The right shape
Two nights in Bangkok to reset from the flight, three or four somewhere with a view, then a private villa with a pool where nothing is scheduled. That is ten days and it does not feel rushed.
The mistake is three islands in eight days. Transfers eat a day each time, and honeymoons are the one trip where doing less is objectively better.
Where to stay
Bangkok riverside for the first two nights; Chiang Mai for boutique Lanna hotels; Krabi or Koh Samui for the villa. Phuket is fine but busier, and the good villas there cost more for the same thing.
What to book early
Private pool villas in high season, spa treatments, and any boat day you care about. Restaurants for the actual date — the good ones book out weeks ahead on Valentine's and Christmas.
