Phnom Penh Accommodations & Commute Question

[dastardlyduck]

I will be interning in Phnom Penh for two months and I have a couple questions about accommodations. I've been scouring the forums desperately, but haven't been able to find anything that addresses my questions directly. I'd appreciate any answers or being directed to old threads.

1. Since I'll be in Phnom Penh for only two months, would it be cheaper/more hassle-free for me to stay at a guesthouse? Or should I try to find an apartment with a short-term lease?

2. I'm going to be working somewhere around here (11.574721, 104.871297). Considering the commute, what would be the best neighborhood for me to live? I was thinking southern side of Toul Kork or even Russian Market.

3. What should I do for commute? Should I be relying on tuk tuks for my daily commute or should I try to find a motorbike/bicycle rental? What would be more cost-effective? (And also keeping the rainy season in mind.)


Thank you in advance for all your help!
(X-posted to Khmer440)

[StroppyChops]

I bet the other forum enjoyed the idea if either Toul Kork or Russian Market - they are at nearly opposite ends of town.

[Username Taken]

So, what advice would you give the OP?

[StroppyChops]

So, what advice would you give the OP?

Don't post on 440.

[StroppyChops]

The given reference is not really near either Toul Kork or Toul Tom Poung (Russian Market), although it's nearer Toul Kork. It's across Russian Bvd and kinda behind the old water park out near the airport ... -ish. I don't know what most people consider a normal commute, but that is FAR out in the suburbs and would be a nightmare during peak hours.

1. You almost definitely won't get a short lease for 1-2 months, so guesthouse or hotel.
2. See above.
3. You can pick up a cheap yet decent bicycle here for $30-40, rental motos are hard to get for a short term but should be getting easier now it's the quiet season.

[Cam Nivag]

Riding a bicycle around Phnom Penh is just a spectacularly bad idea.

[StroppyChops]

Riding a bicycle around Phnom Penh is just a spectacularly bad idea.

Ah, well, the OP didn't ask about that...

Although Gavin is completely right - given that the majority of Cambodians have not had any formal driving instruction, they do not think it wrong to change lanes without warning and without checking, or to come out from an intersection without looking, or... actually, they don't know about lanes. Or even staying on one side of the road. Let's leave it at that.

[dastardlyduck]

I'm sorry! I don't have a very good grasp on the neighborhoods in Phnom Penh. I saw somewhere that Toul Kork stretches pretty broadly from North to South so I thought it might be the neighborhood closest to where I'll be working. If you have a better ideas of which neighborhoods I should live in, I'd be very grateful.

Also, do you recommend then that I just rely on motodops/tuk tuks instead of trying to commute via bicycle myself?

Thank you for your responses so far!

[Cam Nivag]

Riding a bicycle around Phnom Penh is just a spectacularly bad idea.

Ah, well, the OP didn't ask about that...

Although Gavin is completely right - given that the majority of Cambodians have not had any formal driving instruction, they do not think it wrong to change lanes without warning and without checking, or to come out from an intersection without looking, or... actually, they don't know about lanes. Or even staying on one side of the road. Let's leave it at that.

The "bike lane" on the far right side of the road actually doubles as the "secret oncoming traffic lane."

[General Mackevili]

I'm sorry! I don't have a very good grasp on the neighborhoods in Phnom Penh. I saw somewhere that Toul Kork stretches pretty broadly from North to South so I thought it might be the neighborhood closest to where I'll be working. If you have a better ideas of which neighborhoods I should live in, I'd be very grateful.

Also, do you recommend then that I just rely on motodops/tuk tuks instead of trying to commute via bicycle myself?

Thank you for your responses so far!

As far as where to live for the 2 months, I would honestly just wait until you land.

You will be able to see that exact route to get to work and people on the ground will help you.

And yes, for 2 months I'd just get a guesthouse .

What's your budget?