Border Crossing from Poipet Cambodia to Aranyapathet Thailand
While in Siem Reap, I booked a VIP van going from Siem Reap to Poipet with a 6 am departure. The travel agent said to be prepared to be picked up between 5:30 - 6 am. The driver showed up around 6:15 am and when we got outside there was no van, but instead, a bus. I told the driver I payed for a van and he told me the van is sleeping and ushered me aboard. The bus itself was fine. Typical for a cheap long distance bus in Cambodia.
Once I got to the border, everyone was asked to get off and move across the border to continue their trip. I chose to cross and find a ride on the Thailamd side instead of continuing on with the same company I arrived with. I had read from many people before that there will be swarms of scammers asking you to come with them to cross the border. I did not experience this. I was left alone all the way up to the station to get stamped out.
So far, so good.
Getting up to the window to be stamped out was quick and easy. It took about 5 minutes of waiting in line since I had arrived early. I handed over my passport, scanned my finger prints and had my picture taken.
Onward I go!
Getting to the Thai border was easy. Just walk down the left side and approach the large building at the end of the road. (They drive on the left side in Thailand) Once getting to the end I was given my visa application and told to go up the stairs. At the top I found the immigration room to be fairly empty. Great! I pulled out my passport and other pertinent information and proceeded to fill out the form. When I looked at my passport, I decided to take a look at my Cambodian visa. I had previously purchased a one year visa with unlimited re-entry. To my dismay I, find that it is gone. The wonderful man behind the glass had torn it out and sent me on my way.
Awesome.
The rest of the process went smoothly. No issues with my visa application. G7 passport got me a free 30 day visa into Thailand. After immigration was a quick trip down a flight of stairs and through customs where all I had to do was run my backpack through an X Ray scanner.
Overall the experience was fine. To save a little money you can go straight to the bus stations to buy tickets instead of paying the travel service fee. The government employees aren't going to approach you in the streets at the border so it's easy to figure out if you are being scammed. Most of you probably won't have a one year visa to worry about having pulled from your passport. That is just another lesson learned for an inexperienced traveler.
Once I got to the border, everyone was asked to get off and move across the border to continue their trip. I chose to cross and find a ride on the Thailamd side instead of continuing on with the same company I arrived with. I had read from many people before that there will be swarms of scammers asking you to come with them to cross the border. I did not experience this. I was left alone all the way up to the station to get stamped out.
So far, so good.
Getting up to the window to be stamped out was quick and easy. It took about 5 minutes of waiting in line since I had arrived early. I handed over my passport, scanned my finger prints and had my picture taken.
Onward I go!
Getting to the Thai border was easy. Just walk down the left side and approach the large building at the end of the road. (They drive on the left side in Thailand) Once getting to the end I was given my visa application and told to go up the stairs. At the top I found the immigration room to be fairly empty. Great! I pulled out my passport and other pertinent information and proceeded to fill out the form. When I looked at my passport, I decided to take a look at my Cambodian visa. I had previously purchased a one year visa with unlimited re-entry. To my dismay I, find that it is gone. The wonderful man behind the glass had torn it out and sent me on my way.
Awesome.
The rest of the process went smoothly. No issues with my visa application. G7 passport got me a free 30 day visa into Thailand. After immigration was a quick trip down a flight of stairs and through customs where all I had to do was run my backpack through an X Ray scanner.
Overall the experience was fine. To save a little money you can go straight to the bus stations to buy tickets instead of paying the travel service fee. The government employees aren't going to approach you in the streets at the border so it's easy to figure out if you are being scammed. Most of you probably won't have a one year visa to worry about having pulled from your passport. That is just another lesson learned for an inexperienced traveler.
Comments
Post a Comment