Cambodia

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To have holidays in Cambodia with children is not the thing that the protective or nervous parents can do. However, it has become a popular family holiday destination. While many Cambodians are inclined to pinch children with affection upon meeting them, they certainly love children. There are no protections in Cambodia the Western families are accustomed to and there are no special provisions, concessions and facilities provided for little travellers that are otherwise treated as adults. For example, children that share an adult’s seat on public transport can travel free otherwise they must pay the same fare as adults. Similarly, hotels generally charge an extra $10-15 per night for an extra bed for children in a room. However, you can take their passport as the proof, children younger than 11 are granted free admission to the Angkor Heritage Park.

Although car seats are not available for children in Cambodia, it is still worth hiring a private car with a driver for getting around rather than relying on public transport. The rented car provides families with the freedom to stop for breaks when it’s necessary and makes it easier to get to restaurants.  For accommodation, look for places that have swimming pools as the Cambodian heat is exhausting. If your hotel does not have its own swimming pool, many hotels charge daily fees of around $5 per person for non-guests to use the pool facilities.

Items like formula, pre-made baby food and disposable diapers are available at stores in large towns and cities, but make sure to bring your own if you’re staying outside of these areas. For older children who are not picky eaters, rice and noodle-based dishes shouldn’t be a problem when you want to eat out. Other widely available foods are stir-fried dishes, fried potatoes and basic meals with chicken.

As mentioned previously, there are no specific activities that cater for children. With a little resourcefulness, vacation in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in particular won’t be a burden. Although books for kids and western toys are limited in stores, it is possible to find cheap plastic toys in local markets. You may leave the toys you’ve purchased locally for Cambodian children at the end of your stay.

You can organize elephant rides across the Angkor Thom causeway or the Bayon circuit, that are both once-in-a-lifetime experiences. It’s worth to hire the guide as most children enjoy hearing the stories about the gods and demons while exploring Ta Prohm’s expansive forest of trees and being photographed with Angkor Wat’s traditional dancers. Other options for children include quad bike or horseback explorations through Siem Reap’s rice paddies; picnics and fishing are familiar options in the country.  Children can also play local games with Cambodian children who welcome foreign visitors with enthusiasm. Popular traditional games include marbles and flip-flops, while only girls participate in skipping. Finally, the beaches at Ochheuteal or Sokha in Sihanoukville are the ideal end to a trip where everyone can relax and unwind before his flight back home.