My apologies that the camera was constantly trying to refocus. I recorded the video in one take and didn't realise until it was too late. Once I realised, I couldn't bear the thought of trying to record it all again. I hope you found some value in this video, and please let me know if you have other tips to share. Part 4 of the Phnom Penh walk will be up next week as I thought the non-walkers needed a break from that content. Thank you for watching. 🙂🙏
It's not okay to cancel your Passapp booking. Habitual cancellations will result in your denial of service from the Passapp company. With the cancellation the driver will retain his position at the top of the list for the next call thus cheating all the other drivers as well.
Usually Passap is great, I use it a lot. A few times it's been a pain as the driver has swiped that he's picked me up and I'm 'on the ride' when I'm actually still waiting. Accidentally or deliberately, I don't know. But once yr marked 'on the ride' you can't cancel or order another pickup (a glitch in their system, as it means you can't order on behalf of yourself and others for multiple rides). Each times the driver phoned me, yelling 'where are you', but we didn't have enough common language to sort it out. Worst time I was 30mins out past B'bang and got stranded while I could see on the app that the driver headed into town without me. Fortunately once the ride had 'ended' I could use the app again and kindly locals had helped me negotiate with passing tuktuk for where I needed to go.
Great info Claire. One thing you may want to include is the confronting poverty and that if your coming to Cambodia a person may want to research the countries history to understand their struggle to establish stability. This ain’t no fairy land. Shits real here as we both know it. Keep the info coming. Your helping people.
That's very true, Novak. Sometimes the poverty can be extreme and confronting especially to our western eyes. Hospitals are certainly an eye opener particularly in poor areas where people are pretty much camping out while they wait for treatment. Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. 😁🙏
It's such a small amount of money, and I guess we worry about how much they actually get when they work for Passapp or Grab. If the fare is only 3 or 4000, then the company takes their cut, there can't be much left. 🙏🛵🐒🛵🙏
I just saw that an expat in Cambodia in the last month said when he went to withdraw money out of an ATM and the ATM dispensed a counterfeit $100 bill. He went in the bank and they would not exchange it. I feel sorry for that guy.
Stories like this surface every now and then, but I don't believe them. If you use an ATM attached to a bank, and only use it when the bank itself is open, it is highly unlikely that this would happen. Avoid stand-alone machines and all should be well.
You're a superstar Claire and I love your videos! Bravo to you and keep up the great work... it's much appreciated!!!! Looking forward to returning to Siem Reap in December. 🙂
Great tips Claire! We experienced the blood bank one first hand before we lost Kinal’s mum. I didn’t understand why Kinal was asking all these random friends and family to donate blood - until she told me to make a withdrawal you had to make a deposit.
Hi Marc, it certainly adds stress at a time when the family least needs it. I can understand why they do it, buy it seems a bit rough. Hope you three are well - looking forward to the wedding video! 🍍🍺🙏😁
Thanks Claire the US note trick is useful it's crazy a twenty year old Cambodian note will be accepted in any condition while an otherwise pristine US note with a tiny nick will be rejected and when questioned nobody knows why except that's the way it is.
The marked on bills are from Cambodian vendors at the end of the day, writing the total for the day or amount in the stack of bills.. I've never had an issue with those using those bills....A receptionist is where I learned of this.
Yeah I guess it's because Riel is the official currency and as such cannot be declined no matter the condition whereas with USD it's up to the vendor's discretion.
Hi Claire, your videos are always informative. Could you please do a video on the best way to transfer money back and forth between the bank account in Cambodia and one outside the country while living in Cambodia. Especially when large sums are required to purchase properties or vehicles. Thank you
Hi Kosmo, we actually never did this as we brought a few thousand over in cash and deposited it into ABA accounts. Then I was working so we didn't need to bring any more from home. When we left, we did pretty much the same in reverse. I think Wing seems to be the leader in this field, and I think they can be used in conjunction with ABA. Sorry I don't know more about this one! 🙏 🍺🌴🙂
I'm catching up on my 'homework'. This is outstanding, spectacular, terrific, amazing, work! Possibly the most concise and practical, real world advice for a specific country. I bow deeply to you... thanks!
Haha thank you! A couple of time, it was the bank's ATM that gave us the dodgy notes so only fair that you can deposit them back into their system. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I received a dodgy $20 note from my accomodation when staying in Battambang… I had it refused at the local supermarket. Then took it back to reception to pay for an extra night. The receptionist looked at it and seemed about to say something about the note, I think he recognised it was the same he gave me back the day before. He took the payment and didn’t say a thing ☺️😂
Thanks so much Ozzie Jeff - how fantastic that you are enjoying time in the Kingdom right now! It's so good to be there. I hope the rain isn't too bad. 🙏 ✈️🍺🌴🙂
Hi Claire I’m in Siem Reap now and there’s another thing about $US, I had a new $5 note knocked back and from what I understood it was the date of it . It certainly didn’t have any blemishes on it.
A shopkeeper refused my $1 bill. I opened my wallet and let her pick the one she liked. 😆 After that, I stopped using USD. There are exchange booths all around PP.
Hi Gary, I think this happened because Cambodia is phasing out the $1 and $5 notes. The larger bills are fine, but the government is encouraging use of Riel instead of USD for amounts under $10. People are scared of being stuck with USD they can't use.
In Siem Reap i was knocked back also with a ten dollar, apparently it was too old. I was not happy. And i hate how the bank machines will only spit out 100USD instead of smaller notes.
Here's my take on the situation in Cambodia now, regarding the local currency, Riel. I have noticed in Kep that the shops now want to give back change in small Riel-notes, like 100 R. I'm reluctant to take them, because they're difficult to get rid of. Most prices are in USD, whether you're shopping at a small market or a larger one. Usually, what happens is that I get stuck at the border with a bunch of 100-R notes, which I have to dump on some poor people, or buy some candy which I don't really need. Cambodia is trying to shift the economy from a Dollar-denominated one, to a Riel-one. It's a struggle, and not all citizens agree...😜
Fantastic tip regarding ATM's swallowing a card! A friend of mine had hers swallowed a couple years ago. Also, I unloaded a dodgy note given to me earlier in the day at a local restaurant and was like phew! I did it! hahaha I made it back to Cambodia btw!! Happily stationed in SR!
Hi Julia! Wonderful to hear that you are back in Siem Reap! Are you going to stay a while this time? I remember you left right when Covid was starting to go crazy. We put off making a decision and ended up being happily stuck in Cambodia for the next 2.5 years. How good does it feel to offload a dodgy note? Love it! 🙏 🍺🌴🙂
@@ForRiel hahaha offloading a dodgy note is thrilling actually. hahaha Cheap thrills I guess!!! I'll be here for at least 8 months to start -- then I'll go home and see my family in Spring. I intend to live here for a few years perhaps? At least to see how I like it as my home base! Its just feels like home.:) Are you two back in Cambodia again? I know you went back to Oz for a while...
We have started using Remitly (RIA) to send funds from our Australian bank to ABA and it works amazingly well, is almost instant, and you can transfer the funds into your ABA on the App. No need to visit the bank! Constantly surprised by how good it is.
@@ForRielYes, as long as you have apps and IBAN accounts, you can do anything these days. I love it. Next thing I need to find out is about taxes If I am no longer registered in the Netherlands but keep property and bank accounts there.
Great info! When the Apsara Market was still around, they gave me a $10 bill that was literally ripped in half and taped back together. It was useless.
