METV is the way to go. 9 months legit stay in Thailand

Yes, it's standard for everyone. When coming from Vientiane, get off the bus and go to the customs window. Queue up, pay the fee (the prices are listed on the window, in English). They give you a little card. Keep hold of it. Then proceed to immigration and stamp out of Laos. Put the card in the little barrier thing. Get back on the bus, you're out of Laos. It's really simple. I can't remember exactly how much the customs fee is but its such a small amount that it's not worth remembering!

Just the customs fee. This is pretty nominal. I think it's 11,000 kip

@Carrie ***********

Yeah, it's also more convenient that way - you just head to the border every 60 days. Plus remember you can, in effect, get almost 9 months out of an METV (i.e. you re-enter the country 1 day before the visa expires, which gives you 60 days, which you can then extend by a further 30 days at immigration)

I have no idea how strict London is but I would get the METV if it is attainable to you. It gives you much more flexibility if you feel like travelling, and also allows you to come and go across land borders as much as you please.

Someone who has been to Yangon more recently than I may wish to correct me, but I'm pretty sure in Myanmar local people and nationals of third countries (i.e. foreigners like us) go through a slightly different process, deal with different staff, and therefore this story is likely only to affect Myanmar nationals (for the time being). It's probably a good reminder not to use dodgy agents though.

You can also cross into Thailand as much as you like with an METV...

I don't do TM30 at all as I live in Bangkok ;)

There's no link between arrival card and TM30 (reporting of address), so there's no special procedure

Use booking.com and make, say, 3 cancelable 20-day bookings. Take the print out then immediately go home and cancel the bookings...