Thailand - Bangkok to Aranyaprathet-Day Trip?

I am planning to do a day trip to Aranyaprathet from Bangkok and am currently working the logistics. I am planning to cross into Poipet explore and return to Bangkok the same day.

I am wondering whether:

1. It is possible to hire a taxi/limo from my hotel for the entire trip?

2. What the cost would be?

3. Any difficulties in crossing the border. I will be using my Oz passport for thsi trip.

4. Any scams operating at the border?

Thanks,
Kris

I am planning to do a day trip to Aranyaprathet from Bangkok and am currently working the logistics. I am planning to cross into Poipet explore and return to Bangkok the same day.

I am wondering whether:

1. It is possible to hire a taxi/limo from my hotel for the entire trip?

2. What the cost would be?

3. Any difficulties in crossing the border. I will be using my Oz passport for thsi trip.

4. Any scams operating at the border?

Thanks,
Kris

Are you going for a visa run? If so then surely your money would be better spent flying somewhere with a return than spending the same money on a taxi to Aranya Prathet.

1. I'm sure you could but my guess is it would be north of 5K Baht.

2. See #1

3/4. This border is a hive of villainy and scum. :D If a scam exists i'm sure you'll encounter it here. I'm completely at a loss to understand why you'd want to 'explore' Poipet. Oh the humanity. ;) But there's nothing to keep you from going to Cambodia nor returning with most passports.

Someone recently said they were charged $25 instead of $20 becasue it was a day trip, which is clearly a $5 boon for that agent's pocket.

If this is your only option then take a bus and local transpo to the border. You do realize that crossing a border by land will only give you 15 days (unless you're in need of leaving the country on a non-imm B or similar) upon re-entry into Thailand.

Thanks dsquared37.

It is not for a visa run that I am planning a visit to Poipet-Just a curious day trip. I will be flying out of BKK to SYD the following day.

Thanks for the info.

Best wishes,
Kris

It could be easier then, to zip over to PNH on AirAsia if the prices are right - depending on if you are after a passport stamp or whatever.......

Thanks dsquared37.

It is not for a visa run that I am planning a visit to Poipet-Just a curious day trip. I will be flying out of BKK to SYD the following day.

Thanks for the info.

Best wishes,
Kris

That is a curious day trip indeed. :eek::eek: If you're flying out the next day this could be a risky trip as well.

That is a curious day trip indeed. :eek::eek: If you're flying out the next day this could be a risky trip as well.

Yeah, this really doesn't sound like a good idea. But reading between the lines, the "explore" seems to be a codeword for some other motivation. Whatever.

4. Any scams operating at the border?

Every scam is operating at this border.

Absolutely no other intention other than experience a land crossing in Asia.

Agree with dsquared37. It is a bit risky as I have a flight next day. Will stay put in BKK.

Looks like the OP no longer needs any info, but
As of Aug 2012, it is USD20 + THB100 to get your visa at the border at Poipet. :rolleyes: There was no differential pricing based upon length of stay that I could discern.
Several companies travel the Bangkok-Aranyapratet route leaving from the Morchit Bus Station. If you ride a bus, Aranyapratet might not be the bus' final destination, so be alert.

Looks like the OP no longer needs any info, but
As of Aug 2012, it is USD20 + THB100 to get your visa at the border at Poipet. :rolleyes: There was no differential pricing based upon length of stay that I could discern.



The comment about an additional price was based upon a post in another thread (you are correct there are no official additional fees). I've also heard stories of tourists needing to 'hire' locals to fill out the forms because they are only printed in Khmer. The Poipet crossing likely makes the space port in Star Wars look like a utopia of flowers, lollipops and happiness.

As a Thai colleague told my wife recently (he had a penchant for land travel), "If you just pay more you get through faster."

I agree with 37's sentiment.

Sometimes in Thailand, I'll pay 100 or so more for something. Afterwards, I see others jumping through hoops that I didn't because I was a little looser with my red bills.

It's a famous saying here....

"Best 3 bucks I ever spent!"

I didn't invent the game... I just learned how to play it well ;)