One of the biggest headaches for someone living in or traveling for extended periods in Thailand is the dreaded visa run. Even with a dismal economy and political turmoil turning away travelers in the droves, Thai officials have not seem to got it in their skulls that making it more difficult for travelers and expats to stay is in their country’s best interest.

The best thing you can do to secure your stay in this country is to get a visa before you even leave your home country. If you are going to be here for a while, plan ahead. Consider taking language classes or enrolling some other kind of school so you take advantage of the freedom of an education visa.

Because what happens is people come here without having a proper visa and then they have to run to the border on a regular basis getting their passport stamped. What is even worse news is that while 30 day entries are given when flying in, Thailand no longer gives the 30 day entry at their land crossings—now they give only 15 days and if you’re not leaving by that point or change your mind at the last minute, it’s a quick dash back out of the country to get your paperwork sorted.

What’s the answer? Thai consulates outside the country. The best one to go to is Vientiane. The capital of Laos, Vientiane is perhaps the smallest capital city I have ever been to, and on my last trip, I had a drunken walk with a Swedish friend down the middle of one of the main streets on our way to another pub. Try that in Washington D.C.

Trips to Vientiane can be a nice break from chaotic Thailand, and if like me you never eat farang food, this is the place to catch up on your Italian style pizza and pasta as well as other culinary delights. Vientiane has a strong French colonial influence, and the Western food is probably the best I’ve had in Thailand. Not to mention the cheap Beer Lao!

What makes Vientiane the ideal place is they are giving out visas like its going out of style. Thai law says you can only stay for 90 consecutive days at one time, but the Laos embassy doesn’t seem to have caught wind of this rule. The best way to do it is ask for a 2 month double-entry visa. By playing the ropes correctly, 2 months can become six. Here is how it works.

Live out the first 2 months of your double-entry visa playing your usual Thailand games. At the end of the first 2 months, you need to go to the Thai embassy in the closest city and apply for a one month extension. After that is up, you will have to go to the border, but it isn’t the 2 or 3 day affair of going to a Thai consulate, it is that old school dash to a border entry, whether it be Cambodia, Myanmar, or Burma. Just step across the border and then step back into Thailand.

At that point, your second 2 month stay has begun. After 2 more months, extend again for a month, and then your six months are spent. This is the best way to do it unless you are eligible for a non immigrant visa, a work visa, or an education visa. For most of us, those don’t apply.

Sure, it’s a headache, even on the six month plan. Visa fees add up, and even though right now they are free at Thai consulates until December 2010, the expense of heading out to Vientiane can really add up. But if the other visas don’t apply to you, unless you know the right person to slip an envelope of money to it’s yet another necessary burden when living or staying long-term in Thailand.

It’s fairly easy to arrange a trip to the border. Do some online research if you want to attempt to make the trip on your own—the cheapest way is by train or public bus. But there are also hoards of travel agencies sprinkled throughout the tourist destinations that are sending out comfortable buses and vans on a daily basis.

If you are in northern Thailand, have a look at www.chiangmaivisarun.com, a company who is breaking out the concept of the luxury visa run, a streamline trip in a comfortable van complete with English speaking guides, a flat screen TV playing movies, and cold refreshments served on the way.

The longer you stay, the more this process becomes second nature, and sometimes its easy to get too comfortable in Thailand and never even leave the city limits—it’s a hypnotic lifestyle—so the obligation to get off your butt and go somewhere else can be a welcome break from routine.

Take advantage of it. Go tour Angkor Wat. Go rock-climbing in Laos. Go scuba-diving in Malaysia. You’re not just in Thailand—you’re in Southeast Asia, and there is no limit to the amazing things to see and do.