Claire, thank you so much for this valuable information. You answered my question & concerns about my medications. I'm from the US & I am on several meds, which I can bring with me, except for my prescription hydrocodone for significant chronic back pain. It appears that won't be an issue to get filled once I arrive in Siem Reap, particularly if I have documentation of my meds from my US doctors. Im hoping I can come to Siem Reap towards the end of next year & hopefully retire there & make it my new home. Thank you so much.
Hi Jeremy and Claire , hope all is going well for you , some really good information being shared , once many moons ago , I was approached by a fellow Expat at a local pub in Siem Reap , he asked me if I would buy him a beer , he was an older gentleman like myself , and I could clearly see he was down on his luck , so I cheerfully obliged , as we talked , I learned that he had moved from his native Denmark , but through a series of unfortunate events , he found himself penniless , living if you will , upon the kindness of strangers , as I've said many times in the past , I'm not in the advice giving business , but in meeting this gentleman , his circumstances did give me pause to reflect and ponder , just how many Expats are truly struggling with their finances , and are completely unprepared for the consequences of running out of funds while living in a foreign country , as to what I might add here to the conversation , I would simply suggest to anyone planning on leaving home , don't forget to bring your Smile , Common Sense , and above all your Patience , these will help see you through some trying times , that sooner or later , we all must face while traveling or living abroad , fun video as always Claire , I will catch you on the next one , take care , Peace
It's interesting the conversations you can have when you open yourself up to the people around you. I think that's one of the big things to consider. There's a middle ground needed somewhere between being cautious and sensible about what you do, and not closing yourself off to opportunities that could result in a surprising and enriching interaction. In the case of people being in the Kingdom without a financial cushion, I guess those expats wouldn't have one in their home country either. I've come to understand that this is the decision that many take no matter what the final outcome might be. I guess the day to day living is better for them in Cambodia and they'll accept what comes as a result. Thanks so much for being here! 🙏 🍺🌴🙂
For spending in Cambodia, I found it much hazzle free to withdraw Riels thsn dollars. And that also saves your money a bit due to the lower exchange rates of the Riel. For dollars, use the counter instead!! Even the pp airport Visa cashing service gave me dodgy notes that locals refused to accept. It is better to use Riels than Dollars in my opionion as my Riels were never turned down!!
Very true - Riel is a lot less risky than USD for those reasons. We find ourselves very rarely using cash these days because everyone has an ABA account and transferring money to pay for things is quick, easy, and immediate. Even many of the market stall sellers have ABA! Thanks so much for watching. :)
Very handy tips Claire. Yes, Banks and their lack of service in Australia. Even the UK Banks open on a Saturday morning. Good tip about the ABA Bank (Canadian bank)?
G'Day claire , Good advise on the little tips , but i hear they are really getting fussy about the us notes so for me i let the misses handle that as well as the tuk tuk's but dont keep canceling as you will be banned , as you said pay the price and leave a tip winner winner for everyone, how ever negotiating before does not go well once we done the deal but he stopped short of our apartment and demanded to be paid in full haha nice try he got half and we walked a little oh well big night lol Catchya...
Thanks Maddo! I think they are phasing out the smaller denominations of USD (ones and fives) too. Yes, I think sticking with the PassApp metre and giving a tip is the best thing to do. Most of the time the drivers are great, sounds like you got a dud that time! 😁🙏🍺
Great tips! Thanks for sharing them. I have a question about renting. When one rents a place do they have to pay a few months in advance? Or just the first month only? I have been binge watching your vids, keep up the good work!
Thanks so much! Usually landlords ask for one month deposit and the first month's rent when you move in, so two months in total. I have heard a lot of people negotiate to not pay the deposit, but we always have.
Fantastic information! I'm curious, can you obtain Ivermectin at the pharmacy? Also, is Creatine available there in PP or SR? Appreciate any information 🙏
Could you clarify if I meet an accident (or suffer some illness) and need blood transfusion, and I don’t have any relatives living in KH, which in this situation, will I be able to receive blood as part of the treatment? In my assumption, I think I would because it would be bizarre to be denied.
If you have health/travel insurance you will be covered and everything will be fine. Locals who rely on the public system and expats without insurance are the ones affected by this. 😁
When you visit all the cities across the country, do you just hop on your motorbike, or do you use the public transportation system? Which is cheaper for those cross country trips (your motorbike gas or the public transport tickets). Is it super dusty on the highways on your motorbike? Is your motorbike faster or is the public transport faster to get to the destination?
It really depends how far we are going. If we're going to Phnom Penh, we would take a bus or share a private taxi. If we're going to a province closer to Siem Reap, we would take the bike. It just depends on the situation. A lot of people wear face masks on long trips so that they don't get a mouth full of grit, and it also keeps the sun off. Private taxis are fastest but also most expensive. Bike is most fun!
Im under. Pain specialist here in USA. I take Oxycodone. Will a pain doctor provide the medicine in Cambodia. I’m 71 female and looking to which country to futureproof my life. Which countries do u recommend?😊
Thanks Claire, we are heading to PP in a few days. Interesting that I couldn’t activate Pass App as the sms validation message did not arrive to my phone in Australia. I’ll try with a Cambodian SIM card when I arrive .
Yeah Cambodian SMS never works with international numbers. You'll be able to activate it once you arrive, no problem at all. I hope you have an amazing time! 😁✈
Great piece, particularly for new arrivals. It also is a good barometer for a knowledge test for foreigners residing here. Wonder if there's travel/ride share group. Am living near Kratie, and visit Phnom Penh quite frequently. Wouldn't mind passenger or two. Maybe it's a long shot. Anyone have clues to a resource for 10KW/day solar energy installation in a rural setting? If responses/comments are any clue, it seems only guys visit (or watch your weekly post) :)
Thanks so much Mandeep, really appreciate your comment. There is a Taxi Share group on Facebook and I don't think it's particular to any one location. It would be a good place to look, I think. I'm not sure about solar but there must be plenty of people out there who know. Yes, our audience is very much male-dominated, and they are mainly from the US and over 60 years of age! 🛵🙏🌴🏠🙂🙏
All very interesting, Claire, thank you! What is story with the Cambodian Post? 4 years ago, I lost an ATM card (from a big US bank) & was told by the bank that they would not send me a replacement card to an address in Cambodia because the Postal Service was so unreliable.
Sending by courier should be fine. The important thing about receiving letters or parcels is that the sender writes your Cambodian phone number on it. There's no mail delivery, so you need to come to the post office & pick it up. I bet there's a significant number if unclaimed letters & parcels for barangs at every post office.
We had something delivered to the post office Siem Reap but they didn't call when it arrived. We just had to go and check every week and the staff there would rummage around to see if it was there. Always instruct the sender to write your Cambodia phone number in very large print on the outside of the package. I think DHL would be best for a bank card. Thank you for watching! 🍍🍺🙏😁
I've lived in Cambodia for five years and would say that casually claiming that Khmers will intentionally pass you a damaged $ note is an unfair projection and a cynical slur on the people here. Most times, change will be in Riel anyway, and if a damaged note is passed to you it may be from what is available (remember they will have received this note from someone themselves). And the only time I've experienced similar here is from an Australian owner of a resort here who, when compelled to return my deposit, gave me what turned out to be one of those fake paper $100 replicas they have here for ceremonial purposes.
The experience I had was when I was given my first month's pay at a school in cash. I was given the cash in an envelope, and when I took the notes out to check them (mostly $100's), there were several with large and very obvious marks. I asked the staff member to swap them out, which she did from the stash in the safe. There was no animosity and it was done with a smile. I am not being cynical and I'm sorry you see it this way. I use ABA transfer 99% of the time and the only cash I carry is Riel, so it's not an issue for me anymore. Thanks for watching, Robert.
