Getting to Siem Reap

[Trvlr 50]

I suppose this is better suited for a Cambodia forum somewhere, but many people do go to Siem Reap from Pattaya so I will try this first.

Has anyone rented a car to get to the Arun-Poipet border? What does it cost?

And, this is more important for me: how about on the way back. Can a Pattaya travel agent arrange a pickup at the border on a set date and approximate time?

If there is a better way of getting there I'd appreciate it if someone posts it. I am going to look nto PMT flights from Pattaya's airport (UTP), but I haven't heard of anyone actually trying those flights. Any info will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Braveheart 0]

I took an oveland trip to Siem Reap from Pattaya last year in December. It is a long trip taking most of the day but you see a lot of the countryside. I booked through Sea, Air, Land tours on Soi Post Office and they looked after everything. Included ground transport to and from Siem Reap (cahanged vehicles in Poipet), hotel, driver and guide for 2 days for Angkor Wat. I think I paid around 13,000 but it may have been less. Not a bad trip but the roads are pretty bumpy and they all drive like they are in the Monaco GP.

[cumberlandsausage 0]

Trust me mate-you dont wanna go overland,those cambodian roads are not the best.

Best way is to fly into Phnom Penh( by air asia) then get a bus.

Otherwise its a long,long,long way on a hot,hot,hot dusty road!

[Sailfast 503]

Not been to Siem Reap, but check out the Cambodian e-visa if you fly (you will have to google it), I did not use this service, but wish I did and will use it next trip to Cambodia. I watched people wisk through the e-visa isle and head out, no waiting.

[PattayaPete 532]

You can fly direct Bangkok to Siam Reip with Bangkok Air.

[casper_uk 12]

You can fly direct Bangkok to Siam Reip with Bangkok Air.

Yes, we travelled there last month.

 

Flew into Siem Reap out of Bangkok (6000 baht), then went to Sihanoukville on the bus via Phnom Penh (1200 baht).

 

We were planning on taking a 'speed boat' from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, but apparently the water was too low ...... might have been good though.

 

Coming back from Snooky, we caught to the 'fast boat' into Koh Kong, then caught a minibus back to Pattaya.

 

All in all a worthwhile 'one off' journey ....... but no incentive to do it again.

 

Edit:

 

We also found out that you can fly from Siem Reap direct to the small airport at Sihanoukville, not sure about the price through 5k rings a bell.

 

The flights only take place on a Tuesday and Thursday I think, best to check into that one.

Edited April 28, 2007 by casper_uk

[Mescalito 19]

You can fly direct Bangkok to Siam Reip with Bangkok Air.

 

 

Which means, I take it, that you can't get to Siem Reap directly from U-Tapao.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

You can fly direct Bangkok to Siam Reip with Bangkok Air.

 

The air route is relatively hassle free nowadays. A couple of passport size photos and 20 USD for your visa on arrival is all you need (absolutely no advantage in giving up your passport to get a visa in advance). The newer terminals at the airport are fairly straightforward in the usual Bangkok/Siem Reap Airways style. It's worth noting that there is an ATM outside the departure terminal that dispenses US dollars. I would assume that there is one at arrivals but I wasn't looking/paying attention so didn't notice.

 

I believe that Bangkok Airways/Siem Reap Airways has a monopoly on the BKK route for several more years to come.

Edited April 28, 2007 by CheshireTom

[Trvlr 50]

This is an old post but since it was revived I will add what I ended up doing. What everyone has posted is correct, by the way.

I was tempted by the overland route from Pattaya to Siem Reap but eventually decided against it for two reasons: the bad roads, and the fact that I wanted to check out local talent in Phnom Penh.

The reports I got on PMT, which supposedly flies from U-tapao to Siem Reap, were not reassuring, and the fare was not all that attractive. That left Bangkok. As mentioned earlier, Bangkok Airways has a monopoly and charges an arm and a leg. I kept a watch on the Air Asia site, and eventually found a round trip to Phnom Penh for about US75. The only problem with Air Asia is the early flight - you have to leave Pattaya at 3 a.m. to catch it. From Phnom Penh airport I took a taxi to Siem Reap (arranged through the hotel) for US50 - a comfortable Toyota with a/c, and the journey took about 6 hours with a break. Getting a visa at the airport takes 10 minutes or so - US 20 and a photo is all you need, so I wouldn't worry about getting one ahead of time.

On the way back I debated between various forms of transport, and settled on the bus - very comfortable, same time as a car, safer than a car, and only US11. The boat sounded intriguing, but I talked to someone at the hotel who had taken it - he said they had to sit on the roof and got burned nicely, and he wouldn't do it again.

If I was to do it again I would probably:

Bite the early bullet and fly Air Asia to Phnom Penh.

Spend a a few days in Phonm Penh.

Take the Mekong Express bus to Siem Reap.

And vice versa - maybe spend a night and catch the morning flight back.

Any other questions - go ahead and shoot and I will try to respond.