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Thanks, link helped a lot.
Question about visas:
If I just plan to play poker there, what is the best way to secure a 1yr stay?
I'm reading that simply going on visa runs every 30days wont work past 90days.
How are the guys living there and playing poker for a living managing it?
[/ QUOTE ]just ask for a 1 year visa at Thai embassy. Pretty random, depends which country you're from and in which country you ask. I don't think you'll get in in any of the neightbouring countries though. Australia is best chance imo.
or just ask for tourist visa, delivered in all Thai embassies. that gives you 2+1 month, after 3 month just go to cambodia/laos/malaysia...for mandatory vacation and ask for a new 2+1 month tourist visa and rinse/repeat.
more websites:
http://www.thaiapartment.com/
http://www.acuterealty.com/
http://www.bkkcondos.com/
http://www.mrroomfinder.com/index.php
...
[edit]oops most of these websites are for BKK accomodation. didn't read about you wanting to be close to the beach. Best to go in person then, most beach vacation style housing you'll find on the net are ridic. overpriced. but here's one for Phuket with ok prices to give you an idea of how much it costs:
http://www.houseinphuket.com/