If you decide to hire a car, get an International Drivers Permit before you leave from whatever country you're from. It might be a requirement (or not) from Hire Car companies. Also, I've read that some Thai Police have been known to issue fines if the tourist doesn't have one, along with their Country of origin Drivers License.

I don't know what is available in Phuket, but Grab and Bolt (Apps) might be an option for transport.

If you want to be driven from Bangkok to Phuket, you might want to enquire with GTB Transfer and Travel (photo below)

I used this guy and his team while in Thailand last October. Great service, very good prices compared to other options I found. I used his service to get from Bangkok Airport to Nakhon Sawan, then another trip from that location, I think to Lopburi, then again on a trip within Bangkok. I highly recommend them.

@Shirden ***********

as I have plans to retire in Thailand, either on a Retirement or Spouse Visa, I've been very carefully following and taking note of many Posts regarding the two Visa possibilities for most of the past year.

As has already been mentioned, there is a requirement of Insurance with the Non-O A Visa, but there isn't for the 90 day Non-O.

I see the advice of

@John *********

as being good advice - accept the Non-O that you have apparently been mistakenly granted and then before the 90 days that it expires, apply at the nearest Immigration Office for a 12 month Extension. Then each year, before the Extension expires, you can apply for another Extension. John mentioned the requirement of having 800k THB in a Thai Bank account 2 months before you apply for the 12 month Extension. John might correct me on the following, but I believe that the full 800k also needs to be in your account 3 months after being granted the Extension. That's assuming that you will continue with regular 12 month Extensions. If I remember correctly, from 3 months after being granted the Extension, your Bank balance cannot go below 400k and must be at 800k again 2 months before the next Extension. With Extensions, I believe that there's also a monthly income option rather than the 800k, but best not to get confused with that for now.

@Melissa ******

are you asking if there's any accommodation I'd recommend and if so, do you mean in Bangkok? I can't really recommend any there, as my only visit to Thailand, in October last year, I went straight to my planned destination (Nakhon Sawan Province) upon arrival. Before flying back home, I only stayed 1 night in Bangkok (hmm...sounds like the name of a movie) the night before departing & can't remember the name of the hotel (can't find it in booking history either 🤔)

I'm planning to return in April next year & have booked at 5 locations. Prices are high at that time, as it is Songkran, the Thai New Year and it's a very busy time. I have booked the "True Siam Phayathai Hotel" for my first 3 nights. It's close to Central Bangkok. For my last night in Thailand, I've booked one night at "Pimthong Place", more like a cosy bed and breakfast or small apartment type of place, because it is very close to the main airport (BKK). I look for lower to medium price accommodation mostly, but also based on good customer reviews, what they look like and features I prefer.

@Charlie *****

tempting 'fate' you mean? Sometimes people are lucky, sometimes not. I'm just going on personal experiences or third hand experiences mentioned in the groups I'm a member of.

I'm assuming that when you say "my flight back to Scotland is 31st Jan", that that flight is from Bangkok and you plan to visit a nearby country somewhere during your 77 days and return to Thailand and return to Scotland from there?🤔

If that's the case, follow the suggestion of

@ *************

s about entering Thailand on Visa Exempt.

As has been mentioned or implied, not having a flight out of Thailand booked before flying out to Thailand could cause a problem, so booking a cheap flight to a neighbouring country is advisable from everything I've read in this and other Thailand related groups.

As for Accommodation, use Booking dot com or Agoda dot come to book at least your first few days, booking some place as soon as possible, opting for those with free cancellation and no up front payments (most allow free cancellation, no penalties). When you get to the time when you can pay for accommodation, if you want to cancel the accommodation you've booked, just do so or keep it as is. Personally, I use Booking dot com as it's easier to search. There's plenty of filters to give you choices of features, prices etc. at hotels, resorts etc.

@Stuart ********

well, I never expected to see an Admin or Moderator to recommends stalking 🤪🤣

I've used the search function within groups on a couple of occasions & found it very laborious to go through all the results, only to not find what I was looking for, even though I expected to find the answers which I thought would come up a number of times 🤷🏽‍♂️

Seems like you answered your own question within your original post

@Molly *****************

a I said, I am happy to be put straight on this. Immigration where, told you that? An Airport? A local Immigration Office? So many in the group say from personal experience, that most local Immigration Offices and Officers have their own 'set of rules', 'interpretations of rules' or opinions and requirements.

@Molly *****************

that's not what I've read, and believe that I've read from a number of people that seem very reliable with their information, including Admin and Moderators in this and another Thailand related Facebook group. Think about it; with the technology available now, biometrics are built into passports and when you enter countries, including Thailand that are up to date with these technologies, their computers have all your details that they need to check to decide whether to allow you into the country or not. Just because you get a new passport, it does not mean that your past travel history is wiped out. The days of get a new passport and throw the old one out, along with it's history, is history. Why do you think that computers are used to make passports and at entry points when entering countries these days? 'Big Brother' wants to be able know everything about you, past and present.

If I'm wrong, I'd be happy to be set straight by people such as

@Stuart ********

or Brandon Thurkettle

@Matt ***********

, you say that you're a Digital Nomad. So, I guess that you're a reasonably smart guy. I see you have only just joined this Group. I've been a member less than a year myself and if everything goes well for me, I will move to Thailand in 2025...on a Retirement Visa or Non-O Visa based on Marriage, which, I'm not sure about just yet.

My suggestion for you, is over the coming months, so as I have done:

1)view as many Posts in the group as you can that look like they might contain information that could benefit you.

2) learn especially from the Admin and Moderators of the group; they have vast experience that they have gained over a long period of time. I have the highest respect for those guys. Over the months, you will learn who of the other members are sources of good information also.

3) ask questions in the group about anything you're not sure about. Someone will guide you in the right direction.

4) work out what part of Thailand that you want to live. Related to that, understand that Thailand has it's written Laws, BUT, the Immigration Office of each Province has it's own 'laws' or interpretations of the Laws, so knowing the specific requirements of the Province that you'll want to live in vary slightly to other Provinces. Not any major differences, just what one might require, another won't.

5) Most group members will probably tell you that it's not too hard to do anything yourself in regards to obtaining Visas and Visa Extensions and it will be a lot less costly. There's also less likelihood also, that you could run into any future troubles caused by using Visa Agents that are dodgy and use bribes to get Immigration Officials 'get things done easily'. There are good Agents, but you just need to make sure they do things the right way.

Those are some things I've learnt during 2023.

Lastly,

5) you will find a small number in the group, as there are anywhere on Facebook, those who will make smart *ss comments, belittle, or be rude to you in some way. It seems to me that these ones either lack self esteem or are bored with their lot in life and want to try and make themselves feel better at other expense. Ignore these ones, or if they pop up too often and have nothing useful to say, just block them and they won't see anything you post & you'll not see their comments. The latter is what I've done with a few in the group recently.