Snaps: Shopping at Psar Thmei

The entrance to Phnom Penh’s Psar Thmei.

This photograph was taken by new expat and photographer Lucas Veuve. Here’s the story behind the photo:

“Last weekend, I went to Central Market (Psar Thmei) to explore the endless stalls, try my broken Khmer and to get lost. I wasn’t disappointed. The market is huge. It is possible to find everything inside from watches, electronics, copies of travel guides, antiques, delicious street food and more. After some bargaining, I finally found my way out, happy to have discovered such an interesting place. You instantly feel more integrated with local life and definitely well worth a visit.”

Lucas Veuve is a freelance travel and humanitarian photographer based in Phnom Penh. For more information on his work, visit his website.

Expat Q&A: Phnom Penh is not the edge of the earth

In this series we talk to Cambodia expats about what they know now that they wish they had known when they first moved to Cambodia. This week we talk with American expat Allie Moore.

Recent expat arrival Allie Moore.

28-year-old Allie Moore just moved to Cambodia in August, 2013. She left a lucrative career and a picturesque studio apartment in Washington, D.C. behind and came with no job and no apartment. She’s now found an apartment with the help of friends and is working in writing and publishing in Phnom Penh.

MTC: Allie, what do you know now that you wish you had known before you moved to Cambodia?

AM: “I wish I had known how easy it is to get dehydrated here. The heat and humidity and the amount of sweat that soaked me throughout the day took a lot of adjustment. Thankfully, some new friends clued me into a powder called “Royal-D”, which, for about 60 cents a pack, you can mix into water for an instant replenishment of electrolytes that are lost from constantly sweating. They also have Gatorade and coconuts here. They sell the latter on the street and pop in a straw so you can have coconut water anytime you want. Great for hydration/re-hydration.

I would have packed more clothes. I left behind or sold a lot of my dressy stuff and favorite heels/wedges because I thought I’d be in shorts and flip flops 24/7, but some folks really dress up when they go out to dinners or bars. Luckily, it’s easy to find cheap clothes on a Cambodian budget.

I would have learned more of the language before I moved here, although actually being here has helped me with pronunciation. I’ve been here for a month and still only know a few necessary phrases, like directions when talking to a tuk-tuk or moto driver, but I am quickly learning how beneficial it would be to know more.

I moved here from Washington, D.C., where I was car-less and walked everywhere. Phnom Penh is not a walking city, which saddens me as it is one of my favorite methods of transit. The sidewalks here are covered with parked cars and motos trying to weave through traffic. It’s not always safe to walk, and when I try, I am constantly asked by tuk-tuk and moto drivers if I want a ride. It’s especially not safe to walk at night. So to burn off energy acquired from sitting at a desk all day, I had to join a gym for the first time in 5 years. I haven’t tried to go running yet because it would provide the same difficulties as walking. I see some people running on the riverfront and in parks, but getting there is a hike for me from down in the Russian Market neighborhood.

Despite these minor annoyances, I have really enjoyed living here. I’ve met some fantastic people who have helped make my transition as seamless as possible. Being flexible and open to changes and adjustments is imperative, but Phnom Penh is not on the edge of the Earth. There are plenty of places to go–coffee shops, bars, movie theaters, stores–that can help make Cambodia feel more like home, air conditioning included!”

You can read more of Allie’s work and about her experiences in Cambodia on her blog.

The lowdown on electricity, garbage and water in Cambodia

Recently on the Cambodia Parent Network there was a fantastic post by a long-term expat who has worked closely with EDC, Cambodia’s electricity provider. This expat, who prefers to remain anonymous due to his work with EDC as as contractor, gave some great information and dispelled a lot of myths that expats often believe about dealing with EDC. I contacted him and asked if he’d write up some advice for Move to Cambodia readers, and he’s answered all of the questions you need to know about power, water and garbage bills in Cambodia.

Cintri garbage Phnom Penh

Garbage pickup in Phnom Penh.

