Thailand rewards a simple plan: start in Bangkok for temples, markets and food, then fly south to the Andaman coast for the beaches.
Days 1 to 3: Bangkok
Spend the first morning at the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, take a river boat in the afternoon, and keep an evening for a night market. The Skytrain avoids most of the traffic.
Days 4 to 6: Phuket
A short flight takes you to Phuket. Stay near Kata or Karon for calmer beaches, and book a day boat to the islands when the sea is calm, usually November to April.
