natwest
backpacker
Posts: 14

#1 Posted: 11/3/2008 - 18:53


I have some doubts on the Cambodia Money article.
So is Cambodia basically operated on three currencies (USD, THB and KHR)?? with everything quoted in three currencies?

What happen to transaction smaller than $1, cos $1 is still quite big for a small item, right? esp in this part of Asia. What happen to a transaction, such as $2.50? Can I use USD COINS in Cambodia?

Do I need to change some Riel? Where can I use Riel? Would it be more beneficial (cheaper) to pay in Riel than USD? cos in most other countries, paying in FOREX usually means paying comparatively more. The vendor inccurs charges on changing currencies.

FYI: I am just going to Cambodia for 5 days.

Lother
flashpacker
Posts: 35

Located in:
Earth

#2 Posted: 11/3/2008 - 21:33


The Thai baht is really only used in places near the border and is definitely not universally accepted in Cambodia, although I'm sure you could also manage to pay with it in tourist-oriented establishments in SR or PP.

To you as a tourist, most prices will be quoted in dollars, but you can always use riel just as well. In any case dollars will always be accepted, and you will get change below $1 back in riel. USD coins are not accepted, and there are no riel coins.

A while back $1 was pretty much exactly 4000R which made transactions simple ($0.5 = 2000R, $0.25 = 1000R etc.), but with the dollar now at around 3900R, I suppose it's getting a bit more complicated.

Vendors do lose some money changing currencies, but for tourist-oriented things it's not usually markedly cheaper to pay in riel. For a short trip like yours it might not be worth the trouble to exchange USD into riel - you'll get some as change anyway. Just take undamaged small USD notes.

As a sidenote, to make things even more complicated, when speaking Khmer Cambodians may also refer to dollars as "rial". This of course is really only an issue if you speak Khmer.

somtam2000
admin
mahout
Posts: 2548

Located in:
Indonesia

#3 Posted: 12/3/2008 - 07:27


As Lother says, no coins.

Any situation where the change is less than $1, you'll get it in riel. Most nearly anything can be paid for in dollars -- which is what most people use as, if nothing else, a few ten dollar nots fit in your wallet better than 30 Khmer notes.

In most cases there is little need to change money into riel as you'll pick up enough as you go (in change) -- a good idea is to arrive in country with 20 or so crisp $1 notes -- evry handy.

Also, never ever accept a torn US note in Cambodia -- you'll not be able to exchange it till you leave the country.

exacto
som tam seller
Posts: 662

#4 Posted: 12/3/2008 - 08:13


As an aside, the ANZ international ATMs in Cambodia dispense US dollar notes, which is quite handy, particularly for people who don't normally operate using US dollars. I've used those ATMs in Siem Reap and PP, but I hear that they are in many other places now as well.