90 day stay question

[PETE579]

Forgive me me if this info is on here, but I am confused.  Im from the USA and am interested in a 90 day stay in Thailand this winter  (NY winters suck!)

Could someone tell me the best way to go about this?  Thanks in advance

[DrJack54]

Obtain setv in USA. That gives you 60 days. Then go imm in Thailand and obtain 30 day extension.

Or arrive from USA with nothing. Enter visa exempt gives you 30 day. Obtain 30 day extension, then border bounce for another 30. I would do the later.

[PETE579]

DrJack54, Thanks,  I guess its not a big deal to get an exemption?  Do I need a hotel reservation? or can I just wing it and choose my accomodation when I get there?  Also do I need a return ticket for that initial 30 day entry?

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, PETE579 said:

DrJack54, Thanks,  I guess its not a big deal to get an exemption?  Do I need a hotel reservation? or can I just wing it and choose my accomodation when I get there?

All this stuff comes down to ongoing stay in Thailand. With little recent history you need nothing. However its always good idea to have cash on you. Any currency. With lot of history  visiting thai ongoing, a free cancel hotel accom does not hurt. You won't have a problem. 

[PETE579]

Ok sounds good thanks again

[DrJack54]

OP, you should check with your airline carrier if they require onward flight within 30 day. Since you have no visa. Not an issue for Thai passport control but might be for your flight.

[gk10002000]

46 minutes ago, PETE579 said:

DrJack54, Thanks,  I guess its not a big deal to get an exemption?  Do I need a hotel reservation? or can I just wing it and choose my accomodation when I get there?  Also do I need a return ticket for that initial 30 day entry?

In my 14 trips I have never paid and booked a hotel in advance.  Once or twice I just did email to reserve it.  I prefer to see the room before I pay.  Plenty of hotels to choose from, although in high season, it is possible the more popular hotels may be booked.  As far as the initial 30 day stay, I often have done the 30 day extension after the 30 day visa exemption.  Sometimes I had a fixed air ticket return date, sometimes I had an open ended return, etc.  Nobody seemed to care about the ticket or even look for my ticket or reservation.  Not sure how they would even look.  I guess on the arrival card one fills out the expected departure date and flight number, but at no time did I ever hand over a ticket reservation copy or itinerary.  I am sure they could ask for that, I just have never had it happen.  Dress decently with a polo type shirt upon arrival in BKK maybe helps? 

[steve187]

do it right get a 60 day tourist visa and in the last week of your permission to stay stamp extended for a further 30 days, depending on where you stay you may need to summit a tm 30, to get the extension, 

 

 a 30 day visa exempt entry will require a flight out of Thailand within 30 days of arrival

 

day one of you stay is the day of arrival, so a 90 day stay can be 91 days, so check days carefully