Cambodia forum

I am also curious... I will either be flying in from one of the Islands or taking a train. Is it best to get a visa before I go or at the crossing?

Also, I read that you should use US currency in Cambodia ?

There is tonnes of information on this site and others about this crossing so hopefully you found some answers, but, in brief, the simple way to avoid this scam is to travel independently from Bangkok to the border and DON'T TAKE ONE OF THE KHAO SAN ROAD SCAM BUSES however convenient they initially appear. Take the train or public bus to Aranya, take a tuk-tuk to the border (tell him you don't want to go via the "consulate"), pass through Thai immigration then go to the visa on arrival office for Cambodia and pay your $20 (they will also ask for 100 baht "express" fee), pass through Cambodian immigration. By this point you will probably have been approached quietly by a moonlighting non-cartel taxi driver for a ride to Siem Reap - share this with other travellers and this will be by far the quickest and possibly even cheapest option (last time I was offered a fare of $25).

'but bigger bills will not be accepted anywhere if they have big tears or rips.'

Has anybody worked out why this is because they'll accept any denomination of their own currency in tatters.

Hi,
I've done this trip a couple of times without incident, other than the unnecessarily long wait the Thai side at the restaurant, followed by a long wait for the bus to SR on the Cambodian side! It is quicker to do it yourself.


Do get an evisa!! It's $5 more but you avoid many of the problems you are worrying about. (You'll still end up paying a couple 100 Baht for one thing or the other !!)

The crossing's not dodgy at all (although, it's not a "nice" border by any stretch) but the Khao San buses and the continuation of that scam chain into Cambodia are/is.
In anyway, what do you need to book these tickets on KSR for anyway? That's pure traveler laziness and misplaced trust.

Last time the uniformed guy asked for a $1 tip for filling in my visa application (as he was one of the border agents I couldn't really tell him to eff off, obviously) and I had no issue in giving him that relatively small amount.

All info about the e-visa is here:

http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/

It's very practical for those who wish to save pages in their passport.

The public bus takes the long route I believe.Everytime I've come the other way it's taken about 6 hours.You'd be better off getting a bus from Morchit with a company like Chatchai.Quicker.From the bus station I think it's 60 baht fixed price to the border on a motorbike.If your packs not too big they'll carry it in front.The border is mayhem for sure, with touts constantly hassling you but you just have to ignore them. Once through Cambodian immigration you can walk or take a moto for about 2000 real per person to the bus station.Poipet really is the worst possible introduction to Cambodia.Why not try Pailin?

I entered from Bangkok to Koh Kong in December via bus. We didn't book a complete tour with a travel agent in Bangkok, just the bus ticket and decided to figure out how to get from Koh Kong to Sihanoukville on our own. Most travel agencies will book your bus tour and include transportation from the border to your accommodation, which saves the trouble of negotiating with tuk-tuk drivers at the border. Make sure you have Thai Baht and US dollars- although all border crossings are supposed to take US dollars a lot of them insist on Thai Baht. As long as you know the conversion rate (30TB to 1USD) the posted signs have the correct amount for a tourist visa. It gets a little trickier if you want an E Visa, which allows you to work and renew your visa after one month for six months or one year, but for a one month stay you should pay $20-25 depending on where you enter. Other people said this, but don't let anyone fill out your paperwork or take your bags. Just smile and say no thank you firmly and you should be fine. Tuk-tuks charge per person but haggle, haggle, haggle and wait, wait, wait until they say ok fine to you. Make sure you know what time your border crossing closes- Koh Kong is 8pm.

Also- Thais or Cambodians skip ahead of you in line because it's faster.

Sayadian- From what I've learned, Cambodians accept riel in any condition because it's easier to get rid of for them and also the US dollar is more valuable here. Battered 100R notes are no big deal because they give them to the beggars on the street or the shops at the big market.

I had a lot of Baht on me and would rather spend it than get it exchanged and be charged commission, so I paid $25 (TB750) but I got an e-visa. It took forever and they kept trying to fill out my paperwork for me but besides that- and arguing with tuk-tuk drivers who wanted $20 to take me five minutes- the officials were professional enough. Sihanoukville took us 6 hours- but we had to change buses and stop constantly. It should take 4, and it is 4 to PP as well.

A business visa is an E type visa which allows you to work and own a business. I didn't file for an electronic visa. I was saying from Sihanoukville to PP is 4 hours. I haven't traveled from KK to PP, went straight to S-ville.

Get an evisa. We just crossed into Cambodia by land rode the train from Bangkok easy as pie and we felt safe. Got a cab to Siem Reap and had a tuk tuk driver for two days take us anywhere we want and stayed with us all for $70 bucks. We are two women alone traveling and we were safe just be smart and don't wear jewels and flash money. Use American money they like it!