Aranyaprathet - Crossing Border

[smolny1]

Hello,

I heard a lot of scums are going on when you try to get visa, but most info are from 2011. Is the situation the same and you have to watch out for scammers ?

Also I will be driving car over there and plan to leave the car in the city and travel by bus to Seam Reap. I find some info on other forums about secure parking close to market ( http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/338073-parking-in-aranyaprathet/) , but info is also back from 2010. Anyone have a recent info about this city ?

I assume that taking car to Cambodia is not a good idea ?

[angsta]

Do you mean scams or are you referring to some of the great unwashed headed out of Pattaya?

I've used it a couple of times in the past 6 months. My advice is get to the border as early as possible. You don't want to get caught up with any tourist buses from the KSR or where ever. Take a passport photo and $20 for the Cambodian visa. If they ask for more laugh and point to the sign. It's $20.

Ayrun the town is kinda nice but quiet. Nothing to write home about basically. Poipet isn't the dump it was in 2001 but it's a border so there will be some arse holes about.

[isawasnake]

You need to find a hotel that will house your car for you. Don't drive into Cambodia unless you are into serious adventure.

[craigt3365]

Wouldn't a good thing be to get the evisa before you go there?

[angsta]

You don't need an E-visa. The OP isn't some 19 yr old girl from the home counties (unless the OP is a 19 yr girl from the home counties?).

The problem isn't processing the visa but negating the queue into Cambodia so get in early. This isn't 1999.

Wikitravel has a list of hotels in Ayrun.

[smolny1]

Hey, thanks for all the info. Yes I mean scams not scums.

[craigt3365]

You don't need an E-visa. The OP isn't some 19 yr old girl from the home counties (unless the OP is a 19 yr girl from the home counties?).

The problem isn't processing the visa but negating the queue into Cambodia so get in early. This isn't 1999.

Wikitravel has a list of hotels in Ayrun.

Show some respect next time you post or it will be removed from view.

From what others have told me, the evisa will save you not only time but also some money, especially if you don't have US dollars. As well as the headache of having to deal with the scam they run at the border. The recent one is the requirement of a health certificate to cross. Which is provided immediately for a bit of tea money.

Here's a good video on the border scam:

And a good description from Tripadvisor.com:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g297390-i9163-k6078654-How_to_handle_Thailand_Cambodia_border_visa_bribe_scam-Siem_Reap_Siem_Reap_Province.html

[phuketrichard]

You need to find a hotel that will house your car for you. Don't drive into Cambodia unless you are into serious adventure.

why>

i drive my car all the time into Cambodia but u cant drive it in via Poi Pet,

Koh Kong and Osmach it is possible

NO more adventure than Laos

[Satcommlee]

It is apparently one of the worst border crossing for scams in South East Asia.

I'll tell you how I managed it last year..

We stayed one night in the Mermaid Hotel (behind Bus Station) which is reasonably good hotel and asked permission to leave my car at the hotel.

I got on a songteaw which is at the bus station directly behind the Mermaid Hotel and got dropped off at the border.

NOTE: Do the crossing early before the train and buses arrive from Bangkok with the backpackers and visa runners etc..

SCAM ALERT 1 - Tuk Tuks will drop you off at an official looking building to process your visa, this is not necessary, it is a scam.

The touts will approach you near Thai immigration offering VISA services, just tell them you have E-VISA and your friend is other-side waiting.

You clear Thai immigration as usual, early in the morning you will have no delays in getting your visa. (Or get E-VISA)

SCAM ALERT 2 - Get your Visa from the official building on the right hand side, you don't need help from anyone that approaches you.

SCAM ALERT 3 - Have the correct money in USD for the Visa as the immigration will overcharge in Thai Baht for the visa, paying 100 baht for express service is unavoidable.

Clear Cambo immigration and you enter Poipet.

SCAM ALERT 4 - They will try to herd you onto a shuttle bus to the "Tourist Bus Station", this is also a Scam.. The Tourist Bus Station is about 12KM outside Poipet, in the middle of nowhere and has no Busses, only Taxi's that will charge $50 to go to Siam Reap. Tell them your Hotel Car is waiting up by the roundabaout... learn one Khmer Phrase.. "Min Yoh Teh" - means I not want.

Up at the roundabout on the right hand side, you will see some nice looking cars parked up, these will do the trip for about $25 - $30

SCAM ALERT 5 - Be clear that you want the car to take you direct to siam reap, tell the driver he gets NO TIP if he does not take you direct to the hotel, and you don't want to be transferred to TUK TUK's in Siam reap, or require TOUR SERVICE, your friends are already at the hotel and have made all the arrangements. Usually they or you will have to pay a $3 bribe to the police for picking you up.

The chances are the driver will be on the phone to a tour agent, who will accost you when you arrive, he will be friendly and speak perfect English, he will want $20 per head for a tour of Anghor Wat. Any Tuk Tuk will do the tour for around $10 -$15.

SCAM ALERT 6 - There is a large and official payment office with payment booths on the road to the Anghor Wat, where they will take your photo etc.. You do not need to buy tickets in town.

SCAM ALERT 7 - Tell your Tuk Tuks that you do not want to go to the overpriced restaurants for lunch, they get commission and you get ripped off. Generally trust the Tuk Tuks they will be very grateful for your business and will give you cold towels and water etc.

Taking the trip back is a lot less hassle than arriving, except you could be 4 hours clearing immigration, if you can try and avoid getting penned in between the railings, that queue moves so slow, while bus loads will be allowed in through the side door.

Enjoy, it's worth a visit.