The implication here is that this is a common occurrence as the locals are trying to hoodwink foreigners by passing on these blemished banknotes - in fact you say this explicity. It's not my experience and in fact I'm impressed by the honesty here, i.e. when I've inadvertently paid too many Riel and am immediately handed back the surplus. The only problems I have experienced here are from Barang, and I'm sure you'll admit that this place is a draw for some fairly wayward foreigners, much more desperate in every way than locals. The habit is for westerners here to make these (often derisory) generalisations about a developing country without balancing it with a comparison with their own (!) under the overall tone of 'it's-a-bit-dodgy-here-compared-to-where-we-come-from-but-as-the-frontiersman-I-am-I'll-put-you-right' without acknowledging the great advantages of being here, and that includes the people who really as a whole don't resemble the types implied by your comment, and whose mitigating struggles over the decades are never mentioned either.
Stop your pathetic "virtue signaling..." it's repugnant ! it is NOT a slur... You are misquoting her, she did not say ALL Khmers do this ! There is NO "implication" here... It is a concern to be watching for "unique" to Cambodia... It is also common knowledge with those experienced in Cambodia, just watch other travel videos... Time for you to attend a critical thinking workshop..😜. So stop your dribble and "get a life..." Sounds like you belong in Portland or San Francisco...
@@ForRiel Claire your patience and tolerance with YT fooooools is beyond gracious ! I have to wonder if these (thankfully !) rare fooools appreciate your selfless contributions to the Khmer community.
Yes for internal things, the courier services can't be beaten. Out of country you can use the postal service but if it's important, i.e. documents, I would use DHL or similar. If you use the postal service be sure to have the sender write your phone number very clearly on the outside of the package. 🙏 🍺🌴🙂
Hi Claire, thanks for the great tips! I'm going to Siem Reap soon , do you know if there is Grab at the Siem Reap Airport? If so do you know where the pickup point is? Thank you
Moving to Koh Rong Samloem from the UK in April, can you do a video on business visa and how to apply please, I'm getting a visa on arrival as I am travelling around the country for 30 days before I start my job so planning to go to extend it when I get to Phnom Penh.
Arrival to Cambodia on an e visa don't know what the requirements are don't come on a tourist visa or you will have to do a land border crossing to get a e Visa
G'Day mate , just get an ordinary E-visa $35 on arrival , which you can extend or change later , check out the visa forums they give all the info on all types . Catchya
Yep, the others who commented have it right. Make sure you tick the box for ordinary visa not tourist visa on the arrival card. Are you going to work as a diving instructor on KRS? I guess your employer will handle the extension for you but just check that the timing will work in terms of sending your passport off for the extension.
Hello Claire and thank you very much uch for your great vidéos ! Just want to ask about the bank ! What currency are usually the accounts in ? U$ or Rielle or both ? When you withdraw can you choose what currency you want ? And last can we easily transfer what ever amount is on the account when we leave the country ? Thank you and have a good day in Siem Reap 😊
How do you go see the property if they don’t tell you the location? I mean after they show it to you you can make a note of the phone number outside then call the owner direct anyway
You contact the realtor and they organise to meet up and they take you to the apartment. Highly recommend going through a realtor or Realestate agent as they you can get then to negotiate with the owner for you, and also help if there are any problems.
Good morning, very nice, may I ask, as I am starting to learn Khmer language using the currency. What are the most common Khmer Bank notes used daily and does anyone actually use the 100, 500 and 1000 Riel notes? Thank you
@@garyroberts3859 I appreciate your response however I am asking about which are most commonly used, as I take in information about the price of various services and products there it appears that the 100 and 500 Riel notes are useless for the most part. Just curious, thank you
@@davidaldrich2154 G'Day mate , all notes are used from 100 - 200 - 500 1000 5000 10000 20000 , most local markets wont use the smaller ones as much but you will see shopping malls using cash registers will definitely use them as the exact change will be given via the register calculation , thats how they get around the dual currency and thats why you get the smaller notes , the worst part is you'll end up with a fist full of small notes lol i just give them to the less fortunate , hope this helps a little , Catchya
You'll end up with a huge pile of 100 Riel notes that you'll receive as change. We would always remove these and keep in a pile at home until we had a big wad, then we'd give that away to someone when it got to around 5cm thick. Everything else, 500 up, is worth keeping on you. The 1000 are particularly useful and handy as the are $0.25 and it's an easy fraction to work with.
I have 3 iPhones is it worth keeping them all, I only need one but I have 2 spares. I was wondering if I would get much money for them if I was desperate lol! Or is it better to sell them here in the uk first to get the best money?
I'd bring one of the extra phones. It's handy to have a back up, and if you end up in a place that doesn't have internet, you can get a sim for your secondary phone and use it as dedicated hot spot. Depends how much they are worth, as I guess the cheapest smartphone could also perform that function.
I'd like to know how incoming small parcels from eg Australia are treated .. are there big import duties/delays? There's a few odd things I'd like sent over.
If you have insurance you will be fine. Chances are as a foreigner you'd be taken to one of the international hospitals, treated, then billed. It's mainly locals that are impacted by this way of operating.
Thank you Claire. Good and useful information, I usually visit once a year, I will be there 5 weeks start of next year. I think I will try to open an ABA account when I am there, could not do it online. Do you recommend getting money exchanges done at the bank or at those stalls? Thank you in advance.
Make sure you enter Cambodia on an ordinary visa as you can open an ABA account on a tourist visa. We brought USD that we had purchased with AUD in Australia, then deposited this into the ABA account. Buying USD in Australia before we left meant that we could search for a good rate and not be time-pressured into having to take a lower rate. Thank you so much for watching! 🍍🍺😁🙏
@@ForRiel thank you Claire, I will be coming from the US, so I hope it can all be similarly aligned. Several years ago, I was able to obtain the Cambodian ID card, since I was born there, so I think I can use that also. Thanks!
Hi! I just want to jump in and say that it's really easy to create an ABA account in any city which has an office. All they ask for is your passport and the address of the hotel you're staying at. Just bring the business card of the hotel. Any type of visa will do, I think. You also have to pay 5 USD for making a VISA-card, if you want that. P.S. It's not strictly necessary to make a bank card. I don't use it a lot, but instead the account number. In most cases, I simply use the ABA-app on my phone, and order it to release a given amount of USD at the ATM, upon clonking in a four-digit code in the booth. If you don't cash out the money, the order will automatically be cancelled after 24 hrs You must have some dollars deposited in your account beforehand, of course. It's also highly recommended to cash out the money in Riel-denominations, since the notes will always be fresh, and with the correct exchange rate. D.S.
Great info Claire. Is it better to use AirBnB or some other sources if I need a two bedroom type place to rent for about 15 days, with a washer, dryer and refrigerator. We are a party of three.
Are you going to be in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap? There are Air BnBs in PP but less so in SR. There is a place in SR called Kool Apartments that do weekly rentals. It's on Road 6 near the Angkor Market supermarket. They have a range of different rooms and there are two pools in the complex. It's a bit of a rabbit warren but could work for you. goo.gl/maps/qvwNsMEEiSsNAujM6. They are cheap, so you could get two rooms side by side.
Claire, in PP. As long as the place is clean and complies with Western standards. Has two rooms and a fridge that we can use. Kitchen would be nice so we heat up some food. I guess we are looking to rent a discounted apt/condo by the week or 30 days at the most. Maybe sublet the place for. 15-21 days.
