ok GOTCHA! lol, i was brain fried last night when I got home....alright, I am with ya...:--)

So, the quote from Kimsan is that he wanted $55 a day from me. I turned it down.

To be healthy & since I love to cycle at home, I am going to rent a nice bicycle and tour that way around Angkor.

Patrick :-)

I'm sure you will enjoy your bike ride, but you will miss the expertise that a licensed guide provides. Our guide knew the best vantage points at various times of day to see the temples and knew the history. Its unlikely I would have found these spots myself using my guidebooks. A licensed guide in Angkor Wat is a necessity not a luxury. By your title, you must be an expert in advising people. I suggest you take some of your own advice.

A licensed guide fee is set at $35; this guy is quoting $55. Granted the guides are very much hit and miss but someone (in this thread?) has already stated that he was passed off from this guy.

For those paying this elevated fee are you also tipping him?

Thanks dsquared :-)

I probably will do a cycle ride on my last day & find a more affordable guide through my hotel. I am sure that there will be one for a day or 2 that is lower than the $55. And you just mentioned the $35 which I can see doing.

Mahalo from Oahu!

Patrick :-)

PS - Thanks to you as well TheCount2 for your input.

Just to compare apples to apples, Kim San's price includes a SUV. The $35 for a guide isn't inclusive of that - at least, not the last time I checked.

Not sticking up for Kim San as it was my colleague that got fobbed off to another guide but there the prices quoted aren't always similar.

Whether someone thinks a driver is worth $20/day is another discussion. I've seen people doing it in tuk-tuk but the afternoon heat is pretty unbearable. (A bicycle will be almost lunacy.) Tuk tuks are fine for the 2 min ride into town, but that's about it.

I don't entirely agree. I did the tuk-tuk + driver thing in rainy season, when it's glorious and not that hot. It's a much different "up close and personal" feel than being in an enclosed vehicle. I've decided I much prefer doing this and being in a constant temperature, even if a little bit on the warm/humid side, vs jumping from a/c car to hot outdoors, back to a/c car, rinse & repeat. Gives me a headache. I am an avid cyclist but given distances and roads being a bit too crowded without safety lanes for bikes, forego this method of self-transport around Angkor. Usually it's either too hot or too wet for cycling, IMO.

Neither Cycling nor tuk-tuk will come with a guide however, so while cheaper, perhaps best used by those who prefer to study a good guidebook in advance (i.e. Dawn Rooney's book) and self-guide, or have been to the monuments before.

Is it common practice in Siem Reap to tip the tour guide? I have mine booked at $25 per day. What would be an appropriate tip if it is expected?

Did you book with an independent guide or through an agency?

Independent guide named Kanha. Her website is here http://www.angkorjourneys.com/
There are a lot of good reviews for her.

If you're booking straight from the guide, rather than an agency, then why would you tip?

I didn't think that it would be necessary either, but wanted to ask so I would not be disrespectful if a tip was expected.

Everyone has their own views but mine are as follows: When I come to agreement directly with the person giving the service (taxi, guide etc) I don't tip.

If the person giving the service is assigned by a superior (in which case they are contracted and getting only a portion of the payment) then I consider tipping as an option.

A tip might still be expected by the guide. In this case I don't think it's warranted though.

For those who have done the tour of Angkor Wat and stayed in SR, how much time do you think I need to allot to do the area? Right now we have carved out three nights but perhaps we only need two?

Angkor Wat is just one temple among many. It also depends on how you like to travel and share your days between visits and relaxing. I personally recommend 5 days to spend there (I'm serious). If you cannot stay so long, 3 days is certainly the minimum of the minimum. 2 days is crazy IMO.