@Peter *********

yes it is. They said "I need to pay FOR my visa", not "with my Visa". There's a BIG difference. If they are using an agent, they may need 45k baht or more.

@Vinson ******

true, but it's the 2nd or physical sim slot which allows you to keep your US number and get a Thai sim (I prefer AIS) for data in Thailand so you don't incur crazy data expenses.

Before you leave for Thailand, you need to get a dual sim UNLOCKED phone. I did this 3 years ago and switched to Google Fi (NOT to be confused with Google voice). I ported my number from Sprint (yeah, sure they had already merged with T- Mobile) and started using it before I left the States. I still have my US number for anything related to business in the States and use it with Whatsapp too (although Line is more popular in Thailand).

You would have to leave the country at some point because you can extend your 60 day exemption once for 30 more days. Your scenario is over 90 days.

@Sean *******

I believe most, if not all, unlocked, dual sim phones are international. I just remember that was the 'type' of phone I was advised to get. Most important factor is to get it in the US and set it up before you leave for Thailand. We ditched Sprint/T-Mobile a few months before we left and Google Fi worked great.

You need to buy a dual sim international unlocked phone to keep your US number and have the ability to get a local plan in Thailand. Unfortunately the majority of phones in America are locked until you fully pay them off. I actually got my phone from Google Fi over 3 years ago and it allows me to keep my US number. Then I just buy a local SIM card as soon as we get to our next country.

Avoid at all costs 💩

@Tim *********

actually you should consider Vietnam. I think you misunderstood the previous reply. He said Thailand is NOT as cheap as it used to be. Your money definitely goes further in Vietnam. The 2 things that you need to consider about Vietnam is the language barrier is more of a problem there and long term Visa options are more limited. Still, it's a great country to visit. It's always a good option if you need to leave Thailand for any reason to do a "visa run". I would seriously consider putting together a trip to Southeast Asia in general to explore and compare before deciding on a "home".

@Tim *********

I understand the allure of Thailand through Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. I've visited 3 times over the years and LOVE it. However, you need to visit and explore different areas before you decide to rent anything long term (I think you already realized buying isn't a great idea, at least not right away). Every part of Thailand offers something different, so my advice is to check out 5 or 6 different places (Pattaya/Jomtien, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Hua Hin/Cha Am, and my personal favorite Koh Samui) EVERYONE will have an opinion on the "best" place, but you need to make that decision yourself after visiting. Good luck 🤞

Basic question - have you visited Thailand before? That is a BIG factor before one can/should offer advice.