Vacation Report

[billy2bs]

Well, I just finished my month long trip back to the land of smiles. I spent about 2 weeks in Bkk and 2 in and around Pattaya. My score for this time is about a 5 on a 10 pt scale. But i am a hard marker, so it ended up being average. In Bangkok it was slow with somewhat boring views of the boys. But that is because I prefer the non hunky type,though BBB did have a fine bunch of cuties.The cost of drinks was much too dear however as 300 and 250+ BHT for anything is very disappointing. Staying at Bally's off Sukumvit was nice and comfortable,,1800 Bht. There just did not seem to be any electricity in the different venues as I saw few if any crowds. Even moving about the night bazzar was easy enough. With so many fewer customers about than I am used to seeing it didn't help any when looking into an empty club at 10:30.
My time in Pattaya was reasonable as I stayed at Jomtien...Claudio's for 700 Bht, clean snd comfy in a newly done up scene. I did get to be drawn up into the huge crowds at the Music Festival, even getting down to about 50 feet or so of the stage in a huge crush of young folk. I guess Rain was the performer everyone was awaiting. Since everyone around was exstatic I must assume it was grand. I made a note to avoid it next time around.
The weather was cool and overcasted however so time at the beach was most disappointing.There were so many fewer vendors and so few beachgoers. Spent my time at #18 Jims Place.It is a nice spot to hang out at. Took a banana boat ride with 3 other friends. Fun even if we did get tossed over 5 times. Thank God for life preservers. I did make a note to skip it next time out. No need to over exert myself to that extent on my next outing. Something less intense willl be fine.
Nigh life was slow also. Sunni was active but not bustling like I would like to see it. The outside bars did have there action going but at a less intense level than I have seen in the past. Any of the young boy bars was active with customers but stilll less so than I have seen. I like a lot of activity as you might tell. The boys did not show enough enthusiasm on the stage and I did not see the mamasans directing them to be active and entertaining.
The bars that had a bit older boys was much less active in all respects. So it would seem that gogo bars in Sunni need to have they younger look to them to attract the clientelle to a higher volume.I prefer the younger look so that is whee I spent my time.
Boystown area was equally weak in customers. Venues were slower than usual amd the scene had no buzz to it.
So why was all of this somewhat disappointing to me? Maybe I am getting too old for the scene...naaa! I really think that it is all economics.Things cost more than ever so people will choose differently how to spend or not go at all.
I will surely return because i can be who I wish to be and be around what excites me. All in all we make our own level of excitement. It will just cost more than in the past.

[bucknaway]

300 Baht for a drink?! It is news like that which makes me plan my trip with full intention to avoid the high priced tourist traps.

Less time in the bars and more time being social. I am not going to throw my vacation money away on bar drinks. Hell. I hardly drink anymore anyway as I never truly liked the taste of the stuff.

When I was there last year I walked past Jupiter 2000 but didn't go in only because I remembered they were charging premium prices a year or two on a prior visit. For a short stay visitor, you been in one gogo bar, you have been in every gogo bar and there is little need to visit the expensive places when you can get the same or better experience from a bar offering a fair deal.

[Smiles]

300 Baht for a drink?! It is news like that which makes me plan my trip with full intention to avoid the high priced tourist traps.
The high-priced stuff is mostly a Bangkok affair, and then only in GoGo bars. Last Bangkok gogo bars attended in (last October I think) charged 250 baht for a beer, but the OP reports 300 so it may well have gone up, or, individual bars charge what they want, but probably no less than 250.
Pattaya and Patong I believe are still quite a bit less. Last Pattaya gogo bar attended (now a year ago) the price (beer) was 100 baht. Not sure after a year, but I'm certain Pattaya has not yet breached the 250 baht mark ... trust me, the howling would have begun immediately :blackeye: .

[anonone]

Recently returned from some time in Pattaya. Drinks are nowhere near the 250-300 Baht range.

Most expensive Gogo drink was 170 (or close to it). Krazy Dragon was still 99 baht for all drinks, customer and staff. Most Gogo drinks were right about 120 baht. The higher drink places also had some type of other "show" connected with it as well.

Agreed that crowds were a little slim, but still much fun to be had. Beer bars in Sunnee seemed to be doing pretty well. Lots of customers and more energy.

Also agree that Dongtan Beach was a big disappointment this time around. Hardly any Thai guys around and way too many Russian families infiltrating the area.

[fedssocr]

I think it is definitely a Soi Twilight thing when it comes to the hugely inflated drink prices...especially Boys Bangkok and its sister bar. When I was there it was 300 baht per drink because of the "show". Definitely overpriced, but the place was packed the night I was there (last Nov). Other bars on the street were a bit less..like 220 baht or so IIRC.

Pattaya drinks way cheaper. And the bars more fun for me.

[newalaan]

billy2bs, Thanks for the report, updates always welcome.


I think it is definitely a Soi Twilight thing when it comes to the hugely inflated drink prices...Yes and from what i can remember about my one and only visit to the X-Boys Pattaya offshoot (from that very Soi Twilight) in Pattayaland Soi2, I'm sure the drinks there were inflated (compared to other Pattaya show bars) also,possibly to as much as Bt200. I didn't plan to be there for the show, I avoid them if possible, but by the time we sat down, spoke with a waiter and ordered drinks the 'show' was just about to start.

Has anyone else visited X-Boys in Pattaya at showtime and can remember if the drink price was as much as Bt200?

[lonelywombat]

I can confirm 200 baht. it becomes expensive when you invite a boy to join you ,if they try and bring a friend with them, as happened to me just before Xmas.

