Been using Wise for years now and we transfer monthly without any problems. Usually it takes just seconds to minutes from the Wise acc. to the Thai bank acc. Tried all the other options, but overall Wise comes out on top.
And yes, you need to activate your card for this is person at your local branch in Thailand. Or if you have online banking I think you can also do it, not sure.
Yes me too, in Europe, no problem. BKK bank and SCB both. Withdraw cash cost depends on the local ATM/bank between €2,50 and €12. Best is to take as much as possible per time.
12Go is a reseller and has no added value whatsoever, only added fees... Buy from Thairail direct and you can even get a full refund on your ticket when asked at the counter more than 24hrs before the journey. Safe travels.
It's been a while but it's not more than a few 100thb. A rot-daeng (shared ride) is the cheapest option if you're on a tight budget but then you can't be in a hurry. Don't forget to check the border opening times. They (used to) close at night.