PHHOM PENH to BANGKOK FOR $10.50 ONE WAY!!

The following is in the April of 2004 issue of Phnom Penh's Bayon
Pearnik Magazine. A bus or share taxi ride from Phnom Penh to Bangkok
is cheaper than the airport tax in Phnom Penh! (S)CAMS is the airport
authority in Phnom Penh. Enjoy your read.

QUOTE

Plenty of people are now complaining about the $25 airport tax being
levied by (S)CAMS. The highest in the region and a complete rip-off in
most people's opinion. This is probably due to (S)CAMS thinking they
have you by the family jewels. Well here at the Pearnik we hope to do
our bit of keeping as much money as possible out of their grubby
little fingers.

PHHOM PENH to BANGKOK FOR $10.50 ONE WAY!!

Interested? Thought you would be. A Bangkok return trip for less than
the cost of the departure tax here is not to be sniffed at. The only
requirement to use this dirt cheap option is time. About 12 -13 hours
of it. But still. Go out through Poipet or Koh Kong and back the other
way you can see plenty of scenery in aircon comfort (not an insane
taxi crammed with eight people and the kitchen sink). Gone are the
days when the road to Battambang resembled a motocross track.
Admittedly they are still not tarmac super highways but they are
getting there. With the improvement in roads bus company's now offer a
variety of options on routes to Thailand:

Phnom Penh – Bangkok, $14 with Neak Krorhorm Transport, corner street
108 and Sisowath ( riverfront ), Tel 023 219497 / 012 841565. Departs
at 7am, takes between 12 – 13 hours and drops you off at Khao San
Road.

Phnom Penh – Bangkok, $14 with Ho Wah Genting bus company, corner
street 67, S/W of the Central Market. Tel 023 210359 / 016 850780,
departs 6.40am, takes between 12-13 hours and drops you off at Khao
San Road.

Phnom Penh – Poipet ( border Thailand ) $6 with GST bus company, #13
street 142, S/W of the Central Market. Tel 012 895550. Departs 6.30am
arrives 3pm. Moto to Aranyaprathet bus station 20 Baht, bus to Bangkok
160 Baht. Total cost about $10.50 !!

Phnom Penh – Koh Kong $15 direct bus ( 25 seat ) with GST bus company,
departs 7.30am arrives about 3pm. Minibus to Trat 100 Baht. Bus to
Bangkok 190 Baht including iced soft drinks, takes you to Ekkahmai bus
station next to the Sky Train on Sukumvit.

Phnom Penh - Koh Kong, $15 in a minibus from Local Adventures. Over
the border then same as above. Taxi's are an option if you want to
leave a little later and they are faster but book the front seat to
yourself to avoid being crushed (this means you have to pay double as
they normally put two people in it). Koh Kong should be $18-20 for the
front seat. To Poipet it's more difficult as you may have to change in
Sisophon (beware of rip-offs when having to change vehicles. Agree the
price with the second vehicle first and deduct it from the first
vehicles price if they have said it is to Poipet) $12-14 for a front
seat. Taxi's take about 7 hours to Poipet and around 6 hours to Koh
Kong All of the above provide return routes to Phnom Penh. There are
plenty of stop offs along the way for conveniences, so if you have the
time forget the airport tax and take the Cambodian tour. Kevin Bolton
+ ED/

UNQUOTE

Thanks to the guys at the Pearnik in Phnom Penh for this update. See
their web site on

http://bayonpearnik.com

George Moore wrote:

The following is in the April of 2004 issue of Phnom Penh's Bayon
Pearnik Magazine. A bus or share taxi ride from Phnom Penh to Bangkok
is cheaper than the airport tax in Phnom Penh! (S)CAMS is the airport
authority in Phnom Penh. Enjoy your read.

QUOTE

Plenty of people are now complaining about the $25 airport tax being
levied by (S)CAMS. The highest in the region and a complete rip-off in
most people's opinion. This is probably due to (S)CAMS thinking they
have you by the family jewels. Well here at the Pearnik we hope to do
our bit of keeping as much money as possible out of their grubby
little fingers.

PHHOM PENH to BANGKOK FOR $10.50 ONE WAY!!

Interested? Thought you would be. A Bangkok return trip for less than
the cost of the departure tax here is not to be sniffed at. The only
requirement to use this dirt cheap option is time. About 12 -13 hours
of it. But still. Go out through Poipet or Koh Kong and back the other
way you can see plenty of scenery in aircon comfort (not an insane
taxi crammed with eight people and the kitchen sink). Gone are the
days when the road to Battambang resembled a motocross track.
Admittedly they are still not tarmac super highways but they are
getting there. With the improvement in roads bus company's now offer a
variety of options on routes to Thailand:

Phnom Penh – Bangkok, $14 with Neak Krorhorm Transport, corner street
108 and Sisowath ( riverfront ), Tel 023 219497 / 012 841565. Departs
at 7am, takes between 12 – 13 hours and drops you off at Khao San
Road.

