The more I travel internationally, the more annoyed I get each time I return home and am faced with paying an exorbitantly large cellphone bill.
Because I’m home often enough, I can’t just cancel the plan straight up. A US cellphone, for better or worse, is necessary for me.
But after being away for a large chunk of the month, or sometimes even the whole month, why should I have to pay the same amount of money as someone else if I’ve only used my phone a fraction of the amount?
I’m throwing money down the drain, and it’s constantly irked me. But unfortunately, because I needed to keep a US cellphone, I was stuck, a slave to Sprint.
Until now!
Enter Chris, the brains behind the terrific site Mr. Everyday Dollar and avid EPoP reader. When he mentioned to me that there was a much cheaper, much better options, my ears perked up.
As he began to give me more and more details, my smile grew wider and wider. Chris had finally give me the answer to my “throwing money away” cellphone woes.
The best part: while Chris’s “secret weapon” is especially beneficial for people who frequently travel overseas, it can actually save money for anyone, even people who never set foot outside of US soil.
If you travel internationally you probably fall into one of two camps when it comes to connectivity.
The first camp – incidentally, my group of folks – is when you tell your friends and family, “I’m going on vacation, don’t contact me!” and power off your phone for two weeks on the way to the airport.
The second camp, increasingly popular, is when you find yourself breathing into a paper bag a few days before your trip, your mind racing with thoughts on how you’ll stay connected.
Suspending Service
If your preference is to tuck your phone away when you travel, you may want to suspend your service to save some dollars on your monthly bill.
The top three U.S. carriers – AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint – will allow you to suspend your service, but unfortunately it may not be worth it because they all charge ridiculous fees to do so.
Thankfully, there may be a better way.
Consider Switching to Ting
Ting is a wireless service provider that utilizes Sprint’s network. They’re unique because they allow you to pick your plan based on what “size” service you think you’ll use, from XS to XXL, as shown below:
The awesome thing about Ting is that they’ll automatically bump you up or down in “size” based on what you actually use during the month.
Paying for what you ACTUALLY use; what a novel idea!
Many folks who sign up choose to pick XS across the board, forcing Ting to bump them up in size as they use minutes, messages and data over the course of a month.
Ting is a great option for travelers who don’t plan to roam with their phone abroad: because their usage will be lighter than normal they’ll automatically save money.
Additionally, if you’re traveling for months at a time and won’t be using any services, you have three great options with Ting:
Suspend your device – the phone will be deactivated but the number will stay active, and you’ll only be billed an active device fee of $6 a month.
Do nothing – if you really won’t have any usage, you’ll be billed the $6 a month for an active device.
Cancel your account – Ting is a no-contract service so you can cancel your account at no-cost. The downside is that you’ll lose your phone number, which to some people might not matter.
Now that we’ve figured out the best, cheapest cellphone option for when you’re home in the US, what about options for staying connected with friends and family (and possibly even work) while you’re abroad?
If you plan to stay connected while traveling abroad, there are a few techniques that will allow you to communicate back home and leave you with some extra money to enjoy your vacation.
Free WiFi
You’ll find you won’t pay a dime to talk to friends and family back home if you take advantage of free WiFi – available at coffee shops, hotels, and hostels, amongst others – and use apps that let you communicate over the internet.
Voice Calls
There are two great options to place voice, or video, calls for free over that free WiFi:
Google Voice – allows you to make free voice calls to regular numbers. Calls can be made from a tablet or laptop through Gmail or the Google Voice website. You can claim a free domestic phone number and use it when you travel to call back home, or you can port your current number to Google Voice and then forward it to your phone.
Skype – offers the ability to make free calls from a phone, tablet, or laptop as long as both users are on Skype.
Messaging
Like calls, there are a few awesome ways you can message your contacts completely free:
Google Voice – allows you to send and receive traditional text messages through Gmail, the Google Voice website, or the app that’s available for iOS and Android devices.
WhatsApp – recently acquired by Facebook, is the easiest messaging app to get started with. It works by scanning your contacts for others that use the service. Chatting is speedy, plus you can send short recorded voice messages, videos, and photos which is perfect for travelers! There’s other popular messaging apps – WeChat, Kik, Line, Telegram – but they’re underwhelming in comparison.
Viber – has many of the same messaging options as WhatsApp but offers free voice calls if both users are on the app.
