Visa run recommendation?

[BeerBelly 1,026]

I think the bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap sounds like a great option. Not much longer in duration than a border run from Pattaya to the Cambo border and back to Pattaya. More comfortable than a cramped minibus and cheaper too. Even with the added cost of a one night stay in a Cambo Hotel it's probably still cheaper than a Pattaya border run. Obviously you'd spend a night of your vacation in Siem Reap as opposed to Pattaya but that's a bonus from my POV. Spend two nights in Siem Reap and you're not paying for a hotel in Pattaya so it works out even better.

 

Angkor Wat has to be somewhere to see before you die? It's still on my to do list even though I stayed in Surin Province for a few months just a 4 hour drive from Angkor Wat. Still kicking myself for not going. Leo beer has a lot to answer for!

 

I would not call the bus more comfortable nor cheaper. He stated the cost to Siem Reap was 750 ONE WAY, that's 1,500 round trip. This price most certainly does not include the 1,100 baht Cambodia visa fee.

 

The cost for 1st class visa run was 2,500. This includes the 1,100 baht visa and 300 baht Cambodia short stay fee. That leaves 1,100 baht for the transportation and two meals. If each meal was 100 baht, that's just 900 baht for the round trip transportation, which is compared to the 1,500 for the bus is much cheaper.

 

And "not much longer in duration" is actually twice as long. He said the bus was about 8 hours one way, it was less than 8 hours round trip for the visa run I did. Also instead of waiting for 7 passengers to deal with customs is much better than 50.

 

Regarding the comfort, the last time I did a bus to the border, it was much more cramp than this mini bus I just took. The minibus had only two seats per row and just three rows. It was the most comfortable transportation I've taken in Thailand.

 

But I do agree that Angkor Wat is not to be missed. It deserves at least two full days to explore. My next visa run will probably be a flight to Siem Reap to wander around Angkor.