Phnom Penh – Bangkok, $14 with Ho Wah Genting bus company, corner
street 67, S/W of the Central Market. Tel 023 210359 / 016 850780,
departs 6.40am, takes between 12-13 hours and drops you off at Khao
San Road.

Phnom Penh – Poipet ( border Thailand ) $6 with GST bus company, #13
street 142, S/W of the Central Market. Tel 012 895550. Departs 6.30am
arrives 3pm. Moto to Aranyaprathet bus station 20 Baht, bus to Bangkok
160 Baht. Total cost about $10.50 !!

Phnom Penh – Koh Kong $15 direct bus ( 25 seat ) with GST bus company,
departs 7.30am arrives about 3pm. Minibus to Trat 100 Baht. Bus to
Bangkok 190 Baht including iced soft drinks, takes you to Ekkahmai bus
station next to the Sky Train on Sukumvit.

Phnom Penh - Koh Kong, $15 in a minibus from Local Adventures. Over
the border then same as above. Taxi's are an option if you want to
leave a little later and they are faster but book the front seat to
yourself to avoid being crushed (this means you have to pay double as
they normally put two people in it). Koh Kong should be $18-20 for the
front seat. To Poipet it's more difficult as you may have to change in
Sisophon (beware of rip-offs when having to change vehicles. Agree the
price with the second vehicle first and deduct it from the first
vehicles price if they have said it is to Poipet) $12-14 for a front
seat. Taxi's take about 7 hours to Poipet and around 6 hours to Koh
Kong All of the above provide return routes to Phnom Penh. There are
plenty of stop offs along the way for conveniences, so if you have the
time forget the airport tax and take the Cambodian tour. Kevin Bolton
+ ED/

UNQUOTE

Thanks to the guys at the Pearnik in Phnom Penh for this update. See
their web site on

http://bayonpearnik.com

Don't they have rail service ?

Is the airport tax from Siem Reip the same as Phnom Penh?

Revron



"William Boyd" wrote in message
...
George Moore wrote:

The following is in the April of 2004 issue of Phnom Penh's Bayon
Pearnik Magazine. A bus or share taxi ride from Phnom Penh to Bangkok
is cheaper than the airport tax in Phnom Penh! (S)CAMS is the airport
authority in Phnom Penh. Enjoy your read.

QUOTE

Plenty of people are now complaining about the $25 airport tax being
levied by (S)CAMS. The highest in the region and a complete rip-off in
most people's opinion. This is probably due to (S)CAMS thinking they
have you by the family jewels. Well here at the Pearnik we hope to do
our bit of keeping as much money as possible out of their grubby
little fingers.

PHHOM PENH to BANGKOK FOR $10.50 ONE WAY!!

Interested? Thought you would be. A Bangkok return trip for less than
the cost of the departure tax here is not to be sniffed at. The only
requirement to use this dirt cheap option is time. About 12 -13 hours
of it. But still. Go out through Poipet or Koh Kong and back the other
way you can see plenty of scenery in aircon comfort (not an insane
taxi crammed with eight people and the kitchen sink). Gone are the
days when the road to Battambang resembled a motocross track.
Admittedly they are still not tarmac super highways but they are
getting there. With the improvement in roads bus company's now offer a
variety of options on routes to Thailand:

Phnom Penh - Bangkok, $14 with Neak Krorhorm Transport, corner street
108 and Sisowath ( riverfront ), Tel 023 219497 / 012 841565. Departs
at 7am, takes between 12 - 13 hours and drops you off at Khao San
Road.

Phnom Penh - Bangkok, $14 with Ho Wah Genting bus company, corner
street 67, S/W of the Central Market. Tel 023 210359 / 016 850780,
departs 6.40am, takes between 12-13 hours and drops you off at Khao
San Road.

Phnom Penh - Poipet ( border Thailand ) $6 with GST bus company, #13
street 142, S/W of the Central Market. Tel 012 895550. Departs 6.30am
arrives 3pm. Moto to Aranyaprathet bus station 20 Baht, bus to Bangkok
160 Baht. Total cost about $10.50 !!

Phnom Penh - Koh Kong $15 direct bus ( 25 seat ) with GST bus company,
departs 7.30am arrives about 3pm. Minibus to Trat 100 Baht. Bus to
Bangkok 190 Baht including iced soft drinks, takes you to Ekkahmai bus
station next to the Sky Train on Sukumvit.

Phnom Penh - Koh Kong, $15 in a minibus from Local Adventures. Over
the border then same as above. Taxi's are an option if you want to
leave a little later and they are faster but book the front seat to
yourself to avoid being crushed (this means you have to pay double as
they normally put two people in it). Koh Kong should be $18-20 for the
front seat. To Poipet it's more difficult as you may have to change in
Sisophon (beware of rip-offs when having to change vehicles. Agree the
price with the second vehicle first and deduct it from the first
vehicles price if they have said it is to Poipet) $12-14 for a front
seat. Taxi's take about 7 hours to Poipet and around 6 hours to Koh
Kong All of the above provide return routes to Phnom Penh. There are
plenty of stop offs along the way for conveniences, so if you have the
time forget the airport tax and take the Cambodian tour. Kevin Bolton
+ ED/

UNQUOTE

Thanks to the guys at the Pearnik in Phnom Penh for this update. See
their web site on

http://bayonpearnik.com

Don't they have rail service ?

