You must travel too....

In 2006 I traveled to Siem Reap, Cambodia...and of all my travels, this spot was one of the most interesting places. Siem Reap is both on and off the beaten path in a sense. Most people in the U.S. would never consider traveling to Cambodia, but Siem Reap has a well developed tourist infrastructure, but still maintains a rustic Southeast Asian feel. There are a handful of 5 star resorts (Raffles, Le Meridian), but there are numerous places to stay to fit any budget.

The people are truly friendly as I feel they have not been as influenced by the travel trade as has Thailand and Malaysia; so in a sense, Cambodia is the true land of smiles (which is Thailand's claim to fame). Rarely do you feel like the locals are taking advantage of you, and a nice kicker to your stay is that you will get a personal driver for you entire visit (regardless of where you stay). However, do not be afraid to switch drivers, the quality of your stay is largely dependant on the quality of your driver. I still remember by drivers name, Ni (not sure on the spelling).

The obvious draw to Siem Reap is its proximity to Angkor Wat, so that is why I say it has a well developed tourist infrastructure. You will see the Northern Asian tour companies bringing bus loads of tourists to the major temple locations, but still, the town, the atmosphere, the shopping, all make a trip to Siem Reap worthwhile.

The dinning is actually quite good; there are plenty of European Ex-Pats to satisfy your need for comfort food. The local food is about what you would expect, pretty much standard Asian fair, but there are the eccentric tastes, fried spiders and toads, etc.

Siem Reap is best visited with friends and I highly recommend you make at least a 4 day stop in the town. Siem Reap makes a good side trip to a resort stay in Thailand or Malaysia.