Comments on: Siem Reap: Packaged tour vs. DIY

By: The Fun-Sized Traveller

The Fun-Sized Traveller — Wed, 22 May 2019 03:28:39 +0000

Of course DIY except when going around the temples because you had to do it with a tuktuk driver. If you have the time, go for a DIY really, it can give you a better feel of the place and help you immersed more of the surroundings and the people. The beauty of it is you can own your time and can just change your itinerary in a whip. I did my Siem Reap trip on a DIY and I glad I did it because I was not limited to explore.

By: PhotoBook Siem Reap: A Travel Photography Guide to Siem Reap | Travel Photographer Philippines - The 4AM Chronicles

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:47:44 +0000

[…] Tour Group or DIY. Don’t join the tours if you’re there for photography. First, your tour mates can get in the way of your travel photography. Second, you might rush your shooting just so that you wont be left behind. Plus, going on your own is proven to be more affordable. Check out my friend, Nina’s, blog for a comparison of a 3-day Ankor Tour vs DIY costing. […]

By: Alexis Murphy

Alexis Murphy — Tue, 01 May 2012 05:26:01 +0000

New boutique in Siem Reap, worth checking out for all those essential and non essential needs, accessories, cosmetics, Spa products, shoes clothing and more:)

By: nina

nina — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:41:16 +0000

In reply to rica. I've traveled solo around Southeast Asia. It's fairly safe to travel in the region.

By: rica

rica — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:11:23 +0000

hi…
I just run through your blog.. and I found it very helpful..
I’m planning to visit siem reap..
Just wanted to ask if a solo trip would be good?
I mean I want to travel by myself, ok lang ba yun? the cost, safety etc.
I hope you can answer my question.. thanks..

By: gwy14

gwy14 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:04:38 +0000

Hi, Nina.

We’re planning a Cambodia (Siem Reap and Phnom Penh) from August 21 (night flight) up to August 27 (we prefer night flight back to Manila). This is our tentative itinerary:

August 21: Night fly to Siem Reap
August 22-24: Siem Reap Tour
August 24: Afternoon bus to Phnom Penh
August 25-26: Phnom Penh Tour
August 26: Afternoon bus to Ho Chi Minh
August 26-27: Saigon
August 27: Night flight back to Manila

Do you think this is the optimal itinerary for us? Or is it feasible at all?

By: nina

nina — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:35:41 +0000

In reply to Ysera. As far as I know, there's no midnight buses that ply the route. The borders close around 7pm or 8pm kasi. What you can do is to pass the time at the airport then take the first bus out of Saigon to the Cambodian border.

By: Ysera

Ysera — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:05:19 +0000

Thanks for the computation! DIY na lang pala talaga. We’ll be there in July.

My biggest problem is whether there is a night bus from Saigon going to Siem reap. And by night, I mean midnight. Alanganin kasi Cebupac. Midnight yung arrival. Gusto ko sana direcho na Siem Reap. Layo kasi.

By: kim and mj

kim and mj — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:22:54 +0000

Nina, your posts are always chockful of essential information! Planning a trip to Cambodia for September and this is a lot of help. Thank you for sharing. Added you on our list:-D

By: Chichi

Chichi — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 17:18:27 +0000

i always find your budget posts really helpful. I’m also going to do another post similar to this for my recent Palawan trip 😉

By: nina

nina — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:23:27 +0000

Drawing ka Karlo.

By: karlodl

karlodl — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:54:17 +0000

Ey Nina, sorry busy lang, will drop by this week for my Viet coffee 😀 . Btw, you might want to update your DIY list for tuktuk rates. The $12 is only for a day 1 tour. Rates change depending on the route you take.

$12 for day 1 (small circuit route)
$20 for day 2 (big circuit route)
and
$25 for day 3 (banteay srei)
its plus $5 for sunrise and another $5 for sunset.

Hope this helps. So total would be around $57 to $67

By: nina

nina — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:41:11 +0000

Adventurer: 27K for the entire trip? Good job! 😀

By: nina

nina — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:38:20 +0000

Hi Aljoy,

There are no direct flights from Manila to Siem Reap. Your options are:

Via Saigon:
Fly to HCMC, Vietnam (Cebu Pacific, PAL) then travel overland to Siem Reap (14 hours) or fly to either Phnom Phen (then bus to SR) or Siem Reap (Vietnam Airlines)

Via Bangkok:
Fly to Bangkok from Manila, then travel overland to Siem Reap (approximately 7 hours) or fly to either Phnom Phen (Air Asia) or Siem Reap (Bangkok Airways)

Via Kuala Lumpur:
Fly to KL from Manila (Cebu Pacific or Air Asia), then fly to Siem Reap (Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines)
* look into Malaysia Airlines’ ASEAN Pass

Via Singapore
Fly to Singapore from Manila (Cebu Pacific, PAL, Tiger Airways, Jetstar Asia), then fly to Siem Reap (Jetstar)

I hope this answers your question 🙂

By: Adventurer

Adventurer — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:05:58 +0000

Hi, I would agree that having a DIY trip is much more cheaper than going for a packaged one. During my out of country trips in the past, I always traveled with my family, and always get packaged tours. But just this April 2010, me and my friends went to Vietnam and Cambodia, wherein we did the itinerary and the planning by ourselves. It really turned out so much cheaper.

Our trip was 7 days all in all, and we just spent an estimate of 27k Philippine Pesos. This budget already covers allthe expenses from airfare, accomodation, food, and transportation. What is not incuded in the budget was personal spendings and shopping.