@Brian *********

Better cash back exists but an extra 1% won't help if there is a 3% markup on the exchange rate. Are you saying there is a better card also with no markup? That data isn't on the points guy site and the first couple cards he recommends have the 3% markup.

@Wilmont *****

Look into USAA also. I use a 1% cash back credit card with them and just pay everything I can on the card. There is no exchange markup so with the +1% it works out to better than spot rate. USAA also has ATM rebates and no markups there as well.

I see it as a discount for being married. Put another way, if you are married then they let you stay provided you can take care of your family even if you don't contribute much beyond that. If you are single, they let you stay provided you can take care of yourself but also that you can potentially contribute financially beyond that to the community.

Pre-covid you could do a 30-day extension inside the country without leaving. Doing land crossings at one time gave a new 15 day stamp but that changed years ago. It is now the same 30-day exemption stamp when you come back, which can again be extended 30 more days inside the country. Of course, things may change by the time you are allowed to come.

@Werner ******

Sounds suspiciously like it will be for tours... bused around to specific destinations only.

@Steven **************

Not true in all areas. I obtained a 90-day non-O in Chiang Mai in 2017 having entered on a 30-day exemption stamp.

You mention retirement visa? If you are over 50 some immigration offices will give you an initial retirement non-O inside Thailand. My father did it with a visa exemption stamp in Chiang Mai. There was no need to leave. That was last year. I also did a non-O by marriage inside Thailand off of a 30-day exemption stamp a few years ago. That was also in Chiang Mai.

@Sammy ******

Not far off (see attached) but then you also have places with low cases. Hawaii has relatively low cases and has already been negotiating with Japan to make a travel bubble for Japanese tourists to skip inbound quarantine requirements. Hawaii may be a special case, though, since they are able to quarantine all out of state travelers from the US mainland.

It is an important distinction for anyone with a large balance worried about inactivity.

I had an account that couldn't have online access because it was in two names. Due to that we ended up rarely using it but we had a small amount there. A service charge for inactivity eventually drained it and then it was closed due to the balance. So, indirectly it was closed from inactivity due to that charge and low balance. That saved me the headache of actually doing anything about it and was welcomed. Check with your specific bank if you are concerned.