Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

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inspiral
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Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

Post by inspiral »

Hi Everyone

I looking for some expat wisdom, I hope you don't mind :-)

I'd like to travel from Chanthaburi to Battambang. I'll be travelling with my wife and two children(3&4). I think I've identified a couple of mini bus services to get me to the border from Chanthaburi but I'm a bit unsure of how to get to Bantambang. I think our ideal mode of transport would be a taxi if they aren't too pricey. Can anyone advise me on the best way to find one ?

Thanks very much.
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phuketrichard
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Re: Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

Post by phuketrichard »

from the border there are taxis waiting . its about 1 hour on a very good road, have never seen a bus
figure $40-50 for the whole taxi
have down this crossing/route more than once in my own car.
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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armchairlawyer
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Re: Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

Post by armchairlawyer »

I did this route several times in 2012. From a small minibus terminus in Chantaburi near the KP Grand Hotel, I took the casino minibus to the border, there were three departures at 0900, 1000 and 1100 or 1000, 1100 and 1200 (can't remember exactly). The terminus was not the same as the main minibus terminus in Chantaburi. You would come out of the KP Grand and head left for about 100 metres and there it was on your left.
You had to buy a return ticket on the (very bad) minibus even though you were not intending to return.
You could not use evisas at this border. They would overstate the fee for the paper visa slightly but were OK about it if you corrected them.
Once across the border, there would be one taxi driver waiting. I didn't like him but he did the job. If you declined his services and kept walking, you would sometimes find a few more about 50 metres up the road.The rate for a taxi to Battambang was $12. They wanted more but they would come down to $12. Of course six years later that figure will be higher but not by much. The taxis were all Camrys in bad condition.
Good luck and please report on your experience, I would be interested to read it.
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phuketrichard
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Re: Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

Post by phuketrichard »

the dirt road in 2012 is now a very nice asphalt road :-)

I have been using this route from 2012-to my last exit in July 2017
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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Re: Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

Post by hiway5 »

Taxi driver will find you. It's 6 USD per person from Battambang. They could charge anything to go back. Higher probably but if it's late in the day they wouldn't be too greedy.There is supposedly a bus or mini bus. I have never seen it.
Having four passengers means you could take the whole taxi and not have to wait but pay more.
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Re: Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

Post by hiway5 »

Not all taxis are the same. There are old toyota sedans and vans and some new suvs with ac.
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Re: Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

Post by inspiral »

Thanks very much for the replies, much appreciated, I'll report back on how we get on. We're crossing at the end of January.
armchairlawyer wrote: Sat Dec 08, 2018 10:13 amYou could not use evisas at this border.
Is this still true ? Having just read a horror story about a family being treble charged I was hoping to avoid this using one.

Cheers
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armchairlawyer
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Re: Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

Post by armchairlawyer »

inspiral wrote: Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:29 pm Thanks very much for the replies, much appreciated, I'll report back on how we get on. We're crossing at the end of January.
armchairlawyer wrote: Sat Dec 08, 2018 10:13 amYou could not use evisas at this border.
Is this still true ? Having just read a horror story about a family being treble charged I was hoping to avoid this using one.

Cheers
I suggest you research this online. Even if it is still the case, don't worry. Take USD cash in denominations so that you are not relying on getting change. Consider paying small additional amounts if the case warrants. Don't look worried. If your children start screaming, just let them and have them do it as close as possible to the officers. Stay relaxed.

I'd be interested to read the charging triple story.
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Re: Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

Post by phuketrichard »

been crossing land borders into Camboida since 2006
never paid more than the going rate ( $20, now $30)
never been asked for more and have used all Thai/Cambodian borders.
Just make sure u have EXACT change and just hand that over with the via application and without a word
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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armchairlawyer
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Re: Phsar Prum / Pailin crossing to Battambang Advice

Post by armchairlawyer »

phuketrichard wrote: Sat Dec 08, 2018 8:07 pm been crossing land borders into Camboida since 2006
never paid more than the going rate ( $20, now $30)
never been asked for more and have used all Thai/Cambodian borders.
Just make sure u have EXACT change and just hand that over with the via application and without a word
I was asked for $22 at Pailin in 2012, I gave him $20 and he shrugged and took it.
Koh Kong is a tougher proposition but you can use the evisa there. Poipet likewise.
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