bangkok-siem reap-phnom penh-bangkok

Old Jan 12th, 2011, 12:00 PM
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bangkok-siem reap-phnom penh-bangkok

how long is the journey, by coach, from bangkok to siem reap, and from siem reap to phnom penh, and back from pp to bangkok? or maybe better to get a car and driver. about how much would it cost? thanks
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Old Jan 12th, 2011, 12:57 PM
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To get from Bangkok to Siem Reap, it's a two-part journey. You can take a train, bus or mini-bus to the Cambodian border, get your visa nad walk across the border, then a shared taxi or songthew (pick-up truck with benches in the back) to Siem Reap. Basically, it takes a full day. If you have any interest in doing this read www.talesofasia.com for all of the details. There are many scams awaiting the unwary.

A bus or shared taxi from Siem Reap to PP is about 5-6 hours, details are on the website above. The trip back to Bangkok is similar, again, you have to do it in two parts. Vehicles cannot cross the border, so even if you hired a car and driver, they could take you only to the border, then you'd need another from the border on.
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Old Jan 12th, 2011, 03:04 PM
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Last visit Bangkok to Siem Reap 2006. Thought about overland but concern of roads in bad condition and rain season.
Decided to fly prop jet. Nice flight. Plenty cab drivers waiting at air port. Paid about $30 total for driver over 3-4 days to visit sites. Then took Bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh for a couple days then on to Saigon (HCM). Hope this helps your planning
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Old Jan 12th, 2011, 04:14 PM
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Bangkok to the border is 5 hours by bus from Morchit Bus Station in Bangkok. I have done this twice in 2010, and will be doing it again in 2 weeks time. Take the 5:00AM bus, and you are at the border market in Thailand at 10:00AM. Cost is Baht 212.
Then you walk across the border, and avoid all the touts there, and get admitted into Cambodia ( I did Visa on line ) but, some people just get Visa at border.
Then get TAXI from Poipet to Siem Reap for US $45.00. Don't pay any money up front and make certain that you specify that the taxi takes you to your hotel.
Excellent sealed road, and journey takes 2 hours exactly.

Seam Reap to Phnom Penh... I paid US $12.00 on Paramount bus. Took 6 hours with one stop for lunch.

From Phnom Penh back to Bangkok.
I suggest flying .. Try AIR ASIA for good deals.
Would take far too long doing the journey by back by road. Also, when you fly into Bangkok, you should get a 30 days stay in in your passport( depening on your country etc.) 15 days stamp when coming into Thailand by road.
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Old Jan 12th, 2011, 04:23 PM
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If you need any further details , just ask.
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Old Jan 12th, 2011, 05:12 PM
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The flight is the easy way, no doubt, but expensive as Bangkok Air has a monopoly on this route.
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Old Jan 13th, 2011, 03:11 AM
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Initially, I considered flying from Bangkok to Siem Reap, but, Bangkok Air's prices are off the planet.
I could not justify going to Siem Reap if I was flying there.
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Old Jan 13th, 2011, 11:52 AM
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I agree, have a look at Air Asia's prices to PP. Much, much lower than Bangkok Air's to SR.

Maybe you could justify flying in and out of PP for the difference and take ground transport to SR each way. Either direct or around the bottom of the Tonle Sap through Battambang to get a variety and some windshield time.
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Old Jan 13th, 2011, 12:34 PM
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Clifton.
Not a bad idea, but, when the OP arrives in Phnom Penh, they still would have to get to the bus terminal ( I don't even know where it is in PP) Add in a 6 hour trip by bus to Siem Reap, and its not that tempting.
My travel from Hotel in Bangkok to Morchit Bus station was approx 30 minutes, then depart at 5:00AM , arrive at the markets at the border at 10:00AM, allow less than one hour for crossing, and two hours into Siem Reap. I was at Siem Reap at 1:00PM on both occasions that I went by bus.
I doubt that flying on Air Asia into PP would be any faster.

I just looked at Air Asia web page, and the flight from BKK to Phnom Penh would appear to be once daily. Gets in PP at 16:20.
Of course, the OP could fit in their Phnom Penh sightseeing at first, then travel to Siem Reap.

