Room Tips
Plan city sightseeing outside rush hours. Leaving the hotel around nine in the morning, after factory shifts begin, makes the journey into the centre much faster. Returning before five in the afternoon avoids the evening crush.
Visit Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng on the same day, starting with the Killing Fields, which are closer to the hotel. Use the audio guides and allow time for reflection. Dress modestly and remain quiet at the memorial sites.
Use Grab or PassApp rather than street tuk tuks. Fixed prices avoid misunderstandings, and you can share your location with the driver easily.
Dress respectfully at the Royal Palace and temples. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and shoes removed in sacred buildings. Scarves and long trousers are useful to carry.
Try fish amok at the hotel restaurant or at a local Khmer restaurant. It is the national dish, mild and fragrant with coconut and kroeung paste.
Carry small US dollar notes and some Cambodian riel. Dollars are widely accepted, but change is often given in riel, and damaged dollar notes may be refused.
Take a sunset boat cruise on the Mekong from Sisowath Quay. The views of the city and the meeting of the rivers are beautiful, and cruises are inexpensive.
Ask the hotel to arrange the airport shuttle the day before departure. The new airport is farther than the old one, and traffic can be unpredictable.