Getting Luggage From Hat Lek to Trat

[Fullstop]

I'm currently in Cambodia and will be moving to Chanthaburi in 2 weeks. I was thinking of using the Ko Kong/Hat Lek border...but I think there's only mini vans to Trat from there. I have a large suitcase and small backpack. I can't get the suitcase into a van. Any buses going from there? Songthaews? Taxis? Anything I can throw a large suitcase into.

Or could someone suggest another crossing where there are normal buses.

Cheers

Edited December 16, 2014 by Fullstop

[yermanee]

Pay for extra seat and put your suitcase there.

Yermanee

[Fullstop]

That's a thought. Thanks.

Anyone know of songthaews? There must be some. Guess I'll sort it out when I get there..

[craigt3365]

I think your best bet is to sort it out there. Minivans tend to figure out a way to handle things like this.

Best of luck! If you have time, come back and let us know how it went!

[Fullstop]

I just thought of another problem....getting my suitcase from Koh Kong town to the border...any tuk tuks there?

I'm also looking at the Pailin/Ban Packard crossing as there are songtaews at the border going straight to Chanthaburi. Anyone know if there are tuk tuks in Pailin going to the border?

Edited December 16, 2014 by Fullstop

[DEQ]

Easy to get a tuktuk from Koh Kong to the border ($7). The big bus from Phnom Penh will usually go to the border in which case you don't need a tuktuk. At the border you can hire a lady with a cart who will take your bags to the minibus at Hat Lek.

I have never seen tuktuks at the Phrum border but I am sure you can find some means of transport in Pailin. I have to say I have never seen songthaews on the Thai side of that border (which is a sleepy place). It was me, I would cross at Koh Kong.

I think the poster is correct about the minivan at Hat Lek finding a way to take your big bag (at a reasonable price).

[Fullstop]

Thanks...change of plans now. Getting a direct bus from Phnom Penh to Bangkok with Sorya Buses. Much simpler! $19. Departs 6.45 am ... arrives BKK 7.30 pm (more likely 9.30!!)

Edited December 18, 2014 by Fullstop

[DEQ]

Be careful of so-called direct buses. Some (or all?) of them change buses at the border and leave passengers high and dry waiting hours for the connecting bus. Always seems to cost more than separate booking as well.

[Fullstop]

Yeah...I realise there'd be a bus change ... but I've read reasonable feedback about Sorya Transport. If they just get me over the border I'll be happy enough.

[Tomtomtom69]

Easy to get a tuktuk from Koh Kong to the border ($7). The big bus from Phnom Penh will usually go to the border in which case you don't need a tuktuk. At the border you can hire a lady with a cart who will take your bags to the minibus at Hat Lek.

I have never seen tuktuks at the Phrum border but I am sure you can find some means of transport in Pailin. I have to say I have never seen songthaews on the Thai side of that border (which is a sleepy place). It was me, I would cross at Koh Kong.

I think the poster is correct about the minivan at Hat Lek finding a way to take your big bag (at a reasonable price).

Nope, the big bus does NOT go to the border. You will have to catch a tuk-tuk from the bus station to the border village of Cham Yeam (10km). Buses may go all the way to the other borders but the only other way would be the Phnom Penh-Bangkok international bus, which goes through the Aran/Poipet border.

Apart from the Siem Reap-Bangkok bus, which goes through the same border, there are no other cross border services between Cambodia and Thailand.

Edited December 21, 2014 by Tomtomtom69

[Tomtomtom69]

Thanks...change of plans now. Getting a direct bus from Phnom Penh to Bangkok with Sorya Buses. Much simpler! $19. Departs 6.45 am ... arrives BKK 7.30 pm (more likely 9.30!!)

That's just torture and you may be left high and dry if there is no transport on the Thai side waiting for you, because Sorya does NOT operate any international services to Thailand. If anything the only bus I would recommend would be the only ACTUAL cross border bus, which is operated by the Transport Company/Nattakan and departs around 8.30am from the riverfront area and gets into Bangkok around 11 hours later. It costs US$30, but it is WAY better than any connecting service like with Sorya, who do NOT cross the border.

[Tomtomtom69]

Yeah...I realise there'd be a bus change ... but I've read reasonable feedback about Sorya Transport. If they just get me over the border I'll be happy enough.

Well they won't get you over the border. They might get you to Poipet but that's about it. Either do that, or get yourself to Koh Kong and then use a cart lady to wheel your luggage across or catch the once daily Transport Company/Nattakan international bus between PP and BKK. They'll take your luggage for free and you'll save yourself endless frustrations.

[Fullstop]

Thanks...change of plans now. Getting a direct bus from Phnom Penh to Bangkok with Sorya Buses. Much simpler! $19. Departs 6.45 am ... arrives BKK 7.30 pm (more likely 9.30!!)

Sorya does NOT operate any international services to Thailand.

Sorry..meant "Capital" not Sorya

[Fullstop]

Transport Company/Nattakan

Do they have a Phnom Penh office/agent? Thier website requires login and thier Facebook is based in Siem Reap

[DEQ]

Easy to get a tuktuk from Koh Kong to the border ($7). The big bus from Phnom Penh will usually go to the border in which case you don't need a tuktuk. At the border you can hire a lady with a cart who will take your bags to the minibus at Hat Lek.

I have never seen tuktuks at the Phrum border but I am sure you can find some means of transport in Pailin. I have to say I have never seen songthaews on the Thai side of that border (which is a sleepy place). It was me, I would cross at Koh Kong.

I think the poster is correct about the minivan at Hat Lek finding a way to take your big bag (at a reasonable price).

Nope, the big bus does NOT go to the border. You will have to catch a tuk-tuk from the bus station to the border village of Cham Yeam (10km). Buses may go all the way to the other borders but the only other way would be the Phnom Penh-Bangkok international bus, which goes through the Aran/Poipet border.

Apart from the Siem Reap-Bangkok bus, which goes through the same border, there are no other cross border services between Cambodia and Thailand.

Oh OK, thanks for putting me straight on the big bus not going to the border at Koh Kong. I and a bus load of people must have been having a collective out of body experience (on three separate occasions).