You are not affected by the legality or not of an Airbnb but if there is a particular case where you need to know an Airbnb has recorded a TM30 because of your own purposes why not just use a hotel? They are more likely a legitimate business, used to the TM30 process and will regularly register guests through the online process that takes about 2 minutes.If you are renting in an obvious condo and they say "We do TM30" would you believe them? I wouldn't. And certainly what's with this but I'm away in Timbuktu when you visit thing? They have internet in Timbuktu.

@Bobby *******

It can be more than tax avoidance. It's whether their premises are legal, that is registered under the Hotel Act, if registration would be required. You can't rent out a property for less than 30 days, unless you have a hotel license. Any property within a condo is likley to be being hired illegally. But 30+days can be legal, not regarded as short term. Since this booking is over 30 days it could be legal and the owner simply an idiot, uncomfortable about any involvement with bureaucracy or, as you say, specifically tax concerned.

@Bob ******

Absolutely true. Another reason this whole discussion is silly. We don't know which you purchased, just "insurance".

@Jenny *****

Bangkok is a fairly large city with all the facilities one would imagine including that Bangkok is unusual in being both a commercial city and a cultural capital, if the most recent. Bottom line is that people tend to think shopping and sights. If those float your boat it works. But kids are not neglected The kind of places in this link, though there are many, many more

I don't see how this comes to a discussion of to insure or not to insure rather than one about price. That price seems high, but, of course, we don't know what cover or your personal details. Always worth remembering that annual travel insurance often costs very little more.

I've normally done the hotel at beginning and end of trip thing to get a freebie. I have also used storage at Hua Lamphong station. Note that some of the smaller blocks of storage lockers are disappearing, presumably not commercially viable, e.g. the one by Citibank at Asok.

@Otto ********

Absolutely. We need to be able to order lengthier passports at the outset. I wonder how many years ago these lengths were insitigated. People travel more now, also settle in more countries which is what really causes loss of pages to visas.

There is. People seem to use it in an ergency. Maybe even at the airport. The problem is cost. Unaccompanied means customs duty plus Vat. With duty = assessed value not declared value and no allowance fo used which normally not charged. Thailand is singualr an tough. Send my baggage can though work elsewhere especiaaliy within EU. My guess is that is the maim use.

As

@Martyn **********

said but not worth the costs. That items are used is irrelevant here. Expect to pay import duty + VAT. That is simply crazy. And they assess the value, what you declare irrelevant. Choose an airline that is cheaper on excess baggage (that is very variable) and, hopefully choose an airline where you can pre-book excess baggage (that is even more variable).

Sounds like one of the areas where GPS Legal in Bangkok may be good. Lawrence Chaney and David Tice are also nice guys and charge sensibly. Well embedded and connected in Thailand and used to Thai Law, but internationally affiliated too. But watch this to understand GPS's positioning so why it may well (together with specific expertise) be a good one for your issues: