What are the best options for an Australian couple wanting to extend their stay in Thailand by one month without a visa run?

Ranong is the closest and easiest, you will be able to book a return trip from khoa lak, i really wish those without personal experience wouldnt post crap that potentially puts people off. The roads to and from are perfectly fine, it's a very simple trip, if you book with an agent everything is done for you, or you could rent a car, do it in your own time and include some sight seeing, hot springs, waterfalls some nice scenery along the way too, could even stay the night in ranong

Ranong immigration will not stamp you out if they are not willing to stamp you back in. They do ask for an onward ticket if coming back in on visa exempt though. So no risk of being ‘stuck’ in Myanmar.

Most Malaysian border crossings require you to spend at least one night in Malaysia, unless you pay some agent money to get you across.

Since you are in Phuket now, why not fly out for 1-2 nights and come back in? Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Singapore, HCMC all fun options

I’ve been to Ranong ( Myanmar ) and back ( last year ) in a day .

As mentioned agents can organise , by using an agent they explain and go with you etc , it’s all in groups , boat 15 minutes each way . Stood in Kawthoung ( Myanmar ) for about 10-12 minutes

Ranong immigration is actually the water border to Myanmar .

Fly to Malaysia and back

Or you can get a train to Hat Yai then train into Malaysia

Only fly out and for a few days at least HCMC is a great inexpensive City. UCL better than Bangkok nowadays. Ensure you have a onward ticket to Aus, if asked. GL

Do not listen to the majority of those giving you advise to do a border run. Land borders are not a good idea. You may even be denied entry , coming back. Strongly advise you go by air. When you return make sure you have everything ready.

20,000 baht

Onward flight

Accommodations

TDAC

Quick turn around is a red flag. Used to be you could do a border run but immigration is really being strict.

Good luck.

Personally , I was warned when I arrived in Thailand , last year. We want to Vietnam for a couple of months and returned to Thailand. I was a little worried when I returned but the immigration officer stamped me in after asking to see my proof of an onward ticket ; Fortunately , I was prepared and had printed out my itinerary.

Depends on your visa. You are posting under the DTV heading but if you have one of these you can stay for 180 days each visit. Therefore, I'm assuming that you are 'in country' on a different arrangement.

Did you come in on a 90-day visa or on a 60-day visa exempt + 30 day extension ? The latter may cause a problem if you do a 24 hour (or less) out and back, as Immigration seems to have been regarding this sort of activity as 'suspicious' in recent months. Most definitely, they are cracking down on people using border runs to, in effect, live long term in Thailand without an appropriate visa.

No doubt plenty of people will now angrily decry the above as being complete Horlicks but I have been keeping track of the information posted on the Integrity Legal YouTube channel and that's the advice that he has been giving. Check it out yourself to see if the circumstances apply to you.

If you have had a 90 day visa, there should be no problem re-entering on visa-exempt status BUT, in either case, I recommend that you spend a few days away and also have proof of your next departure to show on entry. You would also do well to have proof of at least THB 20,000 each to support your stay.

I hope the above is useful.

I have done the visa run at the Ranong border, its not to recommend, really bad roads last 170km from takua pa,

Long wait for a boat to be full, I didn’t want to wait, so rented my own boat over the border, I needed 10 us dollar to get the visa in to myanmar even if I wasn’t going to stay, they sold dollars at a high price, everybody tried to sell cocaine, a lot of stops over the canal to customs, border control etc, i would rather take a plane to Malaysia or something..

You can come to Penang and enjoy a few days before you go back to Thailand. You can take train from Hatyai to Padang Besar only cost THB50. Then you cross immigration at train station itself into Malaysia. From Padang Besar Malaysia, take Kommuter Train to Butterworth then take ferry across the sea to Penang island. Enjoy a few days here before you go back to Thailand. Penang and Adelaide are sister city, Captain Francis Light founded Penang and his son 50 years later founded Adelaide. Penang used to be RAAF base too. Penang is also food paradise top 10 in the world. 😂😂

Go to Ranong, take the boat to Myanmar and back. Trip takes about 1h go&back. Hotel tip in Ranong: Farmhouse. Most if not all visa agents can set you up, cost incl safe entry about 4 - 5k pp

We dont want to return to Australia ever :)

You won't be supporting a murderous regime, if you avoid Myanmar.

Your Right, Too Much Potential Drama In Myanmar, However Stuart Cummings Suggestion Maybe Cheaper & Easier For You. I Don't Know Since I've Not Done That Trip Before. Blessings & Good Luck.

Ranong is fine for doing bounces. Do the speed boat from the Grand Andaman.