Yes I took the VIP bus. I reserved a week in advance on the green bus website, and chose the option to pay at 7 Eleven (can be any one). Then I walked to my local 7 Eleven on the corner and showed them a confirmation code on my phone, and they printed my ticket which just looked like a receipt. I would recommend doing this to ensure your spot. And take socks and a jacket. The bus is 17 degrees.

And I came back to Chiang Mai via bus the same day.

I took the green bus from Chiang Mai and was in a whole line of people doing this and no one batted an eye. Just have your crisp 10 usd bill for the Myanmar day pass, and don’t forget your departure card. I got a 30 day exempt stamp after having extended 30 days at immigration.

Shannon Meade, do your kids follow your education visa?

You should be able to get your kids on a visa that follows yours. I have friends in this group who have done this. My family and I have different visas because our marriage is not recognized in Thailand (same sex couple). So I am on my own ED visa, my wife has a work visa and non-O for one year, and our two kids follow hers. What I can say about that is that the first 90 days I was on tourist visas and extension. I was happy to not have to take the kids on border bounce and visa run trips as they are tedious in general. If your husband can do those on his own and the kids can follow your visa it will be a bit easier.

Thank you for your dedication, and your emphasis on terminology. I see visa questions asked in other Thailand groups, and I try to direct them here. Mostly because they do not use correct terminology so the answers go around in circles... Not sure if this visa knowledge is an art or science but you seem to have a PhD!

And there are seat belts on each seat 🙂

Yes! Absolutely. Though what I found surprising was how absolutely silent it was. It was almost all Thai people, only three foreigners including me, and no one spoke or listened to loud headphones or talked on the phone or did any that would disturb others. There was one boy, about 8 years old, who sat quietly and ate the cookies that were given when we departed. I kept thinking, I’m glad my kids aren’t here! My kids are LOUD! (Screaming 1 and 3 year olds...) If I were you, I’d do it if not too far and if your kids can be entertained by quiet activities and snacks! (Mine can not. Already dreading the flight home and it is not until next year!)

Also: I was not asked for proof of funds or proof of onward travel.

This one “Terminal 2”?