Using a SIM card
While using free voice and messaging apps over free WiFi may meet your connectivity needs, a nice complement is to buy and use a SIM card. A little chip that you insert into your phone when you’re abroad, they’re available for $5-$20 and usually include minutes and data.
Having a phone to use locally in a foreign country can be extremely useful to make calls for things like reservations and tickets, and to be able to use Google Maps to help navigate a city, although getting lost can be fun too!
The Bottom Line
If you are person that wants to disconnect from your normal day-to-day life when you travel, by choosing a flexible and inexpensive provider like Ting you’ll save money off your monthly bill.
If you choose to, you can still stay in touch with people back home by taking advantage of free WiFi and services like Google Voice and apps like WhatsApp.
Happy (frugal) trails!
What cellphone service do you currently use? Are you eyeing a switch to Ting? How much would it roughly save you? It will most likely switch me at least $25 per month!
Chris runs the blog Mr. Everyday Dollar, which publishes practical articles for people striving to improve their personal finances. Individuals and families can use his tips, tutorials, and resources to make decisions on how to budget, save, invest and spend for the long haul. He’s also a big fan of Clark’s Desert Boots.Connect with him on Twitter @MrEverydayDolla or Facebook.
UPDATE: If you want to see even more gift ideas, check out our brand new list for 2014. Of course, all the ones on this 2013 list are still highly recommended as well!
We’re only a couple weeks away from Christmas and you’re still clueless about what to get your favorite traveler.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
From close to $400 to less than $1, we’ve picked out travel gifts that fit in any budget.
And with gifts ranging from backpacks to fuzzy socks, from noise canceling headphones to scratch maps, there’s something here for everyone.
We even brought in a fashion expert for a section solely devoted to women travelers!
So start shopping, and happy holidays!
A Travel Backpack
This is the most important piece of travel gear you’ll own, and so it pays to spend some money and find yourself a good one.
Personally, I always recommend traveling with just carry-on for a few reasons.
With almost every airline charging for checked bags, it saves you money.
It saves you a ton of time. Once the plane lands, you walk off and you’re done. No waiting in line.
It saves you a lot of hassle while you’re actually traveling. Simply throw your pack on your back and go.
I’ve got two recommendations, depending on what you want.
This is the pack I’ve been traveling with for the last 2 years.
It’s lightweight, roomy, durable and comes with an super handy 15 liter day pack (that can zip on to the main pack).
Also, the backpack straps can be stowed away and hidden so they don’t get caught.
While it’s “technically” too tall for carry-on dimensions, I’ve had it on over 30 flights (including with strict airlines like Air Asia and RyanAir) and never once had a problem.
If you want a great, durable pack that you don’t have to sneak by the gate agents, the Tortuga is the pack for you.
I recently got my first Tortuga, which is produced by EPoP’er Fred Perrotta, and can attest to it’s roominess.
In fact, the Tortuga is the largest legal carry-on pack you can buy.
It’s unique design allows you to maximize the space available while still being carry-on dimensions, and it comes with tons of different pockets and compartments, perfect for keeping your stuff organized while on the road.
It’s also got a heavily padded shoulder straps and hip belt, which makes it more comfortable than most other backpacks on the market.
If you want a cheaper pair that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles but are still noise-canceling, I’ve heard good things about Monoprice’s headphones.
Work from anywhere with you Macbook Air, the world’s best travel laptop.
Really want to spoil your favorite traveler? Get him the best travel laptop available.
Does everyone NEED a computer for traveling? Probably not, but if you do, there is nothing that comes close to the slim, light, and yet powerful Macbook Air.
As someone who used to carry around a 15″ Macbook Pro, my back thanks me now!
Perfect for when you can’t sleep and want to stay up all night reading your guidebook, planning your next day’s excursion (and those around you aren’t quite as excited)!
To this day, my absolute favorite travel book of all time.
What can get better than a professor cramming a group of students in to a sleeper bus for a 6 week traveling summer course, visiting 30 states and 10 national parks, all while reading some of the greatest writers of the modern generation?
Since the course is no longer offered, take the next best thing and read the book!
For the more discerning gender, personal favorites brought to you by world traveler Heather Sherry, the mastermind behind the popular fashion blog Sartorial Stripes.
