[califlarry]

I'm off to Pattaya next week for my third time this year. I guess you can call me addicted. I'm thinking about going to the temple at Ankor Wat. I'd like to know the different means of transportation that could get me there, the time it takes to get there and about how much it would be. Also how many days I would need to put away for the trip. My plan is to go there and then leave for home from Bangkok. I'd appreciate any advise you could give me.

[fostraswift]

best way would be bangkok air straight to siem reap, which will be at least 4 or 5000 baht return

could go air asia to phnoem phen and get a $10 bus up to siem reap, still air asia will be 3000baht unless you book well in advance and get some of their deals..

or you could bus it (to poipet i think) which will take a whole day

temples well worth seeing even if your not into temples and stuff, i was amazed..
1 day is enough to see all the big ones :Bow:

[bigbone]

I spent 3 days 2 nights in Siem Reap. Flight from Bangkok was about $300 US I t took about 1 hour.
Get visa at Siem REAP airport when you arrive. Bring extra Passport photo and save 10 Dollars.
When you land get off airplane and run to immigration, Very Long Line.
Once you get luggage go out to taxi area. You wil see a number of taxi drivers coming up to you.
Find someone that speaks english pretty well. They will ask you what you want.
Tell them you want ride to travel agency in town (to get a room), Or guide, or transportation.
Some will act as guide, and transportation for your stay.
I got lucky found a good one. 25 a day for late model airconditioned car, and 25 dollars a day for guide.He did both. very knowledgeble and totally worth the money.
He took me to 3 hotels until I found something I liked. Incredible cheap Luxury Hotels. You could go cheaper but not really worth it.
Moto taxi is about 12 dollars/day, Moto scooter is 6 dollars/ day,.Bicycle is about 3 dollars/day. You reallly appreciate the AC after walking around the temples.
The temples are about 5 miles out of town.
3 days is absolute minimum. Buy a 3 day Pass to All Ruins for $20 dollars.
But city is very poor. I did not like the clubs, or gogos. Food was hit or miss.
Take balloon ride near Angkor Wat 15 dollars, and Helicopter ride. That was about $170 US.

My Guides name was Bunleat (Bun) Worth every penny.
Try to contact him with this email. horngbunleat@yahoo.com


This is a trip that you will not want to Miss. It really was incredible.

Have a good trip,
bigbone

[Anokanite]

I recentlly flew in to pp, Feb 2010. No picture, cost me 2 dollars and I got to go around a bunch of people trying to match thier picture up.

[luv.you.long.time]

One major tip I would give is that you buy your temple national park ticket at around 4pm (ish) THE DAY BEFORE you plan to use the ticket. This will allow you free access to Angkor Wat that late afternoon and experience the natural sunlight show that occurs during the sunset. The temple was obviously built around the rise and fall of the sun where certain corridors light up in an amazing floodlight, where the rest (that aren't being hit by the sun rays) are in darkens as the light falls. Angkor Wat has hardly any tourists at this time and is a very eery experience. It was one of the best tips someone gave me and I recommend it to you.

When you eventually use the ticket the following day, it will seem a completely different experience.

You can charter a taxi/trike thing for about $12 (US) for all day to take you to the temples. Just ask any of them and negotiate the price. That seems to be the going rate if you can get them to agree it. Siem Reap is a lovely wee town. You will have a great time.

I recommend that you don't miss out Phnom Penh as the history of the Killing Fields and the School Torture Camp is very thought provoking. Lots of mongering to do in PP also at night and nice n cheap.
Therefore, Id recommend Air Asia from BKK to PP, then I flew from PP to SR with a Cambodian Airline (return was about $60 US). You can do a bus ride from PP to SR for about $7, but takes about 5 hours. The flight was only 45 mins.

Enjoy mate.