HKG to Siem Reap flight
 

OK, It's me again ? the new guy still learning how to get around Asia. Based on everyone's great input, we've decided to limit our 8 free days (down from 10 as we've now decided to stop in at SFO to spend Christmas with family) to just Bangkok and Angkor Wat in addition to our 5 days in HKG (the 5 days there is fixed due to wedding activities). We won't do the beaches this time in Thailand, we sure love relaxation and the beach but we tend to go for cities and history first when traveling.

There were suggestions that we fly directly from HKG to REP and I think it's a good idea too to save an extra day from round trip BKK-REP. But an Expedia search came back with a pretty expensive $1100 flight itinerary for HKG-REP-BKK-HKG and had all sort of connections. May be you experts can tell me that's actually not expensive? Anyone know of a direct HKG-REP route or better yet a way to go HKG-REP-BKK-HKG?

In REP, looking into the Sofitel. Can anyone provide a brief "competitive analysis" of the hotel options?

Thanks again!! RB

At the present time there are no direct flights betweeen Hong Kong and Siem Reap. There are however 4 flights a week by Dragon Air (2 morning and 2 afternoon) to Phnom Penh and from there to Siem Reap by Siem Reap Airlines. One day connections can be made only on the morning flights, otherwise you will have to spend the night in the capital. Worthwhile to spend a day here and vist the main attractions including the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek and the Tuol Sleng Museum. The cost this way would be around $903US - HK to PP 424, PP to SR 55, SR to BK 158 and BK to HK 266. if your only interested in Siem Reap then the best way is HK to BK (return with Gulf Air is 489) and BK to SR with Bangkok Air at 314. Connections using Gulf cannot be made in a day so one night in Bangkok is required. You might want to look into the Bangkok Air Discovery pass (if there are any seats left) that lets you buy coupons for international flights between BK/SR at $80 per flight. That would mean 160 compared to the regular price of 314. They can only be purchased through a travel agent or directly with a BA office. Since you will be in HK check the local travel agents for better rates on the HK to PP or HK to BK routes. Airport taxes are not included in any of the above estimates.

others will have better answers but i would suggest that you take your REP trip in the middle of your bkk trip and book them seperately perhaps although the bkk-rep is expensive about $250-275 r.t....hk-bkk is cheaper i believe...i think $1100 is crazy.....you might contact bangkok air and see if they have any suggestions for you or a code-share partner who would do well by you...they are good at answering e-mails or call their nyc office....

sofitel is at top of market and in great location, near entrance to the sites...the grand is the only "better" class hotel....sofitel is only a couple of years older....you might also look at the angkor hotel---moderate price...i would stick with the newest hotels...

you are going to have a fabulous trip and time

bob

I agree airfare is too high. You can do better, probably by getting to Siem Reap on a round trip from Bangkok.

As for hotels in SR, if you are the sort of person who has to stay at the most expensive hotel in town, then the Sofitel (I know the Grand is more, but I'm speaking metaphorically) will be great for you. But you should know that there are plenty of perfectly good, clean, well-appointed, convenient hotels for under $100/night for a double. I would class them as 2-3 star, and from $50-100 per night.

Personally I think it's a waste of money to spend so much on a hotel in Siem Reap, but it's your decision.

rhkkmk, surely you mean the other way around? The Grand has been around for many years, while the Sofitel was still under construction on my first trip to SR just a few years ago.

I live in Hong Kong and just been back from Siem Reap in early October. We took Vietnam Airlines to go there via Ho Chi Minh City. Flight ticket should be around HK$3300 but there are usually some flight+hotel packages available. If you want to go from Bangkok, Bangkok Air is the choice. Flight ticket should cost about BHT5000 or so?!

marilyn---you need to read into my typing....like you i sometimes hurry my typing...i ment to say the sofitel is only a couple of years old.....

i agree about you assessment about hotels...i think the angkor hotel looked quite nice....our plan usually is to stay at a top hotel in an unknown 3rd world place to avoid any unpleasant experience that would ruin the trip....i find reviews are not always accurate and that includes this forum too....everything is from your personal view and from past experience....

rhkkmk, I have learned that the hotel we liked ($50/night for a double including breakfast) is no longer run by the same woman. I don't know if she still owns it or if it is as good as when we stayed there, so I have stopped recommending it on here. I guess I'll find out next time we go!

Just to throw in an option for Siem Reap from HKG, not many people know that Vietnam Airlines has frequent flights, several per day, from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Siem Reap. So a routing HKG-HCMC-Siem Reap is possible.
It makes a good alternative routing.

www.vietnamairlines.com

Siem Reap. Does any one know if its possible to fly there from KL? I have been looking at various flight schedules and routes but cant find a flight despite SR being an international airport.
Ta
Perry

perrycas, you will probably get a better response if you post a separate message with a header like "Are there flights from KL to Siem Reap?"

I just got back from Cambodia today. You should fly in and out of Bangkok. Bangkok Air and Siem Reap Air are the same airline, owned by Thai Airways. Reliable and excellent service with many time options and better fares from BKK. I's only a 50 min. flight. Don't forget extra passport sized photos for the trip. You'll need one to get a visa at the airport when you land and another for your pass at Angkor (asuming you stay to get a 3-day pass). The Sofitel is a good choice. The Meridian is brand new and fabulous looking from the outside, also you might want to look into the Pansea. We stayed at the Raffles Grand Hotel. After travelling the world to many great hotels, the service and food there was almost incomprehensibly good (I did tip early and often...) With a tight schedule, skip Phnom Penh. If you want to support the victims of the Pol Pot regime in some way, send a check to an orphange or an NGO in the country.

Tickets from Bkk to Siem Reap are a bit cheaper purchased in Bkk denominated in Thai baht rather than in $s. Saving of about US$50 I think. Book your Bkk-Sr tkts early as you are on a tigh schedule - the first flight into SR sells out early as everyone wants to maximize their time in SR. Ditto the evening flights back. I have posted at length re the Amansara, Grand Hotel d'Angkor, pansea and Shintamani on this site - do a serach if u want options to the Sofitel.