Can Westerners have their name on their EDC bill?

“No. Westerners cannot have their name on an EDC bill. It will always have the landlords name on it. Make sure when you move into a new house you read the power meter with the landlord present and have them list this reading on the rental contract. Same with water. This avoids any confusion when the bills from the previous month when you were not renting that house arrives.”

How long can I go without paying my bill before they cut off the electricity?

“Always pay your EDC bill before it is due or power WILL be cut off. There is no reminder notice etc., as per the West. They simply turn it off. Usually at 7 p.m. when you are hosting 50 people for a party! You can pay at EDC offices near Wat Phnom, FTB Bank on Street 63, via ANZ Internet banking, and also there are people in every neighborhood who will pay bills for you for a tiny fee – 1,000 KHR or so. Look for the signs on little shop fronts. If you pay at EDC office you need to pay in KHR.”

Isn’t it true that there is a special (more expensive) foreigners rate for electricity?

“Barangs pay exactly the same as Khmers based on a sliding scale depending on usage. The more you consume….the higher your per KW cost. There is no “barang” rate. End of story.

Beware! Some greedy landlords will pull a swifty on the unsuspecting tenant by saying “we will pay the power bill on your behalf for the house/whole building” and they then contract you to an inflated rate like 1000+++ per KW. This is where the rip-off occurs….not at EDC level. Your landlord will make a show of reading the meter and calculating it all “fairly,” but they have marked up the standard EDC rates to profit from your ignorance. It is not uncommon to meet people who are paying 1500+ KHR citing all manner of reasons the landlord has given them, such as “you are an NGO/business/more than 4 people/Barangs/ a large building” etc., etc.,This is robbery on behalf of the landlord pure and simple.

You must insist on receiving and paying the invoice yourself. If you get a whiff the landlord is not prepared to do this, then reconsider renting the house as it speaks volumes as to the landlord’s character. If they will stiff you here they will stiff you everywhere and that dream house will become a nightmare. A medium usage household with lights, fridge, washing machine, several fans running (overhead and floor) with no air-conditioning will usually pay 820 KHR/kw.”

Electricity meter in Cambodia

Just because it says so on the meter doesn’t mean it’s the truth.

But my friend has a cheaper rate than I do, doesn’t that prove there is a foreigner rate?

“Rates can vary depending on location. The further out of the city you go, the higher it can get, but usually this is because you are getting your power from a private downstream reseller….not from EDC direct. Places like Kep and Kampot and Sihanoukville may have their own rates. They used to be more expensive but they have come more into line with Phnom Penh.”

What about water? How much should that cost?

“Water is billed bi-monthly and is another potential classic scam by landlords. They will contract you to a charge of, say, $10 ++ a month. Sounds cheap right? And they will tell you that they will pay the water bill when it arrives. Do you know how much water you have to use to get a 2 month/ $20 water bill?? An ocean! A two month bill of $20 allows you to water the garden every other day, wash cars, fill inflatable swimming pools, hose walls, driveways and unsuspecting schoolkids as they walk past the front gate!

If you are a couple with moderate usage your water costs would be much lower than $20 for the two month period that Phnom Penh Water bills you. Always request to receive and pay the water bill yourself. Phnom Penh Water has one rate for all.”

But what about garbage? I’ve heard horror stories about garbage prices.

“There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to Cintri (the garbage service company). Generally in a shophouse or apartment you can expect to pay 4000 KHR per month as a standard. You will pay as high as $20 in large villas and sometimes $5 or $10. Cintri will definitely charge a Westerner more. A decent landlord will usually manage this to the best of their ability for you but at the end of the day you usually have to pay what’s on the EDC bill (EDC does the billing for Cintri) when you get it with little room for negotiation.”

You’ll find all of this information and more in the utilities section of the Move to Cambodia book on page 75.

