You must have a relative that can help you out, it's a bit of a pain, but it's not that difficult, I've seen people on here saying that a younger relative, that's been brought up on a laptop helped them out.

Why mess around buying fake tickets?? And worrying about someone might check it?? You can buy a real one, to a neighbouring country for like £20, I myself bought one of them fake tickets once, I didn't even use it, it looked so fake like someone had just made it on a word document, sure it had a booking reference, I enter it into the airlines website and it brought up a booking, but the only information on the booking was my name, obviously fake if anyone checked up, it was £14 for the fake ticket why bother 🤷🙆🤦

@David ***********************

it is not double the time on the bus, it's about the same, a two hour journey.

@Philip *********

getting rid of cash, it seems to be a world wide thing, governments see the cash economy as being linked to criminality, or money moving around that hasn't had tax paid on it, at least in Thailand there are lots of ways to pay cashless that doesn't cost anything, in the UK it's all chip and pin contactless payments, where there are lots of charges, the companies that supply the card readers, by basically being the middle man, between you and the bank are making millions in transaction fees, it is all wrong.

@Su **********

when are you planning on coming to Thailand??

An agent in the UK can only apply for the initial non Immigrant O visa, which is very simple to do yourself on the Thai e-visa website, providing you can show the required documents, I recently heard a UK agent quoting £250+vat, it's £60 for the initial non O, do it yourself, then when you arrive in Thailand you will be given a 90 day stamp, then go to the immigration office you will be using and get a list of requirements for a 12 month extension based on retirement, you have then got plenty of time to get all the required documents together, either that or get a 60 day tourist visa, from the Thai e-visa site, and contact a visa agent as soon as you arrive in Thailand, and they will assist you with the whole process.

Find a way of staying permanently if you like it so much, and don't just say it's impossible, many have come and never returned to their home land.

@Dave *********

it's hit and miss with any airline, as to whether you will be required to have a flight leaving Thailand within the number of days you're stamped in for, if you're worried just book a cheap flight to a neighbouring country, or just chance it!! If they won't allow you to check in, when you arrive at Heathrow, just step away from the check-in desk, and book a flight there and then, they would accept that no problem.

@Jack ***************

if I say "with all respect" from me it means my comment is not meant to be disrespectful, I have never had American beef, so maybe I don't understand, but I think I've had some pretty good steaks in my time, and it's just not that important to me, I understand if you want to show your Thai family the difference in quality, but think about this, if you plan on retiring in Thailand in the future, you will need to do without some of your home comforts, such as your favourite steaks.

I can't see the point in transporting something from the other side of the world to Thailand, when it's available in Thailand, with all respect, I would think most people have got more important things to worry about.