Here is the advice from IAMAT........
International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers

"Persons travelling by car, boat, or train through rural areas of the interior, especially forested and hilly areas, and to mining and refugee camps, as well as to the border areas with Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, and Laos, should be aware of the presence of multidrug resistant malaria (see specific locations below). For these areas, take atovaquone-proguanil or doxycycline antimalarial medications."

".......Areas with drug resistant Malaria: The western border areas with Myanmar (Burma): forested hilly areas of Chang Rai, Chang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, and Petchaburi provinces (these areas also report P. falciparum resistance to quinine and artemisinin); the eastern border areas with Cambodia: forested hilly areas of Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chantaburi, and Trat provinces report P. falciparum malaria resistance to chloroquine, mefloquine hydrochloride and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine."

Richman, agree, it's nice to let them know that there's a choice, and I do like the way how you point it out, it's neutral, just giving options.

It's the labeling of 'traditional form' for guesthouses vs 'commercialised atmosphere' for hostels - and 'insular experience' for hotels - repeated endlessly, in every single topic plus thinking there's someone 'confused' about accommodation. I could do without this spin in every single topic with someone asking for hostels.

On top of it it's rather one sided and doesn't reflect reality in my opinion. I know Thais that own guesthouses here in Bangkok, and you can be sure that making a living is the purpose of their guesthouses. There's no difference, those are all commercial businesses. Plus one can have a great experience with other tourists, be it in a hotel, hostels, or guesthouse, if one doesn't have a chip on the shoulder. I stayed by myself in hotels, met great families, had fun with their kids in the pool, met retired couples at brekkie buffets and had a great chats there, or had a laugh with some youngsters at the common room of hostels. Jeez, how can folks be so one sided?
If I read the first paragraph about hostels by OP then one thing for sure, I can do without the so called 'traditionally minded travelers' if their thinking is so narrow minded. What an elitist club.

I would think that the 40+ previous backpackers are more likely to be found bringing their families back now or seeing things that they should have seen when they were in Thailand before. Thailand has a rich cultural tradition as well as the beaches. Chiang Mai is a great centre for the Lanna culture - home to some of the most beautiful temples in Thailand in a style that is very different from those on BKK (but similar to the ones in Laos). This is the origin of the Thai nationhood. The capital moved to Shkuothai then Ayuthaya and Lopburi. In the east, the Kymers (from Cambodia) invaded and had important towns in Phimai and Phanom Rung. In the west, towards Burma there is Kanchanaburi - famous for the "Bridge on the River Kawai"). The capital then moved to BKK. Modern kings set up palaces in Petchaburi and Hua Hin.

I suggest you think about a cultural tour - perhaps starting in Chiang Mai. There are still some expat bars there where you can find fellow drinkers. Beer Chang has a lower alcoholic content now but Beer Leo is always available. You can gradually proceed south through the places I mentioned. Travelling from town to town by bus all the way to Bangkok is the way to go. There are some new places (like IconSiam) are there now plus a good transport system based on the Skytrain and the MRT. Ko Samet prices went sky high and the quality down so I moved my seaside activities to Hua Hin.

You can do some more research on these places (LP books might be a starting point). Most hotels and coffee shops (there are many) have free wifi these days (forget internet cafes - security was never important).

Paul

What makes you think he doesn't want to stay close to the EU? I mean his post election speech wasn't exactly hostile towards the eu:

He wanted a hard brexit and take back control. Control can not be reconciled with adhering to EU regulations regarding worker conditions and product standards required to stay close to the internal market. This has nothing to do with being hostile or not, but it does mean they have to start talks at essentially zero and can't really build on the current relationship.

I'm still expecting a deal where very little actually changes, I guess we will see what happens.

I'm not sure about that, as said, if Boris takes his victory from passing the divorce deal (which he likely does) he may very well give in to many of the EU demands to protect UK business. In my mind that would not match 'take back control' but then, things can be spinned in many ways.

I would do a route from CM to say Pai and then work your way down to Doi innahon (or continue along the border South) and then on to Sukothai.

That is the Mae Hong Son loop, first Pai, then MHS, then down south through Mae Chaem, cross Doi Inthanon and back to Chiang mai. A popular 4 day route that is well blogged and easily doable by car ... if you are an experienced driver. Recommended.

Yes that's a huge number of destinations for a country [Thailand] that's not all that large in size. As usual, THAI Airways thinks the country consists of only one city and thus offers flights pretty much only out of Bangkok. Only a small number of international services operate out of Phuket and Chiang Mai axed it's Kunming flights for the second time in as many years last year, despite the huge demand from Chinese tourists visiting Chiang Mai. Probably they couldn't compete on price or on schedule - THAI only flew twice a week to Kunming, whereas China Eastern flies twice a day!

As for Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia not having more gateway airports being served - well the latter two are much smaller than Thailand and have fewer gateway cities. Both countries have 3 gateway cities each and you'd be hard pressed trying to find more. Myanmar could potentially have more - but secondary cities in that country just aren't in hot demand. Theoretically, Kawthoung, Myeik, Dawei, Mawlamyine, Bagan, Inle Lake, Loikaw, Lashio and others could become secondary cities with high tourism potential and thus field international flights in the future. That won't happen for some time though, therefore only 3 cities (Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw) will host any international services for the foreseeable future.

Scooters are plentiful to rent at all major island tourist destinations and also main land such as Pattaya Hua Him Chiang Mai/ Rai etc but not bangkok, you'd be well advised to fly / bus / train to any one of these destinations and then rent a scooter for as long as you wish