Lonely Planet Cambodia

Lonely Planet Cambodia
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Lonely Planet
  • Get the Rough Guide
  • Still the essential guide for traveling in Cambodia...
  • What not to do in Cambodia
  • Everything you want in a travel book
 Lonely Planet Cambodia
Nick Ray
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

CambodiaCambodia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1740595254

Book Description

Angkor Wat is just the beginning. If you want to dig deeper into the real Cambodia, this guide is your key. Unlock the mysteries of the sacred temples, share the Mekong with endangered dolphins, and eat with pythons and cobras by your side. With Lonely Planet, you'll have the adventure you always dreamed of.

• EXPERT RESIDENT AUTHOR - providing the best insider tips and tricks

• UNBEATABLE ACCURACY - updated on the road, in person

• THE WORLD'S BEST TRAVEL MAPS

• NO GUESSWORK - opinionated reviews and inspiring highlight sections

• LISTINGS FOR ALL BUDGETS - from pinching pennies to living large

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Lonely Planet.......2007-02-16

found this guide book very useful. I also have friends that use the Lonely Planet series as their guide books.

2 out of 5 stars Get the Rough Guide.......2007-01-30

In the group I was traveling with we had both the Rough Guide and the Lonely Planet guide and we consistently found the Rough Guide superior to the Lonely Planet in terms of narration, history, accuracy, ease of use, and better maps. We traveled extensively throughout the country including many outlying / "off the beaten path" areas where there was not a tourist to be found. Neither book was entirely comprehensive but the Rough Guide was a must have to point you in the right direction to find more info.

5 out of 5 stars Still the essential guide for traveling in Cambodia..........2007-01-14

I've been to Cambodia several times now and this is the guide I will continue to buy. It's important to have an up to date guide to Cambodia as the country has and is changing so rapidly (5 years ago you couldn't walk 20 metres without coming across someone with a gun in Phnom Penh and most of the roads weren't sealed). I would still buy each new edition that came out simply for the knowledge of the important basic things that change like transport routes and times etc. that are constantly changing.

Cambodia is now well and truly open for tourists. I know from speaking with locals that the author, Nick, spends a lot of time in Cambodia and has great local knowledge (I'm kind of cheesed a little since he's included many of my previously unknown haunts and now they get filled up well in advance).

I do have some criticism of the guide, and I guess how people use it. First, people mostly tend to go to restaurants and guesthouses recommended in the book. I've found many places that I've enjoyed staying that are not in the book and in many cases are better than places in the guidebook (and cheaper, many places, particularly in SEA put their prices up after getting an LP inclusion). The towns are generally small enough that you can look around and also ask people who live there for their recommendations. (Most times you can `feel' when someone has no agenda in recommending a places versus someone who'd take you someone who gains to get a commission out of you going there - and the commission system is well and truly alive in Cambodia - they're not huge in $ terms but you don't want to stay in a dump when better alternatives are available and also there's the consideration that price you pay in Cambodia is not always related to the quality you get).

The other thing is often Lonely Planet uses text from previous editions (which is particularly worrying for guesthouse inclusions) and so some descriptions are a little (or a lot) out of date. While there are definitely some good places recommended there, you will often find them full of other backpackers and tourists so either you can't get a booking or there will indeed just be tones of people there which will likely detract from your experience. Restaurant and guest house recommendations, particularly in the two major cities need to be used with discretion. It's also good to spread your money around.

Some of the benefits of the book - it does clue you in to things that are very important that you otherwise would have a hard time finding out - e.g. if you take the bus from Thailand, they do slow that bus down and make the trip long and tiring as you're pre-sold for a commission to the (rotating) guesthouse they drop you off at (so you're deliberately) exhausted late at night; another useful tip was the dangerous Malaysian boats that do the Siem Reap - Phnom Penh route. You need impartial and insider advice for these kind of things because you wont necessarily get it from an average local (unless you really have their confidence and then they might tell you about stuff that sometimes doesn't get into the guidebooks - e.g. how many travelers have been killed or injured using certain types of transport like their outdated planes and some boats and other local knowledge you simply cant get from this guidebook).

For the tourist just doing the major sites, the book has extensive maps and guides to the Angkor temples and their history and layout and also Phnom Penh (which is unfortunately where most people may end their trip). The brief guide to the local language in the back will most definately help you connect with the already friendly locals. Even if you only learn please, hello and thank you, people will greatly appreciate your efforts.

