Angkor Wat

[Spyder]

As tourist numbers are down, is this a good time to visit?

Any tips or recommendations for Siem Reap?

[ChiFlyer]

Just now, Spyder said:

As tourist numbers are down, is this a good time to visit?

Any tips or recommendations for Siem Reap?

I do not have an answer to your question as to whether or not this is a good time, but I did make this trip from Thailand and I very much enjoyed it.

When I retired (2016 or so), I booked a 45 day stay in Thailand and broke that up with a 4 day visit to Siem Reap. When I returned from Cambodia, I met my current GF on the day that I returned. I am not sure why that is relevant, but somehow it feels like it is.

In Siem Reap I stayed at a hotel called "The Golden Temple". It was a little pricey, but was a good base for the trip.

https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Krong Siem Reap%2C Cambodia/entity/CgoIl6Xsp66orPBDEAE?q=cambodia siem reap hotels golden temple&g2lb=2502548%2C2503771%2C2503781%2C4258168%2C4270442%2C4284970%2C4291517%2C4306835%2C4308227%2C4515404%2C4597339%2C4703207%2C4718358%2C4722900%2C4723331%2C4757164%2C4786958%2C4790928%2C4794648%2C4812117%2C4814050%2C4819463%2C4819464%2C4820584%2C4820586%2C4828448%2C4828572%2C4829015%2C4831354&hl=en-TH&gl=th&ssta=1&ts=CAESABogCgIaABIaEhQKBwjmDxAIGAoSBwjmDxAIGAsYATICEAAqCQoFOgNUSEIaAA&rp=EJel7KeuqKzwQxDUpPnjwtqUdhCFuuWi-uP_5e8BEM3V5sb3r6mqEjgBQABIAqIBGUtyb25nIFNpZW0gUmVhcCwgQ2FtYm9kaWHAAQM&ap=aAE&ictx=1&ved=0CAAQ5JsGahcKEwiQ97_z-rf5AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBA&utm_campaign=sharing&utm_medium=link&utm_source=htls

I spent for a 3 day package on a tour of the temples. In retrospect that was over kill, but I did learn a lot.

After my all day temple walking, I was too tired to explore the adjacent bar area.

A pic that has been taken a million times, but still resonates with me.

 

[lazarus]

5 hours ago, Spyder said:

As tourist numbers are down, is this a good time to visit?

Any tips or recommendations for Siem Reap?

Rainy season. Depends on your tolerance for wet, hot and humid...might be a factor? Good time to visit Tonle Sap (boat trip) & several waterfalls.

The Golden Temple Group (mentioned above) are good hotels. Well run. I've stayed at a couple of them. Nice pools. Check their website(s) for special deals (e.g., room, transfer, meal(s), massage, etc.  https://www.goldentemple.asia

I usually hire a driver with a nice car (AC, local knowledge, ice cold water) for touring around. Makes life a lot easier especially with early starts (recommended).
My guy Tol:  https://www.facebook.com/siemreap.taxidriver.5

There are some excellent restaurants in Siem Reap -- check it out. You can do a lot better than the usual tourist fare for very reasonable prices. Drinking on Pub Street is fun if there's a decent crowd. 

There's more to see at Angkor than just the main area. Do a little research and get out a bit. Check the prices on multi-day passes (you can buy them on the first morning or the night before).

 

Edited August 9, 2022 by lazarus
cleaned it up a bit...

[Sangsom]

Think getting there for sunrise is overrated personally. Make sure you go and see some of the other temples locally as well. I thought a couple of them were as good if not better than Angkor wat.

[lazarus]

A few photos from some of my trips...

 

[Spyder]

14 hours ago, ChiFlyer said:

I do not have an answer to your question as to whether or not this is a good time, but I did make this trip from Thailand and I very much enjoyed it.

When I retired (2016 or so), I booked a 45 day stay in Thailand and broke that up with a 4 day visit to Siem Reap. When I returned from Cambodia, I met my current GF on the day that I returned. I am not sure why that is relevant, but somehow it feels like it is.