Air Asia fares seem to change a lot, depending on how far you book ahead, but,it appears that return travel would be in the vicinity of Baht 5,300 for the trip or around US$ 175.
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Old Jan 13th, 2011, 12:39 PM
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For the sake of completeness, I should mention Bangkok Air's Discovery Pass. You must fly three legs on Bangkok Air, but you get a significant discount. Indeed, I know of people who have purchased a 3-leg pass, and thown out one leg just to get to good price on the Bangkok-Siem Reap roundtrip. It's worth a look.
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Old Jan 13th, 2011, 02:10 PM
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gearsau, you're right of course - switching modes of transport eats up some time if you're in a time crunch. Just that looking at some the options jetsetter was considering, I thought perhaps budget and time might both be considerations.

Plus, I'm kind of fond of PP and Battambang and if someone was open to seeing a bit more of Cambodia (as an opposing view to the frequent "fly in, see Angkor and fly out advice), it seems like these might be time better spent than getting to and through that mess in Poipet.
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Old Jan 13th, 2011, 05:11 PM
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Clfton,
You are right about that mess at Poipet. When I went through there in July, I got stung for some $$$...Not a great deal, but, messed about by taxis and of course, people who want to fill in forms in for you, when you can do it easily on your own

Anyway, I came back to Poipet from Bangkok a few weeks after the trip in July. As usual, all the vultures were waiting at the bus, and when I got off, they said " Good to see you again..Man!"

I told them where to go....I think they got a shock.
Just carried all my stuff through without a hassle.
As they say in Tales of Asia, just ignore the touts and all is well.

Didnt like PP at all. Spent 3 days there, and really 2 would have been enough for me.

Do like SR..Obviously, as I will be there again on Jan 22nd for 6 nights.Fourth trip in 10 months. All by road, except I did fly back from PP to Bangkok in July.
Needed the 30 day stamp for Thailand, and would not go back to BKK from PP by road.

Oh yes, never take a bus from SR to BKK..For some reason, on the last trip, my hotel talked me into that, even though I had planned taxi / bus. I think $$$ over ruled good judgement.
What a fiasco. Took ages to do the trip, and of course , one changes buses at the border. Think it took 11 hours from SR to BKK and I ended up losing a pair of BOSE Noise Cancelling Head Phones as well. A very expensive journey.
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Old Jan 13th, 2011, 05:24 PM
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None of that sounds very fun at all... other than having your say on the next visit.

Two probably is enough in PP, now that you mention it. We just tend to spend a lot of time not being productive. Spent most of an afternoon and evening one day just sitting on the wall on Sisowath Quay. People kept walking up and talking, so we just didn't end up going anywhere (we just got to feeling a little too "colonial" up on the FCC balcony, nice as the fans and drinks are)

Not that we're going soon, but glad we can get to SR now without figuring out how to get there from BKK. Since moving to Australia, we've got a direct AirAsia flight to KL, and another from there to SR. I'm planning on getting spoiled by that. I envy anyone able to stay put long term in SE Asia though!
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Old Jan 14th, 2011, 12:49 AM
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Clifton
I am Australian. Have been using my THAI FF Points in the past two years for my journeys. Am in Beijing now. Went by train from Shanghai to Haerbin this week, but, man, so cold.
I had two days there, and didn't even bother with the ice festival. My winter clothing wasnt sufficient for minus 25C.

Came down to Beijing by High Speed Train.. RMB 351 for a first class seat. 9 hours , Excellent train.

Going to BKK next Thursday, and on to SR on the Saturday for 6 nights/ 5 days. Stay at Shining Angkor Hotel.
Nice and clean for US$30.00 a night, including breakfast, wireless internet etc.
Not in the middle of town, but, it suits what I want.
After that, back to BKK and Brisbane / Nerang... Missed the floods thank heaven.
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Old Jan 14th, 2011, 03:25 AM
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You're in for a system jolt, aren't you? -25c to Bangkok weather. We've been talking Beijing for our next trip, but too soon to decide for sure.

I hope everything's ok back home for you and family though. I know there's going to be some mess when the waters fall back. We're in VIC, but family in Ipswich and they've sent some crazy pics.
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Old Jan 14th, 2011, 04:03 AM
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Clifton,

All OK in Nerang.

Prefer Shanghai to Beijing myself. Been through Shanghai on numerous occasions. Beijing is cold now, but, nowhere near as cold as Haerbin.

Would you believe I just moved back to Queensland after 18 years away. 5 in Japan, and 13 in Melbourne ( used to work in Asia though for a couple of months travelling around,so, never much time spent in Melbourne)
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