Bangkok to Cambodia

[Beechboy]

For the first time in twenty years I have messed up my Tourist visa application (postal).

I sent it to Hull (despite sending the last application to Queensgate.

They have had it a week and yesterday rang me up to say that they no longer deal with postal applications. I had an inkling that this was the case but the web site was still up, even telling you who to write the postal orders to. They are charging me a £10 fee despite my mistake being caused by them.

The problem is that I am now rather late, I intend to travel in under a week's time, and fear that if the application is delayed at Queensgate.

I have decided to visit Som Riep for a few days by plane.

Can anybody with this experience advise.

Are there any problems with taxis at that airport?

How far is it from the airport to the central area hotels?

What should I pay?

Any recommendations re: hotels (medium price?)

Thanks.

[Beechboy]

I meant the cost of the taxi.

I have investigated a few decent hotels and they seem cheaper than Bkk.

[metisdead]

Moving to the Visas forum.

[ubonjoe]

Perhaps this should be on the Cambodia travel forum.

Not sure why you have decided to go to Cambodia. Are you going to spend a few days here and then travel to there.

If you went to the embassy in London you could have your visa the next day after you apply.

You will get a 30 day visa exempt entry on arrival here that you can extend for 30 days at immigration.

[stat088]

Get a Tuk Tuk from the airport. $5. About 20 minute trip. Lots of good cheap hotels. Stay away from the big hotels. Lots of good places to eat, drink and relax.

[ryanhull]

Siem Reap is a great place, as above, get a Tuk Tuk for 'five dolla', a nice hotel I stayed at was Alliance Boutique Villa, ask for the room with the balcony, you get a private balcony with a hammock/tropical garden, really nice place to chill out in, it only has 5 rooms but was empty when I stayed, one of the most relaxing hotels I have ever stayed in, only negative it has no pool...

Hotel:

http://www.agoda.com/alliance-boutique-villa/hotel/siem-reap-kh.html?asq=v0rS0a1OqoRQ7bXy1Mh94p2kCzVRB2sXBxqcn4ezepFozvPhdPOUT08nHla2fPuM

Or if you want a bigger hotel with a nice pool I also stayed at:

http://www.agoda.com/borei-angkor-resort-spa/hotel/siem-reap-kh.html?asq=v0rS0a1OqoRQ7bXy1Mh94p2kCzVRB2sXBxqcn4ezepFozvPhdPOUT08nHla2fPuM

Also if you get chance, try a happy pizza, but be warned you may end up unable to move for sometime afterwoods due to the herbs they put onit... I ate at the hard rock cafe, quite expensive I had a really nice burger

When you arrive at the Siem Reap airport make sure you have 30 US dollars ready for the visa, and if you have one a passport photo ready, if you don't have one I think you have to pay an extra 4 dollars so 34 dollars ready in total,

Take a pen with you and you can fill in your 3-4 forms on the plane so you'll be at the front of the visa que on arrival whilst others are fighting for pens trying to fill in the forms, when you get off the plane with your filled in forms/US dollars, walk as fast as possible to the visa que,

Anyway good luck, I really enjoyed my trips to Cambodia

Cheers

[stat088]

Siem Reap is a great place, as above, get a Tuk Tuk for 'five dolla', a nice hotel I stayed at was Alliance Boutique Villa, ask for the room with the balcony, you get a private balcony with a hammock/tropical garden, really nice place to chill out in, it only has 5 rooms but was empty when I stayed, one of the most relaxing hotels I have ever stayed in, only negative it has no pool...

Hotel:

http://www.agoda.com/alliance-boutique-villa/hotel/siem-reap-kh.html?asq=v0rS0a1OqoRQ7bXy1Mh94p2kCzVRB2sXBxqcn4ezepFozvPhdPOUT08nHla2fPuM

Or if you want a bigger hotel with a nice pool I also stayed at:

http://www.agoda.com/borei-angkor-resort-spa/hotel/siem-reap-kh.html?asq=v0rS0a1OqoRQ7bXy1Mh94p2kCzVRB2sXBxqcn4ezepFozvPhdPOUT08nHla2fPuM

Also if you get chance, try a happy pizza, but be warned you may end up unable to move for sometime afterwoods due to the herbs they put onit... I ate at the hard rock cafe, quite expensive I had a really nice burger

When you arrive at the Siem Reap airport make sure you have 30 US dollars ready for the visa, and if you have one a passport photo ready, if you don't have one I think you have to pay an extra 4 dollars so 34 dollars ready in total,

Take a pen with you and you can fill in your 3-4 forms on the plane so you'll be at the front of the visa que on arrival whilst others are fighting for pens trying to fill in the forms, when you get off the plane with your filled in forms/US dollars, walk as fast as possible to the visa que,

Anyway good luck, I really enjoyed my trips to Cambodia

Cheers

Very good advice.

If your Tuk Tuk (or remork as they call them there) driver seems okay you can usually hire them for $15 per day to get around town. Angkor Wat is obviously worth seeing and there is a $20 entrance fee but a great way to see it in a Tuk Tuk. You can see as little or as much as you want. A trip to Tonle Sap is also worthwhile.

[varda]

I went to Queensgate a couple of weeks ago for my visa - no problems - queued for 10 mins to hand it in and collected next morning (no queues)

[Beechboy]

Perhaps this should be on the Cambodia travel forum.

Not sure why you have decided to go to Cambodia. Are you going to spend a few days here and then travel to there.

If you went to the embassy in London you could have your visa the next day after you apply.

You will get a 30 day visa exempt entry on arrival here that you can extend for 30 days at immigration.

Perhaps I didn't make myself too clear

Because I sent my visa application to Hull it was sent back and I have no time to risk sending it to Queen's Gate as there might be a delay.

Similarly I have not the time to apply personally to Queen's Gate as it means an over night stay in London.

I have had a hankering to visit Cambodia for some time so I intend using this opportunity for such a visit and as a visa run'

Anyhow chaps, thank you for your extremely helpful information.

One thing puzzles me. Do you trade in USdollars or local currency?

[ryanhull]

US dollars in Cambodia mate, they do have Cambodian money (riel) but its mainly dollars, you may be given bits of riel as small change when buying in shops, my wallet is full of Cambodian riel, not a clue how much its worth and hard to work out... I usually give whatever riel I have left over from change in shops to my tuk tuk driver as a gift,

remember the happy pizza! ask your tuk tuk to take you to 'ecstatic pizza' near pub street, when you order ask for 'extra happy' on your pizza, cheers