We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

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Apollo91881
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We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

Post by Apollo91881 »

Hello,

I accepted a US expat role in Cambodia and expect to be in country within a month.
I will be living in the SSEZ while my family will move to PP in August.

So, we have some questions and any help would be appreciated:

Economic:
What is the recommenced way to get cash? (Open account at local bank, ATM, etc)
We will have insurance via a US healthcare provider. Should I get International SOS as well?

Housing
When should we start looking for an apartment in PP? How far in advance?
I'm thinking 3BR, furnished and serviced. BKK1-Russian Market-Diamond Island

Can someone tell me what apartments are like at the SSEZ?

Schools
Have a 4 yr old and 1yr old coming. Schools we are considering are a) ISPP b) Northbridge c) Descart d) EFI
Any recommendations or insight on the benefits and detriments?
We speak French and English at home.

Packing and moving
What needs to get shipped? I assume we don't need winter clothes :lol:
Any odds and ends?
Get 110 to 220 transformers ahead of time?
We aren't bringing a car and don't plan on getting one.

Anything I'm missing?

Thanks in advance!
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Doc67
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Re: We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

Post by Doc67 »

Apollo91881 wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 10:27 pm Hello,

I accepted a US expat role in Cambodia and expect to be in country within a month.
I will be living in the SSEZ while my family will move to PP in August.

So, we have some questions and any help would be appreciated:

Economic:
What is the recommenced way to get cash? (Open account at local bank, ATM, etc)
We will have insurance via a US healthcare provider. Should I get International SOS as well?

Housing
When should we start looking for an apartment in PP? How far in advance?
I'm thinking 3BR, furnished and serviced. BKK1-Russian Market-Diamond Island

Can someone tell me what apartments are like at the SSEZ?

Schools
Have a 4 yr old and 1yr old coming. Schools we are considering are a) ISPP b) Northbridge c) Descart d) EFI
Any recommendations or insight on the benefits and detriments?
We speak French and English at home.

Packing and moving
What needs to get shipped? I assume we don't need winter clothes :lol:
Any odds and ends?
Get 110 to 220 transformers ahead of time?
We aren't bringing a car and don't plan on getting one.

Anything I'm missing?

Thanks in advance!
Bank accounts are easy to open, just take your lease and passport with a long term visa. Meanwhile your US visa cards will work in the ATM's (there are lots of them) and you draw out USD. Normally $5 transaction fee.

Make sure your healthcare insurance provides for medical evacuation. The healthcare here is crap as a rule. But there are good foreign doctors. Start with Dr Julie Thongsavanne at Procare Medical on Street 63. She specialises is paediatrics, important given your very little ones, but does adults too.
https://procarecambodia.com

Dentistry is good, mostly, try Eurodental in BKK 1 and see Ana Gonzalez; Spanish, well trained and practiced in the UK so her English is excellent.
http://eurodentalcambodia.com

Apartments are available that day. There is no credit or background checks. Got the money?...Then you're in! Do some internet searching for what's available. Read this:
housing-for-rent-sale/how-rent-property ... e-t64.html

As for what stuff to bring, you will get lots of advice but I would say bring all the good clothes you will need. Cheap and nasty rubbish is plentiful. Forget winter clothes unless you plan to make a few trips to cooler countries for a vacation, such as Japan or Korea (not now obviously). You might find you will want a vacation somewhere cool.

Bring good shoes.

Bring you current converter (not adapter) for 220v down to 120v if you are bringing 120v appliances that are not multi current rated.

No idea about schools but you will get plenty of good advice on here about them.

Bring an open mind and an expectation to be shocked, there will be a culture shock. Just enjoy the craziness and organised chaos of the place and the very easy way of life here.

Learn to speak TUK-TUK quickly so you can direct them to your destination. You may think you know where you are going, but I assure you they do not.

Get Grab app on your phone

Good luck
Apollo91881
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Re: We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

Post by Apollo91881 »

Thank you!
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Yerg
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Re: We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

Post by Yerg »

Apollo91881 wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:29 am Thank you!
There will be quite a few handfuls of learning experiences when you get there. A lot will revolve around building a circle of trusted people, such as tuk-tuk drivers, bars and restaurants, colleagues, friends etc. Get yourselves out and about, immerse yourself and keep an open mind. These are about the only things I'd recommend. The above poster has already given heaps of great advice; too many people arrive in KoW with closed minds. Embrace it and enjoy it. Best few years of my life were spent there.
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GMJS-CEO
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Re: We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

Post by GMJS-CEO »

Apollo91881 wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 10:27 pm Hello,

I accepted a US expat role in Cambodia and expect to be in country within a month.
I will be living in the SSEZ while my family will move to PP in August.

