Gilbert would like to share with you about the exchange scam in Poi Pet.
The thing about the exchange scam is that I was asked if I had US dollars when trying to order a taxi to Siem Riep at the Poi Pet border crossing. As I had only Thai Baht I was told that baht are no good and we were led to an exchange office and asked to change for Riel. I changed 5,000 Baht and received only 410,000 Riel which is obviously a very bad exchange rate as I found out in Siem Rieps branch of Siam bank later. I found out as well, that Thai Baht were excepted by everyone without a problem.
This is a common scam that you see all over the world.
Your best bet is to get the currency of the next country before you get there at a bank, ussualy it will be a little expensive.
Allmost all border towns have places to do foriegn exchange FOREX that are open at least one hour after the borders close. If not hotels will ussualy Hold Your Money till morning and loan you some walking around money and let you buy back “your money” when the banks open.
have fun in Cambodia!
Chuck
September 24th, 2007
At the Poipet border, I had no problem with my e-visa, everything was allright, but in the border there were bad people: they told that they worked in the border, and that they wanted to help tourist with a free bus to the bus/taxi station to Siam Reap. As they told us (8 tourist of diferent nationalities) that they were border workes, all of us take the free bus to the bus station but…. they didn´t bring us to the bus station, just they bring us to a taxis that they bellong to them. They only wanted to take their taxis and with their condition (paid 18$ per person!!!) We all tell not, and to bring us to the bus/taxi station…. we all have a strong discusion with them…. At last, they bring us in their taxis to Siam Reap for 250bath each, but we have a lot of discussion. Then we knew that those people worked for the ATTA asosiation, not for the border us they told us. Then in Cambodia many tourist told me that they had the same experience and that the police of the border told them to pay more than 20$ to get their visa!
Olatz
September 24th, 2007
E-visa is a fantastic way to enter Cambodia without any problems. Recently in SiemReap it took me less than 5 minutes to pass immigration.
A wonderful hotel in SiemReap is the FREEDOM HOTEL. Clean, spacious rooms, very friendly and knowledgeable staff, good food in the restaurant, very fair price.
Konrad Weil
October 6th, 2007