@Nigel *************

It's meant to be the rule so if you have a booking for 30 days or more you should be OK. I stayed in a cheapish airbnb condo a few years back for 21 days and the security guard told the condo admin which hauled the owner in for questioning. The owner stuck to the story that I was a friend but I didn't feel comfortable staying after that, particularly as every building in the complex had notices in the lift lobby about short term stays being prohibited.

@Nigel *************

It's not illegal if you stay 30 days or more.

Some medication cannot be easily obtained in Thailand - strong painkillers including anything with codeine and sedatives of any kind. Others like antibiotics can be bought over the counter.

@Rob ********

I am sure in my country that money paid in fees and taxes filters down the chain far more effectively than in a corrupt country like Laos too. Interesting that Laos has a state of the art high speed railway when mine doesn't but allows the road system, which is far more important for local villagers than the train to deteriorate so badly in just a few years. Like too many developing countries, I doubt very much that the money derived from visas and tourism in general benefits ordinary people not living in the major cities and towns. But you are free to believe that your tourist money directly benefits those people in the country most in need of assistance.assistance.

@Rob ********

What infrastructure are they spending the money on? Not the roads which have fallen apart the last 5 years since the railway which has robbed the country of its rustic travelling charm has been built. I thought already an extra ten percent tax had been recently applied to accommodation. I'd be deterred by a $60 visa fee too - $80 in Australian money.

@John ********

You would not get anymore than half an implant and crown in Melbourne for that price - B0

They didn't check in Melbourne or Bangkok on my last trip a couple of monthjs ago.

@John ********

Where? Seems a price almost too good to be true.

@Antony ******

Financially Thais live for the moment while for Chinese save for future. It's basically a difference in lifestyle, except the Chinese are probably wealthier and able to make more of the moment anyway. But I doubt they would fit the Thai's definition of sanuk. The word 'sanuk' probably holds the key to the character of Thais. They like you if you're sanuk and don't care for you so much if you're not.

@Antony ******

The Chinese have a totally different attitude toward money so I can understand why Thais are not so keen on them.