@David *******

Alongside Ban Khao Din, the Thailand-Cambodia Friendship Bridge at Nong Ian, currently open only to trucks, will be officially designated as the next Thailand-Cambodia border crossing and open to foreigners, probably sometime this year.

Once this happens, it will become by far the most convenient and fastest border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia. Buses will also be using that border too, including Bangkok-Phnom Penh and Bangkok-Siem Reap services.

However, train passengers will continue to use the Aranyaprathet-Poipet border because the train passes through there.

@David *******

Which is why Ban Khao Din is a good alternative. It's almost equidistant and the officials there are much friendlier and don't randomly deny foreigners.

@Thomas *******

Baht for a family of 5? Including rent?

Take a bus to Siem Reap and make a weekend trip out of it. It's such a chill place.

On the way back, get a taxi to a different border (perhaps Ban Khao Din) to avoid the notorious Aranyaprathet, which has a habit of denying entry to visa holders, including at least one DTV holder.

Another option is to travel to Laos, staying in Vientiane, Luang Prabang or Savannakhet for a couple of days then travel back across the border. Time and money can be saved by flying to Udon Thani (for travel to Vientiane, Vang Vieng or Luang Prabang) since the airport is a mere 50km from the border. For Savannakhet or Tha Khek, you'd fly to Nakorn Phanom and go from there. There are cross border buses from Udon Thani to Vang Vieng and Vientiane.

@David *******

Aranyaprathet is the closest but not by much. Ban Khao Din is about the same distance and a far better place to re-enter the country. Also, much faster since no one uses it.

@Andy ***********

A good method indeed.

@Felipe ********

No, officers can ask questions regardless of whether you're new or coming to Thailand a lot.

Yes. Nothing wrong with being questioned as long as they don't pull you aside and make you fill out special forms and such or show documentation other than proof of address (that one is acceptable to me).

@Thomas *******

500,000 for 5 people assures a poverty lifestyle.

500,000 to support 5 people isn't enough money...