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Hi
Thanks advance for any advise or Recommendations
I am thinking of going to Siem Reap in July 2025 for 5 days or so (2 Adults + 15 yr old boy). It appears it will be quieter and cheaper, the only thing I am not sure about is the weather. I know it will rain but I am not sure how persistently it will. Is it a bad idea to go in July ?????
If it is not totally stupid, any hotel or trip recommendations will be very much appreciated. We are all a little bit overweight, so would rather die laughing than by trekking through a jungle 🙂Thanks – Anthony
Not sure about July, but I went in August. It’s very hot and humid, but I don’t recall any problems with rain. I can’t remember the name of where I stayed, but it was a 2 minute tuk tuk ride from bar street. It was part of a 3 week trip visiting Vietnam,Cambodia and Laos. I used Galatourist ( who are
Vietnam based) and everything worked perfectly.We stayed at Viroth’s which we really liked, it’s very central and gets good reviews, walking distance from Pub St. Regarding things to do, it will be hot so book a tour with a car. For our trip I was suffering with my knee, we had a guide and a driver and the car had AC. We were up early to watch sunrise over Angkor Wat, the hotel packed water and coffee for us to take. Our guide then took us round the temple complex, some parts we walked to and others we were driven to. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable with very good English skills; his name was Bunthin, WhatsApp +85512866914
https://www.selectiveasia.com/cambodia-holidays/weather/july
Rain can keep it a bit cool, but it’ll be very humid. You’ll start sweating within 5 mins unless there’s a breeze (which is more likely in December than July).
It’s a magical place … went with my two teen boys back in 2019.
Stayed at Sokkhak Boutique – halfway between Siem Reap town and the Angkor Way complex so ideal for those early morning temple runs. Well worth looking at.
We stayed here – https://www.thegoldentemplevilla.com/
It worked out @ £50 per night – booked via. Amex Travel as we had Amex Travel Credit to use so actually worked out even cheaper for us.
Booking included the following (just dug out the email – the hotel confirmed this, it wasn’t obvious from the Amex booking which just mentioned airport pickup) – anyways, we got:
– Free daily buffet breakfast
– Round trip airport transfers (both pickup and drop off)
– Welcome drink and fruit Chips upon arrival
– 1 time Khmer Set Dinner each per stay at our restaurant
– 60-minute Khmer Body massage each per stay at our Kolab Spa
– Free Wi-Fi access in room and entire Hotel area
– Daily housekeeping and nightly turndown treats
– Free use of bicycle and mobile phone for local callThis was back in 2019, but might be worth a look still. They had a happy hour at the pool in the afternoon for $1 cocktails too (I think)
We were there in August and there was afternoon rain (which tended to make a mess of the clay(?) roads / sidestreets) but other than that it wasn’t that bad at all for us.
@AndyGWP Good reminder to look for hotels with free transfers, the new airport is quite a way away and transport options are limited.
We stayed at the Heritage Suites hotel – gorgeous.
I’d recommend drinks at Raffles…and I see the Foreign Correspondents’ Club has
been renovated/rebranded, but I’m sure it’s still lovely.+1 for Heritage Suites hotel. Stayed there last November. The staff went out of their way to please. Remembered our names from day 1. Excellent breakfast and small pool which was great after a long day of walking around the temples. We also went to Raffles for a drink.
We booked a tour of temples for first day. Spoke to driver who was free following day so booked him to take us back to Angkor for sunrise and to a couple of other temples. Angkor at sunrise was magical. Had booked a sunset tour, but in our 5 nights in Siem Reap, there was no sunset, just rain! High humidity when we were there, so umbrellas were very useful for sun and rain rather than wearing a hat or cap. We were backpacking with suitcase for a 3 month grand tour of SE Asia.
We used Selective Asia for our 2019 trip. Our Siem Reap guide was great and subsequently came to Bournmouth University to study for a year. He now has a decent social media presence laoclassics and can arrange great days at the temples for you.
We picked sunrise at a different temple where we were the only tourists, then a good breakfast before going to Ankor Wat a bit later.
His WhatsApp is 855 81 254 837 and he speaks very good EnglishResurrecting this thread .
Planning a trip extension to Siem Reap in December 2026. I’ve noted the various hotels mentioned already. Any others that can be recommended? How many days and are there other sites to visit that are not so crowded?
Early days and tentative thoughts!Stayed at Le Meridien before covid and found it good. Most hotels in the city are just 10-15 mins drive from Angkor Wat, so book an early morning tour tuktuk ride.
Bayon temple is one you dont want to miss. Banteay Srei was slightly disappointing given the distance, but probably needs a good guide. Whichever temple you plan to visit – arrange a patient knowledgeable guide and you’ll love it. They’d know best time to avoid the crowds.
Visit temples in the early mornings and early evenings. Mid days – chill at the pool, spa or visit a gallery. We stayed way too long at the temples and were exhausted as it got hotter and way too humid! No harm planning multiple visits to Angkor Wat. If you have the time and a patient partner / family, 4-5 days would be minimum, obviously the more the better. You can cram it into 2-3 days, but wont be enjoyable.
