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| By
boat – generally not recommended, expensive and the river is so
wide you don’t actually get to see very much.
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| Weather:
Cambodia
has a rainy and a dry season.
The rainy season normally begins in June and continues
through November. Even
during this season, it normally doesn’t rain in the morning, but
sporadically in the afternoons.
Regardless of the season, you can expect hot and humid
conditions. The
temperatures in April, the hottest month, can be 35 degrees or more.
Even in the coolest month, January, the temperature doesn’t
go too much below 25-30 degrees.
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| Money:
The currency used here is US dollars and Cambodian
riel. Whenever you
purchase something you can expect your change to be in riel if you
are receiving anything less than a dollar in change.
Please take care choosing your notes as well.
Any worn, torn, taped notes or those that have writing on
them will not be accepted. This
only applies to US dollars, riel are accepted in any condition.
Also, smaller denominations of notes are much easier to use.
ATM’s are now in use in
Cambodia
(
Phnom Penh
, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville) and generally accept international
cards. Money changers
cluster around the markets and tend to give a slightly better
exchange rate than the banks. Many
places charge commission on credit card payments.
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