Koh Tao

I flew the 45 minutes from Bangkok the Koh Samui and then caught the 2Hr catamaran from there to Koh Tao, via Koh Phangan.  The three islands are relatively close together in the Gulf of Thailand.  While Thailand is just entering the monsoon season, it is fortunate that these islands seem to escape most of the rain, and the weather is good all year round, with only a little increase in inclement weather  in November.

I stayed in Simple Life accommodation on Sairee Beach and had a huge en suite double room with air conditioning for only about £34 per night

Sairee beach is great.  As the island caters mostly for the diving community, the beach is underutilised.  It is quiet and backed by a number of relaxing beach bars and restaurants.  At only £1.60 for a vodka and coke from 4 to 7PM. How could you refuse a relaxing drink or 6 after a hard day's diving?

All the locals are unbelievably friendly and will go out of their way to help you, should you ask for it.  They are friendly in a very genuine way, and not because they feel they have to.

I came here for the diving, and did 12 dives in all.  It was OK, but not the best for marine life that I have experienced.  This is a place to learn diving and to get any and all certifications, at a very reasonable rate, and in most cases half the price you might pay elsewhere.  I have been offered the chance of a Divemaster internship, and may well come back here for the 2/3 months of  the Indian monsoon season.

I would definitely recommend Koh Tao for a fantastic place to visit.  It is an idyllic island, with plenty of restaurants serving all kinds of food from Thai to Italian, and extremely inexpensive.  Good for diving, snorkeling and you can even go on the "zipwire" which is strung between two small islands.

When I went to order a taxi to take me to the ferry to go home the next morning, the receptionist asked if she should put it on the bill along with my extra night.  I was confused about why I was being charged an extra night.  Then I realised I had forgotten to go home.  I should have left that morning and it completely escaped my mind!  There were no free flights from Bangkok to Bangalore for another week.  It was either stay another week, or go back business class.  As tempting as it was to stay, discretion meant I had to suffer 6 hours of the business class lounge in Bangkok Airport!