Robbery Season in Cambodia

Expats in Cambodia joke that there are a few weeks every year that are “robbery season,” traditionally, the few weeks before both Khmer New Year and Water Festival. These holidays, which require (often very poor) Cambodians to spend more money than they have, are the catalyst for a rash of crimes.

On the back of a moto, but next time wear a helmet!

Be careful with your bag when on the back of a moto, especially during robbery season.

The most common type of robbery is a snatch-and-grab attack, where a man on a moto (either driver or passenger) grabs a phone, purse, bag, or camera out of your hands as he drives past. Foreigners in tuk tuks, on motos, and on foot have been targeted. When you’re out and about, be very careful about using your phone, especially if it’s an expensive model. Make sure you’re paying attention to your surroundings and keep a firm grip on your possessions. When in a tuk tuk, hold your bag firmly to your chest or, even better, sit on it or keep it under your feet. When on a moto, keep your bag up front with the driver. If someone grabs it and you are holding onto it, you may fall off your moto.

Be realistic and don’t carry things you really can’t afford to lose. If you can help it, try not to commute with your laptop. Don’t play with an iPad in the back of a tuk tuk. When you are taking photos, try and stay a few feet back from the road and keep the strap around your wrist. If you need to carry your passport, make a copy and carry that instead.

During “robbery season” it’s best for women not to carry a purse or walk around late at night. Purses draw thieves like flies to honey, and it’s safer not to carry one. It’s also safer to take a car taxi after dark, particularly during those weeks. In general, walking around late at night is not a great idea for women, who tend to be especially targeted for robberies.

The easiest way to prevent these kind of robberies is to be aware. If you notice a moto driving in your tuk tuk’s blind spot, look directly at them. Thieves prey on inattentive expats, so staying alert can spare you becoming the victim of this type of crime.

Generally Cambodia is a very safe place, but in several recent instances travel insurance and don’t carry expensive possessions with you, especially during robbery. Stay safe and happy Pchum Ben!

Read: Down and out in Sihanoukville with Alex Watts

Cover of Down and Out in South East Asia by Alex WattsAfter doing stints in some of the UK’s most prestigious kitchens including Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck, British journalist cum chef Alex Watts thought that he had experienced all of the challenges that the cheffing world had to offer. That is, until he came to Cambodia.

His book, Down and Out in South East Asia is a humorous, well-written account of his character Lennie Nash’s trials and travails as he eats his way through the region, with the ultimate goal of setting up a restaurant in Sihanoukville, a city rife with some of Cambodia’s strangest expats.

Down and Out in South East Asia is a great read for anyone with so much as a passing interest in Southeast Asian cuisine, moving to Cambodia and poking fun at backpackers. I caught up with Alex to learn more about the book and what inspired it.

What drew you to Cambodia initially?

“I knew very little about Cambodia before I went, and most of it was negative. But an old girlfriend travelled through there and said I’d love the place, and she knows me pretty well, so I thought I’d give it a go. I’d also always wanted to visit the Angkor temples. But the main attraction was the relatively cheap cost of living. I wanted to spend a year or two living somewhere cheap while writing a book, and it seemed a great place to do that. I just didn’t realise how good the nightlife would be, and how many distractions there’d be. You’ve got to have a lot of self-control to live in Cambodia.”

How did you research Down and Out in South East Asia?

“I spent 18 months or so travelling through northern Thailand, southern Vietnam, and pretty much all of Cambodia, writing my experiences and thoughts down in notebooks and talking to as many people as I could. I was travelling on my own, which meant I could go where I wanted, and made it easier meeting people. I recorded a lot of the interviews and conversations on my phone, which was a lot better than relying on my hazy memory, but it meant I had to comb though hours of waffle to get to the good stuff. I didn’t want the book just to be about my own experiences, I wanted to find the most interesting stories and anecdotes I could about SE Asia and to include them in there.”

A beachside view of Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Alex Watts was responsible for seaside Sihanoukville’s first pop-up restaurant.

What surprised you most about expats in Cambodia?

