Can I stay in Thailand for 33 days without a visa if I plan a trip to Laos during my visit?

Patrick Yorkston The problem is that you like to travel without a visa and without onward travel. If you would be denied entry into Thailand you are left at the responsibility of the airline company who brought you to Thailand. They have to transfer you back to where you came from at their own costs and there are not many airline companies willing to pay for passengers who like to travel as they like or want and put the financial risk into the company.

@Pat****

the bus starts at Dongphosy train station on Lao territory. You have to cross the border on your own.

OK maybe it does, but it still probably wouldn’t work for Proof of Onward Travel because it’s not verifiable.

@Patrick *********

Does it really? My impression was that it takes you to the Friendship Bridge, then you have to cross the bridge and, once in Laos, buy a ticket for a bus to Vientiane. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

But even so, this would not remove the need for a verifiable flight, and your fate would be in the hands of a check-in agent who may not be feeling generous that day.

@Robert ******

The airline check-in agents want to see a confimed FLIGHT which they can check on their IATA database. A bus ticket will not do – in fact AFAIK most bus tickets available in advance do not cross borders anyway. The OP should buy a cheap flight to Laos instead of traveling by land. Problem solved.

@Robert ******

we can all learn from you 👍 and thanks for spending so much time on facebook to help us 🙏

That is why I'm an old grumpy bastard. I go on holiday to relax and enjoy a new country, people and culture. Not to be asked all kind of questions on airports, immigration and have to worry about leaving on time a country. Or buying and cancelling all kind of tickets just to show what I'm definitely not going to visit or use.

Robert Lagas sure, but in other words, no need to get the visa if he is leaving to Laos and has that onward bus ticket to show. That will give him 30 day exemption and he can get another when he comes back? No need for a visa. If he interrupts his thailand visit with a trip to Laos then he is doing two < 30 day visits to Thailand. 🤷‍♂️

You mean to buy an online bus ticket from example Nong Khai (Thailand) to Vientiane (Laos) or from Mukdahan (Thailand) to Savannakhet (Laos) only 55 Thb. Yes, it is onward travel.

he plans to go to Laos, maybe I'm not from this world and maybe I'm the grumpy old bastard, but would a bus ticket to Laos make more sense and use it?

@James *******

sure he buys the refundable ticket out within the 30 days he is allotted. Or as

@Robert ******

rightfully suggests gets a tourist visa in advance.

@Dan *********

he still has no proof to show airline...

@Robert ******

Good Morning Folks, I am planning a visit to Thailand in January and I am wanting to stay a total of 33 days without a Visa I will have a return ticket and the correct amount of cash on me when I arrive. While I am in Thailand I will be going to Laos for three or four days via the crossing at Nong Khai so I don't have any proof of this trip. Will I encounter any issues on entry? I have been to Thailand several times but only once in the last 12 months. TIA 😀

Hi post clearly states that he is leaving in the middle but obviously bit hard to show that to airline on checkin. So no loophole at all.

@Dan *********

The jumping loophole way to avoid the visa rules. Sorry, I missed that part of fun in your advice.

@Robert ******

buy the ticket for 30 days. Said refundable ticket since he is leaving anyway over land but if the airline checks he can prove he has proof of onward travel

@Dan *********

does not help, ticket must be within the 30 days, with a planning to stay 33 days the ticket is 3 days to late

@Patrick *********

buy a refundable onward ticket to show the airline on checkin if they ask.

Get a visa