In Siem Reap I stayed at a hotel called "The Golden Temple". It was a little pricey, but was a good base for the trip.

https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Krong Siem Reap%2C Cambodia/entity/CgoIl6Xsp66orPBDEAE?q=cambodia siem reap hotels golden temple&g2lb=2502548%2C2503771%2C2503781%2C4258168%2C4270442%2C4284970%2C4291517%2C4306835%2C4308227%2C4515404%2C4597339%2C4703207%2C4718358%2C4722900%2C4723331%2C4757164%2C4786958%2C4790928%2C4794648%2C4812117%2C4814050%2C4819463%2C4819464%2C4820584%2C4820586%2C4828448%2C4828572%2C4829015%2C4831354&hl=en-TH&gl=th&ssta=1&ts=CAESABogCgIaABIaEhQKBwjmDxAIGAoSBwjmDxAIGAsYATICEAAqCQoFOgNUSEIaAA&rp=EJel7KeuqKzwQxDUpPnjwtqUdhCFuuWi-uP_5e8BEM3V5sb3r6mqEjgBQABIAqIBGUtyb25nIFNpZW0gUmVhcCwgQ2FtYm9kaWHAAQM&ap=aAE&ictx=1&ved=0CAAQ5JsGahcKEwiQ97_z-rf5AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBA&utm_campaign=sharing&utm_medium=link&utm_source=htls

I spent for a 3 day package on a tour of the temples. In retrospect that was over kill, but I did learn a lot.

After my all day temple walking, I was too tired to explore the adjacent bar area.

A pic that has been taken a million times, but still resonates with me.

 

Thanks for the hotel tip, looks good!

[Spyder]

13 hours ago, lazarus said:

Rainy season. Depends on your tolerance for wet, hot and humid...might be a factor? Good time to visit Tonle Sap (boat trip) & several waterfalls.

The Golden Temple Group (mentioned above) are good hotels. Well run. I've stayed at a couple of them. Nice pools. Check their website(s) for special deals (e.g., room, transfer, meal(s), massage, etc.  https://www.goldentemple.asia

I usually hire a driver with a nice car (AC, local knowledge, ice cold water) for touring around. Makes life a lot easier especially with early starts (recommended).
My guy Tol:  https://www.facebook.com/siemreap.taxidriver.5

There are some excellent restaurants in Siem Reap -- check it out. You can do a lot better than the usual tourist fare for very reasonable prices. Drinking on Pub Street is fun if there's a decent crowd. 

There's more to see at Angkor than just the main area. Do a little research and get out a bit. Check the prices on multi-day passes (you can buy them on the first morning or the night before).

 

Thanks. Does the Rainy season finish in Nov like Thailand? If so I might delay until then.

I will go with a driver as I see the temple area is pretty extensive!

[Spyder]

9 hours ago, Sangsom said:

Think getting there for sunrise is overrated personally. Make sure you go and see some of the other temples locally as well. I thought a couple of them were as good if not better than Angkor wat.

Thanks, I’ll see what other places are in the area. I will get a driver so hopefully they will advise, although always worry they take you to where they get the best kickback…

[Spyder]

8 hours ago, lazarus said:

A few photos from some of my trips...

 

 NIce pictures!  I have a friend who will go with me and he will take a couple of hundred photos knowing him!

[Sangsom]

1 hour ago, Spyder said:

Thanks, I’ll see what other places are in the area. I will get a driver so hopefully they will advise, although always worry they take you to where they get the best kickback…

Think it’s just a 1 days pass to everything in the area so there is no incentive to take you anywhere other than the standard places around. Probs 10 years since I went though so will defer to someone with more recent info.

[ChiFlyer]

15 hours ago, lazarus said:

A few photos from some of my trips...

 

Beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing them. Can I ask what you shot them with?

 

[Stillearly]

I haven't been for 12 years ... but also did three days , I had a break around  1200-1400 every day for lunch , recharge my camera batteries and avoid the hottest part of the day  ...

 

 

[lazarus]

4 hours ago, ChiFlyer said:

Beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing them. Can I ask what you shot them with?

 

I shoot with Canon gear. Different full sensor bodies and L-lenses, and P&S small cameras.

 

[Spyder]

thanks for the info and great photos.

I’ve booked for November, hopefully the rainy season will be over….

staying at the Royal Crown Hotel and Spa. Looks close to Pub Street.