“I think it was the stories. I’ve never met such an interesting bunch of characters in my life. They all seemed to be escaping from something or looking for something, and reinventing themselves on the way. Some of them had some incredible tales to tell.”

What was the most interesting or surprising thing that you learned about the process of setting up a restaurant in South East Asia?

“It was how easy it was, money-wise, to set up a restaurant. There aren’t many places in the world you can afford to buy a lease on an eatery perched on a white-sand beach or in the middle of a buzzing city like Phnom Penh. That’s why there are so many hobby entrepreneurs, often with absolutely no cooking or front-of-house experience, all living the dream out there.

But buying is one thing, making money is another. I’ve seen so many expat restaurant or bar owners lose their life savings and return home with nothing. Even when you know what you’re doing, it’s nearly impossible to survive. I met a Khmer woman whose family had fled Pol Pot when she was five. She’d spent the next few decades in the US and then decided to return to Phnom Penh and set up a restaurant. She bought a big venue with no trade in a dodgy area and in a few months had turned it into a thriving karaoke joint that was packed every night. Then the police started sniffing around for cash, then government officials wanted backhanders because they said there’d been complaints about the noise and other trumped-up charges. After a few months, she got fed up with it and sold the place. It seems even if you do well, you’ll be lucky to make any cash.”

How fictionalized is your main character, Lennie Nash? Are you Lennie or are there fundamental differences between you and your character?

“Much of the book is true, or based on real events, and I worked up a plot of sorts around them. Some of the characters are a mixture of people I met. I changed all of the names and a lot of the locations for various reasons. But overall, I think it’s a pretty true reflection of expat life in SE Asia, or at least as well as I can do it.

Lennie Nash is the name I used when I worked as a cook for my first book Down And Out In Padstow And London, which is the prequel to this one. I’ve been told it sounds like the name of a drummer in a country and western band, but I’ve become quite attached to the name and it seemed fitting to use it in this one. He’s an exaggerated version of me – he drinks a lot more, is a lot funnier, and has far more courage, but is equally unsuccessful with women.”

So why didn’t Lennie ever open the flipping restaurant?

“I’m not sure. Probably because his main problem in life is he’s a great procrastinator and is appallingly indecisive. Or at least thinks he is. But for all his flaws, he’s not stupid, and I think he knew that he would never make any money at it. It was probably also the heat. Cooking in a kitchen is extremely hot, even in a cold country like Britain. But in a tropical, humid place like Cambodia, working in a cramped furnace is unbearable. The only place that might be cool enough is in the mountains in Mondulkiri but there aren’t any customers there, only tight-fisted backpackers haggling over elephant rides.”

What’s next for Lennie Nash?

“To get back to Cambodia and open a restaurant. As soon as he gets out of hospital.”

You can find Down and Out in South East Asia on Amazon (and Amazon UK) for just $2.99, a steal. You can read more of Alex’s work on his blog, Chef Sandwich.

Toul Tom Pong’s hip new eateries

The Russian Market area is a neighborhood on the move. Well, the neighborhood isn’t moving but a lot of people seem to be moving to the neighborhood. As of late several excellent new restaurants have opened in the Toul Tom Pong, and they’re all worth a visit. Here’s a roundup.

outside of Alma Cafe Phnom Penh

The menu at Mexican restaurant Alma Cafe is small but perfectly formed.

Alma Cafe

The new Mexican joint in town that everyone is raving about deserves all of the accolades that they’re getting. Their chef, Berna, was brought straight from Mexico to prepare the tasty dishes on the Alma menu, and she brought her recipes with her. As such, the menu is more authentically Mexican than any of the other places in town (most of which are Tex-Mex or Cali-Mex) and its fans say, more delicious. Suffice to say, it’s tied with La Cita for my favorite Mexican in town.

Flautas at Alma Cafe in Phnom Penh

Flautas, aka taquitos, was one of Alma Cafe’s daily specials.

