RooseveltG

We will spend one day in Phnom Penh and were wondering if we should just try to get around by cab, hire a driver or hire a guide? Someone recommended Thary, but we have an incorrect e-mail. (We will need at least a cab for the Killing Fields).

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Roosevelt.

dreaming

We had a day in Phnom Penh and hired a car and driver (not a guide) for the day. Our hotel (The Pavilion) arranged it for us. It worked well for us as we had a list of destinations most of which didn't seem (to us) to require a guide. The driver didn't speak English, but he had a cell phone and we could ask him to call his contact who would interpret for us.

We went to Tuol Sleng, Choueng Ek, the Russian Market, Friends Restaurant, the National Museum and lastly, the airport with the driver.

We hired a guide at Tuol Sleng to walk us through. I'd highly recommend it, as she provided a great deal more information and personal experience than we would have gotten walking through on our own. The guides are available onsite, right after purchasing your entry ticket... I think it was about $6 for the guide.

crellston

We hired a tuk tuk driver that we used on our trip from the bus station upon arrival from SR. He had kindly driven us around town to find a decent guest house. He collected us the next day and charged $15 for the day. Not the greatest guide in terms of info but spoke reasonable English (i.e. much better than my Khmer!)but he took us anywhere we wanted to go and it was good to hear about his life in Cambodia. We were there for a week so we had plenty of time to just wander around which is IMHO the best way to get to see the city.

Some people prefer the occasional cool refuge that a taxi provides but I feel that the tuk tuk enables you to see/smell/hear more.

Friends restaurant is a great, but expensive (for PP) place to go (i can still remeber teh Green Apple and lime juice!!)

dogster

Dreaming's mini-itinerary covers all of the main sites [bar the Royal Palace, just next door to the Museum] if you only have a day. I'd recommend the tuk-tuk, too, rather than a car - but it depends on how acclimatised you are. You'll get much more of a feel for the city.

This site has some basic info that might be useful on transport and sightseeing.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Phnom_Penh

It's a very, very interesting city, worth far more than a day - but if that all you have, then do the above. You may find yourself less than overwhelmed with the Museum, particularly if you've just come from Siem Reap. Don't, whatever you do, get the guided tour, which takes an eternity and is really dull.

As for a guide at Tuol Sleng, I take dreaming's point wholeheartedly - but I preferred to just wander at my own pace. You may find you need some down time midway, just to wrap your head around it all. I sure needed some breaks - big time. Time to FEEL it is important. I've done it both ways. Last time, on my own, I felt a bit sorry for those guys on the conveyor belt being rushed through - but this will be a personal decision. There's no right or wrong here.

I found the restaurant upstairs at the F.C.C. fun, too. 'Friends' I liked for the reasons behind it - certainly not the food - which was mediocre to say the least.

You'll find yourself needing silence after the Killing Fields.

thursdaysd

See also http://www.talesofasia.com/cambodia-...e-seeanddo.htm

While F.C.C. and Friends are certainly worth visiting, the best thing to do is to pick one of the cafes cum restaurants on the downtown street facing the river and just soak up the atmosphere. (And feed the street kids.)

I'm another vote for a tuk-tuk - or even a moto for short trips. I would recommend a guide for Toul Sleng, though.

seemaskt

Me too, prefer the tuk-tuk over an AC car.

On our first day, we hired a tuk-tuk for a half day trip to Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek and a drop off at the FCC by the river.
A full day usually runs $12 - $15.

On our second day, we walked to the Royal Palace, museum, Psar Thmei and took a tuk-tuk when it got too hot in the afternoon. From short trips, tuk-tuks cost anywhere from $2 -$3. We also had tuk-tuks wait outside restaurants when we had a late dinner, so we could be dropped off at our hotel. The wait charge was usually $2 - $3 as well.

Since you are in a rush, a full day tuk-tuk hire might work best. But, if you are in the mood to walk around a bit, what we did on our second day is an option as well.

We loved sitting at the FCC enjoying their happy hour drinks with a view of the river and the streets below. $1 beers and $2 wines is a great deal.

We enjoyed Bodhi Tree Umma, Frizz, Romdeng and Malis restaurants - the latter two are more expensive but great dinner options. Romdeng is a sister restaurant to Friends but with Khmer food.

If you click on my screen name, you will see a link to our trip report from this October, if you are interested in any of the details.

Have a great trip!

Jen

I'm pretty much gonna echo everything Dogster said... a tuk tuk or moto is the way to experience the city... and they can get through traffic a bit easier, if the roads are busy. I arranged for the guy who took me to the hotel from the bus station to pick me up the next day and take me to the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng, and just paid him one rate for all three trips. I didn't use a guide for either... like Dogster, I found myself needing a break at the prison at one point, just to get my head around everything. You really don't need one at the Killing Fields, in my opinion, there is plenty of descriptive signage there... but everyone is different!

The Royal Palace is great too, as is the massive central market.

offwego

This is Thary's correct email address:
Thary Chan <[email protected]>;

She's a gem.

katrinab

Do a tuk tuk for a day or even hire a motorcycle. My husband and I both fit on the back of one with the driver--though not the comfiest arrangement, definitely an adventurous experience! Our guy didn't speak English but we pointed on a map to where we wanted to go and it all worked out well. He seemed to know all the tourist stops, anyway. The moto cost us $8 for the day.

Oh and we ate the best food at Khmer Saravan. Highly recommend it!!!

More info and pics at http://patrinadoestheglobe.blogspot.com/