Urgent advice needed please. Moving from Thailand to Cambodia.

[fred110]

On 5/19/2016 at 0:40 PM, MJCM said:

Another thing about taking a dog with you. Many Minibuses and Buses (in Thailand) don't allow dogs. When we took our dog from Cambodia to Thailand we had to charter a vehicle to take us.

There's this to be aware of too. Seen at Siem Reap.

[fred110]

On 5/20/2016 at 8:28 AM, sghanchey said:

If you do decide to check out Cambodia, do visit Battambang. It has a lively arts scene and prices (and security) are better than Sihanoukville. Kampot might be an up-and-coming place, but it's still a sleepy backwater most of the time and is prone to serious flooding. The only desirable accommodations there are expensive, unlike Battambang. I agree with those who have posted that Cambodia is *not* cheap anymore. The flood of NGOs and government aid agencies have driven rents through the roof in Phnom Penh, and utilities everywhere are more expensive than here. I still don't see why you can't switch to a different kind of visa in Thailand, since so many people manage to do it. In any case, good luck with your choices and decision.

I've been in Thailand for 16 years and I'm thinking of Siem Reap. THere are loads of Kmer places east of the river, lots of western foods around Pub Street. I like the town for cycling and general atmosphere. I have seen some studios for $150/month, villas around $300 and up. I plan to spend a month at first, might find a place on AIR B&B. I want to be near the Poipet casinos, to go once a week. I've found Kmer people to be friendly but not much English spoken.

[MJCM]

7 hours ago, fred110 said:

There's this to be aware of too. Seen at Siem Reap.

5555. What I was on about was taking a Dog from Cambodia to Thailand and not about a "Doggy Bag"

[Sheryl]

12 hours ago, fred110 said:

I've been in Thailand for 16 years and I'm thinking of Siem Reap. THere are loads of Kmer places east of the river, lots of western foods around Pub Street. I like the town for cycling and general atmosphere. I have seen some studios for $150/month, villas around $300 and up. I plan to spend a month at first, might find a place on AIR B&B. I want to be near the Poipet casinos, to go once a week. I've found Kmer people to be friendly but not much English spoken.

 

Siem Reap has a vibrant and diverse expat community, including artists, entrepreuers, employees in tourist businesses, as well as retirees, though more of the former than the last.. Plenty of western groceries including gourmet item and items hard to find in Thailand. Nice, modern standard accomodation available and more going up  all the time, All this with a still laid-back atmosphere. As long as you don't mid being far from the ocean, a good choice.  English speaking   widespread, much more so than in  Thailand.

 

Not however the favorite haunt of elderly retires of a sexpat/girlie bar  bent. Theese exist, ut are a minority and generally the expat community is working/owing budsnesses and younger in age,

 

As always in Cambdian quality of medical care is a minus. Bur only about 3 hours to Thai border,

[JimmyJ]

Very interesting thread for me - lots of suggestions and info - much of it with opposite takes on  the country and the cost.

Planning to visit Thailand soon and would like to check out some cities in neighboring countries. Planning to move soon after the trip, probably to Thailand but curious about some of its neighbors.

 

Much posting  in the thread about Cambodia and many suggesting he stay in Thailand -  but interesting to me that no one has suggested that instead of Cambodia or staying in Thailand that he try Laos or Vietnam. Why is that (other than perhaps Visa difficulties)? Do most feel they are inferior to Cambodia?

 

Dalat in Vietnam struck me as a place worth visiting. 2 Cambodian cities I hadn't heard of previously until this thread also sound worth a visit.

Edited March 10, 2017 by JimmyJ

[JimCrane]

On 3/9/2017 at 8:07 AM, Sheryl said:

 

Siem Reap has a vibrant and diverse expat community, including artists, entrepreuers, employees in tourist businesses, as well as retirees, though more of the former than the last.. Plenty of western groceries including gourmet item and items hard to find in Thailand. Nice, modern standard accomodation available and more going up  all the time, All this with a still laid-back atmosphere. As long as you don't mid being far from the ocean, a good choice.  English speaking   widespread, much more so than in  Thailand.

 

Not however the favorite haunt of elderly retires of a sexpat/girlie bar  bent. Theese exist, ut are a minority and generally the expat community is working/owing budsnesses and younger in age,

 

As always in Cambdian quality of medical care is a minus. Bur only about 3 hours to Thai border,

lived in siem reap 6 months and there are VERY FEW  long term expats there. most are running bars, fewer are working for ngo's, the rest are hippie artist types. i would peg the number around maybe 30-40 total and no more. city is basically filled with quick passers through there for the temples several days only. only area interesting to foreigners is the pub street downtown area which can be experienced in 3 days. and of course angkor wat which you can get a long term pass and do biking etc.

 

but it's simply not a place to live long term for expats. to represent it otherwise is not cool. things are double the price of thailand, including all meals even street food, and the hassle from vendors and tuk-tuk's is overwhelming and anger provoking, especially over the long term. great to visit and blow through, living there, give it a miss.

Edited March 12, 2017 by JimCrane

[fred110]

9 hours ago, JimCrane said:

lived in siem reap 6 months and there are VERY FEW  long term expats there. most are running bars, fewer are working for ngo's, the rest are hippie artist types. i would peg the number around maybe 30-40 total and no more. city is basically filled with quick passers through there for the temples several days only. only area interesting to foreigners is the pub street downtown area which can be experienced in 3 days. and of course angkor wat which you can get a long term pass and do biking etc.

 

but it's simply not a place to live long term for expats. to represent it otherwise is not cool. things are double the price of thailand, including all meals even street food, and the hassle from vendors and tuk-tuk's is overwhelming and anger provoking, especially over the long term. great to visit and blow through, living there, give it a miss.

Too bad you had a bad experience. I found plenty of places with $2 meals (fried noodles or soup with chicken, etc), fair prices for salads or Mexican food. I had some good conversations with some tuk-tuk drivers. I enjoy cycling along the quiet streets and along the river. There is also a movie theater.

Edited March 13, 2017 by fred110
added something