Nothing wrong with Phuket, if you think its the worsat of the lot then you have obviously never had the misfortune to end up in Pattaya. Patong is a dive or a paradise, depends on what float your boat, paces like Kata, Karon and Rawai are fantastic places and well away from the Bangla Road...
I don't know why people bother with Jim Thompsons House unless you are really really really into over-priced silks - boring! You can get the same stuff in any night market for 1/2 the price or less.