Should I choose a visa exemption or a 60-day tourist visa for my trip to train in Thailand?

Hello there.

I am new to this group. I am hoping someone could give me some pointers. I am planning a trip to Thailand to train at a Muay Thai gym in Koh Phangan for 4 weeks. But I want to go for 6 weeks in total and have a week on either side of my month I am training. Some friends have told me to just arrive in Bangkok and get the visa exemption. But after 30 days I will need to get to Koh Samui (which is where I will be closest to) in order to extend it before 30 days is up. I was originally going to go with the visa exemption option, but with the way I am planning my time off, (having a week on either side of my month training) I will have to go to Koh Samui for my extension in the midst of my training. I hear this is a bit of a long and daunting day trip just to get the extension, and doesn't sound the most pleasant, especially it also making me lose time that I booked at the gym.

Is there another visa option for me, or an easier way to plan this trip in order to not make getting my visa extension so awkward and complicated? I have looked on the Thai Embassy and I see there is an option of a tourist visa for 60 days. Would this be a better option for me to do the tourist visa rather then visa exemption... has anyone else applied to the 60 day tourist visa to avoid the potential hassles of extending in the middle of your trip?

Thanks so much!