@David ******

sorry assumed you already were

Why not get a one-year non-O by marriage from London Thai Embassy. No tickets or financials required , copy of marriage cert , wife's ID & blue book copied & countersigned . Its multi-entry & if used correctly could be extended up to 17 months.

Unless your ticket was bought from Samui to your destination as a direct thru ticket you will have to check in separately at BKK anyway for the Euro leg. New rules introduced by BangkokAir whereby Samui - Bangkok tickets purchased as a separate transaction , means you can no longer clear immigration or put through luggage to Europe at Samui airport

Daily flights to Samui from KL, HK, Singapore & China.

Depends on your budget more than anything as well as Visa requirements. Several companies do minibus including accommodation for 5 to 6k baht return or you can fly Samui to Phuket (BkkAir) to Penang (Airasia) for about 5k e/w.