We would want to make a 2-4 days roadtrip into Laos, but that looks a bit iffy now. Also, the river cruise from Chiang Rai would mean a very brief stay in Laos.
Could you clarify this please? To my understanding exiting Thailand to Laos ends the visa exemption period, and when I reenter I get 60 more days regardless if I want more days or not?
I do worry about road-tripping to Laos for a few days - to Immigration Police that might look like border-running for extending 60 more days, that we have absolutely no interest in. Will not bribe.
It would be good to be able to decline getting more days than the previous visa-exempt entry allowed. Possible?
Quite a few years ago. Actually I lean more towards "never again HSBC" (due to experiences also with HSBC Malta) than "never again UK banks". Their security procedures were thoroughly incompetent.