If you like out the way small family owned resorts and variety of scenery you should go for it. Driving Thai highways is not bad. Cities are the areas that you'll have to be very careful of. And if you can go for a week without turning on the windshield wipers when signaling a turn, my hat is of to you. Seriously, the journey will be well worth it. Anybody can fly from point a to point b and not see or experience a thing. I spent a month driving the whole south looking for where I wanted to live. Having a Thai speaker with you will be very helpful.

@Mark *******

depends on where you are. Here in hua Hin, it's Myanmar.

@Stephen *******

then why did they make it a tourist visa? It will be one to watch over the next 18mos.

Same thing happened to me. Border bounce will do it.

@Brandon *********

and they're still building here in hua Hin.

@Brandon *********

I have no horse in the race. Time will tell.

@Elías *******

IMHO it is designed for multiple 180 day stays and it is a tourist visa. The question here is the frequency of entry and number of times per year. Yes they want long stay tourists (greater than 60 days). But I expect it will change over time considering a tourist would become a tax resident after 180. I'm sure they would prefer the tax revenue... Time will tell. Check back in a year or so.

@Preston *********

IMHO, it is the entry requirements that could change. Nothing will affect your current 180. But policies may change to only allow 1 every every year. Will still be valid for 5 yrs.

Right now, at a time. Expect this to change when they see how many are using DTV (tourist visa) for long term stays.

Treaty of Amity is good advice. Since you went to UNLV, assuming you are probably American.