Things to Know Before Visiting Cambodia – Travel Tips & Pointers to Remember

Getting a visa to Cambodia is quite an easy process. Cambodia recently launched an e-Visa system, where applicants can file an application online. What's even better is that certain countries are afforded an 'on-arrival' visa, making it even easier to get a visa. The processing fee is roughly about US$37, which is evidently, very cheap too.

Cambodia's economy is not at its strongest at the moment and, therefore, its domestic currency has a low exchange rate and is in a state of flux. For this reason, most tourist and hospitality service providers prefer getting paid in dollars. Thus, if you are carrying dollars with you, you will find that you don't have to keep exchanging your money and taking a gamble each time you do, as paying in dollars is far more acceptable than paying in local currency. But keep in mind that you won't need to spend a lot of dollars at one go, so keeping many $1, $5 and $10 bills is sure to come in handy.

Tuk tuks; the small three-wheeled vehicles that operate as taxis are a fast and cheap way to get around in Cambodia. The tuk-tuk drivers know their way around town and know all the major tourist attractions, so you can be assured of getting to your destination in a quick and easy way. If you have gone through a local map and can figure out the distance you want to travel you can also make sure that you won't get ripped off by the tuk-tuk drivers. So if you master the art of tuk-tuk travel in Cambodia you can save yourself a lot of walking through the hot and humid streets!

If you go to Cambodia you simply must visit Siem Reap, for the simple reason that it is home to some of Cambodia's most amazing temples. The best temple of them all, however, is the Angkor Wat; a sprawling temple complex known for its awe-inspiring architecture and beauty. The temple is so popular that many luxury hotels such as the Anantara Angkor Resort promote it as part of the Siem Reap excursions you have to experience. It is recommendable that you visit these temples early in the morning so that you are at the temple at sunrise and can witness the breath-taking beauty of the temples being bathed in the sunlight.

First of all, know that there is a big difference between the rainy season and the monsoon season in Cambodia. If you are worried that your trip is going to fall during the rainy season, you really shouldn't, because it doesn't entail day-long downpours (that is only during the monsoon season), but rather a few showers in the evening. So don't re-schedule or cancel your trip merely because of the 'rainy' season.

Cambodia is not like; say, Sydney, New York or Dubai, which are destinations which typically need a lot of planning. You will find that it is rather easy to get about and see the things you want to see. So as long as you know what you want to see, and have a basic understanding of the cities, you will find it very easy to explore the cities. Moreover, there are many guides and experts at attractions who will help you in case you get lost.