HappyCheesehead

Hi all,

DH and I are here in Bangkok since 11/25. Unfortunately we cannot get out! Plan was to go to Siem Reap (today, 11/27) for three days and then on to Phuket. Clearly that is not going to happen.

HOWEVER, to save the day, our dear Tong has arranged for a driver to take us to Phuket tomorrow, a 10 hour drive. I am so sorry to miss out on the temples at Angkor, but a couple extra days at the JW Marriott on Phuket is not a true hardship

Tong was so fun to tour with and has the warmest and most open heart you will ever want to find! She is really saving our bacon here too.

I HEART TONG!!!!

dgunbug

HappyCheesehead - If you have your heart set on Siem Reap, why not take the overland route if you can't go by plane. It will take you about the same time to do the drive to Siem Reap as going by car to Phuket. Whatever you do though, I'm sure you'll have a great time. Enjoy!

GypsyMaiden

Plan B sounds lovely. I am hoping to go there...Thailand/Cambodia....in 2009.

crellston

I second dgunbug's comment. If you really want to go to Angkor, do the overland trip by car or even by train to Aranyaprathet/Poipet and taxi to Siem Reap.

rhkkmk

tong has helped a number of people get around and is willing to help others as her time has now been freed up a bit....call her or e mail her

offwego

Anyone keen to go to Angkor should not be put off by the overland crossing into Cambodia from Bangkok. It's a much easier trip than it used to be.

Ponheary (or any other guide worth their salt) can send a driver from Siem Reap to pick you up at Poipet and the bus ride from Bangkok to the border is comfortable and cheap.

dgunbug

Offwego - Do you know how long the overland trip takes between Bangkok and Siem Reap? We were thinking of hiring a driver for the entire ride. I know we would have to switch cars after crossing the boarder. Any idea what the cost would be?

Bisbeee

10 hours of driving on Thai roads? No thanks. I would have switched to Hua Hin and the 3 hour drive. Let's hope the airports are fully operational again so you don't have to drive back.

Gpanda

This is exactly why Tong is such a great guide. She makes a connection with each of her clients. You can feel her trying to make every moment special. She goes above and beyond the role of a usual guide. Her clients are not walking wallets.

Scotters

Very easy to get to Siem Reap from bangkok by road and quite comfortable if you go by taxi. From BK it is around 3hrs to the Poipet boarder crossing and the cost 2500-3000 baht ($73-88) Cross the boarder on foot and get a taxi to SR for about on average $55. This portion of the trip takes around 3-31/2 hrs and the road is poor in many sections so expect a bumpy ride in spots. Total driving time is say 6-7 hrs and cost $143.

Getting a visa at the boarder is straight forward but be prepared to pay $25 rather than the normal 20.

Of course you can go cheaper by taking the bus or train to near the boarder, then transportation to the boarder and taxi from there to SR.

dgunbug

Sounds reasonable. Would this be better than by going via train or bus?

rhkkmk

think of the stories you can tell your grandchildren and how you will hold court at cocktail parties with tales of escaping a country trapped by terriorists---and yes they are terriorists...