Plenty of people are now complaining about the $25 airport tax being
levied by (S)CAMS. The highest in the region and a complete rip-off in
most people's opinion. This is probably due to (S)CAMS thinking they
have you by the family jewels. Well here at the Pearnik we hope to do
our bit of keeping as much money as possible out of their grubby
little fingers.

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and tourism and
airport taxes are one of their few sources of hard currency. Even
backpackers are unimaginably wealthy by the standards of almost all
Cambodians. $25 shouldn't be an issue to any American, European, or
Japanese who can afford travel to Cambodia. It's not much different
than airport taxes elsewhere in the world.

On 4 Apr 2004 05:55:54 -0700, (Iceman) wrote:

Plenty of people are now complaining about the $25 airport tax being
levied by (S)CAMS. The highest in the region and a complete rip-off in
most people's opinion. This is probably due to (S)CAMS thinking they
have you by the family jewels. Well here at the Pearnik we hope to do
our bit of keeping as much money as possible out of their grubby
little fingers.

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and tourism and
airport taxes are one of their few sources of hard currency. Even
backpackers are unimaginably wealthy by the standards of almost all
Cambodians. $25 shouldn't be an issue to any American, European, or
Japanese who can afford travel to Cambodia. It's not much different
than airport taxes elsewhere in the world.

Contrary to what you say, their charges are, in fact, substantially
higher than comparable countries. For example, here in the Philippines
the departure tax is $10. In Thailand its $12.50. If Cambodia is one
of the poorest countries in the world, then they shouldn't need to
charge $25 departure tax, assuming their charges are related to actual
costs.

In addition to the departure tax, Cambodia also charges a $20 visa
fee. That makes a cost of just getting into and out of the country
$45, which is a lot more than almost every country in the region.

Chris Blunt wrote:

In addition to the departure tax, Cambodia also charges a $20 visa
fee. That makes a cost of just getting into and out of the country
$45, which is a lot more than almost every country in the region.


so... if you're too cheap, or just too poor, to contribute $45 to the
Cambodian government, don't go... i guarantee you you won't be missed...


michael

"Thomas F. Unke" wrote in message
...
Chris Blunt writes:

the departure tax is $10. In Thailand its $12.50. If Cambodia is one
of the poorest countries in the world, then they shouldn't need to
charge $25 departure tax, assuming their charges are related to actual
costs.

What do you think are "actual costs"?

Importing almost 100% of all equipment to build and run an airport
from first world countries are actual costs. And these costs are not
cheaper just because Cambodia is poor.

Is there an airport in Cambodia or is it just one muddy airstrip ?

"Markku Grönroos" wrote in message ...
"Thomas F. Unke" wrote in message
...
Chris Blunt writes:

the departure tax is $10. In Thailand its $12.50. If Cambodia is one
of the poorest countries in the world, then they shouldn't need to
charge $25 departure tax, assuming their charges are related to actual
costs.

What do you think are "actual costs"?

Importing almost 100% of all equipment to build and run an airport
from first world countries are actual costs. And these costs are not
cheaper just because Cambodia is poor.

Is there an airport in Cambodia or is it just one muddy airstrip ?



A little airstrip filled with very corrupted officials.
Here is a test.
Try to go through the airport with your permanent visa.

Well, those officials would tell you all kind of things just to
squeeze some doolars out of your pocket. We understand the poor
condition. Let's face it. If it's me, I would love to make people
happy by welcoming them to the country instead of ripping them off
because one has the authority.

On Sun, 4 Apr 2004 18:30:28 GMT, Thomas F. Unke
wrote:

Chris Blunt writes:

the departure tax is $10. In Thailand its $12.50. If Cambodia is one
of the poorest countries in the world, then they shouldn't need to
charge $25 departure tax, assuming their charges are related to actual
costs.

What do you think are "actual costs"?

Importing almost 100% of all equipment to build and run an airport
from first world countries are actual costs. And these costs are not
cheaper just because Cambodia is poor.

Are you really so naive as to believe that all of that $45 goes into
maintaining the airport and not into the pockets of corrupt government
officials?

On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 17:42:33 GMT, michael wrote:



Chris Blunt wrote:

In addition to the departure tax, Cambodia also charges a $20 visa
fee. That makes a cost of just getting into and out of the country
$45, which is a lot more than almost every country in the region.


so... if you're too cheap, or just too poor, to contribute $45 to the
Cambodian government, don't go... i guarantee you you won't be missed...

Do you realise that $45 is over a month's salary for most Cambodians?
Its hardly 'cheap' to consider that a bit excessive when compared to
the corresponding charges made by other countries in the region.

And by the way, unlike you, sitting there in Canada earning your big
western salary, I happen to live on the local economy in another of
the poorer countries in Asia. Who are you to call me cheap?