0 Travel Expenses (Siem Reap, Cambodia Part 3)

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. 

Cost for 3 People

Cost per person

Philippine Peso

Plane Ticket

12,494.65

4164

Accomodations

4500

1500

Canned food/Sandwiches/Noodles/Crackers

200

Total

5864

5864

MRT from SM North to Taft

15

Cab fare to NAIA

75

Travel Tax

1620

Terminal Fee

550

Total

2260

2260

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

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

10

3.33

7-Oct

Snacks at Blue Pumpkin

4.25

Tuktuk driver

1.5

0.5

Dinner at Under Construction

5

Total

103.66

4338.171

Taxi fare from NAIA

150

150

Total Expenses

12612.171

Airport

Cambodia (in $ )

Pre-departure

Cab shared with

Grace

Cab shared with

Grace

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.