I've been living in Thailand for nearly 7 years now.  I've been all over Thailand. 

-Chiang Mai

-Chiang Rai

-Phayao

-Nongkai

-Udon Thani

-Surat Thani

-Khao Sok

-Petchaburi

-Bangkok

-Samut Prakan

-Nakhon Nayok

-Pattaya

-Bangsaen

-SriRacha

-Chonburi

-Rayong

-Koh Larn

-Koh Chang

-Koh Samet

-Krabi

-Koh Samaeson

-Ayuttaya

-Kanchanaburi

 

And probably more places that I'm forgetting.  

 

So here comes the question:

 

As a long time resident of Thailand who's been almost everywhere, where should I go? 

 

I hate to use the term "hidden gem" but I'm sure there must be a couple wise geezers amongst you who have some nice locations that most people have never heard of.  

 

Basically, I need an idea on where my girlfriend and I can go over New Years.  Hopefully somewhere new and exciting (but still in Thailand). 

 

 

Stay home. Spend the New Year holidays in bed with your friend.

 

As has been the case every previous New Year period, there will be slaughter on the roads. If you enjoy this spectacle, watch it on TV from the comfort of your home

It seems you missed the Mae Hong Son Province. But it's not for party lovers.

What is exciting to one person may seem boring to another so without knowing more about your interest it is hard to make recommendation.

 

You don't have Buriram listed so maybe Prasat Phanom Rung or Korat and visit Phimai. If beaches are more your thing there is Prachuap Khiri Khanmn or Chumphon.

 

Hope you find something interesting for the holidays.

4 hours ago, Puccini said:

Stay home. Spend the New Year holidays in bed with your friend.

As has been the case every previous New Year period, there will be slaughter on the roads. If you enjoy this spectacle, watch it on TV from the comfort of your home

In US cities three days when it's best to stay at home, IMO: NYE, St Patty's Day, Halloween.

 

OP: there are 2 Koh Changs (maybe others as well), one is near the Cambo border, the other in the Andaman (boat from Ranong).  I quite liked the Andaman one, quiet and rustic.  The 2004 tsunami gave the place a lot of publicity in Europe, and within a year or so there were loads of all-night reggae bars.  If you want to sleep, too bad.  Haven't been there since 2006 or so.

 

I don't see Sukhothai or Hua Him there....

I recall Sukhothai has a big celebration.....

16 hours ago, Puccini said:

Stay home. Spend the New Year holidays in bed with your friend.

 

As has been the case every previous New Year period, there will be slaughter on the roads. If you enjoy this spectacle, watch it on TV from the comfort of your home

And I read today bars are open until 6am. But I still can't go to tescos and by wine or beer fir my home at 10.30am crazy. Control control control

That is quite the list and you have definitely travelled quite a bit around the Kingdom.  There are definitely a few places you have not been too.  In the interest of keeping those places fairly off the grid I shall not name them, hence they be overrun with mass tourism.  

17 hours ago, USslugga said:

where should I go? 

Chumphon

Chumphon is a southern Thai province on the narrow Kra Isthmus of the Malay Peninsula. It’s known for coral reefs and a long coastline dotted with beaches. In the south, the forested Phato district is home to the Phato Canal and the Heo Lom Waterfall. Cradled by the Phuket mountains, the province’s capital, Chumphon city, is a gateway to tropical islands including the popular Ko Tao, part of Surat Thani province.

Songkhla

17 hours ago, USslugga said:

I've been living in Thailand for nearly 7 years now.  I've been all over Thailand. 

-Chiang Mai

-Chiang Rai

-Phayao

-Nongkai

-Udon Thani

-Surat Thani

-Khao Sok

-Petchaburi

-Bangkok

-Samut Prakan

-Nakhon Nayok

-Pattaya

-Bangsaen

-SriRacha

-Chonburi

-Rayong

-Koh Larn

-Koh Chang

-Koh Samet

-Krabi

-Koh Samaeson

-Ayuttaya

-Kanchanaburi

Go back to any of these places and see if you missed anything.

To a bar

Come to Pattaya, free concerts and fireworks.

18 hours ago, USslugga said:

As a long time resident of Thailand who's been almost everywhere, where should I go? 

Go to the first place you visited as it's probably changed... and repeat down the line.

Or cross a border...

Home stay on a weed farm is a new must do.

Some epic "hidden gems" most foreigners never heard about (up to 4 hour drives from Bangkok):

1. Pha Suk Nirun ผาสุขนิรันดร์ - stunning cliff views. Take a very short trail out of the Sky View Cafe. 
2. Khao Nor-Khao Kaew เขาหน่อ-เขาแก้ว นครสวรรค์ / Wat Khao Nor - difficult short track but the scenery from the top will take your breath away, especially at sunset.
3. Bueng Bua lake. An unforgettable one hour boat tour. Google Map: "Bueng Bua Boat Seaside Entrance" / Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park.
4.  Phraya Nakhon Cave พระยา - Be ready for a jaw-dropping moment once the cave is revealed to you after a difficult but short track.

