Are we crazy taking a train to Cambodian border from BKK?
Nov 4th, 2011, 01:01 AM
#22
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If you are from the USA, depending on how many years are left on your passport you may be better off getting a new one, asking for the "thick " version to begin with as additional pages are no longer free.
Nov 4th, 2011, 01:42 PM
#23
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lincasanova, I am a US citizen and I actually just mailed my passport renewal this afternoon. I only had a year left so it made more sense to get a new one. As you said, extra pages aren't free. A new passport costs $110.00 and the extra pages are $82.00.
Nov 6th, 2011, 06:37 AM
#24
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I wish I had always had the habit of asking for the "thick " version. It helps avoid this problem, already having the extra pages in it. Surprisingly enough, the US passport has about half the number of page as a Spanish one.
Nov 6th, 2011, 11:17 AM
#25
Im guessing that the Spanish passport was more generous historically because they were likely to cross borders more frequently before the EU was formed.
Americans didn't need passports for our two neighboring countries and many countries didn't require the space-consuming visas from Americans.
I always preferred getting a thin passport and added pages (for free) only when needed, but now it makes more sense to have a fat one from the start. I had pages added to mine in Sept, and it is really heavy now!
Americans didn't need passports for our two neighboring countries and many countries didn't require the space-consuming visas from Americans.
I always preferred getting a thin passport and added pages (for free) only when needed, but now it makes more sense to have a fat one from the start. I had pages added to mine in Sept, and it is really heavy now!
Nov 7th, 2011, 09:53 AM
#26
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Just back from Angkor.
It wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped. The idyllic photos making it look as if it's alone in the jungle don't quite match up to the more prosaic location, the many tourists, and the inevitable scaffolding and green tarpaulins on the front of the temple! I preferred Angkor Thom, which had fewer tourists and did indeed have a quieter location. But I'm certainly glad I went there.
We hired a private car between Siem Reap and the border at Poipet, a good road, journey time 2 hours 25 minutes, $40 for two passengers.
Walking through the border controls took 25 minutes, with absolutely no hassle at all. Maybe all the hassle only happens when crossing from Thailand into Cambodia, but we certainly had zero problem going the other way. And zero problems getting into Cambodia at the Bavet border crossing from Vietnam, either, taking the bus from Saigon to Phnom Penh.
Tuk tuk from the Poipet border to Aranyaprathet station, 100 baht, 10-15 minutes.
Time for lunch before the afternoon train to Bangkok, 48 baht each and a reasonably comfortable and pleasant journey even in third class. No airports or planes required!
It wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped. The idyllic photos making it look as if it's alone in the jungle don't quite match up to the more prosaic location, the many tourists, and the inevitable scaffolding and green tarpaulins on the front of the temple! I preferred Angkor Thom, which had fewer tourists and did indeed have a quieter location. But I'm certainly glad I went there.
We hired a private car between Siem Reap and the border at Poipet, a good road, journey time 2 hours 25 minutes, $40 for two passengers.
Walking through the border controls took 25 minutes, with absolutely no hassle at all. Maybe all the hassle only happens when crossing from Thailand into Cambodia, but we certainly had zero problem going the other way. And zero problems getting into Cambodia at the Bavet border crossing from Vietnam, either, taking the bus from Saigon to Phnom Penh.
Tuk tuk from the Poipet border to Aranyaprathet station, 100 baht, 10-15 minutes.
Time for lunch before the afternoon train to Bangkok, 48 baht each and a reasonably comfortable and pleasant journey even in third class. No airports or planes required!
Nov 7th, 2011, 11:47 AM
#27
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Yes, the primary hassles with the border are in passing from Thailand into Cambodia due to the Cambodian visa and the many scams associated with getting the visa at the border. From Cambodia to Thailand is generally pretty hassle-free.
Nov 8th, 2011, 01:26 PM
#28
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Man_in_seat_61 thank you for your feed back re; Angkor. I have read about it being "very touristy" but still worth the visit. I suppose it's a bit like visiting the Grand Canyon, yes it's full of tourists, but still something to be seen nonetheless.
By the way your website is an amazing source of information.
By the way your website is an amazing source of information.
Nov 8th, 2011, 01:55 PM
#29
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There are very popular temples to visit near Siem Reap, but there are many lovely smaller temples that most people do not visit. Get a copy of Dawn Rooney's book to prepare and to chose some more "off the beaten path" temples.
