What to expect when traveling to Siem Reap

Two weeks ago my wife and I embarked on a trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia, so I've decided to list down a few things that can help you prepare for somethings you may not have thought of before hand.

Logistics:

I personally would not recommend going there without booking a hotel ahead of time. There are droves of tourists that arrive daily from all corners of the globe and chances are, all the decent hotels are up to their necks in visitors.
Unless you want to end up spending your nights fearing for your life in a part of town that resembles our very own Recto district, it's best to take this advice.

By the pool at Pavillion Indochine Hotel

Just to give you an idea, we checked-in at the Pavillion Indochine, at roughly $93.00 USD per night, it might seem quite heavy on the pocket but given the amenities included, it's a very good deal. So what exactly does this price include?

• Swimming pool
• Breakfast buffet
• 30 minute couples massage
• Free wifi
• Car with driver
• Tourist guide 
• Mini-bar inside the room
• Hot and cold shower
• Cable TV
• 2 free bottled water per day

The Long Walk:

Do not underestimate the distances, if I recall correctly the tourist guide mentioned that most of the temples have a circumference of 3 kms. meaning you would've walked 1.5 kms. on any given site supposing you simply walked straight though from end to end. Depending on your itinerary, you may wind up visiting 2 to 3 tourist hotspots per day, that's a whole lot of walking! Coupled with the hot, humid climate this becomes a cocktail for dehydration and possibly heat stroke. My advice is to carry around 2 liters of water in your backpack just to make sure you are properly hydrated. It might also be a good idea to have pain relief medicine handy just in case all your muscles start getting sore. I was lucky to find out that I had unintentionally left 3 tablets of Cortal inside my shoulder bag which helped a lot in dealing with all the soreness that set in on our 2nd day.

Ta Prohm Temple

The Food:

The entire area where the temples are is a UNESCO heritage site which entails higher taxes for establishments located within, including restaurants. On our 1st day we made the mistake of dining inside the premisses and ended up spending $15.00 USD for food that failed to satisfy both our palate and our appetite. So here's what I suggest:

• Bring sandwiches while touring. You can buy bread and spread from a nearby convenient store.
• Eat at Pub Street, everyone knows where this is. Prices average between $2.00-$6.00 USD per meal. If you're riding a Tuk-tuk going there, the fare for 3 Kms. ride is $2.00 USD but it really depends on the distance.

At Pub Street

• Since most establishments close down at around 7pm (except Pub Street) it's probably a good idea to bring instant noodles along if you're the type that looks for munchies in the middle of the night. 

The cost of food over there is a bit steep in terms of value for money or perhaps I just didn't find it interesting enough to pay the extra buck. I can't speak for everyone but as far as I'm concerned I'd rather spend my money buying souvenirs.