Another i highly recommend, also a nice change of scenery if you are templed-out, is the circus show called Phare. It was set up by refugees and the performers are youth from deprived communities.Good timing,
I am in Siem Reap now, but I’m off to the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh today, it’s been a great 4 days.Re you question on hotels,
I wanted to try a couple of small independent hotels, while here, both £60 pn, the Central suite residence, and the Koulen Central Mall & Hotel, but I rate the latter, which I’m at now, the pictures do not do it justice, it’s a new property, good buffet breakfast included, I had one free dinner as part of my package, and 2 pieces of laundry a day, 15% discount on a massage, loverly rooftop pool, and big bar area, you can sip happy hour cocktails 4 to 6, watching the sunset, solid 4 star property. Both these are a few minutes apart from each other.Re Temples, I visited the below,
• Angkor Wat sunrise
. Ta Prohm temple (2001, movie, Tomb raider).
• Angkor Thom city.
• Bayon temple.
• Baphound temple.
• Elephant terrace.My Tuk Tuk cost $23 a day, you can buy tickets to all the above temples, 1 day cost $35, I’m sure the 3 day pass was $60ish? My Tuk Tuk driver stopped on the way past the building the day before, when I was on another trip with him, to buy the tickets, as I was up at 4am the next morning for the sunrise at Angkor wat. Please pace yourself, as these visits are energy sapping, lots of steep steps to climb, the temperature now is around 25c, my feet were aching by the end of the day. A large percentage of tourists fees go towards schools for all children, I was told 25%, so a good cause.
You can visit the floating villages, I took a private boat, Tuk Tuk again $23 and ticket to floating villages purchased just beforehand was $35, it was another one ticked off the list, but I would not visit again.
You have the Angkor National Museum, in the city, which I did not have time to visit.
I would also recommend the Kulen mountain, and waterfall, One Thousand Linga. $20 entry, 1.5 hours from the city by car, spectacular views from the top, roads are a little rough as you go up, but well worth the effort for the views across the valley, if you can, go on a weekend, I was there yesterday (Sunday) it’s quieter.
Great photo opportunity, if you are not scared of heights, This was me yesterday.Thanks @ BBB and @Gordon. Very timely! Will check it all out. ( even the Giant Ibis bus co. OH still mulling over whether to also go to PP but we may be constrained by time.)
Thanks @ BBB and @Gordon. Very timely! Will check it all out. ( even the Giant Ibis bus co. OH still mulling over whether to also go to PP but we may be constrained by time.)
I must say, it’s the first time I used the Giant Ibis, and for $17 I was impressed, 6 hours, two 15 minute breaks, snack and water included, you can’t complain, I used the 12Go Asia app to book trips.
@polly – It’s worth the effort just for the views, they are fabulous, there are a couple of view points,
Re the Regency, I must agree it’s a loverly building, I’m impressed with the separate glass lift that takes you to the club lounge, Aka the “Loft” it’s like something you would expect to see in a James Bond movie, it’s almost time to take a wander up there to see what it’s like!
I can happily suggest some Siem Reap hotels to avoid:
Central Suite Residence (mentioned above) – One of the noisiest hotels I’ve ever stayed in
Maison Polanka – ruined by very loud karaoke from adjacent properties, and an owner with a bad attitude
Navutu Dreams – decaying and uncomfortable
Anantara Angkor – it’s quite nice, but the layout means most rooms don’t have enough privacy and the location isn’t great
Park Hyatt – great location, good food, nice pool, average rooms, overpriced
And one I would use again:
FCC Angkor – great location, good food, nice rooms, decent valueThe Victoria Angkor was my favourite by far, but it seems to have closed. Great service, great food, wonderful rooms, and the only one on this list with beautiful traditional design
Also highly recommend New Leaf Eatery for a fantastic lunch, and my favourite way of exploring Angkor is by bicycle: It’s very easy to find your way, it’s flat and the roads are quiet, and you can more easily avoid the congestion when a coach load of tourists arrives at a temple – move on to the next one and circle back in half an hour and have the site to yourself
@Go197 completely agree with the FCC and the Victoria (shame!)
Must admit I’m a bit shocked by the prices of everything! Without wishing to generalise, bit tough
on, say, many Thai and Vietnamese tourists.@Go197 completely agree with the FCC and the Victoria (shame!)
Must admit I’m a bit shocked by the prices of everything! Without wishing to generalise, bit tough
on, say, many Thai and Vietnamese tourists.International brand hotels, yep, but that’s the same everywhere.
Still some wonderful food at very cheap prices, local transportation is dirt cheap, and a 7 day pass for Angkor at $72 is a steal.
We’ve stayed in the Park Hyatt – formerly the Hotel de la Paix a couple of times. Beautiful hotel in a great position.
@Go197 completely agree with the FCC and the Victoria (shame!)
Must admit I’m a bit shocked by the prices of everything! Without wishing to generalise, bit tough
on, say, many Thai and Vietnamese tourists.International brand hotels, yep, but that’s the same everywhere.
Still some wonderful food at very cheap prices, local transportation is dirt cheap, and a 7 day pass for Angkor at $72 is a steal.
…although a one-day ticket for a family of four would be $140!!!
It was free the first time I went!I’ve stayed in the treeline urban resort. Very central location, decent pool, boutiquey hotel. The pool is on the second floor overlooking the Siem Reap river.
Borei Angkor is where I’ve been for the last few nights, a lovely hotel with a pool, several restaurants and amazingly friendly helpful staff.
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