@Brandon ***********

90 days visa exempt plus 30 days extension? 60 days tourist visa will become useless if that happen.

You are confusing two things; 1) Price of rent ; 2) Cost of living (which you described in your post). 120k baht for everything is normal, but just for rent is a complete scam. My point is that these hotels are scamming you because you are asking them things nobody asked them before. People who stay months to years will stay in villa, condo, etc, NOT in hotel (and condo will have swimming pool, gym, service if you ask, etc). I'm guessing that you are doing all of this online, which add to the scam. To avoid getting scam, go there yourself while in Thailand, you will realize how absurd 120k baht a month is. Also, the other reason I thought of a troll post is because of the location (Pattaya). Have you been to Thailand before? Are you currently in Pattaya? Pattaya is very cheap compare to Bangkok and Phuket. And the location you mentioned above seems to be where your kids will see half-naked women selling their body on the daily. This is why overall I still believe you are trolling. It's not a good location for your kids, and the price is absurdly high for the location, hence why avoid hotels because they can see through their screen a total fish willing to get scam.

This has to be a troll post. 120k baht a month LOL!

@Joel ******

This group is full of people with no first hand experience that give awful advices, so take everything with a grain of salt. I've been in and out of Thailand a lot since 2010. On my 3nd passport. Never had an issue. There is no 180 days rules, that's a made up thing. There are two rules of thumb that have been true since forever: 1: Avoid poipet border ; 2) Avoid entering from BKK airport. If you can avoid both your chance of denial is extremely low. I did my two visa exempt entry this year (Nong Khai both time since I live 1 hour from that border). I have a lot of first experience with visa run and visa exempt, I probably did over 25 in the last 10 years. It's super easy, don't worry. You just need to stay up to date.

@Michael *********

spent over half a year in thailand which moves you from the status of "tourist" to the one of "resident". Says who? I've been here 12 years and the first 9 years I was mostly on tourist visa and visa exempt entry. I have no idea what any of you guys are talking about with your 180 days rule. It's not a rule, never have been. It's internet stuff that newb regurgitate everytime there a new post, lol.

Msg to people who post a lot in this FB group: PLEASE be more nuance and accurate/precise in your answer. The 2k baht fine is OPTIONAL. It's enforced sometimes depending on which province you reside in.

As usual, a mix of decent to awful advices. You have two options: 1) Your friend leave before the 90 days mark, pay the fine, and come back the next day via Laos land entry (to avoid problem). Then seek an agent to get him on Non-O. 1) Contact a reputable agent right now. Contrary to what some have said, an agent can help him with such overstay. I've even seen people on much longer overstay not get ban with agent help. Very little is not possible with a reputable agent.

@Matthew *********

Infinite by air. 2 per calendar year by land. At immigration discretion by air so the infinite depend on officer mood.

The only legit agent in this group is on the banner above (Thai Visa Centre).

Everyone else and it's a risk. Btw, paying in advance is normal with agent. Sending your passport or wtv to them is also normal if you don't live near. I think I've send my passport 5 or 6 time to TVC in the last 10 years. But "send me X amount and I'll send back in 15 min" is typical Bitcoin scam look-a-like. And having 7 followers is obv a scam. There are legit agent but you need to do your homework.

@James ****

O Smach is very easy and quick to bounce from. And you don't need to book a hotel, you can bounce in and out in 30 min, so no need to stay overnight. And as others have said, avoid Poipet. I don't care that it's your way to Siem Reap, it's whether they let you in. Avoid.