Hi,

37-year-old American here with a Thai girlfriend and a 4-year-old mix son. I'm eventually going to apply for a US Tourist Visa for my girlfriend (son is already a citizen) but I thought I would help her use her passport a little beforehand so she is more likely to get the US Tourist Visa. We applied once and she was denied. Her passport is brand new with zero stamps. The US Embassy was afraid she would not return to Thailand, so I thought I would try and establish some international travel on her part.

What country/destination would anyone recommend we visit for a mini-holiday? Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao, Singapore are obviously in the running! Probably will be traveling with our child, so nothing to long or crazy. If any of those countries requires a visa before hand for a Thai, it might help if she applies and is approved for a visa to a S.E.Asian country before applying for the US visa.

Any kid-friendly destinations that would make a good long weekend trip would be great. We live in Krabi.

Any thoughts appreciated.

-Scott

Go to Sentosa in Singapore, fun for the little one and also a stamp for the missus, you could come back via KL then another stamp done.

Edited June 8, 201115 yr by beano2274

Hi mate,

Bali (indonesia) is cheap and easy. Thai people dont require a visa and can fly cheap with air asia from Phuket.

I took my thai gf in feb for a quick holiday and got her another stamp in passport.

hope it helps

Thank you both. Will check into Sentosa and Bali...somehow I forgot about Indo!

Lao = free Cambodia = free (we are waiting to test this one) Indonesia = free Malaysia = free Singapore = free Macau = free HKG = free  Myanmar = same price as you but easy to acquire Nepal = same price as you but easy to acquire Phils = why bother, toilet.  India = should be easy enough to obtain for her, you in BKK only if you have residency status. Otherwise reported to be a hassle.   Indonesia, airfare is NOT necc cheap! Depends on season and day of flt. June-Oct is high season.  LIST OF ALL COUNTRIES I FOUND BY GOOGLING IT <a href='http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=701425' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>http://answers.googl...dview?id=701425</a>    Your family will like SIN! Night Safari, Zoo, Bird Park, Sentosa underwater (only, rest looks like a rip). For the Mrs. Botantical garden, orchid and bromeliaed gardens.

This website looks all a jumble this morning. Sorry for the scramble. Not my fault :-)

Edited June 9, 201115 yr by bangkokburning

Thank you both for the maps and country lists, very helpful.

Hey for what it's worth..  We racked up a few countries before we did our visa app. On her app it did not even ask about other int'l travel (!).

Persons on a website which will remain nameless stated that they were asked about countries visited.  I only can surmise that the app is dynamic and gives you questions based on prior questions and selections. She had a visa to US prior so maybe that is why the app did not ask for countries traveled.

In fact, the (OLD!) 160 manual has these questions!  

We made contact sheet of photos showing all her intl travel and all our total travel (thai/intl).

Hope it helps but who knows.  Anyway. Before you go forking out loads of cash, you now know this.

I also thought it a great idea - till we were not asked!! :-)  

For my thinking, all travel tells the Consular Official is that:

The applicant is able to take time off and return to their work without issue ***

The person enjoys travel and is more likely to be an honest tourist as opposed to a dodger*

The person has the cash to travel OR travel is a very important part of the persons life

Some intl travel prior to your meeting and over last 5/10 years - commitment to travel*  

If she has not been out of the country ever and you think that tacking a few trips to the app will help. I have my doubts based on the above.   Hope this helps more...

FORMATTING TODAY ARGH!

Edited June 9, 201115 yr by bangkokburning

Kuta is hell incidentally. Full of drunken Aussies crushing beer cans on their heads while driving 50km an hour around the tiny gangs with surfboards strapped to the motos. The other hand is either pretending to maneuver the bike or taliking on mobile or texting.  You will be constantly harassed in Kuta by the scrum in the streets for anything and everything.  If you want to go to Ubud, prices will be obscene June-Sept. a 10% tax is levied at all restaurants and some even put a VAT on as well!!!!!!!!!!  I know two of the best value spots to stay in Ubud. They have decent gardens, but are US15/23 per night in low season. There is no relation between the price asked and the quality of the hotel. DO NOT book ahead, you will be really sorry.  I can also give you a place in Kuta and some tips. Send me your email if you want to see some photos of the places above.  But I would NOT go to Bali, esp in these months.

Recommend SIN like Beano. AA tickets can be cheap but the rooms are pricey. Attractions are not too expensive.

OH BTW - MAKE SURE TO TAKE A DUTY FREE ALLOWANCE INTO INDO FROM BKK!! EVEN BEER IS HUGELY, FANTASTICALLY EXPENSIVE NOW.

Edited June 9, 201115 yr by bangkokburning