So, my wife's brother and his wife are living in Thailand, and have been for some time, on the outskirts of Bangkok. They have the weeks of x-mas and news year off work, and my mother-in-law is going out to stay with them for those 2 weeks. My wife would like us to go as well. I get along with my mother-in-law fine, but my wife's brother and his wife are basically the most stereotypical "woke" people I have ever met. They are like a poster for every annoying thing you can think of, and all conversations revolve around them complaining about everything in the world, and letting you know how much better they are than other people. A typical encounter is them complaining they can't get the correct(?) vegan food, then while eating telling you how all white people are inherently racist, then refusing to tip because they don't want to be a part of that system or some dumb shit. Basically, I can handle them for a bit, but I'm not spending 2 weeks with these idiots.
So, my plan is to leave the US Friday Dec 13 for SOMEWHERE for 1 week. Then, meet up with my mother in law in Bangkok a week later (when she flies in around Dec 20th) and spend 1 week with her and my wife's family (her brother suggested a couple of days in Bangkomk and a few days in Chiang Mai). Then, my wife and I will split off on our own again for the 3rd week and go SOMEWHERE. So my plan is a 3 week vacation total, with only the middle week actually being with in-laws in Thailand.
So, as someone who has never been out of the US, and who this is likely my only trip to this area, what would some of you suggest? I have a friend who said Thailand is fine, but that we should hop a bus to Cambodia. I met a guy who was talking about how much better Vietnam was than Thailand as well. I'm wondering if I should fly in to Japan for a week, then do Thailand, then the last week in Cambodia or something?
If it helps, my wife and I like trying new things (shes 33 and I will be 40, so not crazy kids or anything), we both pack light (probably just a single backpack each), money isn't a hug concern, and would prefer just soaking in a lot of once in a lifetime places or things to do. I guess that's probably all pretty normal vacation stuff.