Bangkok and the where?
 

My husband is thinking about joining his brother for a trip to Bangkok next December. His brother is speaking at a medical conference and so they will be in Bangkok for about 5 days. They will then spend several additional days to see some other part of Thailand. (I, of course, am annoyed that I have to work and can't go) We will go back there in June/July and spend more time so he doesn't have to see everything. He is debating going to Chiang Mai, but also wondered about the Phuket area. Any thoughts or recommendations? Both seem pretty far and would require an entire day of travel to get there. Are there other places closer to Bangkok that would be good to visit?

Either Chiang Mai or Phuket are a quick fight. The two are entirely different expereinces. Phuket, of course, is a beach community. Chaing Mai is the second largest city in Thailnd, and can be a gateway to areas of northern Thailand, with elephant camps, hilltribes, etc.

A drive away from Bangkok are the River Kwai or another beach community, Hua Hin.

what are they interested in....

make sure you suggest that they spend some time in soi cowboy, nana and patpong.....just kidding these are the adult entertainment areas of bkk...

Maybe pattaya ?

Pattaya also has large areas of "adult entertainment," it's not a place I would recommend.

i must say that we have stopped in pattaya the last two trips...we loved both stops....its easy to avoid all the adult stuff...

the sheraton is a fabulous property and we had some fantastic meals in pattaya: bruno's and pascal's are two of the best places, plus tons of fish outlets as well

Definitely, he should go to Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai or both. Phuket is just a beach and totally tourist-driven. The north is much more interesting.