Travel Expenses: Siem Reap, Cambodia

In Siem Reap, the US dollar is more commonly used than the Cambodian Riel. In most stores, products are price tagged in dollars, and in some, both in dollars and Riel. A dollar is equivalent to about 4,000 KHR (Riel), and for amounts smaller than a dollar, Riel is used. So if you're buying something for $0.50, you'll receive 2,000 KHR as change. 

When we left the Philippines, the conversion was about P41.25 to USD1. We bought some dollars from a money changer, and they sold a dollar for P41.85. That's the rate I used in the table below. For the current conversion rates, check xe.com. 


Siem Reap October 2012
 Cost for 3 People
Cost per person
Cost per person (Philippine Peso)
Pre-departure

Cebu Pacific Tickets (with 20 kilos baggage allowance) 
12,494.65
4164

Rithy Rine Angkor Hotel (3 days)
4500
1500

Baon (Canned food/Sandwiches/Noodles/Crackers)

200

Total

5864
5864
Airport

MRT from SM North to Taft

15

Cab fare to NAIA

75

Travel Tax

1620

Terminal Fee

550

Total

2260
2260
Cambodia (in $ )

4-Oct



Dinner at Le Tigre de Papier

5.25

5-Oct



Temple tour guide (1 day)
25
8.33

Temple Passes

20

Tuktuk driver (entire day)
30
10

Supermarket (beer, chips, noodles, foaming bath)
12
4

6-Oct



Elephant ride

15

Take away KFC lunch

3

Angkor Museum

12

Buffet with cultural presentation at Koulen 2 restaurant

12

Tea at Koulen 2 restaurant
3
1

Tuktuk driver (entire day)
10
3.33

7-Oct



Snacks at Blue Pumpkin

4.25

Tuktuk driver ( (Night market to hotel)
1.5
0.5

Dinner at Under Construction

5

Total

103.66
4338.171
Taxi fare from NAIA

150
150
Total Expenses


12612.171
*The taxi fare was shared with Grace, hence the small amount. Also, I did not include the amount spent on tips and pasalubong (gifts for people back home), but I'll write on haggling/negotiating with shopkeepers in Siem Reap in another entry. 

I think we had a good deal with Ponleu, our tuktuk driver, considering he only charged us a total of $40 for four days. He took us to Pub Street and back on our first night in Siem Reap; drove us to the temples and the supermarket on the second day; took us to Angkor Thom, Wat Thmey, West Baray and the Silk Farm (which are quite far from the city center), Angkor Museum, and Koulen 2 Restaurant on our third day. On our last day, we wanted to explore the city by bicycle (which did not fly, by the way, because it was drizzling), so we told him to pick us up from the hotel when it was time for us to leave for the airport. We ended up having to hire a tuktuk at the Old Market area to bring us back to the hotel, who charged us $1.50. Here's Ponleu's contact info if you're interested:

 Mr. Ponleu Leang
Local calls: 012 40 94 43
Overseas calls: (855) 12 40 94 43
E-mail: ponleuleang@ymail.com

I'm ending this post with a photo of Cambodia Lager because beer was a budget priority for one of my companions :). 

Nightcap. Since we were not keen to people watch anyway, we bought beer from Angkor supermarket and stayed in the hotel instead of going to a bar where beer is 100% more expensive. 'Saved us some moolah. 

Check out my other Siem Reap entries here, here, and here. 

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