Siem Reap Airport

Found this airport to be very charming and having much more personality than anything we saw in it's neighbor (Vietnam). It is a modern facility - which has kept the quaint Cambodian feel of the early 1900s. A nice variety of food/coffee/sundries outside the gates. And some very nice shops after security. All-in-all very impressive for an airport and tourist market just starting to take off.

Arrived from Lao and was surprised to see a modern terminal building recently constructed no covered walk ways and no bus just a short walk to arrivals. Immigration was okay 3 lots of counters and $40 for a Visa. All taxis are the same price - $5 into Siem Reap as dictated by the government very few touts outside. Departures was again okay modern and clean small duty free shop selling local made items. Watch out for the $30 get out of Cambodia tax.

It's an airport of two distinct halves - the arrivals area is basic and reflects what you would expect of a country as poor as Cambodia and I can only concur with the descriptions above of severe looking officials in Soviet-style uniforms but the departure lounge whilst small is rather nice and the Artisans d'Angkor shop is lovely - make sure you allow time for a rummage! Some beautiful flower beds to ooh! and aah! at on your way to your plane too.

This is the funniest and most antiquated in Asia - not to mention the most expensive to enter and leave. Given the huge passenger numbers using it for access to the Angkor Wat temples I wonder if it isn't time for another upgrade of the current facilities. Immigration control on arrival is carried out by a row of five officials at a counter who process your visa one by one and costs $25. Another gentleman in a Soviet-era uniform then proceeds to meticulously stamp your passport and other paperwork. All painstakingly slow but quite comical. When leaving I would advise plenty of time even for a short flight to Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh as the departures terminal was heaving with passengers who first need to have their luggage screened check-in queue again to pay the $20 airport service charge and then another security check. According to the Bangkok Airways agent this was apparently quiet season !! There isn't much to entertain other than a few free internet desks and the wonderful Artisans d'Angkor shop whose prices are the same as their shop downtown. You can forget about any business class lounge although above the departure gates there is a restaurant. I think most people don't bother anyway as the airport is not a very glamorous experience unlike its bigger neighbours. It's basic but just about does the job but I'd hate to see what's it's like on a busy day.

Very small but immaculate. Staff are very efficient and friendly especially if you smile. Most hotels offer free transfer if you email beforehand. Taxi drivers and touts will try to take you to their hotel which is often overpriced.

Gateway to the fame Angkor Wat in western Cambodia. The airport looked remarkably modern compared to the town of Siem Reap. A little on the small side it is nonetheless cool bright and new. There are no land bridges so you make use of the tarmac alighting and boarding your planes. Customs were cleared quickly and efficiently though the officers may looked stern. Hoards of taxis gathered outside the main door so be warned. Airport has a small waiting area with some shops and a cafeteria so it can get pretty crowded if there are many flights flying off. It takes roughly 20-30 minutes to reach the centre of town via taxi or arranged transport.