From Pattaya to Phnom Penh Overland? & Vice Versa?

[likethaigirls]

Hi, If you have been overland from Pattaya to Phnom Penh (or vice versa) recently, I'd like to hear from you... Please! I'd like to know:

 

- What kind of transportation did you use? (I'll likely go by bus or van)

 

- What is the real price in Pattaya? (Or, in Phnom Penh?)

 

- How long does the trip REALLY take? I want to go right through in one go, no overnight in Poipet or Koh Kong.

 

- Is it quicker to go through Poipet or Koh Kong?

 

- Can you recommend a travel agent in Pattaya or P.P.?

 

Thanks!

[jerry]

Is there a reason you want to go over land as Air Asia is cheap(er) and the flight takes one hour . 

 

Over land it's about 10 hour . 

 

- Taxi to Trat/Poipet 2500Bht 

- Taxi border to PP 40/50$ . 

 

Make sure you have an E visa or the border maffia will charge you 1200Bht for the 20$ visa . 

[Edge]

Haven't done it by road for a while, but travelling alone I would probably still do it that way.

 

A TA (I used one in Soi 7) will sell you a ticket for about 800 Baht, pick-up from hotel and takes you to Cham Yeam border.

Times vary  but it takes about 5 hours.

 

Once through the border (yes e-Visa) the touts start asking where you want to go.

For 1000-1500 you should get a seat in a shared taxi, or on your own about 2500.

You should get into Phnom Penh by 5-6pm, so as Jerry said, about 10 hours.

 

The flight there is much quicker, but with taxi and check-in time it can still take about 5 hours.

By van/taxi is harder work, but more of an adventure.

 

Coming back by road you can buy a ticket all the way PP-Pataya for $25-28.

That's big bus to ChamYeam and then van/s and can take about 12 hours.

[likethaigirls]

Thanks, Guys...

Yeah, Air Asia's not expensive, but going from Pattaya to Don Muang is a drag... I'm not familiar with Cham Yeam. Where is it?

 

What is an E Visa, plz? How do I get one?

 

THANKS!!

[Edge]

Thanks, Guys...

Yeah, Air Asia's not expensive, but going from Pattaya to Don Muang is a drag... I'm not familiar with Cham Yeam. Where is it?

 

What is an E Visa, plz? How do I get one?

 

THANKS!!

 

Cham Yeam is the name of the crossing between Hat Yai and Koh Kong.

 

E-visa here (not the scam site)   http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/Default.aspx

[galey]

I did it about 10years ago now so no point quoting prices.

I will say it was a great experience caught bus down to Trat then onto Koh Kong stayed the night ( got two ladies much cheaper then Ptty I do remember that ) then ferry ride.

It's not for anyone if your time poor just that the plane.

I've done both and preferred the overland trip. 

[Edge]

I did it about 10years ago now so no point quoting prices.

I will say it was a great experience caught bus down to Trat then onto Koh Kong stayed the night ( got two ladies much cheaper then Ptty I do remember that ) then ferry ride.

It's not for anyone if your time poor just that the plane.

I've done both and preferred the overland trip. 

 

10 years ago they hadn't even built all those bridges.

 

No ferries involved now.

[sonny]

10 years ago they hadn't even built all those bridges.

 

No ferries involved now.

 

Yep. I last crossed on the ferry in 2007. In 2008 it was road all the way.

[jaynewcastle]

If you consider 2 hours in a taxi from Pattaya to DMK is a drag, why on earth are you considering doing a 10+ hour journey by road to Phnom Penh  ??

 

Just bizarre

[Faro]

I traveled by Air, ticket was not expensive. It is best to fly to Phenom Penh and drive back by luxury buses they offer there for few hundred baht. I did fly back so I do not know how long will it take. But I heard it is almost 8 hours to the border and then another few hours to Pattaya.

 

You can not compare Phenom Penh with Pattaya at all. It is much more dirty and people are poorer. Only one area which is River Side is the best area where you find good bars, Casino and hotels. Getting a good meal is a night mare specially after 9 PM. 

 

If you just want to see the place it is fine, carry on you find many nice temple, palaces etc. people are very nice. But if you are thinking to settle down there, I just tell you that you will be disappointed, so don't even try.

