Vacation Help!

[jasondcrawford]

My wife is 4 months pregnant and we want to do one last vacation before it's too late (although it might be too late for that already!). We're taking 2 weeks off in the middle of April, and Thailand is one of the last couple of destinations we're looking at, and I wanted some feedback from those who know it best!

I know there are several places to stay, so I was hoping you could point me in the right direction. It MUST have fantastic snorkeling (my wife will snorkel while I dive), and other things --- we want to tour temples, go through jungles, ride an elephant, sit on the beach, etc. We want to stay someplace cheap, no more than $50 US a night, preferably cheaper. We'll be staying for about a week (we're looking at splitting our time between Taiwan and Thailand at this point, but would appreciate input).

I guess my basic question is where should I start? What cities, websites, hotels, dive places? Is April even a good time to go? And my other question is will there be enough to keep us busy for a week? Two weeks? Keeping in mind that we won't be able to dive all day every day because of the baby. Thanks for any input, I'll check back soon!

 

[Bowmouth]

April is a GREAT month for Thailand and Phuket.

Start this way with finding some basic information:
Google "Phuket", then Google "Hotel Phuket" and lastly Google "Phuket diving and snorkeling".
After you have been "Googling" for a while come back with more exact questions to Scubaboard!

 

[Batfish]

tour temples, go through jungles, ride an elephant, sit on the beach

Phuket has all that - have a lookie at my blog (see link below) - well, I don't actually have anything about elephants on there (but you can certainly ride them in Phuket) - temples, jungles and beaches are there. And diving of course. April is a very good month.. 13th is Songkran if you happen to be around then - expect to get wet even if you are not diving/snorkeling.

Have a good trip!

Jamie

 

[stevenl]

13th is Songkran if you happen to be around then - expect to get wet even if you are not diving/snorkeling.

May be a good reason to go diving that day.

 

[Batfish]

At least it is only one day, unlike the week-long street battles in Chiang Mai. If you are coming back from a day trip and sitting in a pick up... you are a sitting duck.

Songkran 2007 Photos

 

[stevenl]

Make a daytrip with 3 dives, and make sure you don't have a hotel in Patong. By the time these trips come back, in Kata and Karon the shooting party is virtually finished.

Personally I love Songkran though (agree, good it is just the one day), but hate icewater.