Hey everyone. Thanks for your input. Somehow in all my reading about this I didn't come across the fact that the ticket they sell in ko Chang that they say takes you all the way to siem reap is a huge scam. It only takes you to the border at poi pet, and not the actual border, the Tai restaurant 1.5 miles from the border where a man might scream at you if you ask him questions once you are ushered off the mini bus. We ended up walking in the heat of the day with all or stuff to the border and found 8 other people who were also sold false tickets to siem reap. 10 of us! All on different buses that were lies to get to siem reap. It was stressful on the other side as well when we tried to get a mini bus and an angry little man chased us around on the streets asking for money on behalf of the police. He backed off in the end and we made it, but I think we had the worst case scenario. I'm leaving out a lot of rude language and unpleasant interactions that made it all pretty terrible. But we made it. Long story short- the tickets from ko Chang to siem reap do not get you to siem reap and it's best to wear your thickest skin the day you cross into Cambodia.
Nobody excuses scams by scammers nor false information (on this thread) by rippoff. The two come often together, unfortunately.
We should be very clear that bus travel Thailand is pretty well organized and scam-free as long as you stick to the public system and buy your ticket there. In other words, use the ticket counters of licensed bus companies. The problem arises with private companies that target almost exclusively foreign tourists. The problem is almost as old as backpacking in Thailand. The sales personnel of these licensed companies is usually helpful and abuse by staff is almost unheard of. I had none so far.
The deplorable situation surrounding private bus operators should not serve as an excuse for people, including board members, to spread blatant generalizations about a country and it's people. We had this in European history way too often in the past with the known sad results.
So Koh Chang travelers: Do yourself a favor, buy the 'real' tickets as indicated earlier on this thread. Take the motorbike taxi or tuktuk from Aran bus station to the border and proceed as often discussed in the Cambodian section. The people who are trying to get your money do not represent Cambodian peasants, townspeople or anyone.
Whether 'lie, cheat, and overcharge the foreigner' is a "policy" in Cambodia was not discussed here. The scam was a Thai scam. Rippoff just jumped on it to spread his questionable views in line with what I stated above.
Somehow in all my reading about this I didn't come across the fact that the ticket they sell in ko Chang that they say takes you all the way to siem reap
The reason might be that most of who know our way around avoid these "tour buses" so do not know the detail of what tricks they may play and we use the government and other reputable bus companies. It may seem more hassle to do it yourself but it is in reality very easy as Thai bus stations are always very helpful if you tell them your end destination.
Still you missed the charms of Rayong!
We are not defending the scammers and we also know that most of the locals in Thailand and Cambodia are kind, generous, friendly and do not lie, cheat, and overcharge
we also know exactly the same sorts of thing go on in the west in tourist spots - go to Barcelona, London, Paris Venice to name a few places - and again not defending it
As MikeAsia said just as bad as the scams are the people providing wrong information to enquiries
Yes pity you missed the charms of Rayong, a town centre bus station with good noodle cafes around the station.
A mini bus driver tried to drop me off around the corner so that his friend the motor cycle taxi driver could make money running me in a hundred yards, but apart from that, a nice friendly honest place.
They do not see many foreigners there I suppose.
I use Rayong regularly. No scams with buses there. The government regulated vans from the other stations are also clean. The problems with individual unregulated transport are known from almost any airport, railway - and bus station around the world. This has nothing to do with airline, rail or bus services.
The bottom line is that once you use unregulated private bus companies you run a risk of being scammed, robbed, and also a much higher crash risk (some will remember the horrible bus crash between Mae Sot and Tak).
As for general observations concerns "the" Thai and "the" Khmer. These are based on personal experiences with a limited set of local protagonist on the one hand and a mixture of mutual ignorance on the other. I also wonder what kind experts make such observations without being fluent in the language.
Let's face it, tourism attracts a certain clientele which might be interested in a fast profit. This is not necessarily a simple matter of character but also of poverty.
A lot depends on whether someone is just passing through or stays longer. One example, the owner of a small food vietnamese place in Sihanoukville stopped his motorbike on the road when he saw me walking. He offered me a ride. I declined. He assured me that it was for free and I explained that while I appreciated the kind offer I did need the exercise. Ladies in the market make sure I pick the good fruits and other sellers tell me to come at another time. Yup, I am a regular customer and get well treated. Just like in the west. So let's keep things in perspective and do not project a foreigner's frustrations on the whole population.
I did not blame travlora nor did anyone else do so. Rippoff-alerter stop making up false stories.
Travlora's contribution is much appreciated as it will help others to avoid problems which was travlora's motivation.
The distinction between private operator and public licensed Thai tour operators is important and needs to be emphasized. it is very easy to distinguish buses. Apparently Ripoff has little knowledge about it and keep sending members into the wrong direction (Rayong in this case). Thai buses and also regulated Van lines have the official line number and vehicle number painted clearly visible. It is impossible to overlook these. Government bus drivers wear a uniform or at last part of it with a garuda sticker. PLUS: Unlicensed companies do not have regular ticket booths at an official bus station. Rippoff is simply ignorant of the most basic aspects of Thai bus travel yet continues to share he false claims and bad 'advice.'
To talk about 'orientals' stands in the worst colonialist tradition. It is also a statement of character.
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