The menu is small, offering just a few items for breakfast and lunch each day (they do not serve dinner). For breakfast, try the huevos rancheros or chorizo hash, which both get rave reviews. The lunch menu changes daily, with a daily special such as enchiladas, tortilla soup, flautas, or Mexican meatballs. Most dishes are priced at $4. Get there early, because the place is always packed.

Alma Cafe
Open daily for breakfast and lunch, 7:00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
#43A Street 123 at the corner of Street 454, Toul Tom Pong, Phnom Penh
T: 096 438 6334 facebook.com/AlmaCambodia

interior of Sesame Noodle Bar Phnom Penh

The photo doesn’t do it justice, but Sesame Noodle Bar is adorable.

Sesame Noodle Bar

This undeniably popular eatery has gotten people from outside of the neighborhood into Toul Tom Pong for the first time in a long time. Russian Market is to Phnom Penh what “above 14th Street” is to the Village-dwellers of New York City–it takes a rare occurrence to get you to go there. But Sesame Noodle Bar changed all of that, with their tiny menu of perfectly-crafted meals. The stars of the menu are the sesame house noodle ($3.75) and the sesame fatty noodle ($4.50). The house noodle can be made vegetarian or vegan as well, using tofu and vegetable noodles in place of egg noodles. The dishes feature chewy cold noodles with crisp cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes, a hard-boiled egg and caramelized pork (for the house noodle) or pork belly (for the fatty noodle) with a cold sesame sauce. It’s simple and delicious.

house noodles at Sesame Noodle Bar Phnom Penh

Lunch special: Sesame house noodles and a thor bun for $4.75.

The other stand-out on the menu is the thor bun (2 for $2.25)–roasted pork belly on a steamed bun with homemade pickles and hoisin sauce and a touch of Siracha. Momofuko’s got nothing on this. Best of all, the place is cute, filled with Japanese toys and action figures. Evenings they also serve creative cocktails.
Sesame Noodle Bar
Open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., open for dinner 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Closed Mondays.
#9 Street 460 (between 135 and 155), Toul Tom Pong, Phnom Penh
T: 089 750 212
sesamenoodlebar.com

Phnom Penh's latest casual Japanese cafe, Ichiban.

Ichiban Ninja Iga No Sato

Since the writing of this post, Ichiban has become Ninja Iga No Sato, but Ramon reports that it’s “the same great quality, but even a bit more affordable!”

This new Japanese restaurant is a sushi bar, but has a little of everything, including ramen, udon, rice bowls, and sashimi, all for around $5-6. The restaurant is small, but a large percentage of their clientele are Japanese, which is generally a good sign. They also boast the largest collection of Japanese sake in Cambodia (whether that boast is true or not is unclear) and also have a wide range of cold Japanese beer, which matches well with some of their deep-fried offerings such as karaage (deep-fried chicken) and tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet).

Ninja Iga No Sato
Open daily, 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. #54 Street 454, Toul Tom Pong, Phnom Penh
T: 097 423 8892
facebook.com/NinjaIgaNoSato

Review: The former Hotel de la Paix, Park Hyatt Siem Reap

The Hotel de la Paix has long been one of Siem Reap’s most popular and iconic hotels, known for its art deco stylings and central location. It’s recently been completely renovated and rebranded as the Park Hyatt Siem Reap, but still has much of its original charm.

Siem Reap’s Hotel de la Paix has been rebranded the Park Hyatt Siem Reap, but it’s the same on the outside.

If you’re looking to treat yourself in Siem Reap, the Park Hyatt is the place to go. The hotel offers a lot of obvious amenities that you’d expect in the $300+ price range. There’s a lovely pool and poolside bar, luxurious places to lounge including the newly redesigned Living Room, a 24-hour fitness center, private garden and spa. And of course they’ve got foot massages, florists and butlers.

Enjoy high tea in the ‘Dining Room’ or a complete French and Khmer menu.