[likethaigirls]

Thanks, guys

[Edge]

Yep. I last crossed on the ferry in 2007. In 2008 it was road all the way.

 

I never did it, but way back you could dodge all those ferry crossings by taking a speed(?) boat round to Sihanoukville.

[likethaigirls]

I checked Airasia and got a one-way ticket for about 2,300 Baht. Maybe I'll come back to Pattaya from P.P. overland. :-)

[awinkl]

after reading these replies...... I might try to do an overland myself? Maybe go in via Trat and return by Bus? Is there a "best-time" (season) to do such a trip?.... and when would that be?

[Edge]

after reading these replies...... I might try to do an overland myself? Maybe go in via Trat and return by Bus? Is there a "best-time" (season) to do such a trip?.... and when would that be?

 

October is very wet and often/usually the road across the mountains gets washed away in parts.

That can at least double the time it takes the buses to get across.

 

Eventually the repairs start, but they take a while.

You really need an up to date report on how bad it is, but to be reasonably sure I would wait until Feb-April.

[wackyjacky]

I traveled by Air, ticket was not expensive. It is best to fly to Phenom Penh and drive back by luxury buses they offer there for few hundred baht. I did fly back so I do not know how long will it take. But I heard it is almost 8 hours to the border and then another few hours to Pattaya.

 

You can not compare Phenom Penh with Pattaya at all. It is much more dirty and people are poorer. Only one area which is River Side is the best area where you find good bars, Casino and hotels. Getting a good meal is a night mare specially after 9 PM. 

 

If you just want to see the place it is fine, carry on you find many nice temple, palaces etc. people are very nice. But if you are thinking to settle down there, I just tell you that you will be disappointed, so don't even try.

Overland is just awful. Every time i do it I say never again. I live in Snooky and it was 11 hrs to Koh Chang. It would've been 14 to PTY. If I had flown it would have taken just as long, but at least I can break up the trip in PP or BKK. Faro is right on 1 thing, PP is dirtier than PTY, but it's a great food town now. You've got to get away from the Riverside a bit. It's far superior to PTY and a lot cheaper. Plus you can drink great wine. There's little or no tax. It's about 30% of the price in Thailand. You can eat at a good French joint and all the entrees are single digits !

[likethaigirls]

I came from Phnom Penh to Pattaya direct, overland, Oct. 2014. Ticket: $28. Good road. About 13 hours from P.P. to my hotel in Pattaya. No regrets.

[jaynewcastle]

13 hours on a bus  ??, sounds horrific to be honest.

[Edge]

13 hours on a bus  ??, sounds horrific to be honest.

There are quite a few breaks and bus changes along the way so its not 13 hours solid.

 

You do see a fair bit of scenery.....its only about 5-6 hours longer than flying and its only $28.

 

Also its not always 13 hours to Pattaya.

If youre travelling solo its worth a look....lots of people do it and survive.

[northstate2]

Wow, I never knew there was a bus line directly from PP that even drops you off at your designated hotel in Sin City - brillant!

 

Is it a big air-con bus or just a van? What is the name of the bus line, and where in PP/from what travel company did you get the bus ticket, if I may ask?

 

I've done Pattaya to Siem Reap in a mini bus before. It wasn't that bad, while it let me enjoy the landscape and scenery a lot more than when jetting there ;-)

[Edge]

Wow, I never knew there was a bus line directly from PP that even drops you off at your designated hotel in Sin City - brillant!

 

Is it a big air-con bus or just a van? What is the name of the bus line, and where in PP/from what travel company did you get the bus ticket, if I may ask?

 

I've done Pattaya to Siem Reap in a mini bus before. It wasn't that bad, while it let me enjoy the landscape and scenery a lot more than when jetting there ;-)

Not direct AFAIK....I dont think they let LHD Cambo buses into Thailand.

 

Think youd have to change buses.

[nickatnight]

All I can say is avoid Poipet if you can. That was the worst place I think I have ever seen.

 

PP is Ok and has a good expat community. I prefer Siem Reap myself. Most guys who live in Cambodia cant afford Thailand. 50 cent beers and ST for $20 but seems to be getting more popular.