Because of good reviews here (and on other sites) we booked Kim San (see info below) for 2.5 days in December for tours in and around Siem Reap/Angkor. When we met our guide on day one, we were surprised and displeased to note that Kim San had substituted a friend. The friend's English was not great and he irritated us consistently by talking for long periods of time despite our pleas to just let us be. We canceled the third day and went by ourselves. When we asked why Kim San had made the substutution we were told by the new guide that his friend had had to go to PP to see a doctor. We doubted that -- and when Kim San replied to my email asking why, he gave no such reason. He admitted his behavior was not professional. Perhaps this was a one time thing,but we thought others should be aware.
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Angkor Tour Guide E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.angkor-guides.com

Sorry to hear about your disappointment. We're planning to do it on our own in Siem Reap and hiring a local guide once we arrive, no prior reservation. Hope everything will be fine.

Not the first time Kim San has done this. Here's an entry from a topic titled "Angkor Guide":

cmlong on Jun 26, 09 at 10:59pm
I don't recommend using Kim San. We booked him 6 months in advance of our April trip, and we reconfirmed several times including just before our trip. He was a no-show and instead sent an inexperienced young man in his place. Kim San is not reliable.

I don't remember who we had for a guide at the temples (some one aranged thru the hotel we were at ), but his english was difficult to understand, and he was a recording. If asked a question, he had to go back to the top of the page to get back in place in his speech. Part of this is the way they are trained in their "tourist and hospitality traing" courses. It can be hit or miss.

I felt the same as losaltos - irritated by my guides continuous talking when I wanted to wander and explore on my own a bit. I believe it was Kathy who said to get a good guidebook and wander on your own.
Losaltos - who was the guide that Kim San provided you with?

Hello, dgunbug: I do not really remember the name of the guide...tried to forget it actually! But he was not young, and was a motor mouth!

At first I thought your guide was young (if he was, it would be pretty easy to understand) but he wasn't, so I just think he needs to improve his guiding skills if he really wants to pursuit a long term career.

Kim san is a busy tour guide with many direct bookings so you need to make sure he is available to guide you in Angkor, or you can select others in the list of Fodors.

This points out one of the problems with forums (or even guidebooks) which single out one or a few people as "the best" and give the impression you should book that person or hotel or restaurant above all others. Every experience is subjective and buyers have to beware. Obviously this guide has been deluged with tourists and is not sub-contracting out to other guides. There are over 2,000 licenced and registered guides in Siem Reap and you don't have to pre-book them. Period.

Sorry, I meant he is NOW subcontracting out...due to all the good reviews (or shills) he has been getting on review sites and forums.

I just looked at his site and he claims you have to book a guide in advance, which is clearly not true. Sneaky! Ok, you do have to get them at least 30 seconds in advance, but you don't have to book on the internet!

This seems like a common problem for Angkor guides with good reviews. I had a similar experience with Sovann Eath, who I had hired because of his reviews and experience. His website claimed he was an English teacher for 9 years and a guide for 10.

There's a good chance you won't get the real Sovann Eath as your guide. Instead, after numerous confirmations, he sent a 25 year old pervert whose English was very difficult to understand. This impostor spoke more about his sexual escapades with female clients than architecture or history. For lunch, I told him I wanted to go to restaurants where locals ate. Instead, this liar said there are no local places near the temples (even though we passed many) and repeatedly took me to tourist restaurants where he & the driver could eat for free (probably in addition to commission.) He crammed 2 days of sites into 1 so he could try to make more money taking me to additional temples. He was also often on his cell phone talking and texting. His dishonesty practically ruined my trip. There are numerous guides around. You'd be better off just hiring a driver or finding a legitimate guide and experience their language skills on site.

You don't need a guide for AW. Just bring a guidebook with you or read up prior to going. It's nice just to wander around and intensely study your surroundings without having someone yammering away nonstop. Knowing that these structures were over 1000 yrs old was enough for me.

I should have added that a driver with an a/c'd car is enough. Also, it would help to wear a t shirt that says NO NO NO.

I agree that you don't need a guide - get Dawn Rooney's book, preferably ahead of time so you can decide what you want to see. And you don't have to have an AC car - I found a rickshaw worked fine. I've been noticing in India this trip, where I have had an AC car a few times, that constantly changing temperatures doesn't agree with me. In a rickshaw you'll get a cooling breeze while it's moving. You will need a car or motorbike for the more distant temples, but not for the main site.

Angkor Wat was built in the 12th Century making it around 800+ years old and not over 1,000. During the hotter and monsoonal months a car with a/c is best.

Avid, you just joined Fodors and your only posts are to complain about a guide. I'm surprised you didn't know that much-advertised guides do sub-contract out many visitors as they can't guide them all. You have to ask explicitly if you are getting the advertised guide or another guide. I'm also surprised that you didn't give you guide feedback ("I'm not interested in your sexual exploits" "I'd prefer that you not talk or text while you are guiding me." etc). And I'm surprised that you used him a second day if you didn't like him the first day.

Hanuman- AW construction was initiated in the early 12th C, so closer to 900 yrs old. There are temples in the SR complex that are well over 1,000 yrs old, so its safe to imagine these structures generally dating circa 1000 yrs ago.

Btw, sorry to cause you to lose face in regard to the Nahm discussion earlier (I am aware that "face" predominates the core of your existence/psyche).

No loss of face Mango and I have thick skin. You are entitled to like or dislike anything and it's not really my concern. It's just that out of all the people who I know that ate at Nahm like the food there with exception for you of course.

Thick skin?.... Really not your concern? Are you sure?

Btw, you don't know of anyone who dislikes the food at Nahm? Well, you know me in a sense and I know three other people who found it either repulsive or teetering on the outer limits of what's considered to be food.