Hi Carl, we used Cellcard and were really happy with it. We were on a plan that cost $1.25 a week and the unused data rolled over each week. Amazing value! 😁🍍🙏
If you are just travelling here long-term but don't have a bank account and get a dodgy dollar note, can you return it to the bank branch? Would they accept it?
Love you vlogs Claire and Todd. However, to be absolutely honest, Claire is 🔥. Claire, I mean this with absolute respect... but to be truthful, there is something about you! Todd, I mean no offense to you, but Claire, is gorgeous!!!! I mean it!!!
Yes GPS works well but you need to know where you're going on the map so you can drop the pin there for the driver. Many roads with no name, and many in Siem Reap are known by the name of the first hotel to be established there. 😁🙏
I actually came here with $50 US notes which have the smallest of nicks and tares. I actually don't have a lot of money other than those. I'm actually not sure what to do (I don't have a bank card)
@Wal Sakaluk : Good to know, thank you. It turns out that there are supermarkets which aren't too afraid of insignificant tears on notes. Really they aren't too bad, but some places are very enthusiastically adverse to imperfect notes.
Yeah it is so annoying! Most banks will accept the notes but they'll offer you a little less to compensate for the imperfections. They're certainly not worthless. Some landlords will accept the notes and deposit them into their account through an ATM as described.
Health insurance? If you are under 70, try Safetywing insurance. When covid hit, the government required new arrivals without proof of covid coverage to buy Forte Insurance. I don't know the cost of Forte, but my cousin had to buy it and I thought she said it was $200 a month. I think Safetywing tops out at $145 if you are under 70. Good luck!
We used SafetyNet. Thankfully we never had to claim from them, but they were recommended to us by someone who had a bad leg injury from a moto crash - four breaks, I think. He was very happy with the service they provided and the care he received under the insurance. Another benefit of using this company is that they are affiliated with Forte which is highly regarded. I'm not sure if you can purchase it outside Cambodia as we bought ours while we were there.
In my personal experience of depositing imperfect notes maybe 10 times, they have never been declined by the ATM. In fact, sometimes the ATM was the source of the dodgy note. Perhaps you use a different bank. Perhaps your notes were in worse condition....
I'm not sure about that, but it also depends on which one will let you withdraw the most because of the transaction fees. People say Bred bank is good in terms of fees.
Thank you very much for sharing.Do you perhaps have a Facebook page that I can follow and inbox you for advice.I will be moving to Cambodia Jan 2024 God willing.Thank you kindly.
Hi Cambodians, pls help, i have recieved job offer as assistant professor in it computer sciences, i will shift to Cambodia from india with family of 4, including 2 school going children, will rent 2 bhk rooms house in Phnom city, will also need to save money after taxes, what monthly salary i should ask from employer , thnks n pls help, salary in USD
nice tip on ride service many westerners wont do as they think itsa scam most of western culture is a scam !!!!!!! keep up the good work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have learned more from you in a week than the hundreds of other videos I've watched in 2 years. Thanks
That's very kind of you to say. Thank you for watching!
My apologies that the camera was constantly trying to refocus. I recorded the video in one take and didn't realise until it was too late. Once I realised, I couldn't bear the thought of trying to record it all again. I hope you found some value in this video, and please let me know if you have other tips to share. Part 4 of the Phnom Penh walk will be up next week as I thought the non-walkers needed a break from that content. Thank you for watching. 🙂🙏
didn't notice it, just woke up...:-)) Thx for the tips
Still waiting for the teaching video 😬
Anyway, good Job, for reAl🌷
It's not okay to cancel your Passapp booking. Habitual cancellations will result in your denial of service from the Passapp company. With the cancellation the driver will retain his position at the top of the list for the next call thus cheating all the other drivers as well.
I didn't realise that. There's never a victimless crime, is there? Thanks for sharing.
I recommend using TADA or Grab
Usually Passap is great, I use it a lot. A few times it's been a pain as the driver has swiped that he's picked me up and I'm 'on the ride' when I'm actually still waiting. Accidentally or deliberately, I don't know. But once yr marked 'on the ride' you can't cancel or order another pickup (a glitch in their system, as it means you can't order on behalf of yourself and others for multiple rides). Each times the driver phoned me, yelling 'where are you', but we didn't have enough common language to sort it out. Worst time I was 30mins out past B'bang and got stranded while I could see on the app that the driver headed into town without me. Fortunately once the ride had 'ended' I could use the app again and kindly locals had helped me negotiate with passing tuktuk for where I needed to go.
@@ForRiel surely you jest. And don't call me shirley. :)
Great info Claire. One thing you may want to include is the confronting poverty and that if your coming to Cambodia a person may want to research the countries history to understand their struggle to establish stability. This ain’t no fairy land. Shits real here as we both know it. Keep the info coming. Your helping people.
That's very true, Novak. Sometimes the poverty can be extreme and confronting especially to our western eyes. Hospitals are certainly an eye opener particularly in poor areas where people are pretty much camping out while they wait for treatment. Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. 😁🙏
when it comes to service such as passapp, locals almost never give out tips, I'm surprise foreigner still have that hospitality to give tips.
It's such a small amount of money, and I guess we worry about how much they actually get when they work for Passapp or Grab. If the fare is only 3 or 4000, then the company takes their cut, there can't be much left. 🙏🛵🐒🛵🙏
I will be in Cambodia for the next 7 years.
Wonderful! 👍😊 Cambodia is just the best!
I just saw that an expat in Cambodia in the last month said when he went to withdraw money out of an ATM and the ATM dispensed a counterfeit $100 bill. He went in the bank and they would not exchange it. I feel sorry for that guy.
Stories like this surface every now and then, but I don't believe them. If you use an ATM attached to a bank, and only use it when the bank itself is open, it is highly unlikely that this would happen. Avoid stand-alone machines and all should be well.
You're a superstar Claire and I love your videos! Bravo to you and keep up the great work... it's much appreciated!!!! Looking forward to returning to Siem Reap in December. 🙂
Thank you so much, Craig, much appreciated. Glad you found some value in this. 🍍🍺😁🙏
Great tips Claire!
We experienced the blood bank one first hand before we lost Kinal’s mum. I didn’t understand why Kinal was asking all these random friends and family to donate blood - until she told me to make a withdrawal you had to make a deposit.
Hi Marc, it certainly adds stress at a time when the family least needs it. I can understand why they do it, buy it seems a bit rough. Hope you three are well - looking forward to the wedding video! 🍍🍺🙏😁
Thanks Claire the US note trick is useful it's crazy a twenty year old Cambodian note will be accepted in any condition while an otherwise pristine US note with a tiny nick will be rejected and when questioned nobody knows why except that's the way it is.
Banks will accept them from Cambodians. Still, ask for a new one if you receive a bad one in change. Look at ALL the bills thoroughly upon receiving.
The marked on bills are from Cambodian vendors at the end of the day, writing the total for the day or amount in the stack of bills.. I've never had an issue with those using those bills....A receptionist is where I learned of this.
@@lesmylo3592 Who are "those"?
Yeah I guess it's because Riel is the official currency and as such cannot be declined no matter the condition whereas with USD it's up to the vendor's discretion.
Hi Claire, your videos are always informative. Could you please do a video on the best way to transfer money back and forth between the bank account in Cambodia and one outside the country while living in Cambodia. Especially when large sums are required to purchase properties or vehicles.
Thank you
Hi Kosmo, we actually never did this as we brought a few thousand over in cash and deposited it into ABA accounts. Then I was working so we didn't need to bring any more from home. When we left, we did pretty much the same in reverse. I think Wing seems to be the leader in this field, and I think they can be used in conjunction with ABA. Sorry I don't know more about this one! 🙏 🍺🌴🙂
Oh ok. Thank you Claire
What is ABA. I’m American. What do I need to get a bank account
THANK YOU AGAIN CLAIRE. EVERY BIT OF THIS IS IMPORTANT
Thanks for watching 8
I'm catching up on my 'homework'.
