General Reports

[Ben Birdwell]

Hi all, heading off to LOS for the first time in 3 years next month. Just booked.

I am thinking of getting out of Pattaya for a few days to a week, to go to Issan somewhere.

For a mix of mongering nightlife and just in general, which city is worth going to?

Khon Khaen? Surat Thani? Or somewhere else?

I'm going to piggy back onto your post. I'll be headed there in a month and wanted to check out something new. Done bkk, patts, Phuket, chiang Mai, koh samet and koh samui. Anything else that is interesting that I should hit up?

[Lanthano]

Hi all, heading off to LOS for the first time in 3 years next month. Just booked.

I am thinking of getting out of Pattaya for a few days to a week, to go to Issan somewhere.

For a mix of mongering nightlife and just in general, which city is worth going to?

Khon Khaen? Surat Thani? Or somewhere else?

[HorseTrader]

This might help:

Starting October 1, 2022, Thailand CCSA has announced that the Visa Exemption stay period will be extended from 30 days to 45 days. This change is currently in effect until 31st March 2023. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-fo...ional/40019124.

That link was published on August 22, it was just a proposal and nothing official: "The move proposed by the Tourism and Sports Ministry aims to. ".

Until it is official, those of us who want to stay in LOS longer then the standard 15 or 30 days should be prepared to get an E-Visa prior to travel.

[Explorer8939]

I have arrived at BKK at 23.30 and walked very slowly to Immigration to get stamped in after midnight.

But, you don't want to leave your suitcase on the carousel very long.

[Downandup]

Why not just go to immigration and get an extension instead of purposely wasting 3 hours of your life doing nothing in order to gain a few extra hours? Is there a reason you are timing your trips for exactly the given 30 days?

This might help:

Starting October 1, 2022, Thailand CCSA has announced that the Visa Exemption stay period will be extended from 30 days to 45 days. This change is currently in effect until 31st March 2023. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-fo...ional/40019124.

[Crocodilexp]

QUESTION FOR THE EXPERTS: Suppose my flight touches down at 9:00 p.m. Is it possible to delay going to immigration until just after midnight, thereby "gaining" a day? If so, what's a good place to kill time? Or are the authorities wise to this and therefore on the lookout for people hanging around the arrival gates?

In theory, that would probably work, if you can waste so much time in arrivals.

Note that arrivals are basically a long funnel towards immigration. No shops, no ATMs, nothing, just a long corridor and occasional toilets. You might indeed draw some attention and be questioned.

[Explorer8939]

This is a new one for me: an older bargirl brought her son to Pattaya to take him to her favorite bars. So, he could hook up with a bargirl and make some money. Presumably his mom knows which bargirls have big money and long for a young Thai man.

[Bunky]

Thanks to Mr. Sunlover for his helpful analysis. I had not considered the checked baggage issue he spotted, and I agree with him that letting your bags go unchecked for several hours is asking for trouble. The airlines are supposed to collect unclaimed bags and store them. But you never know if they'll be diligent about that -- especially when they are so short of staff. It also seems to me that having an unclaimed bag going round and round on the carousel all by itself would tempt the larcenous. I also think Mr. Sunlover is wise to speculate that when you present yourself to the immigration officer he probably knows what flight you were on, and if you've delayed submitting for inspection he might get suspicious.

So thanks again to Mr. Sunlover for weighing in. I really appreciate it.

Bunky

[Sunlover2]

Another way to think of it is that the day you land counts as day ONE, not day ZERO. Even if you don't get through immigration until 11:45 pm, that still counts as day ONE.

QUESTION FOR THE EXPERTS: Suppose my flight touches down at 9:00 p.m. Is it possible to delay going to immigration until just after midnight, thereby "gaining" a day? If so, what's a good place to kill time? Or are the authorities wise to this and therefore on the lookout for people hanging around the arrival gates?

I touched on this subject last week:

In my case: the hotel I stay at in Bangkok offers a 10% discount for 15+ day stays, and a 20% discount for 30+ day stays. I used to have to get creative with my entries and departures to achieve the 30 day mark. No longer the case it seems because I would certainly take advantage of the longer stay opportunity.
SL.

IMO it depends on how much of a stickler the immigration officer is. On the immigration form you had to fill out and present upon arrival at BKK one of the fields was 'Vessel Number' and I assume they have your flight information in their system already. Being TIT the only consistency is inconsistency. I avoided the issue by booking a flight with a scheduled arrival after midnight.

To my knowledge there is really no place to hang out on the arrivals level now that the smoking rooms are closed (LOL) but you *might* be able to talk your way to the departure level under the guise of visiting an airline club to freshen up. I have read pre-CoVid reports of passengers traveling on premium tickets being able to accomplish that. Works best with carry-on bags though, because if you don't collect your checked luggage timely there is additional potential for mayhem.

But at that point you are stringing 'maybe's' together so realistically it makes the most sense to plan to arrive after midnight if possible.

SL.

