Kathie

Will, I can't comment on that case as I have no details or any one else's point of view. I do find the idea that her husband aided her escape - without her passport to be difficult to swallow. No airline I know of would allow her on an international flight without her passport. But, as I said, I don't know the details. Certainly the report by the British couple sounded on the surface like they were innocent... but that proved not to be true. My point wasn't that there are never scams at the Bangkok airport, or any other airport, but that the stories that are spread by the media are best taken with at least a grain of salt.

I know that armed police can seem pretty intimidating to those from countries where police are not armed, but the police in the US are always armed. And high-end department stores and jewelry stores usually have armed guards.

offwego

Back to the original post and in response to BuonMeThuot's suggestion, getting an evisa won't save you from a "request for service fees" at the Siem Reap airport.

I have a multiple entry visa and do not have to get a VoA, but still get jacked up at the immigration counter.