Is a horribly touristy town in northwestern Cambodia. If possible, check out some of the smaller surrounding villages when choosing a base from which to explore the Angkor Wat temple ruins.

I had the unfortunate timing of going to Siem Reap during lunar new years, so the place was mobbed with locals, and they were all taking up the cheaper accomodations. After a difficult two hour search, we finally found the Siem Reap Hostel. This place is brand new, has a pool, bar, free internet, pool tables, comfortable beds, restaurant, etc. for $10 per night. This was by far the best hostel I have ever stayed at, and if you ever make it to Siem Reap, I highly recommend it.

What can a person truly say about the Angkor Wat complex? It is one of the most gorgeous places I have ever seen. The Large complexes are all very beautiful, and the smaller ones have their own little charm to add.

I took more pictures of Angkor Wat than I have of anything else, ever, and I still don't think I took enough. It is truly a breathtaking place that everyone must see at least once in their life.

Children begging all around the temples takes away from their majesty slightly, but not enough to keep you away.

As far as I can remember you will be charged 20 $ (US) per day at Angkor Wat. Cheaper tickets for 2 or 3 days are available, but you usually will not need them. Fix the price for a motorbike-taxi 1 day before you want to go, start your trip at 1/2 past 4 in the morning to see sunrise at Angkor and you usually will be finished at about 2 o'clock p. m.

Siemreap is more a traveller-base for Angkor Wat rather than a destination itself (since Angkor has no hotels or restaurants) ... correspondingly most people chill out in Siem Reap over meals and drinks after a tiring day visiting the Angkor temples ... the city is geared towards this ... fix transport for Angkor here depending on whether you are visiting it for one, two or more days (the three-wheelers are a good option) or, if you are done, for the Thai border or Phnom Penh depending on your direction ... after tiring yourself out at Angkor, come to your hotel here (good range available), relax (good massages, if you want, especially the professional foot massage to soothe aching feet), eat (good place to try Cambodian dishes), change money, and exchange notes on Angkor and Cambodia with co-travellers...

Angkor Wat is beyond true description (and is way more than the one huge central temple)... it is immense, centuries old, beautiful, peaceful and moving. I recommend riding an elephant up above Angkor at dawn to get the best view, or you can also take a hot air balloon ride to look down at the spectacular expanse of temple. Phra Thom and Bantaey Srey are not to be missed. Be forewarned though that children will try to sell you all kinds of things and they are so cute that you will want to buy everything.

1. Recommended hotel - Princess Angkor Hotel
2. Mode of transport - tut-tut (USD5/trip)
3. Where to eat - many good small restaurants around
4. Where to shop - Local bazaar (old quarter)
5. Accessibility - shopping eating places are within walking distance (in town)
6. Use US Dollar for all transactions - better deal.

If you wish to visit the Angkor Wat's temple area, spare a few days to do so because 1-day trip will not cover the parameter of ancient temples.

If you have time, I would highly suggest getting a little pampering done- get your hair washed and straightened, a manicure and a pedicure all at the same time... for only a few $ in the middle of the markets in Siem Reap.

The trip to the Floating Village was a very emotional experience for me although visitors should take in concern that a lot of the poverty is more show than reality.

The Angkor Wat temples are a class apart ... simply not to be missed if you are anywhere near that part of the world... could not understand how they never made it to the new list of the seven wonders... while there, spend more time on the few main temples rather than covering all...the temples are laid out over a vast area and you need conveyance to go from one to the other... best organised from Siem Reap in the form of a private 3 or 4 wheeler that takes you to Angkor, shows you around and brings you back for the night (no hotels/restaurants in Angkor)... within the temples there is much to be mesmerised by... climb up the temples too if you can for another perspective... if you get a chance, chat up the few monks you may meet there ... they are lovely people and some are very keen to talk to you ... also when you come out, its worth buying a little postcard or souvenir from the little children there... they have written it with their hands, it puts a smile on their faces, and its a loving memory of the place...