The guide to some of the lesser known places is less comprehensive (eg. North, and east and some parts of the south like Campot and Kep). My friends and I were in fits of laughter at the description of Sen Monorom being like something like Switzerland! It's a LONG trip and the end result is very baron, and, unfortunately, losing lots of trees due to extensive and damaging logging. Nonetheless, I found the trips to the outlying places to be extremely rewarding. There's practically no tourists (you can have amazing trips and have entire beach to yourself for a day for less than $20) and some of the food, sights, sunsets and other experiences are simply stunning. You may however want to pass on those black delicacies they seem to enjoy tucking into on the bus... they're fried bush spiders! Cambodia does though have some of the nicest sugar cane juice I've tasted anywhere in South East Asia.

BTW if they're still using the 4 people for 3 seats in the car, just pay for the extra seat if you're doing more than 3 hours or you will find yourself in excruciating pain. Also, because it changes so often the guidebook will not be useful if you're taking an internal flight (other than the standard Phnom Penh-Siem Reap route which uses brand new planes), as some of the planes are VERY old, tires are sometimes bald, flights full (which can be a problem if you want to get back), and there have been accidents which they wont tell you about. Do your own research.

For people traveling on their own or as a backpacker I'd strongly recommend befriending a local or two as a guide. I always take some time to 'feel' the authenticity of the person approaching me and as they talk to me and that pay's huge rewards in a country where there is a hidden commission system. I've met two that I'd just take with me over the entire country next time as guides because they have extensive insider knowledge and can be invaluable if you get into trouble, especially if they relate well to other people.

Cambodia offers trips that you simply cannot do in the same way in other countries in the region because there are so many tourists, laws and other limiting factors. If you've found a great concierge (who is connected to what's happening at the ground level) or a good guide you're going to get access to trips and really deep and rich experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime. And, these are not in the guidebook, which, IMHO, is a great thing because you'll enjoy a totally unique experience and you'll get out of it in proportion to what you put in and not some off the shelf, generic and standardized `you can take your photos now' tourist experience. Sadly, in a few years time you may not be able to do this in much of South East Asia.

So grab this guide, go beyond the majors of Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville and enjoy one of the most beautiful countries in South East Asia, Cambodia. Treat your Lonely Planet as a guide and not a bible and you'll have the time of your life.

I hope you enjoy your time in Cambodia as much as I have.

1 out of 5 stars What not to do in Cambodia.......2007-01-07

Did you travel around the world to pay high prices to hang out with a bunch of ill mannered tourists? If so, the Lonely Planet is for you. If not, throw the LP in the garbage.

5 out of 5 stars Everything you want in a travel book.......2006-11-07

We just returned from a week in Cambodia. It was a fantastic experience made that much easier because we brought the Lonely Planet guide with us. It's lightweight and small. The book pointed out some cool places that not even our guide told us about - bar street! I've used these books all over Asia. Highly recommended.
Lonely Planet Thailand, Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Road Atlas (Travel Atlases)
Average customer rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
  • Worst Map of the Region
  • For the traveler that's NOT off the beaten track
 Lonely Planet Thailand, Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Road Atlas (Travel Atlases)

Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

AtlasesAtlases | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1864501022

Book Description

From the hill villages of northern Vietnam to the beach resorts in Thailand's south, whether you're driving or sitting at the back of a bus, with this indispensable Lonely Planet Road Atlas you're sure to be on track. Thoroughly checked by Lonely Planet authors, this Road Atlas is the perfect companion to your Lonely Planet Guide. <ul>

  • The Thailand, Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Road Atlas also features:
    </li>
  • Climate charts </li>
  • Distance tables </li>
  • Comprehensive index </li></ul>

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars Worst Map of the Region.......2006-01-06

    Claiming to be "the best, most up-to-date source of maps" for the region this is a book by Lonely Planet that holds nothing it promises. I used the Laos and the Thailand maps to bike from the Chinese border at Boten to Bangkok via Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Udon Thani and Korat. I found that not a single (!) information regarding distances was right. And they weren't off by a few kilometres but rather by 10 up to 25 km (Udomxai to Pak Mong). Further the maps, especially in Thailand, depict roads to be unpaved where according to local information (and Thai maps) they were paved since more than a few years. The topographic shading is sloppy at best, if not completely incorrect. The mistakes are far beyond the "things change fast" warning published in every Lonely Planet guidebook and signal a further deterioration of quality at Lonely Planet. I strongly advice against buying it, it's just a rip-off!

