CM to Phnom Penh

[intel4004]

Fairly much decided to do a trip from Chiang Mai to Siem Reap / Phnom Penh by train ending with the bus. Incidentally anyone else planning this sort of trip would do well to check out a very helpful website called Seat 61.

I am aware of the pitfalls regarding the tuk tuk drivers at Aranyaprathet station trying to get you into one of the visa agencies before they drop you off at Thai exit border at Poipet.

On exit from Poipet border post onto the big roundabout, there is an official FREE transit bus to the 'Poipet Tourist Passenger International Terminal' 10 minutes down the road from where all the share taxis and buses leave for Siem Reap.

I'm also aware that the "FREE transit bus" may apparently not be a government bus but be owned by the local police who have invested in the company which owns the shuttle bus. This corals you into getting transport from a place where they 'the police' can control who takes who where and thereby gain financially. Hence creating a monopoly and wiping out the competition. Is this a good thing or not I really don't know maybe it's doing the tourists a favour. I don't know the local politics or history so can't comment.

I guess what I want to know is if I take the shuttle bus to the so called 'Poipet Tourist Passenger International Terminal' and take a bus or minivan or shared taxi to Siem Reap am I doing myself any favours or is there a better way? I have also heard of the practice where they drop you outside of town (i.e. Siem Reap) and your are transferred to a tuk tuk driver to take you the rest of the way (obviously he gets a cut as well).

Accepted wisdom from experienced travellers of this route would be much appreciated.

[edwardandtubs]

Why not avoid all that scam BS and just take the direct bus from Bangkok to SIem Reap? You can fly Nok Air CM to BKK for as low as 800 baht if booked in advance or you get a promo ticket. Even with a week's notice you can still get a ticket for 1300 baht. Or take the sleeper train to Bangkok. Mo Chit bus station is easy enough to get to.

[NCC1701A]

FLY!

[intel4004]

Why not avoid all that scam BS and just take the direct bus from Bangkok to SIem Reap? You can fly Nok Air CM to BKK for as low as 800 baht if booked in advance or you get a promo ticket. Even with a week's notice you can still get a ticket for 1300 baht. Or take the sleeper train to Bangkok. Mo Chit bus station is easy enough to get to.

Direct bus from BKK to SR was something I considered until I heard the road is a nightmare, unless its improved?!

[intel4004]

FLY!

Checked, works out too expensive.

[edwardandtubs]

Why not avoid all that scam BS and just take the direct bus from Bangkok to SIem Reap? You can fly Nok Air CM to BKK for as low as 800 baht if booked in advance or you get a promo ticket. Even with a week's notice you can still get a ticket for 1300 baht. Or take the sleeper train to Bangkok. Mo Chit bus station is easy enough to get to.

Direct bus from BKK to SR was something I considered until I heard the road is a nightmare, unless its improved?!

What part of the road is supposed to be a nightmare?

The train is a bit of a nightmare - often full, running late with open windows that let in all sorts of crap from the countryside.

[intel4004]

Why not avoid all that scam BS and just take the direct bus from Bangkok to SIem Reap? You can fly Nok Air CM to BKK for as low as 800 baht if booked in advance or you get a promo ticket. Even with a week's notice you can still get a ticket for 1300 baht. Or take the sleeper train to Bangkok. Mo Chit bus station is easy enough to get to.

Direct bus from BKK to SR was something I considered until I heard the road is a nightmare, unless its improved?!

What part of the road is supposed to be a nightmare?

The train is a bit of a nightmare - often full, running late with open windows that let in all sorts of crap from the countryside.

Have you actually taken the bus BKK to SR a few times or is this just what you know? What I am none too happy with is all the bull surrounding the transport mafia controlling the Poipet-SR route and the antics they get up to. But I'm also worried about taking a bus all the way from BKK due to road conditions. What are the buses like? (A/C, fully reclining seats, toilet)

Thanks

[edwardandtubs]

Why not avoid all that scam BS and just take the direct bus from Bangkok to SIem Reap? You can fly Nok Air CM to BKK for as low as 800 baht if booked in advance or you get a promo ticket. Even with a week's notice you can still get a ticket for 1300 baht. Or take the sleeper train to Bangkok. Mo Chit bus station is easy enough to get to.

Direct bus from BKK to SR was something I considered until I heard the road is a nightmare, unless its improved?!

What part of the road is supposed to be a nightmare?

The train is a bit of a nightmare - often full, running late with open windows that let in all sorts of crap from the countryside.

Have you actually taken the bus BKK to SR a few times or is this just what you know? What I am none too happy with is all the bull surrounding the transport mafia controlling the Poipet-SR route and the antics they get up to. But I'm also worried about taking a bus all the way from BKK due to road conditions. What are the buses like? (A/C, fully reclining seats, toilet)

Thanks

I've been to Aranyaprathet a few times by train and bus and bus is by far the better option. As for the Cambodia leg, what do you think would be better - some crappy shared taxi/mafia bus, or a Thai government bus?

What do you mean you're worried by "road conditions"? The Thai roads are perfect and the Cambodian roads are the same whether you take the Thai government bus or the crappy Cambodian mafia.

[phuketrichard]

take the bus /train to surin,

tuk tuk to border

cross on foot an than taxi to sr.

[intel4004]

I've been to Aranyaprathet a few times by train and bus and bus is by far the better option. As for the Cambodia leg, what do you think would be better - some crappy shared taxi/mafia bus, or a Thai government bus?

Thank you for your advice. Sounds like taking the bus from BKK to either SR or PP would be less of a headache from what everyone is saying and doing a little detour SR-Battambang by boat at some point as was mentioned in my other thread "Siem Reap & Phnom Penh advice re: Accomm & vibe" by mike2011.