Thanks to everyone who's contributed! At this point I'm pretty set on going to Thailand, given all the suggestions to do such. As for taking a side trip into Cambodia, I'd like to but I've got safety concerns after reading some articles. Can you guys give me an idea of how safe it is to travel to Cambodia from Thailand? Also, can you give me a general idea of how safe it is to travel alone around Thailand, not just Bangkok and Phuket but including the outlying towns and cities?
Thailand is overall a very safe country to travel in, as long as you stay on the right side of the law and behave with respect for the local culture and people.
Cambodia might be a bit more rough. You always hear stories but personally I have newer had any problems in Cambodia either. To take one of the AC buses from Bangkok to Phnom Penh is probably less risky than taking the subway in New York at noon.