huh?

@David *******

Have you done this recently? I used to do this but I haven't done it since before covid.

In the past I have used bus tickets from Hat Yai to Penang $12/USD. I haven't done it for awhile so I can't say for certain it will still work.

If you've never been to Thailand they're probably not going to scrutinize your paperwork too closely.

I think it's less of a concern that immigration will give you hassle but rather the airline when you check-in.

@Wayne ********

I agree!. I don't know the costs of visa from NZ but they said they'll change the 30 day exempt to 60 days, that may happen before you need it.

You can cross land border twice a year for a visa exempt. You can fly for visa exempt as many times as you like.

If you have outside of Thailand travel plans then there really isn't a "need" for a vsia.

Twice they pulled me aside. One at the airport and once at the Nong Kai border crossing. Both times they said "next time you come back...". They did not tell me "never come back", "you can not come in". I have an extensive questionable visa history and they still let me in.

I wouldn't stress it. If you have round trip tickets they'll likely let you in. They will likely not even talk to you, just stamp you in.

You said "we", if I were in your situation I was travel like normal, except when doing immigration. I send my travel companion through a different line, that way if one of you gets denied entry, the other can proceed, and its not a total loss.

But if you qualify and if it's not a financial strain, why not get the visa?

Pay some high school kid to figure it out for you. I just finished my eVisa (Thai Embassy USA), it's a pain but it's a lot easier than going to the the embassy. If you do not have the computer skills (which is understandable) hire a kid who does have the necessary skills. Honestly, about the only difficult thing was making sure I had the correct file types.

Bali would be my first answer. In the tourist districts it kinda sucks but if you find the AirBnB's just outside of the tourist districts it's quite reasonably priced. Once you get familiar with the place you'll find other places (Lombok, Gili, etc).

What do you need? I wouldn't consider myself a "good IT person" but I have been doing computer engineering for the past 20 years. I wouldn't know how to set-up a wireless printer but I can stand-up a network of servers.

@Robert *****

I have at a minimum 10 years until retirement. I find it a bit sad that I can wait to be older :)

@Bart *************

I don't know that you did - I googled it but lost interest. I have, in the past, consider border crossing and Koh Lipe and wondered if land rules applied.