Thailand is separated into 4 (in my opinion). The Chiang Mai area North-West, Isan North-East, Bangkok middle, and South Thailand. You will have drastically different experiences in all 4 places. Isan is the countryside, not really for tourists. It would be like going to Saskatchewan. I would start fresh in Chiang Mai for a week, then go Chiang Rai, Pai, etc. Then fly to Phuket, then go from there (decide which island to go next). You do not need to see Bangkok or Pattaya.

Beach? Nature? Mountain? Chiang Mai has a ton of historic sites, coffee shops, and markets. The one thing that Chiang Mai does not have is the beaches. But if you are into nature, mountains, temples, CM is great. You can take a trip upper north to Chiang Rai, Pai, etc, and visit Tea plantations and more.

It depends on what you are looking for. Chiang Mai doesn't have beaches, it's near mountains and it's cold during December and January (can be +10-15 morning and night, +25 afternoon. For me, also a Canadian, it's obv great, can't complain, lol. Hua Hin is also laid back and has beaches. Bangkok is loud, traffic, smelly, air is bad, temperature too hot, etc. For elderly, it's overwhelming. I'm also from Canada, 36, and I've been living in Thailand for 10 years. Bangkok will shock you, and not in a good way. I live there for a year, and I've lived in Chiang Mai for two. As for booking in advance, if you are looking for comfort and expensive hotel, yes, but if you don't mind guesthouse, etc, you don't need to. Thailand guesthouse and hotel selection are massive everywhere you mentioned above. And as for Kuala Lumpur, same as Bangkok, but a lot more tolerable. I had a lot of fun in Borneo.

@Lindsay *****

Brian is being disingenuous. The chance of getting in trouble for 3-day overstays is 0.0001%. It's a risk but a tiny one. I'm not arguing with explaining the potential consequences of taking such a risk but exaggerating the likelihood of it is disingenuous. Brian should have included the likelihood of getting into such trouble rather then just scaring you with the potential consequences.

@Brian *******

Facts aren't opinions. You saying "red stamps" are common is pure idiocy. It's extremely rare.

Absolutely AWFUL advice from many! The chance of getting in trouble for 3-day overstays is 0.0001%. It's a risk but a tiny one. Anyone saying that the risk is much higher is clueless. I'm not arguing with explaining the potential consequences of taking such a risk but exaggerating the likelihood of it is disingenuous.

You can convert to almost anything within Thailand with an agent. That's the whole point, everyone takes a cut of the bribe. You pay a premium price for such conversion and the absence of proof of fund as the agent provides the $ to you by putting the $ in your account for 24h or wtv.

Here in Chaiyaphum, the waiting list is... no waiting list. It depends on where you call. They can either do it quickly or they can't. People saying only BKK is fast are clueless.

I bet nobody did it yet but... Non-O based on marriage in Savannakhet... how hard to get it with the dreaded volunteer visa in passport? I went from volunteer to marriage extension within Thailand, but in Savannakhet you can get Non-O without financial requirement so I'd prefer that option next year.

@Darren *******************

I went from volunteer to marriage extension, so you have that option.