Job Discussion Forums

[japanjohn]

I will arrive in Bangkok on July 16th and plan to fly to Cambodia or Laos.
Are there cheap tickets in Bangkok? Is it a good idea to fly? Which place is more exciting? Safer?

[Joachim]

Flights to Laos and Cambodia from Thailand aren't especially cheap. Thai fly to Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pnomh Penh, while Bangkok Airways fly to PP, LP and Siam Riep (Angkor Wat). I'd give the Lao and Cambodian Airlines a miss.

Tickets will be between 6000 and 8000 THB.

However, there are numerous other routes which are much cheaper - and as you aren't travelling too far, it'll probably be only overnight. Go to Khao San Road travel agents for more details, and you can play them off against each other.

Have a good trip!

[WorkingVaca]

Overland trips into Laos or Cambodia are long and painful. Travel agents on Kho San Road often don't tell you that you'll be stuffed in a mini-van with 6 other people for 8 hours. Once you reach the border, you'll have to transfer to another vehicle. Roads into Cambodia from the Thai border are not paved. Transport vehicles for tourists tend to be pick-up trucks. So imagine riding in the back of a pick-up truck, exposed to the sun, for a day or so into PP or SR from the Thai border. Not to mention the risk of flat tires and break downs.

I noticed your handle is japanjohn so I assume you're working in Japan and making decent money. If you're not teaching in southeast Asia, then 6,000-8,000 Thai baht is not a lot of money to spend for a flight. It's faster and 100X more comfortable.

[pattisons]

You can take a train from Bangkok to the thai side of the Lao border, near Vientian...a sleaper too, I think. Not a bad way to go. Lao air isn't the safest mode of travel either. I flew in one of their planes that looks as though it was built in the PRC in the 50's.

[Kitegirl]

Have you ever checked out the Lonely Planet Thorntree forum? I'm going to Laos next week and have planned my entire journey via the web.

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=24

for info about Laos and Cambodia

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=51

for info about Thailand

[own_king]

No problem OP. You can fly President Airlines from Bangkok to Phnom Penh for 5500 THB. Bangkok Air will cost about 8000 THB, but better departure/arrival times and a little safer. Just ask your travel agents for times and availability. Not sure about Laos - a little boring for my tastes