amnicoll

so there will be the capability for "fast" trains to use the new line from Bang Sue to Hua Hin that is a start.

but will that result in an improvement in the frequency with trains all day to compete with the buses?

What about the rest of the trains to the south will they keep the existing sleepers and perhaps save an hour

last time I flew Emirates there was no problem checking in early as their desk is open for all flights therefore checkin early and go through immigration before 23.59

10 hours ago, patricia carter said:

I will over-stay the 30 limit for the tourist visa by 2 days; we will be in Chiang Mai; I am curious if there is a 2-3 day trip out of the country so I can get around applying for the Tourist Visa at the Embassy in DC; i.e., entering and exisitng twice; looking at the map Myanmar may be a possibility, but may not be a good place to visit at this time; has anyone ever done this?  Any suggestions?

Many posters do not provide complete info to enable informed responses - in this case we do not know if Poster has already entered Thailand by land twice using visa exemptions

I agree with phuketjock I have been many time on the trains and in Golok and yes there are armed soldiers on the trains and the stations they are there for your security. Never met in Golok the type of person you met and never worried about going out in the night in the city.

Not sure either why you chose Golok instead of Sadao but you could have flown to Narathiwat got a van/songthaew  to Tak Bai and crossed there if your destination was Kota Baru

I do not know who the higher authority is as that was the quote from the Thai consul

Thanks I have the document already but see my original post and the advice of the Thai consul - now that could be at the extreme of playing the rules but it still concerns me if I am turned back at the border

I too think the rolling 12 months makes sense (if one is looking at the intention behind it) and hence my concerns that this is perhaps caught up by language issues or just simply a badly worded law.

I know what the rules say about visa exemptions by land

"Those who enter the Kingdom temporarily for tourism in accordance with Paragraphs 3 by crossing Immigration check points at land borders are entitled to enter the Kingdom in this way no more than two times per calendar year, except for
Malaysian citizens or citizens of other countries, as specified by the minister.”

On the face of it things should therefore be straight forward the wording is clear BUT I can not obtain a straight answer to this question from the Thai embasy /tourist people