So I'm from South Africa and just bought my one way to Bangkok. I do freelance work and intend to be in thailand for a while, but will be using tourist visas to stay there and probably do a run to Laos to get a dual entry one.

I just printed out the visa application form, and in it they ask for "Duration of proposed stay" and "Proposed address in Thailand".

I spoke to a friend that was there last year and he said you just arrive and find yourself a hotel to stay in when you get there, but what do I put in these two fields above then?

Tourist visas are for 60 days, so that seems like what should be your duration of stay. Many hotels advertise on the internet, just pick one.

Or just put "hotel". Only on actual entry have I even been required to make an name choice beyond that, and even then only once or twice many decades ago.