Joe Louis crosses the overland border
“They charged us double for a special visa into the country.”
“They told us there were no more taxis and we had to pay extra to leave before morning.”
My friend booked a short flight from Koh Samui to Siem Reap. She was feeling tired and didn’t want to deal with the hassles of overland border crossings. We heard many horror stories of scams, lies, and border exploitations. I was intrigued. I wanted to experience the whirlwind that was Scambodia.
Instead of booking a flight, or a semi-comfortable train, I found a series of buses that would take me from Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia. The trip was 27 hours hours straight with occasional pit stops at roadside markets peddling trinkets and hosting restroom users. A day is a long time to spend on buses, but I made the most of the time. I got a lot of reading done and even made a few friends while waiting on line for various activities.
In terms of the highly anticpated and dreaded scams, I was a bit underwhelmed by Scambodia. I didn’t get ripped off, but a fellow traveler paid $10 more for a visa. Hardly a scam when you consider how much airlines are charging for checking baggage.
Poi Pet, Cambodia
Be direct
While there are several bus companies that can take you over the border, one is government sponsored and goes directly to Siem Reap for cheap. If you register with the website, you can even reserve a ticket online.
Be prepared
Read about the trip ahead of time. There are many blogs with step by step instructions and even pictures letting you know what to expect. There is no need to be surprised.
Know your price
A Cambodian visa should only cost $20. It’s that simple. If someone tries to charge you more or include additional fees, he is cheating you. Just say no.
Skip it
If you don’t feel like going through the trouble of deflecting scammers, you can get an electronic visa online for $25 and have peace of mind as you go through the border.
Resources
The Transport Co. LTD: http://home.transport.co.th/en/reservation-tel.html
E-Visa: http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/
See what other blogs are saying about Cambodian border scams:
“if you are unceremoniously dumped at a fake visa office, but you know you’re on the border road (i.e. you’ve seen the sign), then walk to the end. That’s it.”
–NZ Muse
“Moreover, you may be approached by various “officials” before, and even after, you get to the visa issuing desk. They may tell you a variety of stories about needing medical checks, proof of vaccinations or other paperwork that you must pay them for or your visa will not get issued.”
–Five Dollar Traveller
