I appreciate any advice. My stay is 4 days over the 30 day tourist visa. Should I just pay he 2000 baht (4 days) fine when I depart or should I go to immigration office in BKK and seek an extension? What's cheaper? I really value opinions... thanks

You should apply for a 7 day extension, pay 1900 baht and be given 7 days to leave rather that risk getting caught with the overstay.

Thanks. Can I do this application where? At an immigration office in bangkok? Thanks

The way you word it, your op kind of sounds like you haven't overstayed 4 days yet or you'd be flying today? If you haven't gone over yet, get yourself down immigration for the ext.

Some people just roll up at the airport and chance it. Problem there is -- though unlikely -- if you get stopped beforehand and have to produce your passport, you'd then be withheld and possibly plonked in immigration nick. Personally, I think if I weren't expecting to come back soon (ever), I might chance it, but if you're bouncing borders or returning, do you really want that ugly stamp in your PP?

Thanks. Can I do this application where? At an immigration office in bangkok? Thanks

in Bangkok you will do it a Chaeng Wattana immigration office. Map and info for getting there. http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/location1.html

If not in Bangkok you can do it at any immigration office but you need a local address to put on the application.

I miscounted days booking my ticket and will end up overstaying my visa by only two days. Would the easiest solution be paying the fine at the airport on my way out of Thailand? Is there any advantage in spending the many hours I've heard it takes at Immigration to pay this ahead of time? Or would it be the simplest (and most interesting) to take a short trip to Myanmar? I'm in Chiang Mai.

I miscounted days booking my ticket and will end up overstaying my visa by only two days. Would the easiest solution be paying the fine at the airport on my way out of Thailand? Is there any advantage in spending the many hours I've heard it takes at Immigration to pay this ahead of time? Or would it be the simplest (and most interesting) to take a short trip to Myanmar? I'm in Chiang Mai.

You cannot pay the fine ahead of time. All you can do is apply for a 7 day extension and pay the 1900 fee.

There is always the risk of getting caught before you get to the airport. It is up to you as to what you want to do.