CAMBODIA
Destination | Siem Reap
Country Code: +855
Currency: Cambodian riel, but US dollars
FROM THE AIRPORT
 Taxi: Authorised airport taxis cost $5 and take 20 minutes to get to town.
Motorcycle taxi: A “moto” is a good option if you are travelling light. The standard charge is $1 for the journey into Siem Reap. Both types of taxi can be booked and paid for (at no extra charge) at the ticket booth outside the terminal.
TABLE TALK
Cheap chic: Singing Tree Café Healthy vegetarian fare, plus a few decadent desserts, served in a relaxed garden setting, with most dishes costing around $2. Yoga and meditation classes are available on some evenings too. Closed on Mondays. Wat Bo Road, tel (0)63 965210, www.singingtreecafe.com
Mid-range magic: Café Indochine Set in one of the town's last traditional wooden houses, this highly popular French restaurant is famed for its well-prepared steaks and cellar, featuring an eclectic range of wines from all around the world. Sivutha Boulevard, tel (0)12 804952
Gourmet: L'Angelo This place offers sumptuous, sophisticated Italian cuisine with an Asian twist, served in a minimalist setting at one of the town's finest hotels. Open at night for dinner only. Avenue Charles de Gaulle (Le Meridien Angkor Resort), tel (0)63 963900, www.lemeridien.com
ATER DARK
Cocktail hour: The Arts Lounge Enjoy fine wines and cool cocktails in a unique environment showcasing modern and traditional Khmer art forms in Siem Reap's most hip and happening hotel bar. Hotel de la Paix, Sivutha Boulevard, tel (0)63 966000, www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com
Late night: Laundry Bar If this bar is closed, it's definitely time to go home – often open until dawn, this is the perfect place to chill out with an eclectic mix of cool, funky tunes and an extremely laid-back ambience. Old Market Area, tel (0)16 962026
HOT SPOTS
Angkor Night Market: Cambodia's first and only such night market combines elaborate Khmer and Balinese architecture to create a unique shopping experience. You'll find a range of interesting souvenirs unavailable elsewhere in town, and there's a lively bar area if you need some sustenance. Off Sivutha Street, tel (0)92 655143, www.angkornightmarket.com
INSIDER TIPS
Temple ticket: To see Angkor Wat, you have three ticket options – a one-day pass at $20, three-day pass at $40 or seven-day pass at $60. What most people don't know, however, is that the one-day pass is valid from 5pm of the day before the date on the pass. So if you want to spend Tuesday at the temples, for example, your Tuesday pass is actually valid from 5pm on Monday. This gives you an hour to catch the sunset if you choose.
If you're more of a morning person, have an early night and catch the sunrise the next day, but be careful of the midday heat. Stop at Joe-To-Go near the old market for a takeaway coffee en route – all proceeds go towards supporting a local school.
BODY & SOUL
Visaya: Modern treatments combine with ancient Khmer techniques for a perfect blend of East-meets-West relaxation therapy. Scents of lavender, cedarwood and rosemary help create a sublime mood. You can cool off in the pool afterwards. Pokambor Avenue, FCC Angkor, tel (0)63 760814, www.fcccambodia.com
BOUTIQUE BEDS
The One Hotel Angkor: It doesn't get any more exclusive than this. At The One, you have the entire property (and its staff ) to yourself. One of only three single-room hotels in the world, this abode features a custom-made king-sized bed, iBook, iPod, a 32-inch flat-screen TV and even a mobile phone presented to you on arrival. The private roof terrace is complete with a jacuzzi, sound system and outdoor shower, assuring you of an experience like no other. Bookings are essential. The Passage, Old Market, tel (0)12 755311, www.theonehotelangkor.com
DAY TRIPPING
Kampong Khleang: To experience village life on the lake without the company of hordes of other visitors, visit this fishing community 35km south of Siem Reap on the Tonlé Sap. Surrounded by flooded forest, ethnic stilted houses which rise 10m above the water are best seen in May and June. It is a full day's journey, but the experience is well worth the additional effort. As the rains set in, Kampong Khleang is much less accessible, requiring one journey over land and two by sea. Check with your hotel or guesthouse for more details.
IN THE KNOW
Any combination of US dollars and Cambodian riels will be accepted in Cambodia. There were no ATMs until 2006, so your guidebook may have outdated advice regarding accessibility to cash. Nowadays, you will find machines dispensing US dollars throughout Siem Reap. Torn bills are not accepted anywhere, so take care that you do not accept any in change.
Updated by Cambodia Pocket Guide (www.Cambodiapocketguide.com)
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