If you already maxed out your 60 + 30 + 7 then your easiest solution is as described, check in online be at the airport early, first to bag drop, go through immigration before midnight. If flight is delayed and bag drop doesn't happen, go straight to immigration desk landside and explain the situation. If you didn't max out, you can still get an extension. Even if you did, you also have the option to go to an immigration office in town before the 7th, and show them your exit ticket and ask for a discretionary 1 day extension to avoid an overstay. If they give it they will charge you 1900 baht. A fine of 500 is cheaper. But it is recorded as an overstay which will count against you for future visits.

I work on short-term contracts in different countries, and in my free time I like staying in Thailand. This year I’ve just entered Thailand visa-exempt for the sixth time. I just came back after a ten day work trip. At the immigration desk I was asked how long I would stay (40 days) and where I would be staying (I gave an apartment address), she riffled through my passport looking at all the stamps (there are a lot - from different countries! ) then stamped me in. That was in Phuket, not Bangkok, and so far I’ve never applied for a visa-exemption extension. My previous stays have ranged from 10 days to 7 weeks. I feel like they are mainly looking for people who repeatedly do 60 day visa-exempt entry plus extensions and have very short gaps away. But next year, if I have a similar pattern, I'd choose to do the METV to avoid any worries. The only reason I didn't do the METV before is that it has always been fine to do Visa free multiple times a year.

The chap on the video goes on to say how he was a you tuber based in Jomtien without the means for DTV. After he was deported he had his friends pack up his apt and sell his bike. So clearly a long termer, and not relevant to the OP who only wants a few weeks stay. Good 'drama' video to boost his viewing stats though

@Alexander ******

those are short trips, you should have no problem, depending on your nationality. Just check your local embassy website for the true updates. There isn't a rule change, just an enforcement for people who have been bending the rules for some time. On our Embassy website it says this 'multiple entries into Thailand under the visa exemption scheme may result in the denial of entry by the immigration authorities'. I've been in and out 3 times in the last 5 months 2 weeks, 3 weeks, now 5 weeks. I asked at immigration at the airport I am leaving in January and coming back in March am I still ok with Visa Exempt, or should I buy a tourist visa before I come? They asked how long for? I said 3 weeks. They said it is ok. If you are genuinely coming for a holiday for 3 weeks you should be fine. Otherwise check with the embassy and if you are worried, buy a tourist visa.

Christian Panquetif you apply via the embassy website and you have everything you need it only usually takes a few days. But depends how many they have in the funnel as to how fast they process. There’s no precise amount of time. You just have to be patient : ) That gets you the initial 3 months . After that you do the visa extension in immigration. There is a lot of advice about that on this group. Use the search tool.)

That is so weird, the last 2 years I did this myself, and I took the map to my condo and the photos of me outside the condo, and they literally threw it away. Lat and long is that new? Nobody has ever wanted my health insurance either.

@Django *********

that’s not realistic. 2 month rentals are more costly. Even in BKK. 2 months will put you in a sublet if you’re lucky and an Airbnb if you’re not lucky. Those quoting less are living long term. Migrating south where? January is right in the middle of high season. 2 month rentals are next to impossible to find. A very basic hotel room will be 50 to 100 USD a night. Believe me. I just experienced the last 2 seasons. This last one was mobbed.

Where and when are you planning to go? As you mention island hopping, and club scene, the rent amount is questionable. The rent will be very dependent on location and time of year. If you plan any type of hotel accommodation for your island trips that will add up quite quickly too. Even simple places on the islands are pricier than they used to be. 700 to 1000 baht a night used to be quite common even in high season. Now it’s hard to find anything under 2500 unless you’re very far from a desirable location,

@Nick ***********

if you meet the criteria you don’t need an agent it’s easy to do via the embassy site

Nobody ever asked me for my onward ticket on 60 days visa free. But your cost of ticket will be the same anyway if you use the Thai version of sky scanner. But if it’s you want to wait, don’t worry