Once married (or have a Thai kid) you are able to get 60 day extension to any entry for visiting Thai family after using the usual 30 day extension. So tourist visa gives you 60+30+60. An entry with visa exempt allows you 30+30+60

A lot of Russians are signing up for it to escape going back home

Bangkok Bank on Silom Road as Gary mentioned is the place to go. They may ask you for the letter from your country's embassy that confirms your address in Thailand. So if your embassy can write you the letter (probably for a consular fee) then that is all you need to take to Bangkok Bank along with your passport.

@Trudy *******

your intial hotel bookings would substitute a Thai Guarantor for a Tourist visa - could be a separate section though. Some people travel and stay at their thai girlfriend's condo instead of hotels so this is why this option for accommodation is there.

Hi. Since your overall return trip booking are around 55 days it is slightly more than the initial 45 days you will be initially stamped in on. As Tod has advised, check with your airline if that is ok with them since you have no purchased visa for your long mileage trip. It may just mean you may need to pre-book your flights out of Thailand to one of the other countries you plan to visit so you can show your airline your planned interary when you check in at your home country airport

As an alternative to consider is the multi entry tourist visa which can get you almost 9 months if worked right but with 2 boarder hops. I did STV this year and the requirements were very high including the insurance cost which was more than what a couple of border flight hops would cost.

@Tod ********

Wow! I went 2 weeks ago for my STV2 extension and it was extended to 15 November. Thanks for all your great advice over the year/s.

There is typically a photo and copy shop close to the immigration offices who will help with the necessary paper copies. Just make sure you arrive early in the day as it’s your first time

Typically you'll find a photocopy shop nearby immigration that can do your photos and knows what to make copies of for the common tourist extensions but it pays to check where one is and arrive with plenty of time if you don't prepare everything at home first.

@Sai **********

you can do 1 trip to immigration after the first 60 days for another 30 and then fly out and back to repeat. Then fly out and back in again before the final date written on your visa if you want a 3rd entry