Hello,

A question not related to visa... I'm planning to travel to SE Asia for a few months. I want to make Bangkok as my base. Is there any public storages in Bangkok to leave my large suitcases and travel with my carry-on? TIA

Early warning. There are no public holidays in March so immigration offices will be open as usual Monday till Friday. However come April there are several holidays. Monday April 8th is a substitute date for Chakri day and offices will be closed.

Songkran holidays will be from Friday April 12th until Tuesday April 16th. Offices will be closed during those dates.

Depending on the office you use they will generally be manic prior and after these closure dates. If you can avoid using them during these times then it’s well advised to do so.

Land borders or airports are not affected by public holidays.

Plan accordingly.

I flew back home to Europe over Christmas (maybe that now complicates things). I want to come back to Thailand (Chiang Mai) now. On my most recent entry into Thailand, I got shaken down at the border (DMK airport) for money, as they say I had a warning in the system (for having stayed in Thailand too many times over the last year(s). I have been in Thailand on tourist visa / visa exemptions making use of both COVID and regular extensions as well - both in the winters of 2020/21 and 2021/22 for a couple of months, each. After a couple of months of summer break in Europe, I came back to Thailand in September 22. And then, after having taken a 2-week vacation in Bali (this October), the shakedown at the DMK border happened.

So, I am considering the best way to get back into Thailand soon. I am considering several options based on some findings and would like to have the crows-wisdoms feedback.

Here is ways I am considering:

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1) Flying from Europe to Chiang Mai (via BKK airport) on the same ticket, hoping that the separate immigration at the transfer desk (connecting international terminal to the domestic terminal for checked through passengers on the same alliance flights) won’t give me as hard of a time as IO at DMK did. I could get a tourist visa instead of entering on visa exemption (but some said it does not make a difference whatsoever, as consulates don’t have access to immigration data, and thus immigration can reject one just the same, irrespectively of having a TR visa or not).

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2) Flying from Europe to Chiang Mai (via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur) and then on a separate ticket to / and with entering Thailand first in Chiang Mai – hoping that the rumors are true and the immigration at Chiang Mai would be making less problems than the folks at Bangkok airports.

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3) Flying to Laos and then making my way back into Thailand using a land border. I have heard that the Chiang Khong / Huay Xai land border is particularly easy to do. But that raises the question of how to practically get there from Vientiane. Is the Nong Khai border crossing / friendship bridge comparatively easy (it would be much more accessible from Vientiane).

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4) Flying into Kuala Lumpur and then crossing the land border into Thailand in the south, and then taking a domestic flight from Hat Yai to Chiang Mai. Maybe the most cumbersome way. How does the Malaysian/Thai land border compare to the Laos/Thai borders in terms of trouble factor?

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Any advise on / preference between those options are much appreciated.

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And as s bonus question: If I were to choose to fly into Thailand by options 1 or 2 … if being denied entry, could they really send me home all the way to Europe (on kind of an expensive “deportation” flight? Or would I be free to make my own arrangements and then just head off from the international arrivals are to one of the SEA neighboring countries instead on a ticket I would then book on the spot?

Thank you.

Hey everyone, what are the current mask rules for airports in Thailand, and on the plane (Thai Smile)? I’m flying Phuket to Bangkok in a few days and just wanted to check! Cheers!

Ps. Is AOT limo requiring masks in Bkk?

This has confused me and say the test in Phucket are at the airport and then a test centre. I thought they were in the hotel?

Does anyone have recent experience please of entering the UK at Heathrow airport's Terminals 2-3? How long does it take to clear immigration these days, especially around midday? Thanks.

Help please, I am doing all I can to fly home to United States from Koh Phangan. Ready to transit but do not want to get stuck midstream.

I can get a flight from Samui to Bangkok to Japan then home but a friend who was at airport last night said they closed the small airport to all in and out. And as of midnight last night BKK closed as well. Does anyone have true knowledge

If I fly out of Samui tonight and hope to leave Bangkok tomorrow

I have heard from some that most of those getting denied entry (and receiving the red stamp) despite having a proper visa are those traveling by air into DMK, BKK, and HKT in Phuket. I’ve also heard that land border crossings are typically your best bet to avoid this complication. Is this correct advice? And are the problems happening particularly at these airports or just airports in general?

Just for your information, dear members.

Summarized Thailand "check points" map including Immigration offices and borders, seaports and airports checkpoints. Hopefully not so much out-of-dated.