re: Thailand Trip--Recs, places/things to avoid?

spent the first half of the year for work in Thailand .... was based in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai and the surrounding area is worth a stop for 3 days or so. Loads of temples. Lots of travellers and fairly westernized. Pai is a cool town to check out ... as are the Elephant sanctuaries (but avoid the ones where you can ride them)

also worked in Bangkok ... incredible city and fast paced. the street food is amazing, but you can also go super fancy there. worth a weekend for sure to see the spectacle.

didn't make it to Phuket ... but enjoyed Turtle Island. Great snorkeling and diving and not overcrowded like Samui.

by far my favorite part of that area is Vietnam. Amazing.