 

Ranong, and the islands around.

 

19 hours ago, USslugga said:

I've been living in Thailand for nearly 7 years now.  I've been all over Thailand. 

-Chiang Mai

-Chiang Rai

-Phayao

-Nongkai

-Udon Thani

-Surat Thani

-Khao Sok

-Petchaburi

-Bangkok

-Samut Prakan

-Nakhon Nayok

-Pattaya

-Bangsaen

-SriRacha

-Chonburi

-Rayong

-Koh Larn

-Koh Chang

-Koh Samet

-Krabi

-Koh Samaeson

-Ayuttaya

-Kanchanaburi

 

And probably more places that I'm forgetting.  

 

So here comes the question:

 

As a long time resident of Thailand who's been almost everywhere, where should I go? 

 

I hate to use the term "hidden gem" but I'm sure there must be a couple wise geezers amongst you who have some nice locations that most people have never heard of.  

 

Basically, I need an idea on where my girlfriend and I can go over New Years.  Hopefully somewhere new and exciting (but still in Thailand). 

 

 

I didn't see Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Surin and Buri Ram in your list. There might several other places missing. So, plenty of place still to visit...

Mae Hong Son or Phu Chi Fa. Take a tent to Phu Chi Fa, thousands of Thais camp there in January for the sunrises.

There is also a new skywalk in Chiang Saen.

Doi Chang has a sheep farm.

Edited December 12, 20232 yr by Lacessit

23 hours ago, biervoormij said:

What is exciting to one person may seem boring to another so without knowing more about your interest it is hard to make recommendation.

 

You don't have Buriram listed so maybe Prasat Phanom Rung or Korat and visit Phimai. If beaches are more your thing there is Prachuap Khiri Khanmn or Chumphon.

 

Hope you find something interesting for the holidays.

Prachuap Khiri Khan is missing. But you need to have a car and travel around.
It has many beaches, but its not just beaches.
Depending on how much time you have you can take a few days in Hua hin for new year if you like the festivities,
and/ or go to Sam Roi Yot and  Praya Nakhon cave,
Go to Kui Buri national park (but check best timing)  Yang Chum reservoir. Very few people around there.
further south to Prachuap town that has a beautiful bay and beach in Ao manao, Its not much of a tourist resort, another reason some like the place.
Then you can go further south to many beach resorts down to Bang Saphan.
with time, go further south to Chumpon. Go to Koh Tao if you like those kind of places. 
 

Edited December 12, 20232 yr by jojothai
add text

The Royal Coast: Hua Hin - Pranburi (Pak Nam Pran) - Sam Roi Yot... Prachuab Khiri Khan?

Some say this place is like the Maldives in Thailand:

 

https://www.lifestyleasia.com/bk/travel/asia/island-guide-koh-lipe-maldives-thailand/

Koh Kood
Nakhon Phanom
Koh See Chang

And that´s just 3 out of thousands. I guess you are not one of those you describe in your headline.

Are you a Cheap Charly? Why not take her somewhere different? Many places nearby (Langkawi, Penang, or Singapore) only a couple of hours flight away.

Hard isn't it?

But it's given you a chance to show off.

Phetchabun - Khoa Khor (sp) & Phu Ta beurk.

On 12/11/2023 at 8:19 PM, USslugga said:

I've been living in Thailand for nearly 7 years now.  I've been all over Thailand. 

-Chiang Mai

-Chiang Rai

-Phayao

-Nongkai

-Udon Thani

-Surat Thani

-Khao Sok

-Petchaburi

-Bangkok

-Samut Prakan

-Nakhon Nayok

-Pattaya

-Bangsaen

-SriRacha

-Chonburi

-Rayong

-Koh Larn

-Koh Chang

-Koh Samet

-Krabi

-Koh Samaeson

-Ayuttaya

-Kanchanaburi

 

And probably more places that I'm forgetting.  

 

So here comes the question:

 

As a long time resident of Thailand who's been almost everywhere, where should I go? 

 

I hate to use the term "hidden gem" but I'm sure there must be a couple wise geezers amongst you who have some nice locations that most people have never heard of.  

 

Basically, I need an idea on where my girlfriend and I can go over New Years.  Hopefully somewhere new and exciting (but still in Thailand). 

 

 

This looks really nice 

https://munnorkprivateisland.com/en/home

Nimman area of Chiang Mai is good fun for NYE. There will be bands at the Nimman1 mall, tons of vendors and food, and the streets behind it are low traffic for greater ambience.

 

Also, the tourist mix skews Chinese and Japanese potheads, no prob no drunken fights.