Which is better? The Sofitel or the Meridien? Any recommendations for guides.If you bought the pass to see Angkor WAT, is it good only for that day....the calendar date..or valid for 24 hours?

Usually, one buys a 3 day pass or a week pass. We just used Ponheary ([email protected]) as a guide. She was very good. Many othersw have used herv as well. She helped getting good rates at a hotel. Her brother Dara and sister, Miriam?, have also received very good reviews on this forum. There have been other well-reported guides. Also, your hotel can arrange a guide and driver.

Hello. We used a guide names Saron Soeun. I really loved him. We actually were two small groups and decided to get two guides and drivers. I had booked Saron and a guide from Pon Heary. Both guides were very nice and took us to fantasic places. Saron, however, spoke much better English and seemed much more excited about showing us his country. He took us to places that people on others tours had not seen, and had very interesting stories about growing up in a refugee camp. I really cannot say enough good things about him. Oh, he charges $20 a day, and the driver was $20 a day as well. The driver even brought a cooler full of cold waters and drinks for us and distributed them during the day. Saron's email address is [email protected], and he has a website as well, but I can't remember what that is. Maybe if you do a google search you can find it.

Malaysia, when do you leave?

We have booked Saron Soeun for the trip we leave on today! His communication with us over the last several months has been amazing. he always gets right back to us when we email him.

He worked with the UN near Tonle Sap so I am sure he has some amazing stories to tell. We also booked into a hotel that he recommended based on our criteria(yes, fuzzylogic, go ahead and call me spoonfed!). He was able to negotiate a better deal for a deluxe room for us at Auberge Mont Royal. This is a small hotel and since we booked it they have put in a pool!

I will pot a report when I return.

Cheers!

Tamara

Thanks everyone for your responses. I leave March 1 ..I will contact the guides to see who is available....but still undecided re hotels...Has anyone stayed at the Sofitel or the Meridien?Thanks.

We just stayed at the new Le Meridien and were very impressed. 5 star elegance without a 5 star price.
The hotel is beautifully laid out. All areas are huge so nowhere seems crowded. They have a lovely
garden area and a separate garden/pool area that is very nice. The service was impeccable and the
included breakfast good and varied. I know there are many choices, but having such a nice experience
we couldn't have imagined staying anywhere else. The room was very large with comfortable beds and a lounge or day bed for napping.
Big bathroom with separate shower and soaking tub. The hotel had mostly Japanese and Korean tourists and when we used the pool we either had it to ourselves or there was only one other
person. The staff could not do enough for you.

Thaks Connette for your report re your stay at the Meridien. I appreciate it.

Hi Malaysia:

Saron was our guide in Siem Reap for a memorable three days last February. We found him to be very knowledgeable, courteous and caring. He was punctual and was alwasy ready to comply with any requests we had. He has so many interesting stories to tell and his knowledge about the temples was amazing. He was particularly wonderful as he talked me down the steps of one of the temples I had climbed. I was so terrified I but he stood beside me the whole time with his quiet words of encouragement.
Here is his website if you are interested and still need a guide.

http://www.sarontours.com/

regards,

Another to consider is Mr. John Teng. We used his services just as a driver, as I tend to dawdle with photography and whatnot. He also does guide services. He'd make sure we had as much info as he could give us before each temple, even though we hadn't hired him as a guide. We really wish we'd have enlisted him to come in with us. He was good company and very knowledgeable.

His email is [email protected]

Even arranged an evening Apsara show, picked us up and took care of everything. Front row table in a crowded house. Also arranged another driver to take us on to Battambang and came around late the night before to introduce us. Asked the other driver to wash his car before the trip the next morning! Didn't charge anything more than the day's temple service he'd charged us. A really nice guy.

Iwish to thank everyone for their input and suggestions. I have booked Saron for my trip to Siam Reap...I hope I did right...his rate is now $25 per day and $20 for car and driver.
Any feedback on an Aspara show? Will appreciate any comments. Thanks