Apart from the design—which is very cool—what really sets the Park Hyatt Siem Reap apart from most of the other luxury hotels in town is the location. Most of Siem Reap’s high-end luxury accommodations are located on the airport road, or a ways out of town. It’s not terribly inconvenient, but it means you’ll spend more time in the hotel than you probably should. The Park Hyatt Siem Reap is centrally located on Sivutha Boulevard just minutes away from the night markets, dozens of restaurants, Pub Street and only a few minutes more to Psar Cha, Siem Reap’s famous old market. The Park Hyatt is 15 minutes away from the temples of Angkor, and the hotel can arrange transport for guests to visit the archaeological park.

Splish splash at the Park Hyatt’s outdoor pool.

Everything in the 108 guest rooms are brand new with art deco touches. The room types are Park and Park View, and the only difference is the view, they either look onto the street or onto the hotel’s garden. Twin rooms are available in Park only.

Watch TV or watch your partner bathe, it’s up to you!

The bathrooms may be the nicest part of the rooms, with a sliding door that connects the bath to the room, so you can bathe and watch television (flat screen, obviously) at the same time.

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The rooms all have couches and a table and chair as well, so there are ample places in every room to sit around. Rooms are in the $275-500 range, and Agoda offers early booking discounts when you book several months in advance.

Park Hyatt Park View King

The perfect place for a post-temple snooze.

The hotel was originally designed by Bill Bensley in 2002, and he was brought back to do the renovation to turn the de la Paix into the Park Hyatt Siem Reap. Much of the basic structure is still the same, but the interiors have been redecorated with rich texture and colors in a manner that would please the most discerning colonial traveler. Sort of. “I wanted to achieve a mood of an opulent Cambodian home: very comfortable, and layered with interest,” Bensley said about the redesign. I personally liked the hotel better before the redesign, in my eyes it made more charm. But with the corporate logo comes corporate amenities, so I can see why some people would prefer it better now.

Park Hyatt Siem Reap garden

Reflect by the reflecting pool.

After a day at the temples, come home to high tea at the Park Hyatt, the $24 smorgasbord features treats such as macaroons, pandan creme brulee and scones with coconut and pineapple jam or local honey. And yes, do have tiny sandwiches. The restaurant features French and Khmer dining options and they’ve got yummy (I can say that with authority, I’ve tried it) homemade ice cream in the cafe. If you’re looking to drink your sorrows away, there’s a daily 2-for-1 happy hour in the Living Room lounge.

Overall review: If you’re looking for something high-end and central in Siem Reap, book at the Park Hyatt Siem Reap.

Park Hyatt Siem Reap
Sivutha Boulevard, Siem Reap
T: 063 211 234
W: siemreap.park.hyatt.com
Check prices and book at the Park Hyatt Siem Reap

View other Siem Reap hotels and resorts on Agoda

Why you shouldn’t look for an apartment in Cambodia before you arrive

The way normal, responsible people organize a move involves finding a home before they arrive. So when normal, responsible people move to Cambodia, of course they assume they should do the same, and spend weeks or months before their move scouring the Internet and contacting letting agents via email. While this might seem the best course of action, quite frankly, it is not.

An apartment block in Phnom Penh's Riverside neighborhood.

An apartment block in Phnom Penh’s riverside neighborhood.

Why, you ask? In general, the properties and apartments you’ll find listed online cost a minimum of double what they’re worth. The other day I saw a two bedroom apartment in my Phnom Penh neighborhood listed at $1400. I’ve seen a lot of apartments in this area, and I can say with absolutely certainty that the apartment listed should have cost around $500, maximum. But letting agents in Cambodia, especially those that deal with Western clients, raise the prices on apartments to preposterous levels when advertising online.

I’ve spent a long time trying to figure out why this is, and I’ve come up with the following possibilities:

They take you for a sucker

Letting agents know that someone searching from abroad probably doesn’t know what the going rates for apartments are in Cambodia (which is why you should buy the book). They also know that if you’re coming from a major Western city such as New York, London or Sydney, that you’re used to paying an awful lot for rent, so a $700 apartment will seem like a steal, even if that apartment is really only worth $300 on the open market. Letting agents prey on your fear of coming blindly to a country with no accommodation lined up, and your laziness in not wanting to go out and hit the streets to find a place on your own.