This is outstanding, spectacular, terrific, amazing, work!
Possibly the most concise and practical, real world advice for a specific country.
I bow deeply to you... thanks!
Thank you so much for your kind words! It definitely helps to keep us motivated to make more videos. Have a great week.
vary vary good gril i have been coming to cambodia a long time and living here everything you said is true very informative keep it up enjoy stay safe
Thank you William, I really appreciate it. 🙏🍍🍺😁
Great information.
Glad it was helpful!
Very truthful & honest information! TQ
Thank you so much! 😁🍍🙏🍺
Those are really useful tips. Thanks Claire. Especially the second tips. Deposit back those dodgy notes..LOL. thats a good one👍
Haha thank you! A couple of time, it was the bank's ATM that gave us the dodgy notes so only fair that you can deposit them back into their system. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Great tips Claire 👌!
I like the damage USD note tip, good one! 👍
Thanks for sharing with us. 😊
Glad you enjoyed it, Edward! Thanks for watching. 🙏🍍😁
Thank You Kindly .
You are very welcome.
I received a dodgy $20 note from my accomodation when staying in Battambang… I had it refused at the local supermarket. Then took it back to reception to pay for an extra night. The receptionist looked at it and seemed about to say something about the note, I think he recognised it was the same he gave me back the day before. He took the payment and didn’t say a thing ☺️😂
That's hilarious, Michelle! For sure they recognised it. They know exactly what they are doing when offloading dodgy notes. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Better to just use Cambodian currency.. no need for USD cash@@ForRiel
Continued MAGIC - just arrived Pp yesterday - Sihanouk tomorrow- GREAT INFO please please keep it coming- Cheers Ozzie jeff
Thanks so much Ozzie Jeff - how fantastic that you are enjoying time in the Kingdom right now! It's so good to be there. I hope the rain isn't too bad. 🙏 ✈️🍺🌴🙂
Really useful. Thank you
Glad it was helpful! 🙂😀
Wow. A bit more than I expected.
Got to go there.
Yes, you'll love it! 🍺🙏🍍
Yes, thank's ya for these nuggets of useful info. I think even the craftiest Cam-traveller can find some gold in there. Keep it up!😜
Thanks so much, Pekka! Glad you found it useful. 🙏😁
Hi Claire I’m in Siem Reap now and there’s another thing about $US, I had a new $5 note knocked back and from what I understood it was the date of it . It certainly didn’t have any blemishes on it.
A shopkeeper refused my $1 bill. I opened my wallet and let her pick the one she liked. 😆 After that, I stopped using USD. There are exchange booths all around PP.
Hi Gary, I think this happened because Cambodia is phasing out the $1 and $5 notes. The larger bills are fine, but the government is encouraging use of Riel instead of USD for amounts under $10. People are scared of being stuck with USD they can't use.
@@ForRiel oh really, that’s a very strange thing to do after all these years. Thanks for the tip.
In Siem Reap i was knocked back also with a ten dollar, apparently it was too old. I was not happy. And i hate how the bank machines will only spit out 100USD instead of smaller notes.
Here's my take on the situation in Cambodia now, regarding the local currency, Riel.
I have noticed in Kep that the shops now want to give back change in small Riel-notes, like 100 R.
I'm reluctant to take them, because they're difficult to get rid of. Most prices are in USD, whether you're shopping at a small market or a larger one.
Usually, what happens is that I get stuck at the border with a bunch of 100-R notes, which I have to dump on some poor people, or buy some candy which I don't really need.
Cambodia is trying to shift the economy from a Dollar-denominated one, to a Riel-one. It's a struggle, and not all citizens agree...😜
Thanks for the good video and the good tips. I think you do a great job can you give a lot of get very good information. Thank you.
Thank you so much Michael, really appreciate it. 🍍🙏🍺😁
Excellent advisory on Cambodia. Thanks for your observations.
Thanks so much for watching, Fred!
Fantastic tip regarding ATM's swallowing a card! A friend of mine had hers swallowed a couple years ago. Also, I unloaded a dodgy note given to me earlier in the day at a local restaurant and was like phew! I did it! hahaha I made it back to Cambodia btw!! Happily stationed in SR!
Hi Julia! Wonderful to hear that you are back in Siem Reap! Are you going to stay a while this time? I remember you left right when Covid was starting to go crazy. We put off making a decision and ended up being happily stuck in Cambodia for the next 2.5 years. How good does it feel to offload a dodgy note? Love it! 🙏 🍺🌴🙂
@@ForRiel hahaha offloading a dodgy note is thrilling actually. hahaha Cheap thrills I guess!!! I'll be here for at least 8 months to start -- then I'll go home and see my family in Spring. I intend to live here for a few years perhaps? At least to see how I like it as my home base! Its just feels like home.:) Are you two back in Cambodia again? I know you went back to Oz for a while...
Good video thanks Claire; the courier service sounds great and thanks for the info on the banking and bank notes. 👍😊
Thanks so much for watching, Mark. Glad you found it helpful. 🙏😁
@@ForRiel All helps for my relocation
Thanks as always for a very informative video. I wish I had something smart allecky to say. 😊😊 I'll get back to you when I can think of something.
Thanks so much! You need to work harder on your smart alleck comments! Surely you can come up with something. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Brilliant, Claire. The banking info is helpful. I will check out ABA. So far I looked up info on Euro and USD accounts with Canadia and Acleda bank.
We have started using Remitly (RIA) to send funds from our Australian bank to ABA and it works amazingly well, is almost instant, and you can transfer the funds into your ABA on the App. No need to visit the bank! Constantly surprised by how good it is.
@@ForRielYes, as long as you have apps and IBAN accounts, you can do anything these days. I love it. Next thing I need to find out is about taxes If I am no longer registered in the Netherlands but keep property and bank accounts there.
Great info! When the Apsara Market was still around, they gave me a $10 bill that was literally ripped in half and taped back together. It was useless.
We always just get Riel now
These tips are great. Definitely different than what I've seen in most videos. Thanks!
Thanks so much Sonya, really appreciate you watching. 😁
@@ForRiel still in place the vaxx requirement for cambodia?
Claire, thank you so much for this valuable information. You answered my question & concerns about my medications. I'm from the US & I am on several meds, which I can bring with me, except for my prescription hydrocodone for significant chronic back pain. It appears that won't be an issue to get filled once I arrive in Siem Reap, particularly if I have documentation of my meds from my US doctors. Im hoping I can come to Siem Reap towards the end of next year & hopefully retire there & make it my new home. Thank you so much.
That's good news 👍
Thanks for useful info.
Glad we can help 😇
Very useful information. Thank you so much claire 😊
Thank you Mike, really appreciate it. 🙏😁🍍
Oh, again. Now you tell me!!!
Haha
Great video, good info.
🤣🤣🤣 sorry! 🍍🍺🙏
Great and informative information. Thank you 🙏🏽
Thanks for watching!
Good tips. Thanks!
Cheers Mark! 🙏🍍😁
Very good advice
You are welcome 😊
Well done, thanks
Thanks for watching!
