Easiest and cost free. Put your cell phone on Wifi calling. Connect to a reliable Wifi network. Can send and receive calls as if you are in the USA. Been doing this for years from several different countries.

I always get a yearly policy with Allianz. Not really expensive. Came in handy during COVID, to show I had insurance to enter Thailand.

Book your flights to BKK from Chicago or Houston, usually $800 - $1000 round trip, due Eva Air and other airlines matching. Book your flight to Chicago or Houston separately, for me from ATL usually around $200 or less RT. Newark used to be cheap also.

If you are over 50 you can get a retirement visa. Not permanent, but the best offered. Next best is a Destination Thailand Visa, good for 180 days stay, multi-entry, last for 5 years.

I have a 2 BR, 84 sq meters condo, with 3 ACs we run all the time. Just paid the quarterly electric and water bill of 7000 THB. Could be cheaper if we didn't run ACs, as I see many of my neighbors never run there's.

I was told they can open account for an existing customer, and if I buy the insurance I was an existing customer. 😎 The second option was to obtain a certificate of residence from immigration. I went with option 2. That was 3 years ago. I hear it's even harder now. I was able to open it with CR, I was at Bangkok Bank on 2d Rd in Pattaya.

@Richard *********

Well that's the thing about Thailand, many rules are arbitrarily and inconsistently applied. They will ignore a rule, like bar closing times, for months on end. And then one day, the police, the army, the navy and the mayor and staff; with the media in tow, are out in full force, shutting down bars and arresting people. The next night or so, things are back to normal.

@Richard *********

During COVID, when they were very strict, I booked a very cheap, cancelable hotel, to cover the entire stay.

@Richard *********

Just 12 years of coming and going to Thailand. Even the extensive COVID procedures, twice. As to the outbound flight, it's Thailand's and many other country's requirements, many say they never worry about it, and never been asked. In a couple of dozen of trips, I've been asked for outbound flights, a couple times, more so by the airline personnel. Bottom line, if you do not like the visa rules of a country, don't go to that country.