So, we have some questions and any help would be appreciated:

Economic:
What is the recommenced way to get cash? (Open account at local bank, ATM, etc)
Open a bank account. ABA is the most popular one
We will have insurance via a US healthcare provider. Should I get International SOS as well?
I had SOS temporarily but saw little/no benefit. I had quality insurance, had emergency surgery and medivac to Thailand. Just make sure you have evac covered

Housing
When should we start looking for an apartment in PP? How far in advance?
I went to a hotel and found a place when I was already in Cambodia. I recommend this route

I'm thinking 3BR, furnished and serviced. BKK1-Russian Market-Diamond Island
I prefer Russian Market and BKK1, I lived in Russian Market area and frequently stay in BKK1 on trips


Can someone tell me what apartments are like at the SSEZ?

Schools
Have a 4 yr old and 1yr old coming. Schools we are considering are a) ISPP b) Northbridge c) Descart d) EFI
Any recommendations or insight on the benefits and detriments?
We speak French and English at home.
I had my son in Garden Gecko starting at 18 months. I am a big fan of the school http://geckogarden-preschool.org/our-classes/


Packing and moving
What needs to get shipped? I assume we don't need winter clothes :lol:
I had to buy some cold weather clothes when I was in Hong Kong for Disney vacation. You can get some in Phnom Penh easy, go to store called Zando
Any odds and ends?
Get 110 to 220 transformers ahead of time?
We aren't bringing a car and don't plan on getting one.
You can get dress shoes made but they aren't made to last. I would bring quality shoes and work clothing

I bought a used CRV. Main point for me was the safety of having my child in a car seat and car driven by me. It was fantastic for trips out of the city, the taxi & bus drivers for road trips are suicidal. In the city the traffic naturally causes slower rates of speed so not as dangerous in daytime, still hectic though

I also had a motorbike for my daily commute. My wife drove the car to take kid to school weekdays

Anything I'm missing?

Thanks in advance!
See red above
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WildA
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Re: We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

Post by WildA »

Open an account with RIA while you are in the States so you can transfer into your ABA account fromthe uS. Only way to get money there other than the ATM.
Naturam expelles furca, tamen usque recurret. Horace
Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they arent out to get you. Pynchon
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j57
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Re: We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

Post by j57 »

bring cash...crisp clean bills US dollars...
use some to open a local account.
bringing kids and wife who live in Phnom Penh end of summer and you are living and working elsewhere?
Seems like you are dumping a lot on the Mrs.
I sure wouldn't want my young kids living in PP if I had a choice of other cities in Cambodia.
oh well...
good luck dude...
get a SMART or CELLCARD sim card for your unlocked phone...
passap will get you cheaper rides...than some tuktuk guy who is old school and overcharges Barangs...
be careful going out and meeting people..
socialize with care...
I have lived all over Cambodia...I prefer Siem Reap and would never live in Phnom Penh..
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Clemen
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Re: We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

Post by Clemen »

Isn't SSEZ the Sihanoukville zone? If so, you're looking at a minimum of 5 hours car travel time to Phnom Penh.
up to you...
Anchor Moy
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Re: We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

Post by Anchor Moy »

Clemen wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:44 am Isn't SSEZ the Sihanoukville zone? If so, you're looking at a minimum of 5 hours car travel time to Phnom Penh.
I guess he plans to install the family in PP and travel up for the weekends. It's got to be a better idea than having them live in SHV.
No idea what living conditions are like in the SSEZ, but it might be a bit of a ghost town right now if it's anything like Sihanoukville city. Things are in a state of flux. Let us know how it goes, OP.
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phuketrichard
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Re: We're moving to Cambodia ... now what?

Post by phuketrichard »

Anchor Moy wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:12 pm
Clemen wrote: Fri Mar 06, 2020 11:44 am Isn't SSEZ the Sihanoukville zone? If so, you're looking at a minimum of 5 hours car travel time to Phnom Penh.
I guess he plans to install the family in PP and travel up for the weekends. It's got to be a better idea than having them live in SHV.
No idea what living conditions are like in the SSEZ, but it might be a bit of a ghost town right now if it's anything like Sihanoukville city. Things are in a state of flux. Let us know how it goes, OP.
will wait to hear if its so your working in snv and you want ur oldest in school in PP
otherwise why get a place in PP?

I suggest you get a house in Kampot, good school for ur oldest, (my gf sister has two kids, ( 8 ,10) in school there), ur youngest is to young for school, plenty of places to relax, rents are less than PP, good choice for eating out,some grocery shopping BUT more important, 100% better place to have ur family than the big city
2 hour drive ( pick up a car in PP) 2002, 03 crv around $10,000
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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