If you want a legging that will be comfortable on the lane but can also be worn out to dinner with boots or heels than these J. Crew pixie pants are the perfect choice.
I can personally attest to the versatility of these pants.
You get the best of both worlds; the feel of a leggings but the look of pants!
I consider myself The Practical Traveler. I do what I can to save money while also maximizing convenience and fun.
I have had a few extra expenses as of late which led me to try and save money on a recent trip.
That is when I realized how AMAZING and flexible the Chase Ultimate Rewards system is for travel whether you’re booking Flights, Hotels, Cars, Activities, or Cruises.
A few weeks ago I went on a trip to Kansas City for the lovely wedding of a couple friends.
I didn’t know anybody there, so I’d have to get a rental car.
Using Points for Getting a Rental Car
Since I was trying to save money, I decided to try to use my points to snag a rental car.
I’m sitting on a stash of Amex and Chase points, so I decided to do a little digging and see which offered the best value.
I bet you can guess which one won out!
Using Amex Points- A Major Hassle
With AMEX MR the booking process is a bit odd as you get an electronic certificate to redeem.
5,000 points will land you a $50 certificate, 7,500 for a $75 certificate and so on.
All point levels are a 1 cent per point value.
Not great.
You are instructed to search for the vehicle you want (Avis, Enterprise, and National are the only three options) and you have to search on the actual rental car site.
Once you find what you are looking for, return to the MR site to buy the proper e-certificate with points, then go back to the rental car site and make your purchase entering in the proper number from the certificate on checkout for your credit.
Sound like a hassle?
That’s because it is.
Using Chase UR Points- A Treat
I decided to check out the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal to see what they had to offer and boy, am I glad I did.
First, with Chase UR everything is done through one website.
No searching rental car sites, no certificates.
Second, no rigid point tiers.
You only use the amount of points required for the booking or less if you choose!
Select Flights, Hotels, and Car Rentals from the drop down.
Perform your search for a car.
On the Chase UR site you get the ultimate selection. You can choose from Thirfty, Dollar, Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, Budget, National, and Avis.
As you can see, the information is posted in a nice grid letting you know how many points or how much cash it will cost you for each vehicle tier under each company.
This is where the magic of Chase UR really shines.
When you find the vehicle you would like to rent and select Payment Options you see a new section open.
This section contain your option for car redemption.
You’re given 3 options:
using all points,
all cash
or points + cash!
Start adjusting the amount of points in the left box and the cash in the box on the right automatically adjusts.
The great thing about this is you can use any amount of points between zero and the full amount needed for your purchase!
Any person who has ever joined the points/miles game knows that orphan point totals are common.
“How am I ever going to use 2,374 points?”
If they are Ultimate Rewards points, Chase handles that issue masterfully.
Since you can use any amounts of points you want, you’re never left with stray points!
The points are also worth a fixed value of 1.25 cents per point, which 25% more valuable that AMEX MR in this situation.
Once you decide on the points you want to use, simply select Add to Cart and checkout when you’re ready.
Just like that, I was able to achieve my two goals:
Use my orphan Chase points.
Save $58 on my car rental.
Bonus: Quick Tip for Getting a Hotel
I also needed to find a hotel in Kansas City, so I checked out a few options for booking hotels with reward points.
In the end I thought they weren’t worth the cost in points, so I opted to use Priceline to book the hotel.
If you go the Priceline route, you should definitely use a really helpful site called Bidding Traveler, which will show you the lowest prices that get accepted for cities around the world.
Accepted bids on Priceline can be over 50% off the regular rate, saving you a huge chunk of money.
Final Word(s)
Using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a car rental is the ultimate way to save a few bucks, use orphan points and book with the complete ease.
The $58 I saved on a car rental?
I was able to use that money for dining and drinks over the weekend with my friends, which took a lot of strain off my weekend budget.
It was a wedding trip, after all, and weddings are about celebration.
Who wants to spend that kind of trip thinking about expenses?
Have you ever used your Chase UR points for something other than a transfer to a partner? If so, what did you find to be the best use?
Renting a car can often be confusing, frustrating, and worst of all, expensive. But it doesn’t have to be.
Because of the dynamic price-gouging nature of car rentals, the tips below could end up saving you over 50% off the “regular” price.
And with all these savings, you may actually find renting a car enjoyable…as long as you keep an eye on the speedometer!