Hi Jeremy and Claire , hope all is going well for you , some really good information being shared , once many moons ago , I was approached by a fellow Expat at a local pub in Siem Reap , he asked me if I would buy him a beer , he was an older gentleman like myself , and I could clearly see he was down on his luck , so I cheerfully obliged , as we talked , I learned that he had moved from his native Denmark , but through a series of unfortunate events , he found himself penniless , living if you will , upon the kindness of strangers , as I've said many times in the past , I'm not in the advice giving business , but in meeting this gentleman , his circumstances did give me pause to reflect and ponder , just how many Expats are truly struggling with their finances , and are completely unprepared for the consequences of running out of funds while living in a foreign country , as to what I might add here to the conversation , I would simply suggest to anyone planning on leaving home , don't forget to bring your Smile , Common Sense , and above all your Patience , these will help see you through some trying times , that sooner or later , we all must face while traveling or living abroad , fun video as always Claire , I will catch you on the next one , take care , Peace
It's interesting the conversations you can have when you open yourself up to the people around you. I think that's one of the big things to consider. There's a middle ground needed somewhere between being cautious and sensible about what you do, and not closing yourself off to opportunities that could result in a surprising and enriching interaction. In the case of people being in the Kingdom without a financial cushion, I guess those expats wouldn't have one in their home country either. I've come to understand that this is the decision that many take no matter what the final outcome might be. I guess the day to day living is better for them in Cambodia and they'll accept what comes as a result. Thanks so much for being here! 🙏 🍺🌴🙂
Very informative. Thanks
Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much, Ben!
For spending in Cambodia, I found it much hazzle free to withdraw Riels thsn dollars. And that also saves your money a bit due to the lower exchange rates of the Riel. For dollars, use the counter instead!! Even the pp airport Visa cashing service gave me dodgy notes that locals refused to accept. It is better to use Riels than Dollars in my opionion as my Riels were never turned down!!
Very true - Riel is a lot less risky than USD for those reasons. We find ourselves very rarely using cash these days because everyone has an ABA account and transferring money to pay for things is quick, easy, and immediate. Even many of the market stall sellers have ABA! Thanks so much for watching. :)
Thank you for the great tips!
Thanks for watching, Richard! 🙏
great video most watching will not know !!! Mexico has simiilar drug store system
That's interesting about Mexico, thank you for sharing. 😁🍍🙏
Awesome video 👍
Thanks so much!
Sometimes it can be tricky by paying driver cash by passing the app coy in case there's a dispute and you get no protection from the company.
That's true. We've never had a problem either way, but I know that's not true for everyone.
I know your voice Clair but now your face I wi keep on watching and listening
You are very kind. Thank you. 😁🍍🙏
Very handy tips Claire. Yes, Banks and their lack of service in Australia. Even the UK Banks open on a Saturday morning. Good tip about the ABA Bank (Canadian bank)?
It's a worry when even the UK banks are better than the Australian ones! 🙏 ✈️🍺🌴🙂 Thanks for watching.
ABA is Malaysian
great tips👍
Cheers Jose! 🙏😁
Great tips thanks
Glad it was helpful!
G'Day claire , Good advise on the little tips , but i hear they are really getting fussy about the us notes so for me i let the misses handle that as well as the tuk tuk's but dont keep canceling as you will be banned , as you said pay the price and leave a tip winner winner for everyone, how ever negotiating before does not go well once we done the deal but he stopped short of our apartment and demanded to be paid in full haha nice try he got half and we walked a little oh well big night lol Catchya...
Thanks Maddo! I think they are phasing out the smaller denominations of USD (ones and fives) too. Yes, I think sticking with the PassApp metre and giving a tip is the best thing to do. Most of the time the drivers are great, sounds like you got a dud that time! 😁🙏🍺
Thank you 😊
No problem 😊
Not all ABA branches open 8am to 8pm. Those in provincial towns, such as Takeo, close at 4pm.
Good to know. Thanks!
Another tip, a few beer brands have prizes under the ring pull 😄
Oh yes, and then trying to decipher how much you've won! 🤣🍺🍺🍺
Great tips! Thanks for sharing them. I have a question about renting. When one rents a place do they have to pay a few months in advance? Or just the first month only? I have been binge watching your vids, keep up the good work!
Thanks so much! Usually landlords ask for one month deposit and the first month's rent when you move in, so two months in total. I have heard a lot of people negotiate to not pay the deposit, but we always have.
Fantastic information! I'm curious, can you obtain Ivermectin at the pharmacy? Also, is Creatine available there in PP or SR? Appreciate any information 🙏
We are pretty sure you can get all those here 🤔😄
Could you clarify if I meet an accident (or suffer some illness) and need blood transfusion, and I don’t have any relatives living in KH, which in this situation, will I be able to receive blood as part of the treatment? In my assumption, I think I would because it would be bizarre to be denied.
If you have health/travel insurance you will be covered and everything will be fine. Locals who rely on the public system and expats without insurance are the ones affected by this. 😁
Thank you.
You're welcome!
When you visit all the cities across the country, do you just hop on your motorbike, or do you use the public transportation system? Which is cheaper for those cross country trips (your motorbike gas or the public transport tickets). Is it super dusty on the highways on your motorbike? Is your motorbike faster or is the public transport faster to get to the destination?
It really depends how far we are going. If we're going to Phnom Penh, we would take a bus or share a private taxi. If we're going to a province closer to Siem Reap, we would take the bike. It just depends on the situation. A lot of people wear face masks on long trips so that they don't get a mouth full of grit, and it also keeps the sun off. Private taxis are fastest but also most expensive. Bike is most fun!
They sell tramadol but won’t sell you condine without Paracetamol. This is Cambodia
haha yeah. Luckily a little paracetamol never hurt anyone.
Im under. Pain specialist here in USA. I take Oxycodone. Will a pain doctor provide the medicine in Cambodia. I’m 71 female and looking to which country to futureproof my life. Which countries do u recommend?😊
Thanks Claire, we are heading to PP in a few days. Interesting that I couldn’t activate Pass App as the sms validation message did not arrive to my phone in Australia. I’ll try with a Cambodian SIM card when I arrive .
Yeah Cambodian SMS never works with international numbers. You'll be able to activate it once you arrive, no problem at all. I hope you have an amazing time! 😁✈
Great piece, particularly for new arrivals. It also is a good barometer for a knowledge test for foreigners residing here.
Wonder if there's travel/ride share group. Am living near Kratie, and visit Phnom Penh quite frequently. Wouldn't mind passenger or two. Maybe it's a long shot.
Anyone have clues to a resource for 10KW/day solar energy installation in a rural setting?
If responses/comments are any clue, it seems only guys visit (or watch your weekly post) :)
Thanks so much Mandeep, really appreciate your comment. There is a Taxi Share group on Facebook and I don't think it's particular to any one location. It would be a good place to look, I think. I'm not sure about solar but there must be plenty of people out there who know. Yes, our audience is very much male-dominated, and they are mainly from the US and over 60 years of age! 🛵🙏🌴🏠🙂🙏
All very interesting, Claire, thank you!
What is story with the Cambodian Post? 4 years ago, I lost an ATM card (from a big US bank) & was told by the bank that they would not send me a replacement card to an address in Cambodia because the Postal Service was so unreliable.
Sending by courier should be fine. The important thing about receiving letters or parcels is that the sender writes your Cambodian phone number on it. There's no mail delivery, so you need to come to the post office & pick it up.
I bet there's a significant number if unclaimed letters & parcels for barangs at every post office.
We had something delivered to the post office Siem Reap but they didn't call when it arrived. We just had to go and check every week and the staff there would rummage around to see if it was there. Always instruct the sender to write your Cambodia phone number in very large print on the outside of the package. I think DHL would be best for a bank card. Thank you for watching! 🍍🍺🙏😁
@@chhenporng No use for many. For example, most of Kampot has no street address.
