Editing Travel Plans/August 2023 (section)

== Thailand Diving trip planning ==

Date suggestions would be arriving to Ko Tao on '''August 20, 2023''' and leaving on '''August 27th'''. We could then to visit Bangkok for a couple days arriving on the '''August 27''' and leaving on '''August 30'''.

=== Resources ===

* [[:wikivoyage:Ko Tao|Wikivoyage page for Ko Tao]]
* [https://www.agoda.com/search?city=17389&locale=en-us&ckuid=ae995151-5703-42ef-98f4-dbb3dbf9cc65&prid=0&currency=USD&correlationId=35bf2b8e-eaa7-43ef-87dc-05dffc958e2f&analyticsSessionId=-2470980653307526451&pageTypeId=103&realLanguageId=1&languageId=1&origin=US&cid=1606957&userId=ae995151-5703-42ef-98f4-dbb3dbf9cc65&whitelabelid=1&loginLvl=0&storefrontId=3&currencyId=7&currencyCode=USD&htmlLanguage=en-us&cultureInfoName=en-us&machineName=as-pc-3g-acm-web-user-6fdf6d96bd-dp54q&trafficGroupId=2&sessionId=tvpdbbdpkjxqlgwkug2pldw1&trafficSubGroupId=2&aid=139090&useFullPageLogin=true&cttp=4&isRealUser=true&mode=production&browserFamily=Firefox&checkIn=2023-08-20&checkOut=2023-08-27&rooms=1&adults=2&children=0&priceCur=USD&los=7&textToSearch=Ko%20Tao&productType=-1&selectedProperty=296302&travellerType=1&familyMode=off Agoda Search]
* [https://thaiest.com/blog/luggage-storage-delivery-at-bangkok-suvarnabhumi-airport-bkk luggage storage at BKK options]

=== Potential dive shops ===

Sairee beach places in order that I should contact them:

* '''[Contacted 2023-07-09]''' [good choice for combo diving/place to stay] Sairee Cottage diving seems to have extremely cheap package deals w/ diving trips [https://www.saireecottagediving.com/diving-courses-koh-tao/] and places as little as $15/night; some have wifi and the Sail Rock trip is on Saturdays
* Mojo Diving goes to Sail Rock every Wednesday and Saturday (6am-1pm) w/ 1.5k reviews on TA: https://mojodiverskohtao.com/
* Shop that runs very early morning trips (6am) but seems to mostly beat the crowds as a result with 1.5k reviews on TA: https://newwaydiving.com/en/fun-diving/
* Bigger newer shop seems to be run entirely by foreigners w/ lots of options (3k reviews on TA): https://www.roctopusdive.com/
* Run by Austrian's with a website in German (200 reviews on TA): https://www.divepoint-kohtao.com/index.php/en/

* [more of a school] Big Bubble which seems to be one of the bigger options: https://www.divingatkohtao.com/
* Hobo-ya (Japanese Dive shop): http://www.hobo-ya.com/kohtao/

Other places:

* Mae Haad dive shop with built in accommodations and some upgrade options: https://www.crystaldive.com/accommodation-at-crystal-dive/

=== Places to stay ===

* Splurge place to stay (~5000 TBH for the cheaper ones) https://www.kohtaocabana.com/
* Just a place to stay but like 1000 baht/night: https://www.summerguesthousekohtao.com/

=== Mako's Plans for getting in/out  ===

When leaving, it probably makes most sense to fly to Koh Samui. There are direct flights, which are reasonably priced:

There is also the option to take Singapore Airlines (SQ706) leaving at 7:10am, changing in BKK, and arriving at 11:40am in Ko Samui (USM).

Two high speed boats go from Ko Samui to Ko Tao:

* https://www.lomprayah.com/timetable
* https://songserm.com/time-table

The closest pier to the airport is the [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bangrak+Seatran+Pier/@9.5601584,100.0609287,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x3054f01268b0c5e3:0x57edcdd2c7a21c3a!8m2!3d9.5644591!4d100.061905!16s%2Fg%2F11h_66xrrc?entry=ttu Ko Samui Bangrak SeaTran Pier] and departure are at 12:00 (arriving at 14:15) and 14:30 (arriving 17:00).

An alternative plan would be to fly to Bangkok, which is MUCH cheaper and there are many many options. From there, there are a bunch of options including a sort of bus + high speed boat options. These leave at 6am (arriving at 2:45p) or at 9pm (w/ VIP bus option that costs a little more) arriving a 8:35a the next day.

Bus location in Bangkok for the Lomprayah bus is: 154 Rambuttri rd., Banglumpoo, Bangkok 10200