Siem Reap to Phnom Penh - other than Bangkok Air?
 

Hi-

I thought I was almost done working out all of our flight schedules and then hit another snag. I need a to get from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh to make our 11:30 am flight. The Bangkok Air flight that would have worked is fully booked. Is there another feasible way to get to Phnom Penh? Bus, Train etc? I have no idea what the travel times would end up being...

Thanks

There's a bus. It's fine, but I doubt it would get you to PP for an 11:30 flight, you'd need to go the day before.

There is (or was) a boat as well, but it's not considered very safe.

For all the info you need on traveling in Cambodia, see talesofasia.com.

You can hire a driver in Siem Reap to take you to Phnom Penh and do it the same day, leaving very early in the am from SR. Not the cheapest way to go overland, but cheaper than air.

You might also just keep trying the website. Last christmas it took several weeks, but by checking every few hours, I eventually got 4 seats on one of the previously 'sold out' flights.

btw, the bus takes about 5 hours.

Actually, the Bangkok Air flight is operated by Seam Reap Airlines. You might try booking directly with Seam Reap Airlines to see if it makes a difference.

There was another small domestic carrier called PMT Air, but I don't know if they're still around, and Royal Khmer went bankrupt a few months ago, I think. But their web site is still active.

There's another new airline flying from SR to Sihanoukville. They might serve PP as well.

PMT is still around, but they're not recommended for safety..

As mentioned above the bus is out as it takes about 51/2 hrs and the earliest one is 7.30

A taxi is your best bet (around $50) but it still takes 41/2hrs and you would therefore have to leave before 5am. And should the taxi break down (has been known to happen on occassions) you would miss your flight. Much better to go down the night before if you cannot get a flight.

go the nite before

Thank you for all of your help. I guess I'll keep trying the website and hope to get lucky. If not I guess I'll have to go down the night before.

Do you think going through an agent or anything would help? Can the local agents get a better rate than the website?

Agents can sometimes get a better deal, but in this case, the benefit of using an agent is that it becomes their problem to get the reservation. I'm always happy to pay a little more to make something someone else's problem.

I dont know all of the details but a plane crashed into the side of a mountain near Sihanoukville around late June early July. I certainly would not get on a cambodian plane.

I did Siem Reap - Phnom Penh two weeks ago the ticket was $4 and the bus left at 6:50 am did not arrive until 12:30pm. So you will need to leave the day before probably morning or early afternoon.

you're probably talking about PMT Air which has a bad safety record. I wouldn't fly them. Bangkok Airways however has a great record, including their partners, Siem Reap Airways.