Has anyone taken primary school aged DC to Cambodia?

[thereinmadnesslies]

I'm considering taking the DC, age 5 and 7 to Cambodia in July. My sister lives there, and I would love to visit. For various complicated reasons most of my annual leave is used up, so I can't go without the DC but could take them over a 12 day period just after they break up In early July which I already have booked off. DH is away so I would be travelling with them on my own.

I've always said that I wouldn't take the DC to Cambodia because of immunisations etc, but this seems like my only chance. I've never been to Asia so it would be a culture shock. The DC are pretty good in Mediterranean heat, but I'm worried the humidity might be hard.

Has anyone else taken DC of a similar age to Cambodia, and how did you find it? Were you permanently on edge about possible dangers like heat, food, hygiene etc? What immunisations did you have? Am I crazy to consider this?

I took my 7 year old there at Xmas. However, we live in China and have been vaccinated against everything!
Would recommend- Hep b and typhoid as a minimum and hand sanitizer is your friend! I always take a small first aid kit with me too.
Malaria tablets are not necessary, but you will need plenty of insect repellant due to possibility of dengue fever.
In Siem Reap and PPenh there are lots of great restaurants and toilet facilities were fine. It is hot and humid and children need to be reminded to drink plenty of water.
Cambodia is a wonderful country with amazing sights and the people are very friendly, gentle and welcoming.

We did siem reap last July with dds aged 4 and 8. We lived in singapore at the time and dh and I had done siem reap and Phnom Penh about 15 years before so knew what to expect. We stayed in a fab hotel with a great guide and driver (so we had water and cold towels in the car the whole time and could leave when we wanted). We did temples early morning til about 11am, then pool, then night markets etc in the evening. We also did local handicraft schools and tonle sap lake. Kids loved it, even ate fried crickets at the side of the road. Food is much more mild than other parts of Asia and it's getting much more westernized. Tbh I don't know many young families in singapore who haven't done siem reap......

We did this when my ds was about eight but we already had vaccines previously with boosters.
It is warm and humid , but as long as you drink plenty you be fine . It will be a cultural shock if kids have never been to this type of country but you and they will adjust very quickly .
Go you have a fab time . Just have the immunisations first , there over very quick and sure they had there baby needles done so no worse than that.

Thanks all three for your messages. I think the length of flight and the immunisations worry me most, I hope the 'culture shock' would be lessened by seeing my sister.

Need to think about it and talk to DH. Thanks for helping me feel braver about it x

Kids are fine on long haul. Make sure the airline you choose has good entertainment systems! Vital. Not sure what the choices will be but probably nothing direct, so you need think about the best route. You need to get to a vaccination clinic quickly to see what you need. Our Doctor's surgery runs one. My DDs have had vaccinations at primary age. Soon forgotten in this house! They wanted the holidays. Just keep it low key and get them excited about them seeing their aunt. Children are very adaptable and will take a different culture in their stride. Have a great time.