Salts give a better hit than nic liquids, meaning you can use weaker liquids, the higher the nic content in liquid form, the higher the throat burn, and hence the coughing.
If youre coming straight off tobacco I'd avoid nic liquids altogether but its up to you.
You can get vape bars for a few quid and even though they are only 2% they're very strong.
Each one will last a day or so, try one or two.
You just MTL them, unlike those clearomisers you mentioned earlier.
You don't get massive clouds, just a little vape but it's stronger than a clearomiser full of 24mg if that makes sense?