1. Deny the insurance
I get it: you’re not a risk taker and you want to be covered. No worries!
If you’re renting a car in the United States and already have car insurance, your car insurance should cover a rental car (just call to make sure).
If you are renting in the US and don’t have car insurance, book your rental car with a credit card that offers supplemental insurance as a perk. This includes all Visa signature cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase British Airways, or Hyatt credit card, and many World Mastercards as well.
If you’re renting internationally, the supplemental insurance that the credit card offers usually becomes primary insurance, and so once again, you’ll be covered.
2. Say no to the GPS
You don’t have to turn the clock back to the 20th century and use only a map and the stars, but don’t get the GPS the rental company offers. If you’re renting in the US, simply use your smartphone’s map function.
This option is also available when renting internationally as well. Instead of a $13 a day GPS, get a new SIM card for your phone (make sure your phone is unlocked first).
In most countries, $15 will get you data plan large enough to use the map for a few days and also be able to answer email and check Facebook!
3. Fill up where it’s cheapest
A no brainer. But oftentimes, especially when traveling between countries, you aren’t aware of the difference in gas prices, which can be dramatic. Do your homework ahead of time.
In Spain, the gas prices hovered around $7.50 a gallon. Insane, right?
That’s what I thought until I got to Portugal, where I was paying $8.50 a gallon!
I was cursing myself for not filling up at the border and determined to not make that mistake again. I put in just enough to roll out of Portugal on fumes and fill up at it’s much cheaper Iberian neighbor!
4. Use Rentalcars.com or Kayak as a starting point but always check the actual rental car websites.
Using Rentalcars.com or Kayak or any other search engine is a great way to find out a decent range of what you should pay for a rental car. However, always make sure to actually check the rental car companies websites as well.
On my last trip, rentalcars.com wanted 192 euros for a 10 day rental from Europcar. When I went to Europcar’s actual site, the same rental priced out at 150 euros, a whopping 25% less.
A few minutes of work can save you a nice chunk of change, especially on long rentals.
5. Avoid airport pickup
It’s not always the most convenient, but if you can avoid picking up the car at the airport location, you can save some big money.
Most rental car companies will place a charge on to your rental for picking it up at the airport, sometimes up to $30.
Instead, save those shekels and head to a secondary location to pick up the car. If you’re in a big city, there should be plenty of options and they should be located conveniently around public transport.
Hop on the metro, get away from the airport, spend the extra money on a nice lunch, and then pick up your car.
6. Always return the car full
Fill ‘er up!
This has to be one of the biggest scams out there, right up there with the Nigerians princes offering you millions for your bank account information.
The rental car companies will charge you 2x or 3x more than the gas station for a gallon of gas, so if you don’t return the car full, you’ll be paying HUGE amounts to have them fill it.
Also, never agree to pre-pay for gas. You’ll be charged upfront for a full tank of gas and unless you return it completely empty, you’re losing money.
Instead, simply opt for the “return on full” option…and then make sure it’s full!
7. Earn bonus frequent flyer miles for your rental
Before renting, always make sure to check the Frequent Flyer Bonuses website to see what type of bonuses are being offered by each car rental company.
All you’ll have to do to get the bonus(es) is give them your frequent flyer number when renting the car and it should post automatically.
Who doesn’t love free miles!
8. Grab a discount code
Rental car companies are always offering special discounts for all types of things, from business rentals to AARP members.
A simple Google search of “(Your Car Rental Company) discount code” will return a ton of hits. Look through the first few sites and see what type of codes there are. Then, use those codes to get up to 50% off your rental!
9. Use hotel status to score perks
Oftentimes, if you have status with a hotel chain or two, you can score some perks with the rental car companies as well. For example, my Gold Status with Hilton earns me a 25% discount with most major car rental companies.
Hotel status can also earn you perks like free upgrades or a free GPS rental (while I don’t recommend paying for GPS, if it’s free, take it!).
These extra perks MAY be stackable with promotions offered by discount codes, meaning you’d be able to use your status to get the perks AND use the discount code you found online. Call the company up to make sure.
If they aren’t stackable, simply choose the one that is the best offer.
10. Don’t speed
As someone who has racked up speeding tickets in multiple countries, do as I say and not as I do.
There’s nothing worse than opening an envelope from the Victoria state police four months after your vacation has ended and being hit with a couple hundred dollar speeding ticket.