I've lived in Cambodia for five years and would say that casually claiming that Khmers will intentionally pass you a damaged $ note is an unfair projection and a cynical slur on the people here. Most times, change will be in Riel anyway, and if a damaged note is passed to you it may be from what is available (remember they will have received this note from someone themselves). And the only time I've experienced similar here is from an Australian owner of a resort here who, when compelled to return my deposit, gave me what turned out to be one of those fake paper $100 replicas they have here for ceremonial purposes.
The experience I had was when I was given my first month's pay at a school in cash. I was given the cash in an envelope, and when I took the notes out to check them (mostly $100's), there were several with large and very obvious marks. I asked the staff member to swap them out, which she did from the stash in the safe. There was no animosity and it was done with a smile. I am not being cynical and I'm sorry you see it this way. I use ABA transfer 99% of the time and the only cash I carry is Riel, so it's not an issue for me anymore. Thanks for watching, Robert.
The implication here is that this is a common occurrence as the locals are trying to hoodwink foreigners by passing on these blemished banknotes - in fact you say this explicity. It's not my experience and in fact I'm impressed by the honesty here, i.e. when I've inadvertently paid too many Riel and am immediately handed back the surplus. The only problems I have experienced here are from Barang, and I'm sure you'll admit that this place is a draw for some fairly wayward foreigners, much more desperate in every way than locals.
The habit is for westerners here to make these (often derisory) generalisations about a developing country without balancing it with a comparison with their own (!) under the overall tone of 'it's-a-bit-dodgy-here-compared-to-where-we-come-from-but-as-the-frontiersman-I-am-I'll-put-you-right' without acknowledging the great advantages of being here, and that includes the people who really as a whole don't resemble the types implied by your comment, and whose mitigating struggles over the decades are never mentioned either.
Stop your pathetic "virtue signaling..." it's repugnant ! it is NOT a slur... You are misquoting her, she did not say ALL Khmers do this ! There is NO "implication" here... It is a concern to be watching for "unique" to Cambodia... It is also common knowledge with those experienced in Cambodia, just watch other travel videos... Time for you to attend a critical thinking workshop..😜. So stop your dribble and "get a life..." Sounds like you belong in Portland or San Francisco...
@@ForRiel Claire your patience and tolerance with YT fooooools is beyond gracious ! I have to wonder if these (thankfully !) rare fooools appreciate your selfless contributions to the Khmer community.
Wow...I never thought of courier services. Quick too, huh? My concerns are out of country to Cambodia postal delivery...
Yes for internal things, the courier services can't be beaten. Out of country you can use the postal service but if it's important, i.e. documents, I would use DHL or similar. If you use the postal service be sure to have the sender write your phone number very clearly on the outside of the package. 🙏 🍺🌴🙂
Hi Claire, thanks for the great tips! I'm going to Siem Reap soon , do you know if there is Grab at the Siem Reap Airport? If so do you know where the pickup point is? Thank you
Hi James, there will be Grab and also PassApp - either is fine. Siem Reap airport is really small - they will find you, no worries!
Moving to Koh Rong Samloem from the UK in April, can you do a video on business visa and how to apply please, I'm getting a visa on arrival as I am travelling around the country for 30 days before I start my job so planning to go to extend it when I get to Phnom Penh.
Arrival to Cambodia on an e visa don't know what the requirements are don't come on a tourist visa or you will have to do a land border crossing to get a e Visa
G'Day mate , just get an ordinary E-visa $35 on arrival , which you can extend or change later , check out the visa forums they give all the info on all types . Catchya
Yep, the others who commented have it right. Make sure you tick the box for ordinary visa not tourist visa on the arrival card. Are you going to work as a diving instructor on KRS? I guess your employer will handle the extension for you but just check that the timing will work in terms of sending your passport off for the extension.
Have u used or do u use google translate or /and what do u think of the translating gadgets?
It works really well, enough to get you out of trouble
Hello Claire and thank you very much uch for your great vidéos ! Just want to ask about the bank ! What currency are usually the accounts in ? U$ or Rielle or both ? When you withdraw can you choose what currency you want ? And last can we easily transfer what ever amount is on the account when we leave the country ? Thank you and have a good day in Siem Reap 😊
We transfer over from AUD to USD then get it out in Riel. We don't transfer larger amounts so we haven't transferred out before.
How do you go see the property if they don’t tell you the location? I mean after they show it to you you can make a note of the phone number outside then call the owner direct anyway
You contact the realtor and they organise to meet up and they take you to the apartment. Highly recommend going through a realtor or Realestate agent as they you can get then to negotiate with the owner for you, and also help if there are any problems.
Good morning, very nice, may I ask, as I am starting to learn Khmer language using the currency. What are the most common Khmer Bank notes used daily and does anyone actually use the 100, 500 and 1000 Riel notes? Thank you
They are all fine to use and you get 5000R to and they are fine to use As that’s only $1.25. The condition of them can be terrible and still usable
@@garyroberts3859 I appreciate your response however I am asking about which are most commonly used, as I take in information about the price of various services and products there it appears that the 100 and 500 Riel notes are useless for the most part. Just curious, thank you
@@davidaldrich2154 G'Day mate , all notes are used from 100 - 200 - 500 1000 5000 10000 20000 , most local markets wont use the smaller ones as much but you will see shopping malls using cash registers will definitely use them as the exact change will be given via the register calculation , thats how they get around the dual currency and thats why you get the smaller notes , the worst part is you'll end up with a fist full of small notes lol i just give them to the less fortunate , hope this helps a little , Catchya
@@heymaddo Thank you, yes it does help.
You'll end up with a huge pile of 100 Riel notes that you'll receive as change. We would always remove these and keep in a pile at home until we had a big wad, then we'd give that away to someone when it got to around 5cm thick. Everything else, 500 up, is worth keeping on you. The 1000 are particularly useful and handy as the are $0.25 and it's an easy fraction to work with.
I have 3 iPhones is it worth keeping them all, I only need one but I have 2 spares.
I was wondering if I would get much money for them if I was desperate lol! Or is it better to sell them here in the uk first to get the best money?
I'd bring one of the extra phones. It's handy to have a back up, and if you end up in a place that doesn't have internet, you can get a sim for your secondary phone and use it as dedicated hot spot. Depends how much they are worth, as I guess the cheapest smartphone could also perform that function.
I'd like to know how incoming small parcels from eg Australia are treated .. are there big import duties/delays? There's a few odd things I'd like sent over.
Most people use a third party such as Australia Cambodia Express or Cambo Quick with very good results.
does it mean, that a single person visiting cambodia, who knows nobody, and is involved in an accident, will not get blood if needed from a hospital.
If you have insurance you will be fine. Chances are as a foreigner you'd be taken to one of the international hospitals, treated, then billed. It's mainly locals that are impacted by this way of operating.
Thank you Claire. Good and useful information, I usually visit once a year, I will be there 5 weeks start of next year. I think I will try to open an ABA account when I am there, could not do it online. Do you recommend getting money exchanges done at the bank or at those stalls? Thank you in advance.
Make sure you enter Cambodia on an ordinary visa as you can open an ABA account on a tourist visa. We brought USD that we had purchased with AUD in Australia, then deposited this into the ABA account. Buying USD in Australia before we left meant that we could search for a good rate and not be time-pressured into having to take a lower rate. Thank you so much for watching! 🍍🍺😁🙏
@@ForRiel thank you Claire, I will be coming from the US, so I hope it can all be similarly aligned. Several years ago, I was able to obtain the Cambodian ID card, since I was born there, so I think I can use that also. Thanks!
