Hey all,
Loved reading all your threads. Really nice that so many of you take the time. I'm a newbie, just on this site, and am going to Thailand March 7 to April 2, 2006. Planning on flying straight out of BKK to Phuket, and finding good scuba setups and hanging out for a month. Live-aboards and so on. Rent a place for a month, not out to be in the poshest hotel, but looking for a little taste of the country, as well as of course, the choice diving sites.
So no need for info relating to the local colour (I am American/British by birth/parentage, and have been around a bit), I realize I will be a farang and as such, will constitute a "mark" while there.
My goal -- to hang out, enjoy some really nice dives, and relax. Not aiming at tossing all the hottest chicks, and certainly not looking for STDs and so on. If a live-aboard is copacetic, so be it.
Any referrals to live-aboards or DCs that are not rip-offs would be greatly appreciated.
And any direction(s) for what to avoid, equally appreciated.
But ... practically.. I arrive in BKK around noonish March 7th.
Should I book a flight to Phuket from here, or get a flight from BKK?
And on arrival in Phuket, where is an affordable place to stay while I get the lay of the land, and find out where I want to be for the month? Any recommendations?
I am 46 years old, lived around a bit (USA, GB, middle east, etc.) and would like to perhaps use some of your wealth of knowledge so I don't get skinned my first night out....
Thanks in advance for any help possible.
Dave