Of course, if you aren’t planning on returning to that destination for awhile, and the statue of limitations might be over by then, and you have a significant other who could rent the car in their name next time, then…maybe speeding isn’t so expensive after all.
Final Word(s)
As long as you do a little bit of homework, renting a car should never cost you an arm and a leg. Just denying the insurance they push on you can save you a huge amount of money.
Couple that with using your own GPS, scoring a discount code or two, and quickly checking multiple websites for the best price and you’re staring down some big savings.
And always remember, return the car on full!
What tips do you have to save money on car rentals? Do you have a memorable car rental experience? Share them below!
Don’t be confused about what to pack. Grab these 22 essentials and head out!
I’ve done a lot of traveling over the last 3 years and to a range of different climates and locales. But no matter where I go, there are some items that ALWAYS find their way in to my luggage.
Since I travel with just a carry-on 90% of the time, one of my main focuses is finding high quality items that don’t take up a lot of space.
If you’re schlepping around a huge checked bag, or heaven’s forbid two, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. Minimize your stuff and maximize your fun.
Behold, the 22 essential items that I always carry with me whenever I travel.
Luggage
Osprey Farpoint 70 with detachable daypack. The best travel pack out there!
Osprey Farpoint 70– The ULTIMATE pack for traveling. It’s lightweight, roomy, durable and comes with an super handy 15 liter day pack (that can zip on to the main pack). Also, the backpack straps can be stowed away and hidden so they don’t get caught. While it’s “technically” too tall for carry-on dimensions, I’ve had it on over 30 flights (including with strict airlines like Air Asia and RyanAir) and never once had a problem.
Clothing
Dressy or casual, easy slip on and off…these Clark’s Fury Loafers can do it all!
In hot climates, these sweat wicking boxer briefs are an absolute lifesaver!
Clark’s Fury shoes (men)– The perfect traveling shoe. Easy to slip on and slip off for security checks, can be worn casually with shorts or to the nicest restaurants, and takes up very little space in your bag.
Adidas Climalite Boxer Briefs (men)- Traveling to a hot location? Cotton underwear just isn’t going to cut it! These will keep you dry all day and can be washed easily in the sink if need be.
1 pair of heavy socks– You never know when the temperature will drop. If you’re feet are cold, so are you!
A few pair of lightweight socks– Nothing stays wet longer and gets grosser than heavy cotton socks. Grab a few pairs of cotton/mesh/polyester hybrids and thank me later.
Rubber sandals- Wear them in the shower or wear them on the beach. They’re super cheap and pack really easily. Get a pair with a unique design (Go Gators!) and never have to wonder which pair is yours.
Sunglasses– If you’re traveling, it better be to somewhere sunny! I prefer cheapies from a roadside stand over expensive ones because I tend to break/lose/scratch them.
Gadgets
Monster Outlets to Go plus Travel Adapter. Want to charge your electronics? Don’t forget these!
Tripshell World Travel Adapter– Don’t show up in a country unable to charge your electronics. Grab this baby and be safe in over 150 countries. Bonus: It’s got two USB ports to charge phones.
Monster Outlets to Go Power Strip– Provides four outlets and also folds up flat, which minimizes the space it takes up. This means you only have to carry one universal travel adapter and you’ll have 4 plugs available!
EatSmart Digital Luggage Scale- Find out exactly how heavy your luggage is BEFORE getting to the airport. At only 5.4 oz, this won’t be the reason you’re over!
Macbook Air 13 inch– Does everyone NEED a computer for traveling? Probably not, but if you do, there is nothing that comes close to the slim, light, and yet powerful Macbook Air. As someone who used to carry around a 15″ Macbook Pro, my back thanks me now!
Headphones- You won’t make it through an international flight without a movie. I use cheap, basic earbuds but if you’ve got the money, you might want to check out the Parrot Zik (a Gary Arndt favorite) or Bose QuietComfort 15.
iPhone– When trying to save space, nothing does a better job than substituting your old, bulky guidebooks for the convenience of an iPhone and the corresponding apps (if traveling Southeast Asia, I HIGHLY recommend Travelfish apps). I also use this in lieu of a camera most of the time.
Book Light– Perfect for when you can’t sleep and want to stay up all night reading your guidebook, planning your next day’s excursion (and those around you aren’t quite as excited)!
