Hat Lek - Koh Kong Border Crossing

[Briggsy]

On the Cambodian side

You are now charged 20 Baht for "an N1H1 flu virus check" at the "quarantine".

The taxi drivers/touts/"helpers" are rude to the point of abusive.

The taxi drivers/touts/"helpers" grab your passport at every stage of the process and demand a "tip".

The taxi drivers/touts/"helpers" have set up a cartel and charge you 100 Baht for the 7 km motorbike ride into town or 400 Baht for a taxi.

The taxi drivers/touts/"helpers" demand to see your onward travel ticket, feigning authority, and then try to insist you buy an overpriced onward ticket to Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh from them.

Still no effective queuing mechanism.

1200 Baht for a $20 visa. $ not accepted.

Almost no shade while you mill around.

Some delay.

On the Thai side

You must declare your income on the back of your arrivals card or they will not accept it.

Tips

Do not engage with the taxi drivers/touts/"helpers". They are unpleasant people and will try to antagonise you. Tourist-baiting has become their culture. Just totally ignore them.

Don't try to haggle the fare into town down. It's fixed at 100 Baht for a bike and 400 for a taxi.

Don't buy a bus ticket at the border.

You don't need to show the taxi drivers/touts/"helpers" anything.

Get your visa before you go. $25 at the embassy in Bangkok. Done while you wait unless it's very busy. Get $25 from any bank. They usually have some $ somewhere.

Fill in the back of your Thai arrivals card.