The Best of Cambodia & Laos

38
PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO CAMBODIA
3
HEALTH
The Value of Cambodian Riel vs. Other Popular Currencies
Riel US$ Can$ UK£ Euro(€) Aus$ NZ$
5,000 $1.20 C$1.25 £.75 €.80 A$1.30 NZ$1.65
hotels at good prices. In Siem Reap, pricing
is heavily seasonal. High-season prices
can be as much as 30% to 40% higher
than low season. In all these places, a good
local meal will set you back about $2. A
main course in a tourist-orientated restaurant
will cost between $4.50 and $7 at a
moderately priced place. A small can of
beer averages at about $1.50 and bottled
water is more expensive than in London or
Paris.
There is no shortage of banks in all
provincial towns of any size, including
Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville,
Battambang, and Kampot. They offer the
usual banking services: cash advances on
credit cards (most accept MasterCard and
Visa), international currency exchange,
telegraphic transfers, and cashing traveler’s
checks. ANZ Royal Banks, Canadia, and
SBC Banks offer ATMs with international
access. Canadia Bank levies the lowest
transaction charges. Most banks are open
from around 8am to 3 or 4pm from Monday
to Friday. Some are also open on Saturday
mornings until 11:30am. ATMs are
available 24 hours and are popping up
STAYING HEALTHY
Staying healthy is largely about keeping
your eyes open and practicing good
hygiene. Some rules of thumb: Drink only
bottled water, and also use bottled water to
clean your teeth. Wash your hands before
eating. If soap and water are not available,
use an alcohol-based hand gel (with at
least 60% alcohol). Always try and use
restaurants that look clean, and make sure
that all food is properly cooked. Avoid
5 HEALTH
everywhere. See the “Fast Facts” section in
each chapter for bank locations.
The currency in Cambodia is the riel,
though for anything over the smallest of
amounts the U.S. dollar reigns supreme.
Riel is what you use for small change. In the
towns of the west, the Thai baht is also
used. There are no coins in Cambodia, only
notes. Cambodian riel notes come in 50,
100, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000,
50,000, and 100,000 denominations, but
the red 500 riel note and the blue 1,000 riel
note are the most useful and common.
Wads of 100 riel notes mount up and are
best distributed to beggars in handfuls. Be
aware that the slightest tear on a dollar note
of any denomination will render it useless.
Check the condition of your change.
The use of credit cards is increasing in
tourist areas, though Cambodia remains
very much a cash economy. Visa and MasterCard
are accepted at most upscale
hotels, shops, and restaurants. Some midrange
places and a growing number of
other businesses are following suit. Most
businesses charge a 2% to 4% fee to accept
credit cards.
dairy products, unless you know they have
been pasteurized. Avoid eating street food
if you can. Fruit and vegetables should be
washed or peeled. Put ice in your drinks
only if it’s cubed or tubed (crushed ice
may have been chipped off a big block that
has been kept in unsanitary conditions).
While no vaccines are presently required,
you may choose to take extra precautions.
Many of the other big health threats are
borne on the wings of the whining, pesky,
hovering mosquito. Protecting yourself