Hi.

I found a few old posts on this topic, but wanted to make sure to get the most up-to-date information.

I need to get from Bangkok to Battambang and back.

I have my own car, but plan to leave it at the border rather than drive it into Cambodia. I will use taxis rather than buses once there.

Which is the best route/border crossing to use at the moment? And, any updates on hotels, restaurants, interesting places in Battambang?

Thanks!

Bangkok to Chon buri- Chantaburi- Pong Nam Rong- Border ( pailin) - Batt.

Its a easy 90 min ride from the border to town by taxi

There some lessor nice temples withing 20 kms from town and always empty, and a run out to the lake( Kampong Poy) stop at Phnom Sampeau on the way, on weekends for a bit of Cambodian culture and picnic also the circus is based there,

cheap local food on riverside in the early evening.

Great, thanks! Any idea of the current taxi fare from the border into the city? And is there secure parking available at the border?

taxi seat about $15-25

there is a nice market there and parking, I always exit Cambodia via Pailin with my own thai car ( enter at Osmach) so no idea if there is long term secure parking

taxi seat about $15-25

there is a nice market there and parking, I always exit Cambodia via Pailin with my own thai car ( enter at Osmach) so no idea if there is long term secure parking

There are two border crossings near each other, both located only about 25km apart. Ban Laem does NOT allow Thai cars (or indeed any foreign registered cars) in or out; the Thais reciprocate and refuse Cambodian vehicles from entering Thailand there. Exceptions are going to the casino nearby (which I didn't see).

Ban Pakkard does allow Thai cars in and there are plenty of Thai cars driving all over the place in the area, but according to some reports they can only drive around Pailin province if entering there.

There is car parking at both locations. At Ban Laem parking appears to be free. I parked there for the day and wasn't charged anything.

To the OP: If you're NOT intending on driving inside Cambodia, the fastest way of traveling between Bangkok and Battambang is via Aranyaprathet/Poipet. Drive to Aran (about 3 hours from Bangkok), park in one of the two secure parking locations just before the border (about 150 Baht a day) and then walk across the border and arrange a taxi from just after Cambodian immigration to Battambang. A seat is probably about $12-$15, 25-30 for the whole taxi, remember to bargain. Both Baht and US$ are accepted, just choose one currency and bargain in that one. Make sure the driver knows which currency you are talking about - generally they will quote in Baht, but it's up to you which currency to pay in. Generally it doesn't make a difference either way.

I always take a taxi all the way to Phnom Penh, and usually pay between $60-75. The amount I end up paying will depend on how much luggage I have, what time I leave etc. Usually I aim for $60 and settle for $65; for night time driving (leaving after 6pm) I will settle for between $70 and $75 since I want drivers to drive sensibly so paying a bit more should provide them with some incentive. All these prices are for the whole taxi of course. For $25 a seat, you can travel all the way to PP, so Battambang should be barely half that price, given it's only a quarter of the way to PP (100km vs 400km from Poipet).

Thanks for the detailed information.

I'm willing to add some time to the schedule in order to avoid the sh*thole that is Poipet and go via one of the Chantaburi crossing points instead.

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So, I paid $20 from the Ban Pakkard border to Battambang. It was a 1.5 hour trip, via the pleasant-looking town of Pailin.

I ended up having to pay $25 for the return trip, as it was late in the afternoon -- meaning the driver might not get a return fare to Battambang that day (or so he told me).

No issues either coming or going, no line at immigration whatsoever -- and (unlike Poipet) no hustlers, scam artists, or beggars. Cambodian officials did, however, want the unofficial 100 baht "passport stamping fee".

If I have to go again, I'll do this same route again to avoid Poipet -- even if it does take a bit longer.