My least favorite expats are the ones who don’t care if they are suckers because they’ve got an expense account. There are a number of companies and organizations that give their employees a monthly per diem for accommodation. Employees for these sort of companies feel compelled to spend the entire amount allocated, and will spend $2,000 on a $600 apartment just so they feel like they are milking every last drop out of their employers. This is doubly frustrating for everyone else, because most of these types are Western government and NGO workers, which means the rest of us are basically subsidizing them to ruin the expat housing market.

The more agents mark an apartment up, the more they make

A year or two ago, you could guarantee that if you used an agent, they would take the monthly price the landlord asked for and then add $50 to it. The $600 extra for a 12-month lease would be the agent’s fee paid by the landlord. Now, however, agents are realizing that the landlords don’t really care what the apartment rents for, as long as they get the amount they originally wanted.

For example, I had a Khmer friend call about an apartment on my street and the landlord told him it was $450 per month. Then, I asked an agent about the same apartment. He told me it was $600 per month. The agent was probably going to offer the landlord $500 per month and take the extra $100 for himself. The landlord is fine with this arrangement because he’s getting more than he originally asked for, and the agent will get $1,200 to talk you into signing a year-long lease on the place. After you sign the lease, the agent’s work is done. And because the landlords are the ones paying the agents, don’t expect the agent to do anything that’s in your interest versus the landlord’s. In this example, if someone new to Phnom Penh had leased this apartment through an agent, they would pay $1,800 more per year than if they leased it directly from the landlord.

Landlords and agents that use the Internet are savvier

Many of the letting agents in Cambodia that list online are Western, and are much more aware of the previous two points. Most Cambodian-owned businesses are not online yet, and the ones that are are usually savvier than the ones that aren’t. Not in a good way, mind you. Just in the they’re going to push for the highest price possible sort of way. Which is how capitalism works, I suppose, but it’s still infuriating to see $250 apartments being rented to chumps for $800, who, once they know better a few months later, complain about it endlessly.

So what should you do?

If you’re in a panic about what you should do about accommodation when you move, don’t be. Phnom Penh particularly is one of the easiest cities to find an apartment in; the whole process won’t take you more than a few days at most. When I went hunting for my first apartment, I went to eight places in a day and moved in to my favorite the same evening. Although there aren’t as many options in Siem Reap, it still won’t take long.

So book in at a many offer deals for long stays) and take a deep breath. Finding a great deal is possible, but takes a little more time than using an agent. The best way is to walk around the neighborhood you want to live in, and look for signs on the apartments with phone numbers (look up, because most of the rental apartments available aren’t on the ground floor). Lots of time, you’ll find an English-speaker on the other end of the phone and can see the place immediately.

If not, ask your guesthouse to give them a call, or enlist an English-speaking tuk tuk driver to help you with your search. Most tuk tuk drivers are happy to take a daily rate of $10-15 to drive you around a neighborhood and help you look for properties. If he does help you score one–and doesn’t try and get an agent fee out of the landlord–reward him generously for he’s just saved you hundreds of dollars. Even if you end up using an agent, use one that doesn’t list the properties online. For all of the reasons listed above, agents that don’t list online usually have far better deals than the ones that do.

*Edited to add: The one exception to all of this is finding apartments online through expats who are looking for new tenants to take over their lease, or landlords who ask other tenants of theirs to post something online about other available apartments in their buildings. I’ve found good deals this way, and so has Ramon (who reminded me of this fact in the comments).  You can find a listing of online forums and Facebook groups to make contact with other expats in our Web Resources section.

We’ve got more complete details on how best to search for a house, villa or apartments in Cambodia in the How to find an apartment section of the book.