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District in Sa Kaeo, Thailand
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Aranyaprathet (อรัญประเทศ, also Aran Yaprathet, Aranya Prathet, or just Aran) is a border town in Eastern Thailand (Sa Kaeo province). Nearby is Poipet; Cambodia's busiest land crossing, which is the most popular tourist route for travel between Bangkok and Siem Reap (and the Angkor Archaeological Park).
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Side streets on both sides of the compound have food stalls, the one to the north during the day, and the one to the south evenings. The evening Walking Street is mostly for takeaway as there are very few places to sit.
Rooms start at 230 baht for a single with fan, en suite bath, balcony, Wi-Fi and TV. AC rooms from 350 baht. Clean, and quiet if no one leaves their TV on all night. Good value, and no sign of any of the "immigration service" scams reported in Aran hotels in earlier years. Note the hotel is at number 1 on this page's map - the key is wrong.
expensive considering how basic it is for small Thai towns. Tuk-tuk drivers know it by name, but agree on a price in writing or in Thai before you go. They know who stays here, so they're enthusiastic purveyors of the "you misheard me" scam. The reception can provide maps of the town. Note the hotel is at number 2 on this page's map - the key is wrong.
A new "luxury" hotel catering to tourists on a higher budget. Prices vary by how and when you make a reservation, but you can expect to pay about 900 baht for a single, 1,550 baht for a double and 1,950 baht for a triple, which may or may not include breakfast.
Wi-Fi/fridge/en-suite bath/garden.
A quality option a little outside of town, 5 min by tuk-tuk. Clean and comfortable rooms has inviting pool surrounded by palm trees.
Clean rooms. Pool. The food is pretty good. Air conditioning.
Easy walk from the bus depot and easy to find. Motel-style, clean. Air-con rooms are Spartan but roomy and clean; they appear newly built or newly renovated. Two free bottles of water, Western-style bathroom with hot shower, and cable TV (don't expect any Western language channels, though). Free, fast Wi-Fi but no food on-site. Don't expect free breakfasts here.
Not as big as Tesco, but at least it's right in town. Has basic groceries/snacks at decent prices.
Has a surprising range of goods that will interest those who like buying stuff.
It has set several locations, notably at the border in Rongkleu Market, in the town centre and near the bus station.
New shopping center has several clothing/accessory stores, as well as fast food restaurants and groceries. The songthaews from the border no longer go out here. Grab a tuk tuk or it's a half hour walk along the highway from the bus station.
By train
Two trains a day in each direction connect Aranyaprathet with Bangkok's Hualamphong Train Station., towards Cambodia), trains depart at 05:55 and 13:05, arriving at 11:20 and 18:05 respectively.
Crossing the border
Entering Thailand from Poipet is straightforward for travellers who do not need a visa or have obtained one in advance.
The town is fairly small and easily covered on foot. Twenty baht for a tuk-tuk ride within the town may be slightly generous.
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