Aranyaprathet Overview

Aranyaprathet is the border town for the Cambodia-bound. There’s very little to hold one’s attention here, and the savvy traveler will arrive early enough to press on without staying the night. The first train from Bangkok arrives in plenty of time for those heading to Siem Reap to reach it on the same day.

In the center of town, Mahadthai-Suwannasorn Road and Chaoprayabodin Road intersect at a small purple clock tower. The train station sits at the north end of Suwannasorn Road. Trains (☎037 231 698) go to Bangkok (5hr.; 6:40am, 1:55pm; 48฿). The bus station is on the west side of town; from there, walk three blocks straight and one block right to reach the clock tower. The ticket booth for government buses (☎037 231 262) to Bangkok (4hr., 6:30, 10:30am, 1, 1:30, 3pm; 236฿) and Sa Gaeo (every hr., 6am-7pm, 49฿) is located to the left of the bus station, behind the 7-Eleven. Further down to the left of the bus station is the departure point for Khorat (6:30, 9am, noon, 3, 5:30pm; 206฿) and has connections for most places in the north and northeast. Tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis (30-40฿) putter to hotels from the bus and train stations.

Practical Information 

Thai Farmers Bank branches are all over town. The one across from Aran Gardern II on Raduthid Rd., has a 24hr ATM that accepts Cirrus/Maestro/MC/V. Siam City Bank, also has an ATM. The pharmacy, one block north of the Aran Garden I Hotel has no English sign. Open M-Sa 6:30am-8pm. The hospital (☎037 231 010), at the corner by the clock tower; a 24hr. police station (☎037 232 492) is one block over from the hospital. The border market, on Weruwan Rd, is a colossal mass of clothing, sunglasses, and other inexpensive knick-knacks. A motorcycle ride to the market costs 60฿. Open daily 6am-7pm. The immigration office (☎037 231 131) is next to the police office and is open M-F 8:30am-4:30pm. The Telecommunications Office (☎037 231 728) is near the corner of Mahadthai and Raduthid Rd., 500m south of the clock tower, has international phones, fax, and Internet. Open M-F 8:30am-4:30pm. Internet access is available at I-net, 2 Raduthid Rd., one block before Aran Garden I Hotel for 20฿ per hr. Open daily 10am-11pm. Also at Cyber Workshop, on Banmrungrad Rd. for 20฿ per hr. Open 8am-10pm. The GPO, (☎037 231 006) is next to the clock tower. Sells phone cards 300฿ and 500฿. Open M-F 8:30am-4:30pm, Sa 9am-noon. Postal Code: 27120.

Accommodations 

Aranyaprathet’s accommodations aren’t much to write home about, but they are sufficient for the one- or two-night stay most travelers to Aranyaprathet are looking for.

• Aran Garden I Hotel, 671 Raduthid Rd. (☎037 231 105). Walk 500m south from the clock tower to Raduthid Rd. and then 600m east to Chitsuwan Rd.; it’s on the corner. Rooms are clean and plain with private bathrooms with Thai-style toilets and cold showers. Single-room with double bed 150฿, with two beds 250฿; with TV 200/250฿.
• Aran Garden II, 110 Raduthid Rd.(☎037 231 070), is a virtual clone of its namesake but charges more and and has Western-style flushing toilets. Singles with double beds 250฿, with 2 beds 300฿; two beds with A/C and hot water 370฿.
• Siam Guesthouse (☎037 233 126), at the end of Chitsuwan Rd., on the highway to the border, is a good mid-range option with comfortable, motel-like rooms. Siam also has a restaurant that serves Thai and Western fare in a cute open-air hut. Dishes 40-170฿. Rooms with A/C, TV, and bathroom 480฿.

Food

Aranyaprathet’s small night market on Chitsuwan Rd. should be your first stop for a good, low-cost fill-up. The best stalls are at the front of the market. Be sure to also check out the food stalls around the border market on Weruwan Rd. (see Practical Information, above). Aranyaprathet also has a couple of good, inexpensive eat-in options.

• Ton Khaow Restaurant. Low prices and high level of service. Sing Celine Dion late into the night alongside Aranyaprathet locals. Thai and Western dishes 30-200฿.
• Thip Kitchen (☎037 231 627), on Chitsuwan Rd., just down the road from Siam Guesthouse. This eatery’s walls are covered with original oil paintings and an English-language menu decorated with the Garfield cartoons. Thai and Western dishes 30-80฿. Open 10am-9pm.