[Mr Enternational]

Suppose my flight touches down at 9:00 p.m. Is it possible to delay going to immigration until just after midnight, thereby "gaining" a day? If so, what's a good place to kill time? Or are the authorities wise to this and therefore on the lookout for people hanging around the arrival gates?

Why not just go to immigration and get an extension instead of purposely wasting 3 hours of your life doing nothing in order to gain a few extra hours? Is there a reason you are timing your trips for exactly the given 30 days?

[Bunky]

One thing I want to add is how Thailand counts days. They do not count 24-hour days, they count calendar days. For example, if you arrive at 23:00 on Thursday and depart at 01:00 on Friday, Thailand counts those 2 hours as 2 days.

Another way to think of it is that the day you land counts as day ONE, not day ZERO. Even if you don't get through immigration until 11:45 pm, that still counts as day ONE.

This caught me out once and I went one day over the 30 days allowed for visa-exempt visitors. I hired one of those "premium services" to "escort" me through immigration. I also paid for a "porter" to handle my luggage. When I reached immigration my guide (who was an attractive young woman in a sharp uniform) explained to the agent that I had miscounted the days. I stood off to the side looking chagrined with my head down. After about 90 seconds, the agent said go ahead. No fine. No fuss. I noticed that under the exit stamp in my passport he'd handwritten my outgoing flight information.

You can use this to your advantage by carefully scheduling your flights. I like to arrive around dawn, which means my first day is about 18 hours long. On my way home I schedule a flight for just after midnight on the THIRTY-FIRST day. So long as I clear outbound immigration before midnight, they don't care that it's another two or three hours before my flight actually takes off.

QUESTION FOR THE EXPERTS: Suppose my flight touches down at 9:00 p.m. Is it possible to delay going to immigration until just after midnight, thereby "gaining" a day? If so, what's a good place to kill time? Or are the authorities wise to this and therefore on the lookout for people hanging around the arrival gates?

[Zelensky]

I have the same question. The only thing I can add is that as of 10 hours ago the Thailand E-Visa webpage still says a visa is required for stays longer that 30 days.

My flight schedule has me in Thailand for 44 days. Ill likely get the E-Visa because that extends me to 60 days, just in case I decide to stay longer. In February the E-Visa cost 40 USD. The February E-Visa headache was the requirement for detailed travel information that was not required for pre-COVID visas. My travel plans are to travel wherever I want at that moment, no fixed plans.

One thing I want to add is how Thailand counts days. They do not count 24-hour days, they count calendar days. For example, if you arrive at 23:00 on Thursday and depart at 01:00 on Friday, Thailand counts those 2 hours as 2 days.

As far as I know, the 45-day exemption comes into effect on October 1. I would assume that if you enter Thailand before that date it may not take effect (I could be wrong though). If you land on October 1st or later, you are good for 45 days though.

[HorseTrader]

Is the 45 day Visa Exemption (up from 30 days) official yet?

I have the same question. The only thing I can add is that as of 10 hours ago the Thailand E-Visa webpage still says a visa is required for stays longer that 30 days.

My flight schedule has me in Thailand for 44 days. I’ll likely get the E-Visa because that extends me to 60 days, just in case I decide to stay longer. In February the E-Visa cost 40 USD. The February E-Visa headache was the requirement for detailed travel information that was not required for pre-COVID visas. My travel plans are to travel wherever I want at that moment, no fixed plans.

One thing I want to add is how Thailand counts days. They do not count 24-hour days, they count calendar days. For example, if you arrive at 23:00 on Thursday and depart at 01:00 on Friday, Thailand counts those 2 hours as 2 days.

[Banana Boi]

Is the 45 day Visa Exemption (up from 30 days) official yet?

[PedroMorales]

You don't say from where you are comin g down.

1. Currency: easy to change at airport and booths all over the place, best done in modest enough amounts for safety.

2. Location: Probably Sukhumvit given your parents' age. Good shopping in the malls of European and Japanese brands.

3. Bangkok has places like the great temple etc, easy to get to by taxi, which is better than public transport with aged parents. Trips to eg the river Kwai (boring) easy to get with travel agents all over the place and brochures at hotel front desks etc (+ commission).

4. Massages: Check with front desk you are not sending your mother for a rub and tug.

5. Check out this new thing called the Internet https://www.bing.com/search?q=bangkok+best+attracrtions&cvid=06 ba35 a0 a4 dd45848 e0 b8 a0694 c5 a0 ce&aqs=edge. 69 i57.5615 j0 j1&pglt=43&FORM=ANSPA1&PC=U531.

6. Basics are land, immigration, get to hotel, have a plan.

I am coming down to Bkk for the first time. Would be coming in with my elderly parents who want to tour the islands and I would be spending some time in BKK for about 4-5 days. Total trip duration is 20+ days. Would appreciate a little help in knowing about the currency exchange process. Also what places would be good to visit during this time, especially for healthy elderly parents who are pretty fit and love sight seeing. Also me and my brother both in 40's would like to spend some time during nights visiting bars and having fun in general. Any pointers for first time travelers would be appreciated. Thanks.