What are you interested in?

Bangkok is a great central location for accessing other SE Asian countries (and my favorite city in the world). I'm guessing this may be your first trip to SE Asia. So browse some guidebooks.

Singapore is an interesting city -cleanest, safest city anywhere. It's an expensive city now, and I'm guessing it's not what you are looking for.

Cambodia has the incredible temples at Angkor, truly one of the wonders of the world.

Laos is rural. Luang Prabang is the place most visitors choose. A small town of working wats, it's a very spiritual place, slow-paced, you have to stop and soak up the atmosphere.

VN is developing rapidly. It's a country of contrasts, crowded, chaotic cities and contrasting rural areas.

Thailand has the best developed infrastructure and is the most-visited of those countries. It has a great variety of things to see and do.

Photos of all of these places (and more) at www.marlandc.com

Cheap plane tickets are from Air Asia. Bangkok Air has an airpass if you are flying three legs with them that is a good bargain. They fly the expensive routes to Siem Reap and Luang Prabang.

Browse a bit then come back with more questions.

Well right now I am most concerned with quickly finding a beach hotel. I dont want to go somewhere too crowded, but some nightlife wouldnt hurt. I am just looking for a beautful beach (limestone cliffs please!)and some available activites (kayaking, diving etc.) Also, does anyone know if I can get my diving cert. in Thailand?
I am def. going to see Angkor Wat, and Luang Prabang looks amazing from what I have read. I am not much of a shopper (might like to purchase some locally made items though). But I LOVE food!

As for a hotel near a beach for maybe 4-5 night we could budget about 120 a night (less would be awesome)

Diving cert. - http://www.padi.com/scuba/default.aspx and yes you can do the basic course in 3 to 4 days.
Hotel on a beautiful beach with limestone cliffs AND near a basic dive site for you to learn and get certified AND with night life check - perhaps Krabi. Check http://krabi.sawadee.com/ and look for one in your price range.
Cheapest flight will be to Phuket airport but the most direct flight will be to Krabi airport.

All of these islands!! Oh my, can anyone recomend hotels form experience? I dont want to stay in a giant hotel, but a bungalow isn't nessecary either. How bad is the rain on the west side of Thailand during May and June?

Also what are the major differences of the islands of each side of the mainland. (Like the Atlantic beaches have less waves than Pacific etc.) Is there a difference in water color? Temp? Waves? etc

Are there islands with less tourists and more Thais?

bmeyer, Krabi is a good suggestion. You can stay in a wide variety of accomodations there. The beaches on the little islands off shore (you visit by boat) are beautiful!

I'm not a diver at all, so I can't give info on that subject. But I was just in Krabi last August, and thought of it as a bit more laid back than Phuket (where I've been 3 times in the past).