I have just arrived in Thailand and intend to go soon to Siem Reap. I didn't fly there direct because of confusing information regarding coronavirus but it now appears that Siem Reap and Cambodia on general may be safer than anywhere else in SE Asia for the moment. I had intended to go to Anghkor Wat and will likely take the train from BKK to Siem Reap and stay for a couple of weeks. Here are my questions:

 

1) can I get a tourist via back in Thailand?

 

2) and if so for how long, like is a 60 day possible?

 

3) or, if a 60 day visa is a desired outcome am I better going to Malaysia or Laos and skipping Cambodia altogether?

 

Please refrain from obvious jokes about my total lack of poor planning and advance research. It's been a decade since I've been in SE Asia and between the virus and other factors it was a sudden decision based on a bucket list idea I had six months ago and the sudden ability to go along with trepidation with Corona. I'm a US citizen and I likely could've saved headache if I'd done some of this in advance. 

 

Regards 

Pearltiresias

The train will only get you to Aranyaprathet in Thailand, then its cross the border and choose mode of transport for siem reap.

Tourist visa's are 60 day and obtained outside Thailand,in the case of Cambodis that would be a visit to PP, 

Personally i would avoid tourist hot spots such as Angkor wat,  it's full of tourists

OP, Fly Bangkok to SR what's with train idea. 

54 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Personally i would avoid tourist hot spots such as Angkor wat,  it's full of tourists

...so basically, anywhere interesting you want to see and experience in the world, you shouldn't go to, because it's full of tourists... just stay indoors and look at pictures of it on the internet. yay.

what a glum life, eh.

1st no train, only to Aranyaprathet , 100 baht tuk tuk to the border, $10-25 to SR by bus or shared taxi

You can get a thai visa in SR but it will need be thru an agent and ur passport will be sent to PP to have it issued. Figure 4-6 days and around $60

Cambodian visa $30 at the border or 1,500 baht

Angkor wat ticket $37/day or $62 for 3 out of 7 days.

 

I'd not say Cambodia is any safer than Thailand as lots of Chinese visit/live/work in Cambodia and i'd NOT trust the government to give accurate figures

Chances of u catching it are slim unless u love hanging out with Chinese

 

Edited February 11, 20206 yr by phuketrichard

5 hours ago, codebunny said:

...so basically, anywhere interesting you want to see and experience in the world, you shouldn't go to, because it's full of tourists... just stay indoors and look at pictures of it on the internet. yay.

what a glum life, eh.

personal choice but I'd minimise the risk while this corona virus is spreading. I'm in Pattaya I'd avoid places where chinese go. Are there still swarms of Chinese at Angkor wat?

Some friends recently travelled to Siam Reap with the Giant Ibis bus company. Pick up at Makasan station, big bus and change to another big bus once inside Cambodia. More expensive but far more comfortable that other bus companies.

When you get to Siem Reap there are several travel companies who can arrange a Thai visa for you. As someone mentioned you need to wait 4 or 5 days to get your passport back.

 

I did this several times when I lived in SIem Reap no problem. I have heard that the Thai consulate in PP is one of the worst to deal with if you go in person, frequently issuing the visa then voiding it when you pick it up, or just being plane awkward.

 

The Poipet border is also troublesome and I would recommend you fly in and out on a $100 return ticket from Air Asia, BKK to REP.

 

Good luck, relax and enjoy your travels.

 

 

 

I think now is the perfect time to visit SiemReap and visit the Angkor Wat temple complex. 

Was there 3 weeks ago, and approx 2/3 of the temple complex visitors were chinese tour-buses.  So after my TaProm temple visit was somewhat ruined by the large crowds, I did choose to visit the lesser known temples (which are by the way equally stunning as their more popular counterparts) during the day, and visited the famous ones very early in the morning. 

But I guess that there are now hardly any chinese tour-buses, and you would have the chance to dwell the amazing temples without large crowds, and at some you would most probably be alone (fantastic experience).

Go for it!

10 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Personally i would avoid tourist hot spots such as Angkor wat,  it's full of tourists

I've been looking for a tourist hot spot that doesn't have any tourists. Any suggestions?

20 minutes ago, mrfill said:

I've been looking for a tourist hot spot that doesn't have any tourists. Any suggestions?

I often go koh Samed and it's wall to wall Chinese. BTW that fact doesn't bother me.

Clearly ALL tour groups. 

Since China stopped tour groups flying out, I can't imagine what it might be currently.I'm thinking empty. 

Phuket also comes to mind.

If you are currently on your first visit to Thailand:

• Fly to and from Siem Reap.
• Get a 30-day visa exempt entry on your return to Thailand, which you can extend by a further 30 days at the immigration office on payment of 1,900 baht

As others have indicated, there is no rail service to Siem Reap. While possible (and very cheap) to take the train to Aranyaprathet about 6 km from the border, the trip is slow and dusty

 

If you have a prior travel history to Thailand, it might be worthwhile (albeit uncertain) to muck around with agents in an attempt to get a tourist visa while in Siem Reap. For someone on their first visit to South East Asia, the visa exempt entry should be safe, and is easiest.

8 minutes ago, BritTim said:

If you are currently on your first visit to Thailand:

• Fly to and from Siem Reap.
• Get a 30-day visa exempt entry on your return to Thailand, which you can extend by a further 30 days at the immigration office on payment of 1,900 baht

As others have indicated, there is no rail service to Siem Reap. While possible (and very cheap) to take the train to Aranyaprathet about 6 km from the border, the trip is slow and dusty

 

If you have a prior travel history to Thailand, it might be worthwhile (albeit uncertain) to muck around with agents in an attempt to get a tourist visa while in Siem Reap. For someone on their first visit to South East Asia, the visa exempt entry should be safe, and is easiest.

OP, I hope you at least consider advice I quoted above.

Read my post #4. 

AirAsia isn't too bad to SR cost wise.

Why on earth take land crossing option. 

IMHO. Crazy.

12 hours ago, mrfill said:

I've been looking for a tourist hot spot that doesn't have any tourists. Any suggestions?

White Island, NZ.