We flew to Siem Reap, which is not the capital of Cambodia (that’s Phnom Penh), with Singapore Airlines. Strangely enough, Singapore Airlines is the only airline that offers direct flights from Singapore to Siem Reap, which was a good excuse to try it out.
Singapore Airlines is often considered one of the best airlines in the world in various rankings and reviews, and for those of us who are used to traveling with low-cost airlines, it was a pleasant surprise. On a two-hour flight we had in-flight entertainment with new movies, in-flight meals, and even a children’s kit with various toys. What more could you ask for? Ohhh, and we even had checked luggage included in the basic fare. As I booked the trip five months in advance, and considering that I used Multi-city (we returned to Singapore from Phnom Penh), I found the price quite reasonable, especially considering the top-notch service.
To enter Cambodia, you need a Tourist Visa and a Passenger Declaration form to hand in at Customs. The form was distributed during the flight, and as I filled it out on board, I didn’t need to worry about it further. All you have to do is hand it in at the exit of the airport.
What took a long time was the processing of the visas by Immigration. We waited in the queue for almost an hour! That’s because we were unlucky with the queue, the others next to us went much faster.
You can obtain the tourist visa upon arrival at the airport (Visa-on-arrival) or in advance, electronically (e-Visa Type T). I opted for the electronic visa, submitted through the website https://www.evisa.gov.kh, and it was processed very quickly (1 working day in our case and I had it in my e-mail).
As we had the e-Visa, we went straight to the Immigration queue, where the visa is validated and attached to the passport. The e-Visa costs 36 USD per person, and I paid with a VISA card on the website. It’s recommended to print two copies of the visa, one to leave upon arrival in Cambodia and the other for departure. If you don’t have an electronic visa (e-Visa), you need to go to the Visa-on-arrival queue.
After finally getting through the bureaucratic procedures on arrival, I took the opportunity to exchange money at the airport.
Tip for paying cash in Cambodia
I had changed US dollars at the airport in Singapore, and when I arrived in Siem Reap, I changed some Riels, the local currency of Cambodia. Big mistake!!!! I had read that the US dollars were accepted as payment, and they are. What I didn’t know is that torn, crumpled or worn notes are not accepted. The reason for this is that the locals will ultimately have to exchange the dollars for Riels, and if the notes are not in good condition, they will get a lower exchange value.
So, it’s OK to change a few US dollars, make sure you exchange enough Riels to cover your expenses at street markets, tuk tuk rides, monument entrance fees, or tips for drivers and guides.
We have also found that in smaller shops they don’t have enough change in Riels when we pay in US dollars. That’s why this tip is so important, so that you don’t run out of Riels like we did.
Luckily our hotel came to our rescue and changed money for us a couple of times, which could also be a plan B option.
Continuing through the exit of Siem Reap airport
With the money in our pockets, we finally made our way to the airport exit, where we had arranged transportation with the hotel (complimentary by the way). We were greeted by the driver with refreshing towels, which Maria Rita thinks is standard treatment when you arrive somewhere, perks you get used to when traveling in Asia!
Keep reading the post Things to do in Siem Reap with suggestions for tours and programmes, or the post Where to eat in Siem Reap with the best restaurant tips.
Find all the posts from our trip to Cambodia here.
