I enjoy this group a lot it is very well managed. I feel like I learned so much just reading even if I will never use the information.

I have a feeling they will say yes but best to ask. Last week I was at the Chiang mai immigration getting ready to apply for extension of stay based on being married to a thai and they seemed very motivated to help make sure I am approved. They gave a list of everything they would like to see. I would do the same and get the list from your local immigration office and bring up the question.

At the time of this picture they were only filled 50% They can handle a lot.

@Jenny *****

I use Osprey and they last forever with a lifetime guarantee. I got a free one after a rip happen. Mine is 48 liters “EXO” and my wife is 38 liters. Both light weight versions of their other packs why we use them. Makes adventure and traveling so easy. I tried suitcases in the past and annoying. They are both carry on but some airlines still have weightlimits.

I would say no on suitcases if you want to travel all over. Switch to backpacks. A million times easier. Each person can get their own backpack. Pack light and enjoy the trip so much better. Don’t need a ton of clothes easy to wash clothes everywhere.

“Grab” app is great. I live in chaing mai it’s 100-150 baht to get around the city and use the app. Cheaper compared to TUK TUK. I get tons of groceries every 2 weeks load up their car they are always friendly. I tip them well becuase I waste 5 minutes loading and unloading stuff.

If you want to rent a car Booking .com has good rates for cars. I rented a car for a week it was a lot of fun. I smashed the car into a pole and didn’t have insurance. 3 panels needed to be sanded down and painted. A local small body shop did it for 2000 baht in a small village. Took a few hours. Looked brand new. So saved a lot of money. If returned it damaged they may have charged me a lot more.

Chiang mai has some really cool mountains so maybe worth renting a car if you want to see 100 waterfalls. Elephant tours just pick you up from the hotel.

As others said yes. I would hire an agent. I married a Thai and first tried in Chiang Mai but was super complicated so gave up. Hired an agent who drove us to chiang rai and got married.

If you are 48 I would get the tourist visa. Sign up for kick boxing if you want to get healthy or sign up for a year ED visa to learn Thai. Learning Thai will come in handy. That gives you 15 months. Do a couple border bounces until you turn 50. Once 50 just need 800,000 in the bank.

@Jenny *****

oh feed the giraffes and go to the aquarium at the zoo is great for the kids. I am not trying to advertise my YouTube channels but this video shows us exploring the city and how simple and easy it is to get around without a car. Other videos show the condo with gym we stay at. I have another channel that focuses on nature.

@Jenny *****

if you rent a condo they all should have gyms. I hate riding bikes and don’t own a car. Use the “grab” app for rides from 100-150 baht is average to get around the city and a ton of things to do. Elephant tours will pick you up and drop you off is the norm. Locals fish in the river in the city.

Sorry I meant to say west of Krabi not east. I stayed at “natural cafe Krabi” right on the water. She had a pool and arranged a lot. Such as got us a driver for the day for 1500 baht. The pier is 1km away and rented a boat for 5 hours for 1500 baht. Boat driver picked us up. Can get a great massage on location. I stayed a week and got bored. Also spent a few weeks on different islands but got bored. I love it but get bored after a week.

Chiang mai has amazing food, I have tons of places within a few blocks of me including the night market. Can be camping in the mountians in 30 minutes or stay at fancier places with beautiful Mountain View’s. I would even suggest renting a car for a week and visiting Doi Suthep to the west of the city. I have seen and swam at 50 waterfalls and eaten amazing food at some hill trip villages all around the city. Went to hill tribe growing coffee, another one strawberries, and it’s all amazing culture experience.

I live in Chiang Mai. “Chiang mai Eco Trekking” with Ping was by far the coolest adventure I have done in Thailand. We did the 3 days remote hill tribes, 6 hour bambo rafting, elephants, feeding, bathing. Unforgettable adventure. He takes families and stay with real hill tribes people.

Phuket was crowded and felt expensive and we didn’t make any cool memories there. East of Krabi was cheaper and stayed on the beach and rented a private boat driver to see all the islands was fun.