TRAVEL ADVICE
Health Advice
Malaria is rare in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, however, there has been reports of dengue fever (transmitted by mosquito's). The best precaution is to avoid getting bitten by using a mosquito repellant containing DEET. Before traveling you should consult your doctor for up to date advice on health and appropriate vaccinations for the areas you wish to visit.
Arriving at Phnom Penh
When you arrive at Phnom Penh airport, you will be asked to fill in an immigration form and you will be asked for a passport size photo. When you have passed immigration taxis are available to take you into Phnom Penh or to Sihanoukville.
Traveling to Sihanoukville
The journey time from Phnom Penh is around 3 - 5 hours depending on your choice of transport.
* Taxi from the airport takes 3 - 4 hours and should cost between $60 - $80
* Private hire taxi from Phnom Penh 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours and should cost between $50 - $70 (depending on fuel type, LPG being cheaper)
* Bus from Phnom Penh 4 - 4 1/2 hours and costs between $4 and $8 depending on the bus company (you get what you pay for)
Arriving at Sihanoukville
If you arrive by taxi, you should be taken direct to Reef Resort which is located near the Golden Lions which is a well known landmark. Click here to download a map of Sihanoukville in a new window. If the taxi driver is not sure where we are, ask him or her to call us on 012 315 338 and we will give directions.
If you arrive by bus, you will be dropped off at the bus station "downtown". Be prepared to meet plenty of moto drivers who can bring you to the Resort. The hotel is around 2km from the bus station and should take just a few minutes. Beware, some moto drivers will try to take you to another hotel where they will be paid a commission for delivering you (there are cheaper hotels but you do get what you pay for). Agree your destination and fare before you get on a bike, a fare price is $3 or $5.
Getting about in Sihanoukville
At the time of writing, it is possible for tourists to rent a motorcycle in Sihanoukville. Caution is advisable as road rules are vague at best and chaotic at worst! Moto drivers are cheap, there are also tuktuks in town as well as taxi's if you want air con.
Reef Resort is only a 4 minute walk to Serendipity Beach.
Scams & advice
We caution guests to look out for the following scams (whether you stay with Reef Resort or not);
* Hotel commissions - as above, taxi, took took and moto drivers are often offered a payment from hotels to deliver guests to their hotel, drivers rarely have knowledge of the quality of a hotel or the current booking status. This often leads to guests being taken to several hotels (in order of who pays the most) before their original choice. At Reef Resort, we have a simple, honest pricing policy. We rarely pay or take commission.
* Money exchange - recently we have had customers crossing through Koh Kong who have been told they must change their money in Koh Kong. This is not the case, there are money changers throughout the main towns in Cambodia that can give you a good rate for your US$, GBP or Thai Baht. The local currency is riel but the US$ is widely accepted as the preferred currency. At the time or writing, the exchange rate around 4000r to $1.
* Beach vendors - beach vendors can sometimes be nuisance, we have had incidences of customers sponsoring street children through school by giving cash directly. While this is a good gesture, the money rarely goes to schooling. We direct our customers towards the M'Lop Tapang centre for street children, as well as providing a safe shelter for street children, they also have a monitored back to school program and if you wish to become a donor your money will go to a very good cause.
* Transport booking - some hotels or drivers may offer to sort out transport arrangements for your return journey, again, some take a commission from the driver and the price is inflated accordingly. At Reef Resort we don't take commission from taxi drivers, our taxi's cost $50-$70 most of the year (they are safe and well driven). If you are impressed with our service and think the staff deserve some reward, leave them a tip in the tin - it's up to you.
We are paid a small commission for arranging bus tickets, this covers the cost of the phone call and collecting the ticket from the station, any extra is put into staff tips.
Further advice
If you need any further advice with planning your trip to Cambodia, please feel free to email us and we would be happy to help.
Malaria is rare in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, however, there has been reports of dengue fever (transmitted by mosquito's). The best precaution is to avoid getting bitten by using a mosquito repellant containing DEET. Before traveling you should consult your doctor for up to date advice on health and appropriate vaccinations for the areas you wish to visit.
Arriving at Phnom Penh
When you arrive at Phnom Penh airport, you will be asked to fill in an immigration form and you will be asked for a passport size photo. When you have passed immigration taxis are available to take you into Phnom Penh or to Sihanoukville.
Traveling to Sihanoukville
The journey time from Phnom Penh is around 3 - 5 hours depending on your choice of transport.
* Taxi from the airport takes 3 - 4 hours and should cost between $60 - $80
* Private hire taxi from Phnom Penh 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours and should cost between $50 - $70 (depending on fuel type, LPG being cheaper)
* Bus from Phnom Penh 4 - 4 1/2 hours and costs between $4 and $8 depending on the bus company (you get what you pay for)
Arriving at Sihanoukville
If you arrive by taxi, you should be taken direct to Reef Resort which is located near the Golden Lions which is a well known landmark. Click here to download a map of Sihanoukville in a new window. If the taxi driver is not sure where we are, ask him or her to call us on 012 315 338 and we will give directions.
If you arrive by bus, you will be dropped off at the bus station "downtown". Be prepared to meet plenty of moto drivers who can bring you to the Resort. The hotel is around 2km from the bus station and should take just a few minutes. Beware, some moto drivers will try to take you to another hotel where they will be paid a commission for delivering you (there are cheaper hotels but you do get what you pay for). Agree your destination and fare before you get on a bike, a fare price is $3 or $5.
Getting about in Sihanoukville
At the time of writing, it is possible for tourists to rent a motorcycle in Sihanoukville. Caution is advisable as road rules are vague at best and chaotic at worst! Moto drivers are cheap, there are also tuktuks in town as well as taxi's if you want air con.
Reef Resort is only a 4 minute walk to Serendipity Beach.
Scams & advice
We caution guests to look out for the following scams (whether you stay with Reef Resort or not);
* Hotel commissions - as above, taxi, took took and moto drivers are often offered a payment from hotels to deliver guests to their hotel, drivers rarely have knowledge of the quality of a hotel or the current booking status. This often leads to guests being taken to several hotels (in order of who pays the most) before their original choice. At Reef Resort, we have a simple, honest pricing policy. We rarely pay or take commission.
* Money exchange - recently we have had customers crossing through Koh Kong who have been told they must change their money in Koh Kong. This is not the case, there are money changers throughout the main towns in Cambodia that can give you a good rate for your US$, GBP or Thai Baht. The local currency is riel but the US$ is widely accepted as the preferred currency. At the time or writing, the exchange rate around 4000r to $1.
* Beach vendors - beach vendors can sometimes be nuisance, we have had incidences of customers sponsoring street children through school by giving cash directly. While this is a good gesture, the money rarely goes to schooling. We direct our customers towards the M'Lop Tapang centre for street children, as well as providing a safe shelter for street children, they also have a monitored back to school program and if you wish to become a donor your money will go to a very good cause.
* Transport booking - some hotels or drivers may offer to sort out transport arrangements for your return journey, again, some take a commission from the driver and the price is inflated accordingly. At Reef Resort we don't take commission from taxi drivers, our taxi's cost $50-$70 most of the year (they are safe and well driven). If you are impressed with our service and think the staff deserve some reward, leave them a tip in the tin - it's up to you.
We are paid a small commission for arranging bus tickets, this covers the cost of the phone call and collecting the ticket from the station, any extra is put into staff tips.
Further advice
If you need any further advice with planning your trip to Cambodia, please feel free to email us and we would be happy to help.
