Bus Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville

[Jsayla]

Hello to all at this forum,
I am planning my first trip to Sihanoukville (and Cambodia) and am totally ignorant about getting from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville other than it is a bus trip. The plan is to land at Phnom Penh 9.05am and catch the bus, trying to avoid Phnom Penh if possible. Is this doable? I note 3 bus companies (Sorya, Mekong Express and Capitol Guesthouse) and would like to know if it is possible to get the bus from the airport or nearby. I will appreciate your preferences and advice. I look forward to meeting you soon.
Thank you,
Jsayla

[Casper]

I've never been on a bus that has stopped anywhere near the airport.

Thing is though, it's only a 3 dollar mototaxi ride into Phnom Pehn (maybe 4 dollars now), but this depends on how much luggage you have. Taxi's from outside the airport ask for 9 dollars, but will probably settle for 7.

Ask to be taken to the Paramount or Mekong express bus offices, you'll get there in plenty of time and the bus journey costs around 6 or 7 dollars to Sihanoukville.

Hope this helps

[Jsayla]

Thank you Casper, that is exactly the wisdom I was looking for. One question though. When you say ask for the Paramount or Mekong Express bus are these the same or different locations?

[Casper]

Different companies, but both at opposite ends of the same road .... street 104 (well the Mekong is actually just around the corner on the riverside, but close enough).

Both use double decker buses, with toilets and (unfortunately) khmer karaoke ....... they also make a rest break about 2 hours down the road. Total journey time is around 4 and a half hours.

When are you thinking of coming over?

[noquit]

Are the buses air conditioned ?

[Casper]

Yes, all the bus companies advertise AirCon buses ......... however, they don't really work that well on the Sorya ones! Cheapest ticket and good if you want to get close to the locals

[noquit]

The bus company with the bad a/c, do the locals also transport live poultry with them ?

Stick with the cold bus. 

Now again for the others, write the name of the other bus company, the one with the working air conditioner on it.

[Jsayla]

Thanks again Casper, that has sorted it for me. I've been trying to organise a trip for late December early January but at the moment fares are prohibitive so I may look at escaping for my birthday in May. I'm monitoring prices daily so it may be a quick decision if a reasonable fare pops up.
Cheers, Jsayla.

[Casper]

Yes, have to say the cheaper buses do have the occasional 'clucking' sound coming from the luggage area, lol.

Good luck with the fares Jsayla ........ you'll find that once you're here, it's pretty hard to spend money though. Swings and roundabouts

[Happyman-too]

Yes, have to say the cheaper buses do have the occasional 'clucking' sound coming from the luggage area, lol.

I had good luck with the taxi service from Sihanouk to PNH airport.
Had to be at the airport for 9am so went to the bus station at 6am. Agreed to take the front seat for $15. (you can share the seat for $7 or 8.) Nice ride with a very safe driver. He went and picked up other passengers and once full we were off. Air con car, quite comfortable. Stopped for breakfast en route at a nice sit down resturant, coffee stir fry and rice for $2. I made the drivers day with a $1 tip and arrived on time at the airport. Other passengers were professionals, respectable folk and no sign of live chickens.

[perhaps not]

i attempted to take the mekong bus last month. bought 2 seats for $14, the bus left the riverside an hour late, and promptly broke down about 2 miles away. i called my motodop friend and he agreed to make the trip in his toyota for $55. i wound up splitting the fare with a couple from australia, in the end it cost me $24 with a nice little tip for the outstanding driver.

[Casper]

I make the trip by bus probably once each month, and yes, the bus broke down for me last time I made the journey ......... typically, this was the only time I actually NEEDED to be in Phnom Penh at a certain time

[npmole]

following this link http://www.mottah.com/Bus%20Schedule/BUSSCH_1.HTM you will find a buschedule from sihanoukville and a pricelist for taxis (prices seem up to date)

[Casper]

Useful information npmole, thanks for posting the link