Sleep/Health
Hearos Earplugs- Never leave home without ’em!
Hearos Earplugs– Drown out the crying baby on the plane or the late night parties on Khao San Road.
SleepMaster Eye Mask– Blinds not cutting out the early morning sun? Don these puppies and sleep for days!
Dramamine- The quickest way to make it through a 10 hour international flight? A few Dramamine and a few choice beverages!
Miscellaneous Must Haves
Packtowl Ultralite- Dries quick and takes up no space.
PackTowl UltraLite quick drying towel– When I get home, this is the one item that never gets unpacked, and therefore, I never forget it. Is soft, takes up almost no space and dries in a flash. I’d recommend the XL size. Absolutely essential.
Moleskin Pocket-sized Notebook and pen- There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting in line for a pen to fill out your customs form…to then wait in another line. Slip your Moleskin out of your pocket and always be ready to write things down, from the address of your hotel to a recommendation from a local.
Laundry Bag- Keep your dirty and clean clothes separate so when it comes time to do laundry you’re not stuck sniffing them all! A simple plastic grocery or trash bag works well too.
[Update: Want the newest stuff? Of course you do! Check out our updated Top 10 Things to do in Siem Reap post from May 2015 that includes a professionally edited 2 minute video by clicking here. ]
1. Angkor Wat
Like this list would start with anything else! Usually the only thing people know about Cambodia and certainly the only reason people venture north to Siem Reap is to see this amazing wonder of the world. And you know what? It’s worth it!
Granted, that is a much easier statement to make if you fly in on Air Asia for $60 from Kuala Lumpur (my recommendation) than if you take the hellacious 10 hour bus ride from Bangkok (not my recommendation), but regardless of how you get there, you’ll be blown away.
I could yarn on and on about Angkor Wat, but they say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so I’ll just give you two suggestions and then let the rest speak for itself.
First, definitely get up to go at sunrise. Yes, its 4:30 am and yes that sounds crazy, but it really does make the experience that much better.
Even if the sunrise itself isn’t so great (like the day we went), being at such a sacred and majestic place that early in the morning is magical.
My second suggestion is to not dilly dally outside of the temple after the sunrise occurs. Before you know it, the temples will be overrun with large (and noisy) Korean and Japanese tour groups, even at this early of an hour.
Sneak in to the temple right after sunrise, before the rest get mobilized, and you’ll have this amazing place all to yourself. Those 15 quiet and peaceful minutes I had alone in the temple were hands down the best part of the trip.
2. Rent a driver for the day
This is usually done by people who are going to see Angkor Wat, but it deserves its own special mention because you aren’t just having a person drive you around, you’re having an experience.
Our driver, Bunthy, was one of the nicest, most genuine human beings you could ever meet, and as he was ferrying us around between the ruins, we not only learned a TON about Angkor Wat itself, but also amazing information about Cambodia, it’s history, it’s current political state, Bunthy’s family, the state of education in Cambodia, a normal lifestyle for a Cambodian person, and any other question I could think to fire off to him.
This interaction is the one major advantage to renting a car for the day (prices usually start at $30, but we talked him down to $25 and then ended up giving him a $5 tip anyway!) rather than a tuk-tuk.
You’ll have plenty of opportunities for renting a tuk-tuk around town, and its definitely something you should experience, but for the day trip around Angkor Wat, you won’t be able to converse or learn near as much from your driver, seeing as you’ll be sitting in the back of a noisy, motorbike drawn carriage.
And if you go in summer, as I did, the A/C alone is worth the extra $7.
Get in touch with my good buddy Bunthy and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed! Call or WhatsApp (855)-12-972-469 or even shoot him an email at bunthyme.bm@gmail.com.
3. Eat a frog
I’m no stranger to eating weird foods, but usually its not as enjoyable as it is comedic. Eating a frog is completely different; it’s delicious!
And not in a “it’s delicious for a really weird food” type way, but in a legitimate “I’d love to have 3 frogs for dinner two times a week” type way. As cliche as it sounds, it tastes like chicken, just juicier and more flavorful.
For $1? Looks like I’ll be flying in the staff from Khmer Family Restaurant to cater my next party. Frogs for everyone!
