Hi there

I'm a first timer from UK in Thailand on a standard 30 day tourist visa, currently in Pai, North Thailand

Visa expires 8th April 08, but am hoping to stay until end of May.

I'd appreciate suggestions on visa renewal - where is the easiest place to get to from Pai for renewal and is it possible to get two month option to save a second run in May?

Thanks for your help.

nomad08

You are on visa exempt, not a standard 30 days tourist visa. "renewing" that stamp, means leaving the country and come right back, at which point you will receive another 30 days. If you want to stay 60 days (or even 90 with extension), you need to obtain a tourist visa, which currently could be done in Vientiane, Laos.

To get there quickly, consider going to Chiang Mai, take NOK into Udon Thani (or if money is not an issue, straight to Vientiane with Lao Air).

As said , You do not have a Visa. You can do this again twice to take you up to end of May or go to Vientienne and get a Visa . With an extension at your local Immigration Office this will give you 90 days.

Also the advantage of some decent beer in Vientienne.

From Pai you could go to Mae Sai, north of Chiang Rai. Cross the border and come straight back and you'll be given another 30 day visa exempt stamp. Repeat the process when that expires and you'll be ok up till when you say you want to leave. As long as you dont go over 90 days in a six month period with the visa-exempt stamps there's no problem.

If you do a search on here you'll find plenty of useful posts explaining the process of getting there from Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai.