AsiaLIFE

We all love the Penh, but even the most die-hards need to get out of town every now and again. Craig Gerard examines the most practical ways to scoot on out.

Fly, Fly Away

Budget airlines abound in Asia, and with a little advanced planning, cheap tickets are easy to come by to certain destinations. Air Asia, based on the model of Southwest Airlines, a popular US budget carrier, offers direct flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Check their website for regular sales. If you time it well, you can fly to either destination for as little as US$30 round trip. You do have to pay extra for baggage, assigned seating, and in-flight snacks and drinks.

If your final destination is not Bangkok or KL, you must book a separate roundtrip ticket from that airport, and transfer your own bags when you transit. These annoyances are what you put up with to get such cheap tickets. Another budget option currently available is Jet Star service to Singapore. Sale tickets are available for as little as US$100 as long as you promise not to check any baggage. While there is no current service direct from Phnom Penh to Manila, rumour has it that the Cambodian government is in discussion with budget airline Cebu Pacific, which should drastically reduce the cost of flights to the Philippines when that route comes on line.

If budget airlines and quick fix destinations aren’t your think – it’s best to trust your travel plans to a quality travel agent. East-West Travel, located near the BKK market has been booking affordable flights and providing reliable service to expats in Phnom Penh for nearly a decade.

Air Asia
www.airasia.com
Tel. 023 356 011

Jet Star
www.jetstar.com
Tel. 011 811 414

East-West Travel Agency
Tel. 012 818 118

Magic Bus

Bus service in Cambodia has drastically improved over the past five years, and now it is possible to get a reasonably priced ticket on a comfortable, air-conditioned coach to most popular destinations in the country. Mekong Express, with offices at the River Front and O’Rrussey Market, offers service to Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, and Ho Chi Minh City, all for about US$12 per trip.

The bus has a bathroom on the coach, which may or may not be cleaner than the toilet at the rest stop. You will get a snack and a bottle of water when you arrive on board. Other than the pesky mosquitoes, this is as comfortable as you could expect a bus to be. And if you are a fan of Khmer karaoke, then you’re really in for a treat.

If you are headed to Vietnam, taking a Vietnamese bus company like Sapaco, may reduce your time sitting at the border. The bus station is near Olympic Stadium and leaves seven times a day. The reverse is true as well, travel with a Cambodian company when making the return trip.

A fairly new bus company just came online called Sok Sokha Express, running between Phnom Penh and both Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. One other word of advice: take the daytime bus. Travelling in the provinces at night can be risky business. The obstacles aren’t just erratic drivers with questionable sobriety, but animals also make their way onto the pavement to soak up the heat.

Mekong Express Limousine
Tel. 023 427 519

Sapaco Bus Services
Tel. 012 696 688

Sok Sokha Express
Tel. 017 545 151

Cars

While car rental places have not made it to Cambodia, there are options if you want your own car for the weekend. Most (if not all) come with drivers, so sit back and enjoy the ride. A one-way sedan taxi service to Sihanoukville will cost you US$35-45, and to Siem Reap would be US$45-55. Taxis to most destinations can be hired near Central Market. Roundtrip service is also an option, and usually costs around $120 for the weekend, which includes gas, the driver’s accommodation and the driver to chauffer you around during the weekend. Prices will be higher for further destinations and more nights.

If you have a large group, consider renting a Van which seats 10 passengers and costs a mere US$150 for the weekend.

Additionally you can rent a car, SUV, Minibus, or Van with out a driver. Prices range depending on size of vehicle. It’s best, but not essential, to have a Cambodian Driver’s Licence.

Car with driver rental
Mr. Vutha Tel. 012 633 133.

Van with Driver Rental
Mr. Chhay Long Tel. 012 736 817

Vehicle Rental without Diver
Mr. So Somnang Tel. 012 456 003


Boat

The other option for travel to Siem Reap is the “fast” boat. One-way tickets can be purchased at the passenger dock (Sisowath Quay and Street 102), and cost US$35. While the cabin of the boat is rather plain, most passengers opt to climb on the roof of the boat and catch some rays. Bring a cooler and some sunscreen so you can pass the six-hour ride sunbathing and watching the riverside villages of the Tonle Sap drift on by. Bear in mind this boat is not available at the end of the dry season.

Angkor Express Boat , Tel. 011 881 224

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

For transportation with a smaller carbon footprint, check out Grasshopper Adventure’s shop Vicious Cycle. They rent bikes by the day and organize both day and overnight trips. While you cover less ground per day, you certainly get a more intimate connection with the country as you pedal your own way out of town.

Vicious Cycle Café, 29 Street 130, Tel. +66 87 929 5208, www.grasshopperadventures.com