I would like to HIGHLY recommend the guide that we had in Siem Reap / Angkok Wat, who has excellent ratings on this message board. Her name is Ponheary, and she is very responsive to email at: [email protected]
We just finished a month long trip to Thailand and Cambodia (with our 2 teenage kids), and I can say that without a doubt Siem Reap was our favorite because of Ponheary. We stayed at her guest house accomodations (2 story, set up like a small hotel), with maybe 10? private rooms with private toilet/shower, AC, tile floors, mini-fridge, TV & its new and very clean. Low season (July rates) were $15/room. We used her as a guide for 3 days with a driver & van. ($50/day)

However, the BEST part of the visit was being with her and her family! She knows her history on Angkor, Cambodia, VN, and is perfectly fluent in English, having taught it in school. (She's also fluent in French & Russian too.) She was an excellent guide on the temples (political and architectural), brought us to the right temples at the right time to avoid the crowds, and was willing, knowledgable and happy to expound on any subject that we were interested in. She was also very sensitive to our children's needs and interests(ages 13 & 15). My 15 yr old son quite enjoyed her humor and wit (and he is usually not very easily impressed!). We also felt quite safe with her, as she took care to always look after us. Additionally, she gave us an insight into her & her family's life (past and present) in Cambodia. We've use guides and traveled in Indonesia, China, Japan, and Thailand, and SHE IS THE BEST WE'VE EVER HAD!

Many thanks to James, Canito, bizzyb, anna k and all that recommended Ponheary on this forum.

Thanks very much for Ponheary's contact information. Is there anything you wish you had done in Angkor that you missed or, conversely, anything you saw/did that, in retrospect you might just as well have missed?

Hi,
yes, there are a few things that were out of the norm that we did that I definately would do again. Ponheary took us to Preah Khan temple, one that is not in the guide books. It was empty (of tourists), overgrown, and jungly. Loved it! Without all the tourists, you really got the feeling of its vastness and eeriness (spelling?).

Also, we took a break from the temples and drove out to the lake to visit a fishing village. REally great experience--sobering to see the poverty though! Good luck and have fun. Ponheary will make your trip.

Thanks. We'll make sure to add those two to our itinerary!

I'm glad you were please with Ponheary, her brother Dara was our guide. Was your driver Kiri (the doctor)? The fishing village (Lake Tonle Sap) was a real eye opener for us as well.

Preah Khan is considered one of the "major temples" and should be in any book about Angkor. Nonetheless, there are many people who just go to the temples in the immediate area of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom and miss the experience of visiting a temple without all the tourists.

There are many so-called minor temples that are usually devoid of other visitors. Make sure to ask to see some of the smaller temples. Also, buy yourself a good guidebook to teh temples. I highly recommend Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor, as great preparation for visiting the temples.

hi,
thanks for this info. I just logged in to check out accomodations in SR. Can you talk a little about what staying at her guesthouse was like.

thanks, Ellen

Hi Ellen (& Anna):

Ellen, Ponheary's guest house was 2 story, and set up like a mini-hotel. Ponheary's family lived in several of the rooms downstairs. All of the rooms have access through a large hallway that leads outside to the front of the property. So its not like you are walking through someone's home to get to your room. Rooms are very clean & private, with ac, tv, minifridge, private bathroom w/shower, good mattresses on the beds, daily maid service. The guesthouse is fairly new, having been built in maybe 1999. We felt very safe there, as there was always several family members around downstairs or in the lobby or outside. For the price, you definately can not beat this!

There are many cheap (and good) places to eat breakfast/lunch/or dinner within a 3 minute walk of the guesthouse. FYI, i think Ponheary charges only $40US for a driver, guide, and a car. Ours was $50 because we had a family of 4 and required a van. The van and cars are pretty new, great condition, and fabulous ac! Excellent (and safe) driving!

Anna - yes, Kiri was our driver and we did talk alot with Dara. All of Ponheary's family were wonderful to us. Thanks again, Anna, for all of your posts on this forum. They were spot on and really helped us plan our trip. Take care,

Madeleine (aka mad123)

Thanks for your reply! I did email her yesterday, and just like you said, she did respond promptly.

It sounds really amazing, and since I'm spending big bucks (for me at least) in Luang Prabang after Siem Reap, this will fit travel budget perfectly. (Also, very nice to be around families.)

Thanks again.

I can totally agree with the previous posters about Ponheary and her hotel. She uses a computer in a cybercafe near her hotel, and I had the pleasure of showing her how to get onto this board, so she could check the comments about her. A nice restaurant near Marina Villa (her hotel) is Forest Run, on the opposite side of the road.
Be sure and visit the large market, just a short ride away.

Thanks to everyone who has reccommended Ponheary on a multitude of postings. I've engaged her for mid/ late December and am so happy to see that she really works with her clients ' interests, not just follows a pattern. I'm a single, so her fee at $45 / day with driver is a lot, but it sounds like she'll be worth it. She IS responsive to email.

I'm still looking for responses to my poting on other guesthouses in the mid range? does anyone have a word on any of these?

Thanks everyone. Love this website. I've been glued for two days.

There are many good guresthouses in Siem reap that are very clean and good value - $30-$40. I have rented a "motor cycle guide" many times in Siem Reap to tour Angkor - I think $5/day??? Fun way to see the ruins, but I realize it is not for everyone.

Talesofasia.com specialises in Cambodia. The owner of the site is American and owns a guesthouse in Siem Reap. Very clean, reasonable price, choice of air-con or fan, easy walking distance to market and a wealth of information available. Excellent drivers also available outside. My trip from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh was also organised by the guesthouse. As a lady travelling alone I cannot recommend this enough.

When I went recently she was not available, but arranged for another English speaking guide to take me in an air con car. Both the driver and the guide were fabulous. I highly recommend using my guide, Mr. X. His English is good, and he was very accomodating. He walked with you through every temple, and was quite knowledgeable. He also went out of his way to speak to the folks at my hotel about the mosquitos, and checking out late, without me even knowing. He made the trip so enjoyable. His email is [email protected] and phone is (855)12 94 13 81