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amz155
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We'll be in Laos and Cambodia from late Feb to late March. Just wondering how hot/dry it gets during this time. I know I can look up the average temps but I'd like a more personal account. Could we get away with fanned rooms or will we better off with A/C rooms? (We'll be staying in cheaper guesthouses) I know we can wait and see how the climate is when we arrive but trying to come up with a ballpark figure for our required budget and there often seems to be a big difference between a fan and A/C rooms.
Thanks for any input!
amz
#1 Posted: 17/9/2006 - 00:31
Laura_B
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I was in Cambodia end of February this year & it was very hot, even at night time. In both PP & Siem Reap we stayed in places with air con. Whilst I think I could have had a room with a fan, air con was appreciated, especially after a day of visiting the temples of Angkor in the scorching heat. We stayed in a nice guesthouse in Siem Reap for $13, that was for 2 people, it had air con, tv, private bathroom & breakfast thrown in. I think it may be worth paying a few extra dollars for air con. The climate was dry as in no rain, but at the same time very humid. Difficult to adapt to if like me you're from a cold climate. I'm from the UK & we don't experience humid weather conditions very often.
Not sure about Laos, I was there mid January & it was fairly cool at night time, so didn't need air con. I would imagine from late February to late March it will be a similar climate to Cambodia.
If you require a room with air con, I would budget $10-15 per night in Cambodia & Laos.
All the best.
#2 Posted: 17/9/2006 - 01:11
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exacto
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Hi Amz,
Solid advice from Laura_B here. Particularly towards the end of your trip, it will be rolling into the hot season, and the air-con room will make you much more comfortable and able to sleep. We were just in Siem Reap, for example, and while we typically try to get by with a fan room, the a/c there made us much happier. An air con room usually means that other things, like the bathrooms, etc. are much nicer in that room too. I'd say if you can afford it, the a/c in Cambodia will be worth the extra money in Feb and March.
Mountainous Laos, however, tends to be a bit cooler, so it isn't as obvious that you'd need air-con there, particularly in places like Luang Prabang. Regards.
#3 Posted: 18/9/2006 - 00:29
amz155
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Thanks for the great advice. Guess we'll budget in for an A/C room throughout our trip. One more related thing....I've read that in Feb/March Laos can become very heavily laden with smog/smoke as the dead vegitation is burned off. Apparently it can get quite uncomfortable. Of course, I don't know about this personally so I could be completely wrong. Can anybody set me straight or provide some explaining details?
#4 Posted: 18/9/2006 - 06:26
amz155
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So I found where I read about the burning of the rice and forest.....thanks travelfish! But reading about the climate of Laos and Cambodia in Feb/March sounds worrisome what with all the slashing and burning added to the fact that its damn hot to begin with. Travelfish says: "The resulting fires bathe most of Laos (including Luang Prabang) in a layer of smoke which, aside from ruining vistas and photos can become really irritating to the eyes. March to May in Laos -- yuck!" Is it really so unbearable??
#5 Posted: 18/9/2006 - 07:27
Laura_B
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I noticed Cambodia was very dusty in February. So when you're on a moto, use a krama scarff, all the locals use them to keep the sun off your head & face, it also can prevent you inhaling dust from the roads.
#6 Posted: 18/9/2006 - 18:07