1

I've done the bus from PP to Bangkok and the only "scam" was a long wait in some restaurant once we'd crossed into Thailand.

2

Break it up a bit.
Si Phan Don to border then Kratie or Kampong Cham, stay one night, then bus to Siem Reap.
Siem Reap shared taxi to border, tuk tuk to Aranya Prathet, bus to Bangkok.
Pay as you go, then easier to avoid being stranded and/or forced to buy another ticket that you've already "paid" for.

3

Coming the other way - Poipet to Siem Reap is just one big scam from beginning to end. I didn't figure out how to avoid it , but I'd love to know. Though it's too late for me now ...

I did read up on it before I left, but I've never in all my travels come across such a pathetic situation.

4

Just curious which parts were surprises. Most everything you encounter at that crossing has been written about here and elsewhere. The "visa offices" on Thailand, 100 baht asked for at the real visa office, pickpocketing kids, and bus vs. taxi issues have been well covered. What aspect of the trip was a surprise?

5

rasheeed - are you directing the question at me?

6

Yup. BeCause you read up on it. Just not sure what problem you had that you didn't expect to encounter?

7

Rasheeed - I didn't say I was surprised, I said it was pathetic, and that I hadn't worked out how to avoid it.

8

Hi there,

I have been throught this border several times, first one being in 2008. Lots have changed since then, and last time I cross the border I did not have anyproblem at all. I took the train from BKK to Aranya Pratet, then a truck from the train station to the market (15 BTH), cross the border on my own not listening anybody and not talking to anybody around me. Once at the visa place, they asked me for 100 extra bath, and I just said NO. (they accept the NO without more fuss). Done the border crossing, I walk for about 500 metres / 1 km and again talk to nobody on the way. When I was out of the "mafia area" starting negociating for a xhare taxi. I paid only 5$ to SR, the last 3 times I did it, it worked well. It is just a little bit of patient and not show estressed your self.....