Hi!
I just want to jump in and say that it's really easy to create an ABA account in any city which has an office.
All they ask for is your passport and the address of the hotel you're staying at. Just bring the business card of the hotel.
Any type of visa will do, I think.
You also have to pay 5 USD for making a VISA-card, if you want that.
P.S. It's not strictly necessary to make a bank card. I don't use it a lot, but instead the account number.
In most cases, I simply use the ABA-app on my phone, and order it to release a given amount of USD at the ATM, upon clonking in a four-digit code in the booth.
If you don't cash out the money, the order will automatically be cancelled after 24 hrs
You must have some dollars deposited in your account beforehand, of course.
It's also highly recommended to cash out the money in Riel-denominations, since the notes will always be fresh, and with the correct exchange rate. D.S.
Great info Claire. Is it better to use AirBnB or some other sources if I need a two bedroom type place to rent for about 15 days, with a washer, dryer and refrigerator. We are a party of three.
Are you going to be in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap? There are Air BnBs in PP but less so in SR. There is a place in SR called Kool Apartments that do weekly rentals. It's on Road 6 near the Angkor Market supermarket. They have a range of different rooms and there are two pools in the complex. It's a bit of a rabbit warren but could work for you. goo.gl/maps/qvwNsMEEiSsNAujM6. They are cheap, so you could get two rooms side by side.
Not sure if you can see this: facebook.com/groups/cheaprentsiemreap/permalink/2683958031740351/?sale_post_id=2683958031740351
Claire, in PP. As long as the place is clean and complies with Western standards. Has two rooms and a fridge that we can use. Kitchen would be nice so we heat up some food. I guess we are looking to rent a discounted apt/condo by the week or 30 days at the most. Maybe sublet the place for. 15-21 days.
Yes I like this place with washer, dryer, fridge, Ibut i'm looking for something in PP near Nagaworld and National Museum.
Hi Claire , can you suggest a good Telco while in Cambodia ?
Hi Carl, we used Cellcard and were really happy with it. We were on a plan that cost $1.25 a week and the unused data rolled over each week. Amazing value! 😁🍍🙏
I'm still having issues with driving directions since these guys here they drive opposite sides.
Oh yeah. Roundabouts are the worst, it feels so wrong! 🤣🙏🍍
l'm interested sir
Thank you
If you are just travelling here long-term but don't have a bank account and get a dodgy dollar note, can you return it to the bank branch? Would they accept it?
Yeah, banks will accept them, they might just subtract a little from the rate they offer to compensate for the dodgy note. 🙂🙏
Hi very interesting video. Do you know what is the best bank for opening a terme account?
I'm not sure what a terme account is, but I recommend ABA for regular day-to-day banking. Very good service and app.
@@ForRiel I meant which bank offers the best annual interest to save money on a term account (deposit account).
Ah, I am not sure about that. I imagine they would all be quite similar in terms of interest rates.
Hi... for riel...my question is...if Cambodia accept Australia dollars?
You can easily change them here, but you can't use them to buy things.
Love you vlogs Claire and Todd. However, to be absolutely honest, Claire is 🔥. Claire, I mean this with absolute respect... but to be truthful, there is something about you! Todd, I mean no offense to you, but Claire, is gorgeous!!!! I mean it!!!
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You are very kind and had me laughing with this comment! 🤣🤣🤣😁🍺🍍🙏
does cambodia have GPS or something? cuz the roads have no names or something thank you
Yes GPS works well but you need to know where you're going on the map so you can drop the pin there for the driver. Many roads with no name, and many in Siem Reap are known by the name of the first hotel to be established there. 😁🙏
I actually came here with $50 US notes which have the smallest of nicks and tares. I actually don't have a lot of money other than those. I'm actually not sure what to do (I don't have a bank card)
I was hoping that the aversion to almost-perfect notes wasn't that widespread. The plan actually was to use them to pay my rent and renew my VISA.
@Wal Sakaluk : Good to know, thank you.
It turns out that there are supermarkets which aren't too afraid of insignificant tears on notes. Really they aren't too bad, but some places are very enthusiastically adverse to imperfect notes.
I have found Acleda bank to be the least picky about accepting notes. Open an account there.
@@spinalcrackerbox Do you mean the branch in Siem Reap in particular?
I may well do that... but I don't have a work contract yet or a year visa
Yeah it is so annoying! Most banks will accept the notes but they'll offer you a little less to compensate for the imperfections. They're certainly not worthless. Some landlords will accept the notes and deposit them into their account through an ATM as described.
Hi Claire... Do most Cambodian people use WhatsApp for day to day communication ?
Yes, a bit. They prefer messenger or telegram though.
Do you know if I Can I get Lexaro or the generic form of it in Cambodia?
Sorry unsure about that, maybe ask on one of the Facebook groups. Ps just delete the trolls 🙄
Thanks for watching and commenting 🙂
May I ask for a recommendation for expat insurance?
Health insurance? If you are under 70, try Safetywing insurance. When covid hit, the government required new arrivals without proof of covid coverage to buy Forte Insurance. I don't know the cost of Forte, but my cousin had to buy it and I thought she said it was $200 a month. I think Safetywing tops out at $145 if you are under 70. Good luck!
@@davem.792 Thanks
We used SafetyNet. Thankfully we never had to claim from them, but they were recommended to us by someone who had a bad leg injury from a moto crash - four breaks, I think. He was very happy with the service they provided and the care he received under the insurance. Another benefit of using this company is that they are affiliated with Forte which is highly regarded. I'm not sure if you can purchase it outside Cambodia as we bought ours while we were there.
@@ForRiel thank you
What the main messaging app in Cambodia? Is it Line?
Telegram and WhatsApp
can you buy data only sims in cambodia for internet ?
I don't know. I've always had one with a phone number attached.
its a sim so it has a number to work on the network @@ForRiel
LoL the ATMs don't accept dodgy notes, they have to be pristine for the machine to accept them
In my personal experience of depositing imperfect notes maybe 10 times, they have never been declined by the ATM. In fact, sometimes the ATM was the source of the dodgy note. Perhaps you use a different bank. Perhaps your notes were in worse condition....
Are you guys back in Cambodia?(
No, sadly not. We are in Brisbane, Australia right now.
@@ForRiel I really appreciate you guys still putting out videos I miss Cambodia best part of my week watching your videos thank you
Which bank has the cheapest ATM fees?
I'm not sure about that, but it also depends on which one will let you withdraw the most because of the transaction fees. People say Bred bank is good in terms of fees.
Thank you very much for sharing.Do you perhaps have a Facebook page that I can follow and inbox you for advice.I will be moving to Cambodia Jan 2024 God willing.Thank you kindly.
Thank you for watching! We have Facebook and Instagram.
Thank you
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Hi Cambodians, pls help, i have recieved job offer as assistant professor in it computer sciences, i will shift to Cambodia from india with family of 4, including 2 school going children, will rent 2 bhk rooms house in Phnom city, will also need to save money after taxes, what monthly salary i should ask from employer , thnks n pls help, salary in USD
Maybe start with a big round figure and see how it goes. I have no idea, but why not start with $4000? See what they say. :)
@@ForRiel thanks, you are right i will start with 4000 usd to 3000 usd monthly,
If they don't pay atleast 3000 usd monthly then i will reject
Or 3509 usd monthly shd b bottom figure for expat??
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nice tip on ride service many westerners wont do as they think itsa scam most of western culture is a scam !!!!!!! keep up the good work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks so much, Dennis! 🍍🍺🙏😁