Hi everyone. My boyfriend and I are thinking about a trip to Thailand next Christmas, so that's why I'm here. So far we've been doing some research online and we have the Lonely Planet Thailand travel book. There's my introduction :)

Hey Evaunitone, glad to see you on the forums! Mind if I ask where in Thailand you'll be going and what you and your boyfriend are planning on doing next Christmas?

So, we've been reading and my boyfriend thought Koh Samui and Koh Toa, and maybe Koh Pha-Ngan sounded ideal. However, when I read about them they sounded like the party aspect was the emphasis, and they also sounded a little dangerous too. I know traveling to Thailand is going to come with some dangers wherever I go, but when I think of huge beach parties etc on those above mentioned islands, it doesn't really sound like what I want to go to Thailand for. Don't get me wrong, I'm no straight-edger, but world travel isn't about drinking for me. It sounds naive but for me, the trip to Thailand should be about culture and natural beauty, and I'd like to avoid chances of being mugged, killed, and/or arrested.

My boyfriend is the type to find a place that sounds good and then settle on wanting to go there without thinking about the other options. Me: I'd like to consider something other than those three islands.

One last thing: We are not scuba divers yet and I don't know for sure if we want to scuba dive in Thailand. I absolutely, definitely do want to at least snorkel though. I'm a biologist so the reefs are at the top of my list for things to see in Thailand.

p.s. maybe a moderator should move this post out of the introduction section

Good for you for knowing what you want. It's all too easy to say you want to go to a distant land and never truly determine what it is you want out of it. Not naive at all to want cultural experiences, at least not in my humble opinion. If all you wanted is to get smashed and make-out, why the hell would you pay thousands of dollars to do it in a foreign land? That's an oversimplification, but there's truth in it.

The party culture is everywhere if you look hard (and sometimes you don't have to look hard at all), Thailand seems to not be lacking in that department. I can't speak to the locations you mentioned specifically, but can say that if you find yourself in the middle of a moonlit beach party, enjoy yourself and don't forget that that may very well be a part of the culture too. Modernity marches on. Tourism. Globalization.

I'm embarrassed to say that I've never dived or snorkeled before...you'll have to inspire me there or else I'll just live vicariously through you :)

We have traveled Thailand often and we get to some far away places. Never felt threatened during all our travels.

Koh Tao is the destination for your snorkeling and diving. Absolutely magnificent. You can do an around the island snorkeling trip first and if you like it do a dive course there.

Kph Phangan is a beautiful island and there is no need to get caught up in the party scene if you don't want to. The FMPs have got out of hand lately, with drugs, theft and some violence from both the local and party goers. There was some talk of the parties being stopped all together.

Bob and Janette's Travel Adventures has some info on Koh Tao and Phangan as well as trips further afield in Thailand which should prove useful

My friend in facebook has uploaded some photos on her trip to Koh Tao.. I must say that the place is really nice for snorkeling..