Questions - Airport and Angkor tour

[Guest tintin]

I will be going to Bangkok in December for the first time and found a lot of useful info from this board. I have booked Pinnacle for the first leg and Tarntawan Place for the last leg of my trip, thanks to the recommendations here. I still have some questions though and need help.

 

1. My flight will arrive in Bangkok early in the morning (1:40am). It'll be even later by the time I get through the customs. Is there still transportation available at such early hours and what 's the best way to get to my hotel (Pinnacle)?

 

2. I am going to Siem Reap/Angkor for 3 days/2 nights during my visit. I've already got my air tickets. Should I get a package (hotel + guided tour) or just book a hotel and visit the Angkor on my own? How easy or difficult is it to get around in Siem Reap?

[Guest Boxer]

I will be going to Bangkok in December for the first time and found a lot of useful info from this board. I have booked Pinnacle for the first leg and Tarntawan Place for the last leg of my trip, thanks to the recommendations here. I still have some questions though and need help.

 

1. My flight will arrive in Bangkok early in the morning (1:40am). It'll be even later by the time I get through the customs. Is there still transportation available at such early hours and what 's the best way to get to my hotel (Pinnacle)?

 

2. I am going to Siem Reap/Angkor for 3 days/2 nights during my visit. I've already got my air tickets. Should I get a package (hotel + guided tour) or just book a hotel and visit the Angkor on my own? How easy or difficult is it to get around in Siem Reap?

 

 

1. get a taxi ground floor level 1 no problem through customs in 20 minute and out, hotel by 2.40am.

Let others answer about Anchor as I want to go also, been here 7 yrs and not done it YET!

[Guest pgsp]

I booked with Utopia, now called Purple Dragon, located in the lobby of Tarantawan Hotel.

www.purpledrag.com.

 

They are bit pricey but the hotel was great (Shinta Mani) and the tour guide was very knowledgable.

 

If you want to save $$, book at the Golden Banana. They can arrange tours as well but you'll need a good guidebook. Golden Banana has a good location, easy walk to the bar street where there are lots of great resturants and the Linga Bar, gay bar in town.

 

Siem Reap itself is easy to get around but Ankor is out of town; you will need to arrange transportation.

 

Bring US currency, in 1, 5, 10 I would recommend, as if you bring larger bills you will find it hard to break them. Also some places won;t take US 50 and 100 as they often fake in asia.

 

You should definately go to Ankor; it truly is a wonder of the world.

[Gaybutton]

You should definately go to Ankor; it truly is a wonder of the world.

 

I have not yet made the trip. How many days would you recommend? Can you also recommend an itinerary?

[Guest Trongpai]

Angkor is easy to do without a pre-aranged tour. If your comfortable with a motocycle, look for the taxi desk outside, to the right as you exit. There are boys that take to to a hotel for one dollar US. If your not booked in a tour that boy can be your guide for someting in the neghborhood of 20US per day. There are loads of hotels.

 

The boys are mostly straight but you might get lucky. Look for a cute one.

 

Get used to paying everying in US dollars. They do accept Baht but not a good exchange rate. Forget the local currency, give it to the beggers.

 

Buy US dollars in Bangkok before you go, it's easer than in Camboita with less fees.

[Guest tintin]

Very useful information, guys. Thanks. I am going to book with Golden Banana. Hope they are not full yet.

[Guest fountainhall]

Now that you have the flights and hotel, to see the best of Angkor and make the most of your short trip a good guide and also a driver are absolutely essential (it's really hot in December and air conditioning is such a relief after all the walking and clambering over ruins you'll do!) Personally I'd be very wary of seeing such an amazing place without a guide who is officially sanctioned. Angkor Wat itself is massive and impressive, but it is just one of a vast number temples spread over a huge area. Others on a 'must-see' list are the enormous Angkor Thom, Banteay Srei and Ta Prohm which is still half swalled up by trees. On your short trip, you can only visit a small selection, and the decision on what to see is where the guide really earns his money.

 

2 years ago I used a wonderful private guide who had been recommended by European friends. His name is Saron. He speaks excellent english, communicates extremely well, knows the history backwards and helped us make the best use out of our 4 days there. His email is saronan@camintel.com (but note he is not gay!). Also note that in addition to fees for a guide and a driver, you need to purchase daily passes to access the sites.

[khaolakguy]

And for night life in Seam Reap don't forget to visit Figo for good food, fun staff and internet access, Linga bar for more sophisticated ambience. Both of these are exclusively gay, and when they close take your new friends or go alone to Zone One, which is a mixed disco that is fun and open late, the area around the bar opposite the entrance is interesting.

[PattayaMale]

I will be going to Siem Reap and then Phnom Pen with 3 others (2 are Thai) Dec. 5 - 12. We will be taking a van to the border and then walking through immigration, then continuing to Siem Reap. We will stay at The Golden Banana for 4 days then taking a boat to Phnom Pen, staying . for 3 days then fly back on Air Asia. I have no idea what to expect but will write about our trip when we return.

 

We have debated taking a van to the border and then onto Siem Reap. Has anyone done this? We feel this may be a good way to see the country side, but have heard that it is a bumpy ride on the Cambodia side. Any suggestions?