Phuket 2016 - One of my favorite places in Thailand. Here are a list of other islands to visit
1. Koh Tao - Small island on Thailand's east coast. The vibe here is very relaxed and everything is backpacker friendly. You can get Scuba certified for under $250us and the diving is some of the best in the world. There are some excellent bars serving magic mushroom shakes and space cakes which I would highly recommend if you find yourself stuck inside on a rainy day. Make sure you rent a scooter and explore all of the island, especially Freedom Beach. Another nice benefit of staying in Koh Tao You won't find any grimy old white guys trying to pick up prostitutes. They seem to stick to Koh Samui (an island that I would try and avoid all together)