1

There are about 2,000 licensed guides in Siem Reap, so they are quite easy to find and hire. You can have your accomodation book it for you, or wait to meet one at the ticketing booth. You don't need to commit to the whole 3 days either, take it day by day and see what you want to do.

You also can go without a guide, just hire a tuk tuk driver to take you around. But they cannot enter and guide you. I like to ask a million questions, so I always hire a guide.

You certainly don't need to hire beforehand on the internet. In fact, I've heard plenty of stories that the driver or guide who is hired actually just takes the "orders" and then turns around and has someone else come to do your tour.

2

there are tuk tuks around all night, just ask one near your guesthouse, no problems, enjoy.

3

Thanks for the responses. Much appreciated.

Is there a place where one can hire a licensed tour guide on the spot early in the morning without booking ahead of time? I've heard that they are not around the temples like in India but is there another spot where some of the guides who are not booked congregate? I'm just afraid that if we don't book ahead of time, we may end up without a guide for the first day and I want to avoid that as we are staying for only 3 full days.

I called my hotel yesterday, but they weren't very helpful.

4

Guides are easy to find, more guides than mosquitos in a swamp. Do not commit to one for 3 days, you can easily do much from a tuk tuk without a guide. Try doing half day excursions by yourself, then if you want more hand-holding hire a guide for the second half of the day.

5

There is ZERO percent chance that you will HAVE to tour the temples without a guide... You will have to go to the central ticket booth anyway or your 3 day pass and if on the off chance that you do not already have a guide..there will be guides there waiting for customers.

An analogy would be like going to a restaurant and they have no food.

Where are you staying that they are not helpful? Really surprised, the people are usually wonderful and extremely helpful.

Worse comes to worst and you feel completely up a creek, send me a PM for the name and contact info of my friend who is a guide. Or I'm sure a lot of other posters here have their favorite guides as well.

For a despot you are unusually meek btw...:)