Travellers to Cambodia should take precautions as they would elsewhere in Asia. Some of the diseases known to exist in Cambodia include malaria, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, diphtheria, tetanus, and HIV/ AIDS. We recommend you take adequate preventative measures to minimise your risk of exposure to these health risks. We are a travel company and we are not qualified to provide detailed medical information appropriate to your individual needs. We recommend you consult with your local doctor or a specialist travel medical centre for up to date health information on vaccinations and medicine for your trip, at least one month prior to departure. Medical facilities are limited throughout the country (even in the capital Phnom Penh) compared to western standards.
We also suggest you bring a simple medical kit. Your doctor should advise you what to include, however as a minimum we suggest you bring:
- Aspirin or paracetamol (for pain or fever)
- Antihistamines (for allergies and itches)
- Cold and flu tablets
- Anti diarrhea medication
- Something appropriate for nausea and vomiting
- Rehydration mixture (to prevent dehydration)
- Insect repellant
- Antiseptic and bandages
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Antibiotics (discuss with your doctor)
- As part of our travel registration process at the start of any journey with Relaxl Indochina, you will be asked to declare any serious pre-existing medical conditions or allergies.
1. Public Holidays:
Important Dates Affecting Touring, And Compulsory Meals
During public holidays and festivals, banks, ministries and embassies close down, so plan ahead if visiting Cambodia during these times. Cambodians also roll over holidays if they fall on a weekend and take a day or two extra during major festivals . Add this to the fact that they take a holiday for international days here and there and it soon becomes apparent that Cambodia has more public holidays than any other nation on earth!
- International New Year’s Day 1 January
- Victory Over the Genocide 7 January
- International Women’s Day 8 March
- International Workers’ Day 1 May
- International Children’s Day 1 May
- Constitution Day 24 September
- Paris Peace Accords 23 October
- King’s Birthday 30 October to 1 November
- Independence Day 9 November
- International Human Rights Day 10 December
Smart Shopping
It is important to haggle over purchases made in local markets in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, otherwise the stallholder may ‘shave your head’, the local vernacular for ‘rip you off. Bargaining is the rule in markets, when arranging share taxis and pick-ups and in cheaper guesthouses. The Khmers are not ruthless hagglers, so care should be taken to not come on too strong. A persuasive smile and a little friendly quibbling is usually enough to get a good price. Try to remember that the aim is not to get the lowest possible price, but a price that is acceptable to both you and the seller. Remember back home, we pay astronomical sums for items, especially clothes, that have been made in poorer countries for next to nothing, and we don’t even get the chance to bargain for them, just the opportunity to contribute to a corporate director’s retirement fund. At least there is room for discussion in Cambodia, so try not to abuse the situation. And remember, in many cases a few hundred riel is more important to a Cambodian with a family to support than to a traveller on an extended vacation. After all, no-one bargains over a beer in a busy backpacker bar, so why bargain so hard over a cheap bottle of water?
Electricity in Cambodia
Electricity in Cambodia is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Cambodia with a device that does not accept 230 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.
There are three main types of voltage converter. Resistor-network converters will usually be advertised as supporting something like 50-1600 Watts. They are light-weight and support high-wattage electrical appliances like hair dryers and irons. However, they can only be used for short periods of time and are not ideal for digital devices.
Transformers will have a much lower maximum Watt rating, usually 50 or 100. Transformers can often be used continuously and provide better electricity for low wattage appliances like battery chargers, radios, laptop computers, cameras, mp3 players and camcorders. However, they are heavy because they contain large iron rods and lots of copper wire.
Some companies sell combination converters that include both a resistor network and a transformer in the same package. This kind of converter will usually come with a switch that switches between the two modes. If you absolutely need both types of converter, then this is the type to buy