4. Get a fish massage
While the idea originally started on Khao San Road in Bangkok, it has quickly moved across the border and found a foothold in Siem Reap as well. And, believe it or not, it’s even cheaper here!
$1 will buy you 15 minutes and a free beer, so when you ask me why you should put your feet in a tank full of goldfish, my answer would be “why not?” And if you really need a reason, just believe the men when they tell you your dead skin is feeding the gold fish. It’ll placate the animal love in all of us!
5. Eat dinner in a bathtub
Madam Beergarden Under Construction (yes, that’s its real name) is as famous for its awesome food as it is for its crazy décor, and that’s saying something!
While dining on some of the best and cheapest eats in Siem Reap you can “lounge” in a sawed in half bathtub, among other interesting objects that dot the beergarden.
Whether you come for the food or the atmosphere, you won’t be disappointed!
6. Indulge Yourself on Pub Street
One of the good things about Pub Street and the surrounding areai is that most bars 50 cent draft beers for happy hour. An even better thing: Happy Hour lasts “all day” or “from open to close”, depending on which sign you choose to read!
So no matter what time you decide to prowl Pub Street, a 50 cent draft is never far away. I can’t think of a better way to beat the heat than relaxing a street side pub and having a few drafts for less than $2!
Angkor What is the bar that started it all, but really, you can’t go wrong with any of them (I mentioned beer was 50 cents, right)? Here’s a list and map of most of them. And just in case you get lost, the town has now erected a neon flashing sign to point all foreigners in the right direction!
7. Haggle in the markets
Handbags, t-shirts, bathing suits, or live chickens…whatever your fancy, the street markets of Siem Reap have it all. And while the prices are already low by our standards, it’s fun to engage in a little friendly bargaining!
My typical starting point is half of their first asking price. Just remember, these people could use the extra dollar much more than you, so have fun with it, but don’t push too hard.
8. Stay at a boutique hostel
As more and more tourists flock to Angkor Wat, so do the big hotel chains; there is even a Park Hyatt scheduled to open next year!
But with Cambodia being the 3rd most corrupt country in Asia and the gap between the rich and the poor seismic, why not do a small part in giving back by staying at a locally run guesthouse or boutique hostel? Not only will you get a more authentic experience, but the service will be second to none and the price you’ll pay will probably be half of what you’d pay at a Western-run hotel. It’s a win-win for everyone!
There are plenty in the area, but if you want a recommendation, head to the Golden Mango. Sony and his staff are some of the nicest people in the world, the building and pool are really nice, and the free breakfast is both tasty and filling.
9. Ride in a tuk-tuk
There is no more authentic Southeast Asian experience than riding in a tuk-tuk, an open air wagon pulled by a motorbike that serves as a taxi. For traveling through town, where the roads are congested and lanes are just a suggestion, a tuk-tuk will be just as fast as a regular taxi and easily half the price.
Plus, you’ll get to enjoy all the sites, sounds, and smells that make Siem Reap Siem Reap. And if you’re lucky, you may even witness a fistfight (see 0:33 of video below).
10. Eat a traditional Cambodian meal
Cambodian food certainly doesn’t get the publicity that it’s neighbors do but its delicious in its own right. Some people may even prefer it to Thai food as the flavor is more subdued and its certainly less spicy.
Two of the most popular traditional dishes are amok and lok lak. Amok is fish covered in crushed peanuts, coconut milk, and egg, that is wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed, whereas lok lak is a marinated beef stir fry served with special Cambodian seasoning. Both come with rice, as does most every dish in Cambodia.
There is no better place to try these dishes, and much more, than at Khmer Kitchen, a Cambodian-run restaurant right off of Pub Street that is as cheap as it is delicious. Additionally, you’ll get a pretty good rendition of either one of these dishes at the stalls that line the area around Angkor Wat.
Final Word(s)
While Angkor Wat gets most of the publicity, and justifiably so, there are still many really cool and authentic things to do in Siem Reap. So if you find yourself venturing to northern Cambodia to see this amazing Wonder of the World make sure to try out some of my top 10 to make your trip even that much better!
If you’ve been to Siem Reap, what suggestions do you have? Are there things I’ve left out? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!
And don’t forget to check out our updated list (with a much better, professionally edited video) of the top 10 things to do in Siem Reap.
What better way to reminisce about where you’ve been (or show off to others) than a scratch map?