    2 out of 5 stars For the traveler that's NOT off the beaten track.......2001-05-18

    For the traveler that intends to leave the beaten path, be aware that this atlas misses off hundreds of villages in between larger towns and cities. After spending four months in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos I found this atlas to be dead weight in my pack. However, Lonely Planet publishes an atlas for each individual country, which has more detailed secondary roads, natural features, and remote villages. Moreover, if you do not have the luxury of four months plus at your disposal and you are traveling in these fascinating countries in a rush, this atlas will more than likely meet your needs.
    Lonely Planet Cycling Vietnam: Laos & Cambodia (Lonely Planet Cycling Guides)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Lonely Planet Cycling Vietnam: Laos & Cambodia (Lonely Planet Cycling Guides)
      Nick Ray , and Ian Duckworth
      Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Cycling | Individual Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
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      ASIN: 1864501685

      Book Description

      Discover Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia by bike - explore the best of Vietnam's coastline, stay with hill tribes in Laos and ride around Cambodia's ancient city of Angkor. Choose from 21 rides, ranging from sightseeing day trips to multi-day tours.

      <ul>

    • 70 days of the region's best cycling </li>
    • Angkor Temples - detailed routes guide and planning advice </li>
    • where to eat - markets, noodle cafes and traditional cuisine </li>
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      Lonely Planet Vietnam Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Lonely Planet Vietnam Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
        Nick Ray
        Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        CambodiaCambodia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
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        ASIN: 1741047617

        Book Description

        <B>Discover Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong</B><BR> <BR> Take a slow boat down the mighty Mekong past remote jungles, ancient temples and intriguing hill-tribe villages, p.23<BR> Get up close and personal with wild elephants in Laos, p.285<BR> Trek to secluded waterfalls through Khao Yai National Park in Thailand, p.156<BR> Explore magnificent Angkorian temples without the crowds in Cambodia's Preah Vihear Province, p.223<BR> <BR> <B>In This Guide:</B><BR> <BR> Full-color chapter on the region's ancient wonders, from majestic Angkor Wat to World Heritage-listed Lijiang.<BR> Border crossings chapter to help plan your adventure, with info on which borders are open and a map with marked crossings.<BR> Visit <B>lonelyplanet.com</B> for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates and traveler insights.<BR>
        Lonely Planet Cambodia (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit)
        Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
        • no longer relevant
        		 Lonely Planet Cambodia (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit)
        Daniel Robinson , and Tony Wheeler
        Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        CambodiaCambodia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
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        ASIN: 0864421745

        Customer Reviews:

        3 out of 5 stars no longer relevant.......2000-04-26

        Goodness knows why you would ever want to purchase this travel guide, now that it's several years out of date and probably extremely tough to get a hold of. If, however, you do buy this guide, you should be aware that the country has simmered down greatly since it was written and researched. While there is still some banditry, by and large the country is a pleasant and tame area in which to travel. This guide, however, will forever be a period piece of Cambodia's tragic years.
        Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit)
          Joe Cummings , and Daniel Robinson
          Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

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          ASIN: 0864420986
          Lonely Planet Cambodia: A Travel Survival Kit (2nd ed)
          Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
          • Update needed badly
          • This book helped me get the most out of my trip.
          		 Lonely Planet Cambodia: A Travel Survival Kit (2nd ed)
          Chris Taylor , Tony Wheeler , and Daniel Robinson
          Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          CambodiaCambodia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
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          ASIN: 0864424477

          Customer Reviews:

          2 out of 5 stars Update needed badly.......1999-12-30

          I spent a few weeks this summer in Cambodia and relied heavily on this book. While this may be the definitive Cambodian guidebook, it is dangerously outdated. So much has changed in Cambodia since the second edition was published in November 1996. Much of the basic information and maps are helpful but I would not rely on any of the places to stay reviews, prices, or schedules. The Cambodia section of the Lonely Planet SE Asia on a Shoestring has a more recent review and was much more helpful. Hopefully an update is in the works.

          5 out of 5 stars This book helped me get the most out of my trip........1998-12-23

          I used the first edition. It had so much important and interesting information. I wore its maps out, the finest maps available. There was no other source for the information. People living there didn't know what bank could get wire transfers. I left the book with NGOs in country for their use as a valuable resource. If you are contemplating any independant exploration your biggest help will be this book. How did they get so much information. They must have gone everywhere and did everything. Small country, small book I'ld have missed much without. WOW!!
          Lonely Planet Cambodge (Lonely Planet Country and Regional Guides French Edition)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            		Lonely Planet Cambodge (Lonely Planet Country and Regional Guides French Edition)
            Nick Ray
            Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover

            FrenchFrench | Instruction | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
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            CambodiaCambodia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
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            ASIN: 284070157X
            Lonely Planet: Cambogia
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              		Lonely Planet: Cambogia

              Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications - Italian editions
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback

              CambodiaCambodia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
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              ASIN: 8870636437
              Cambodge (Lonely Planet Travel Guides French Edition)
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                		Cambodge (Lonely Planet Travel Guides French Edition)

                Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications - French editions
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback

                CambodiaCambodia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
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                ASIN: 284070000X

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