Last time I was in Bangkok and they wanted to charge 300 baht for a drink, I said no and told them that I would pay 200. EVERY bar I went to on Soi Twilight went to the boss and every bar except BBB say OK no problem and escorted me in. Bargain with them the same you do anything in Thailand! Dont go in until they agree. :evil4:

[Rolling Stone]

Last time I was in Bangkok and they wanted to charge 300 baht for a drink, I said no and told them that I would pay 200. EVERY bar I went to on Soi Twilight went to the boss and every bar except BBB say OK no problem and escorted me in. Bargain with them the same you do anything in Thailand! Dont go in until they agree. :evil4:

Hmmm ... never thought about bargaining though ... LOL.

I visited Bangkok bars a couple of weeks ago. DreamBoy was charging 300 B (showtime on weekend night), Jupiter 270 B(weekday night). I have not been to these two places for quite a while because they dont allow smoking in their premises which was a put off for me. But I would not have liked DB/BBB anyway due to the lack of attractive boys (my taste of course). I did have a liking for Jupiter boys in the past but this trip was a disappointment (perhaps not my night?)

Other Soi Twilight bars charge 250 B (X-Boys, X-size, Hotmale); Ocean Boys (ex Future Boys) did offer me a drink at 200B since I was reluctant to enter. 10.15 (?) show at X-Boys was quite entertaining, a lot of cocks to be seen.

Offing a boy at the above establishments could become quite expensive when one adds up the drinks (500+), off fee (400+), tips for the waiter, tips for the mamasan, and tips for the boy afterwards ... especially if you ve got the habit to wander around and enter multiple joints every night. :D

Nature Boy's drink at 150 B, Super A 100B. I did not drink at Solid this time but I presume their price at 150B.

Two comments and then I will let it rest.
BBB and Deam Boys up in Bkk are the same owner. Very tough and I never liked him. Spent alot of money there and he knew who I was and never even nodded at me. They were the ones that said NO to 200 baht and therefore did not get my money.

As far as not going in because they dont allow smoking? Well I know many bars allow smoking but the problem is that (1) smoking by law is prohibited in Thailand in the bars (2) Its a pain in the ass to clean up and takes alot longer and more costly as "most" smokers do not care about where the cigarettes and ashes are extinguished and (3) bars lose many customers that are non-smokers, because, since it is the law, well they want to enjoy a smoke free atmosphere. It really isnt that bad to go out on the terrace and enjoy your smoke and keep everyone happy. The problem is the bars get screwed either way they go, but seem to get screwed more, when they allow the smoking. Remember although I doubt it, there are plain clothes police to come and do spot checks for underage, and other things and the fine is 20,000. Believe it or not, smoking is also not allowed on terraces and within a certain distance from the entry door but most bars, including mine, ignore that one.
:alc:

[Beachlover]

Last time I was in Bangkok and they wanted to charge 300 baht for a drink, I said no and told them that I would pay 200. EVERY bar I went to on Soi Twilight went to the boss and every bar except BBB say OK no problem and escorted me in. Bargain with them the same you do anything in Thailand! Dont go in until they agree. :evil4:
I didn't know you could bargain on drinks prices...
I usually just go and check out the show at BBB (Bangkok Best Boys/Dream Boys) one night when I'm bored before DJ Station and don't mind paying 300 baht for the one drink there. But I'm not planning to stay in Silom next visit so probably won't bother with the BBB show again.

Well I refer to it as bargaining. As you know, I am a little bit in the "know" of costs. Bottled water costs 5 baht, coke and soft drinks about 10 baht and drink drinks if they make them the way they are supposed to be made about 20 baht. These are rough figures. Bangkok is in desperate need of customers and offering them 200 baht for a 5 baht water or even for a 20 baht drink that they probably only put 1/2 shot in, is still a money maker for them.
They would rather get some money than nothing. They are lucky to get a handful of customers.

I will not say it works in all cases. I have had customers come to me and offer to pay 100 baht for a beer. I tell them Family Mart is down the block. We only charge 120 for beer and considering all our costs, it aint unreasonable. So, I guess what I am saying is, is that if a bar is unreasonable, tell them to take your offer or you will go to a more reasonable bar. They are not the only game in town and one day they will realize that. :alc:

[Smiles]

" ... I didn't know you could bargain on drinks prices ... "
Willing to bet ... Shirely much more you don't know.
Did a general Google search on "things about Thailand that Beachlover doesn't know". 372,875,902 G-results to search through.
But alas, no time ... off to Bangkok in the morning. Perhaps OIAW could take on the task?

Other Soi Twilight bars charge 250 B (X-Boys, X-size, Hotmale); Ocean Boys (ex Future Boys) did offer me a drink at 200B since I was reluctant to enter. 10.15 (?) show at X-Boys was quite entertaining, a lot of cocks to be seen.

Offing a boy at the above establishments could become quite expensive when one adds up the drinks (500+), off fee (400+), tips for the waiter, tips for the mamasan, and tips for the boy afterwards ... especially if you ve got the habit to wander around and enter multiple joints every night. :D

Nature Boy's drink at 150 B, Super A 100B. I did not drink at Solid this time but I presume their price at 150B.

Rolling Stone,

Absolutely correct on all counts in my view,

Tam my bf also told me off for being over friendly and amiable in these establishments and at the Hotel I used to stay at in Bangkok,as they become overly familiar and it then becomes, at tip times, ' like feeding pigeons! ' :headbang:

Perhaps OIAW could take on the task?

I should think that a list of the things he actually does know would be easier.
It couldn't be more than 5 or 6 things.