dragonfly wrote:I'm currently planning a visit from the UK with a friend with a view to staying longer in the near future. The current plan is to fly into Phnom Penh and travel down to Sihanoukville where we plan to rent an apartment to use as a base while we stay for approx 1 month. While we are there we intend to explore the coast with a view to find somewhere we'd like to settle for longer on our next visit. Call it our pre-expat visit if you like.

However before we arrive we have a few questions....

Firstly Vaccinations - Both myself and my friend have had different advice from our doctors, I've been advised to only have basic travel vaccinations, and I can only have them 4-6weeks before a confirmed flight, then worry about the others when we return for a longer stay. My friend has been advised to have the basic travel vaccinations plus Rabbies and Japanese Encephalitis, which to me makes more sense, she was also told that she can have her vaccinations any-time in preparation, I've been told I can't have mine until I book a flight which is bonkers!! Can anybody advise which is right, and which vaccinations to have??

Secondly Money - we are planning to pay for the apartment and initial taxis transfer in advance and have made some contacts for this, however we are both unsure how much cash to bring with us, I'm aware that small denomination USD is the way to go, however for 2 of us to live eating out most evening, but breakfast\lunch at home, plus exploring the coast etc. We don't want to bring stacks of notes that are a risk, but on the hand we don't want to feel after the first week, we need to watch the pennies, we want to live comfortably, what sort of budget should we be looking at?

Thanks

Dave

Jamie_Lambo wrote:

dragonfly wrote:I'm currently planning a visit from the UK with a friend with a view to staying longer in the near future. The current plan is to fly into Phnom Penh and travel down to Sihanoukville where we plan to rent an apartment to use as a base while we stay for approx 1 month. While we are there we intend to explore the coast with a view to find somewhere we'd like to settle for longer on our next visit. Call it our pre-expat visit if you like.

However before we arrive we have a few questions....

Firstly Vaccinations - Both myself and my friend have had different advice from our doctors, I've been advised to only have basic travel vaccinations, and I can only have them 4-6weeks before a confirmed flight, then worry about the others when we return for a longer stay. My friend has been advised to have the basic travel vaccinations plus Rabbies and Japanese Encephalitis, which to me makes more sense, she was also told that she can have her vaccinations any-time in preparation, I've been told I can't have mine until I book a flight which is bonkers!! Can anybody advise which is right, and which vaccinations to have??

Secondly Money - we are planning to pay for the apartment and initial taxis transfer in advance and have made some contacts for this, however we are both unsure how much cash to bring with us, I'm aware that small denomination USD is the way to go, however for 2 of us to live eating out most evening, but breakfast\lunch at home, plus exploring the coast etc. We don't want to bring stacks of notes that are a risk, but on the hand we don't want to feel after the first week, we need to watch the pennies, we want to live comfortably, what sort of budget should we be looking at?

Thanks

Dave

Right ill keep the info pretty basic so its easy to read mate

1. vaccinations, just get all the free ones, you dont need to pay for any of the vaccinations you need for out here, if they ask for money its not something you need

2. malaria tablets.... dont waste your money.... they are anti biotics and make you feel like shit all the time, no one i know takes them out here

3. your apartment (2 bedroom) should cost around $2-300 for the month, depending how much comfort you want you could pay more, i only pay $130 per month for an aircon apartment with separate bathroom and separate kitchen,

4. daily spends,
your average meal here in SHV will cost between $3-5 per meal, evening meals it can be just as cheap to eat out as it is to cook yourself, if youre eating khmer food it is even cheaper, breakfast and lunch though it is better/cheaper to make yourself,

i actually ate out 3 times today as i was traveling back to SHV from PP...
breakfast was a meat baguette in PP = $1.50 (only $1 in shv)
i had a late lunch which was Steak Pie, chips, veg & gravy @ Snookys bar in SHV = $4.50 + 50c for bottle water
for tea i had Khmer Pork and Rice = $1
Total for 3 meals = $7.50

Beer = $0.50-$1.25 depending where youre drinking
Cider = $2-$3
Spirit+Mixer = $3-$4.50

accommodation whilst traveling a $10-15 per night establishment are more than adiquate for a few days, pay anymore and youre just wasting money

hope you enjoy youre trip feel free to ask any questions you may have

Duncan wrote:Question, [ 3 ] Of the 16 million people in Cambodia, how many have had the vaccinations you are expecting to have. If you want to expand on that,,, how many in Vietnam, Thailand ?

OK , fire away, I was only asking.

Username Taken wrote:Large notes are easy enough to change at Supermarkets and money changers. However, you don't take a $2 or $5 tuk tuk ride and expect the driver to change $20, $50 or $100. Just commonsense.
Don't go to a bar, drink two .50 cent beers and hand over $100. On the other hand, if you go to a bar or restaurant with friends and run up a combined bill of $50+ then $100 might be ok.

Username Taken wrote:During the wet season, the coast can be a bit of a lottery.
You could have a whole week of rough seas, dirty water, and some rain.
The next week, you could have calm seas, blue skies, and the beach to yourself.