Visas and border crossings forum

My boyfriend and I just did the Thailand-Cambodia border crossing at Poipet and had NO PROBLEMS. Here's what we did:
GET A CAMBODIAN E-VISA!!!!! Go to http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/ and get one. They get sent to your email and you print it out. It will take longer than they say.

Bangkok - got to bus station by taxi. Find the Transport Co. desk (past the convenience store) and buy a ticket on the ‘yellow bus’ for 187 Baht which will take you to the border. Bus leaves from ‘Bay 2’ at 7.40am and you get a cake and water on the bus. Don’t sit down the back the toilets stink.
Bus will stop once and say you can get off and take a taxi but say no and keep going because the bus will go into the market and stop at the terminal. As you drive into the bus station look around to find the 7/11 Store then straight away walk off the bus to it because the ‘touts’ (the guys that follow you and want to rip you off!) will try talk to you. Don’t get help from them just keep walking.
Turn to the left around the 7/11 and walk to the end of the street (has a big picture of king) and turn left into the stream of people going to the border. We walked into the first building where we lined up for a health/passport check. Fill out the forms, get checked and go through. Walk straight past the casinos in ‘no-man’s land’ and head to right of the road to the Thai immigration. Go in and fill out the immigration form and go to the counter to get it checked. Give them your E-visa, immigration form and passport.
After immigration keep walking straight to the Free Shuttle bus (it’s seriously straight ahead). Get on and they will take you to the taxi rank. At taxi rank DO NOT change your money at the booth there because they use ancient exchange rates and they scam you. Just go to eh taxi ticket counter to the right and pay $12 US each (NOT in Thai Baht! – they telly you it’s cheaper but it’s not). Don’t pull out more money than you need.
We had to wait for 1 or 2 more people to get a full taxi otherwise they try make you pay for the extra seats. Finally got taxi with 2 others to Siem Reap (with a few stops at their friend’s shops). You get a tuk tuk to your hotel.
EASY! If a tout does follow you and help you they will come all the way to the taxi rank to help then ask for money. Be blunt and ignore them from the start or you will have to have a ‘guilt trip’ later when they ask for money. Just remember KEEP WALKING, it’s all pretty much straight through so don’t stop and get scammed just follow these instructions and you’ll be fine.

I'm not sure a padlock is necessary, and although I didn't have any issues with my bag under the bus, I think you should treat it just like any other place on any other bus--keep all valuables in a smaller daypack that you keep with you at all times while on the bus.

Also, the visa is usually pretty easy. If you get one before the border, or online, even better. If not, the taxi/bus you take to the border will try and get a cut of the visa fee and do it for you. I speak a good amount of khmer so was able to help a few other travelers get the discounted rate, but you'll pay $5-10 more than you need to that way.

And if you do pick up a taxi at the border, make sure you negotiate the price but don't pay until you have arrived at your destination.