Need some quick advice after hours of trying to find a more definitive / confident answer.

Flight is booked from US to Chiang Mai on August 20 (only 14 days!)

No return or onward ticket booked. Will book onward for visa run if appropriate.

We want to stay until the first week of December.

But don't mind making multiple runs to countries in the region if necessary.

Given the cost and time restrictions, do we just fly our butts into Thailand for the exemption stamp and deal with bouncing in and out until we're ready to come home?

Or do we try to get an expedited double-entry tourist visa before departure? (is expedited even possible?)

We're in San Antonio, Texas -- and as far as I can tell, the only place for us to get a visa is through the Washington DC Thai consulate/embassy -- which is BY SNAIL MAIL, and costs a chunk of cash.

Help from you pros is appreciated!

Without a Visa you may well be refused entry to the flight.

You need a Visa or an onward ticket within 30 days.

Suggest a cheap flight on Air Asia and you can always throw it away if you want to.

Without a ticket out of the country within 30 days of arrival you could be denied boarding your flight if you do not have a visa.

You can extend the 30 day visa exempt entry for 30 days at an immigration office for a fee of 1900 baht.

If you do not get a visa it would be best to make a trip to Vientiane Laos to get a tourist visa.

If you don't mind making a trip to Dallas or Houston you get your visas at the honorary consulates there. Contact info here: http:www.thaiembassydc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HCG_Jan15.pdf

Without a ticket out of the country within 30 days of arrival you could be denied boarding your flight if you do not have a visa.

You can extend the 30 day visa exempt entry for 30 days at an immigration office for a fee of 1900 baht.

If you do not get a visa it would be best to make a trip to Vientiane Laos to get a tourist visa.

If you don't mind making a trip to Dallas or Houston you get your visas at the honorary consulates there. Contact info here: http:www.thaiembassydc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HCG_Jan15.pdf

Perfect! Thank you ubonjoe!

Is Vientiane the best/only place to get a tourist visa for a particular reason? (If we don't get one in Houston or Dallas prior..)

We have a bunch of countries in mind to potentially visit -- would be a 2 birds 1 stone situation if one of them was a good place to secure a Thai visa as well. (S. Korea, Singapore, KL, Sydney, and a few others)

If they don't let you on the flight from US you won't be going anywhere.

You need a Visa or a flight leaving Thailand within 30 days.

I mentioned Vientiane because it it is the closest one to Chiang Mai and they do 2 entry visas. Other nearby locations will only do a single entry visa.

If you are be traveling and will be out of he country for a short time you could probably make your trip on visa exempt entries. Trying to stay the entire time here on them would not be advised,

I cannot recommend Singapore or KL as a location to get a tourist visa. Penang Malaysia would be good. The others you mentioned should be ok.

If they don't let you on the flight from US you won't be going anywhere.

You need a Visa or a flight leaving Thailand within 30 days.

Thanks Lite Beer - crystal clear on that.

If we don't pick a visa up here, we'll grab a cheap flight to wherever we decide to apply for one overseas within the first 30 days.

I mentioned Vientiane because it it is the closest one to Chiang Mai and they do 2 entry visas. Other nearby locations will only do a single entry visa.

If you are be traveling and will be out of he country for a short time you could probably make your trip on visa exempt entries. Trying to stay the entire time here on them would not be advised,

I cannot recommend Singapore or KL as a location to get a tourist visa. Penang Malaysia would be good. The others you mentioned should be ok.

Awesome. Good info. You've been extremely helpful!

Now I guess we just need to decide what the path of least resistance is for us right now, and then try to put together all the damn required paperwork...