28 Things you absolutely must know before you visit Cambodia( part 1)

Planning your first trip to Cambodia ? Well, my friend, you are in for a real treat. Cambodia is an absolutely beautiful country, home to stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, incredible history and some of the most lovely locals you could hope to meet anywhere. If this is your first time, there are a few essential pieces of information you need to know. Luckily, I’ve pulled them together for you into one super convenient blog post. Woohoo! So, here are 28 things you absolutely, most definitely, really need to know before you visit Cambodia.

1. Don’t buy from local children or give them money or food

With their beautiful little faces, it can be very hard to resist buying trinkets from local children. You’ll find them begging in the streets or selling goods outside temples. Please, don’t give them money or food and don’t buy from them. It may sound harsh, but hear me out. When they get food or money from you, it devalues an education. Rather than going to school, they and their parents may see it as more viable for them to continue working over tourists.  The Cambodian Government agrees and openly and actively encourages tourists who want to do good to donate to local schools and charity organisations instead. Read more about it here.

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2. You’ll need a mix of currencies

It’s time to get Riel. No, that’s not a type-o, Riel is the official currency of Cambodia. That said, the currency you’ll want to take with you is US Dollars. For anything that costs more than $1, you’ll be paying in US Dollars. For any change less than $1, you’ll be given Riel. When you withdraw money from a local ATM in Cambodia, it’ll come out in US Dollars or, in some cases, give you the option to choose US or Riel. Always choose US, it’s widely accepted and easier to understand when you’re converting things. Also, you’ll have FAR fewer notes in your wallet, much easier all around.

3. They’re funny about the bills though…

If you get a note with a rip or tear in it, they won’t accept it. Like, flat-out, hardcore no. It’s actually kinda shocking when it first happens to you. They also don’t like ‘old’ bills. I bought a book at the airport and the guy refused to take my $5US bill because it was ‘an old bill’…. Mostly though, if you dig in and are calm but confident and state you have no other bills to pay with, they will take it. Save yourself the hassle though, make sure all your bills are pristine.

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4. A little Khmer goes a long way

Khmer is the name of the Cambodia language. It goes a long way to learn a few basic phrases, so please do! Here are a few that are super easy to learn and you can use them every day: