Fly into Siem Reap's 2-year-old Angkor International Airport from nearby Bangkok, Thailand; Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; or Singapore. No direct flights from the U.S.
Visa
Needed but easy to obtain through Cambodia's e-visa program. Get it before arrival for $25 at http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/e-visa/vindex.aspx.
Lodging
Most hotels in Siem Reap are new and less than a mile from the gates of the Angkor complex. Try Tara Angkor (about $90-up, www.taraangkorhotel.com).
Money
Cambodia uses the riel, but it also uses U.S. dollars; no need to exchange money.
Tours
Most tourists to Angkor go as part of a larger tour of Southeast Asia. However, it is possible to fly in on your own and hire an Angkor guide through your hotel.
Tickets
A one-day ticket to Angkor is $20; a 3-day pass is $40; purchase at the Angkor entrance gate; if you're on a tour your guide will take care of this.
Shopping
Siem Reap has nice handicrafts at local markets and roadside shops. Look for textiles, baskets and marble statues of Buddha.
Other tips
• Take a break from the heat every two hours while touring the ruins. Weather can be humid and in the 90s. Wear a hat and sunscreen; carry water.
• Read up on Hinduism and Buddhism and the history of Cambodia to better appreciate what you are seeing.
• Try to shoot Angkor photos in late afternoon when the light is best. Also shoot in black and white for a quaint result.
• Learn a little Khmer language, although most Cambodians who deal with tourists speak some English. For instance, "Angkor" means city. "Wat" means temple.
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