Pattaya vs BKK

[moistmango]

Hey all. New to this forum, and, gotta say, loving it.

Am planning my next trip to Thailand - once the pandemic is over and this bloody lockdown is lifted - and thinking of hitting Pattaya, which I've never visited before. (I know.) What's the scene there like? I'm not into regular bars, like those on Silom 4, so it sounds like Jomtien may not be of much interest. I just want to look at boys in their skimpies. What are the go-go joints in Boyztown and Sunee like, compared to, say, Lucky or Dream or Screw in Patpong? What are the *boys* like there?

[BOY69]

Once the apademic is over no one can tell you
which bars will survive and how things will be in Pattaya on the post corrona virus era.
It's better to wait and not make any plans at the moment.

[gerefan2]

Agree with Boy 69...wait and see what’s left.

However I can tell moistmango that the Gogo scene in Pattaya was nothing like as large as in BKK. Threre are no places as large as Lucky Boys or Dream Boys.
There were 9 gogo bars in total in Pattaya, 3 in Sunee Plaza and the remainder in Boyztown. None in Jomtien.

Of the 3 in Sunne Plaza one isn’t worth the effort and the other two, although sometimes busy, are tiny compared with the large places in BBK.
The BT joints are slightly larger and mainly catered for gays although some were frequented a lot by Asian couples.

So, in summary, nothing like BKK, but gems can be found.

What it will be like in future...no one knows.

[latintopxxx]

I suspect it will be as good if not bettrer than before, all economies will suffer resulting in job scarcity ....outcome will be a tsunami of talent flocking to work as "waiters" in the big cities.

[Manforallseasons]

The government has put venues such as bars etc. last on the list to reopen, anyone planning a trip should consider if you will be allowed in the country and what will be left standing in the the way of gay venues and much anything else.

[BOY69]

Although the bars scene in Pattaya is modest compared to BKK many attractive boys can be found through the apps and prices are much cheaper .
I like Boyz Town not many bars but the gay scene is very nice and entertaining I like especially BBB and Castro bars. Sunee bars are not my cup of tea and at Jomtien complex there're host bars with some attractive boys mainly from Cambodia and Laos.
What will be left after the Corona apademic will overe no-one knows...

[Smiles]

Hi MoistMango, have you met SnotFace yet? Also, there's a member here named BodilyFluids. Didn't stay around very long ... too many droppings.
Jellybean is not quite there yet, he's edible.

[sglad]

The government has put venues such as bars etc. last on the list to reopen, anyone planning a trip should consider if you will be allowed in the country and what will be left standing in the the way of gay venues and much anything else.

All is not lost. If nothing else is available, he can always take tea with you and partake of that world renowned charm and hospitality.

[Nirish guy]

The government has put venues such as bars etc. last on the list to reopen, .

On that was just thinking the other day that I[m sure the new owner of the recently purchased Panorama Bar in Pattaya is gutted, bar just bought at a high enough price, gutted and reopened only to be closed again almost as quickly. Lets hope he's deep enough pockets to ride it out until things pick up again.

[gerefan2]

On that was just thinking the other day that I[m sure the new owner of the recently purchased Panorama Bar in Pattaya is gutted, bar just bought at a high enough price, gutted and reopened only to be closed again almost as quickly. Lets hope he's deep enough pockets to ride it out until things pick up again.

Wasn’t it taken over by Castro?

[Nirish guy]

Wasn’t it taken over by Castro?

Actually I don't know, I was just thinking generally, now that I think of it I cant recall much talk of who actually about it in the end - I know castro had taken over next door to it but I hadn't heard they'd bought out Panorama too - does anyone know that for sure perhaps ?

On one hand I wish the castro guys well and always enjoy their shows etc but it was also nice just to use Panorama as an actual bar rather than show bar and as a nice break to proceedings sometimes where it was nice to go sit and have a chat with guys or window shop up the Soi. So I'd hate that if that's the case that it ends up as just as another Castro show bar ( with the same dancers rotating between the that and the other bars perhaps ?) Saying that, THAT would of course be better than NOTHING.

[christianpfc]

If you have never been to Pattaya, you should definitely go to form your own opinion. Don't let you be rushed to a seat and to order a drink, have a look for a few seconds and if there is something you don't like (fully dressed boys at gogo-bar prices is my pet peeve), go somewhere else!

I am based in Bangkok most of the year, in walking distance to Silom, but I take all my gogo-bar-business to Pattaya for various reasons. The main reason is that even with travel and hotel expenses, Pattaya comes cheaper (traveling by public transport about 200 THB each way, hotel 600 THB per night, staying two nights, drinks in three bars and one off per night). But some bars are trying to push prices to Bangkok levels, these places e.g. BoyzBoyzBoyz are on my blacklist. Being based in Bangkok, traveling to Pattaya once per month and staying in a hotel gives a holiday feeling (does not apply to tourist; and a tourist would have to stay in a hotel in either place whereas I stay in a room rented by month in Bangkok).

[arsenal]

Castro and Panorama are indeed owned by the same person. That's all I know.

[Oliver2]

Correct. Many happy memories of starting my evenings there- previously Cocobanana- watching dozens of gogo dancers wander into work at 2000. In those days, you had to arrive early to get a seat, and even earlier for one at the front. Apologies for yet another dose of nostalgia.

Sic transit gloria.

[Nirish guy]

I guess in that case I almost feel doubly bad for the Castro owner of MULTIPLE gay bars now as he must be really feeling the pain. Let’s hope for not to long.

Broken down Ford Fiesta Mary.

[francois]

Sic transit gloria.

Amen!

[BOY69]

As far as I know Panorama was taken over by Castro owners.

[Daveuk]

At the moment in lockdown back home in England I would settle for either Bkk or pats pre-Covid. I did manage a trip to Pattaya in February, in fact returning home shortly before the Pandemic broke. I spent the whole 3 weeks in Pats where I have been visiting for the last 20 years. The gay scene there is very much reduced compared with 2000, when there were many more bars and gogo’s, and many more boys. However I had no problem finding boys for my bed (twinks, twinks...). I offed them from Winner Boys in Sunee, the Complex bars and the dating apps.
Will I ever get back ? - well I doubt this year and I fear that the commercial gay scene might never recover.

[goji]

If you have never been to Pattaya, you should definitely go to form your own opinion.
I agree.
It is probably only going to take 2~2.5 hours to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya & if taking airport rail link and bus, the total cost is under 200 baht. With the options of looking out of the window or reading, I don't regard it as time wasted.

1 GoGo bars in Bangkok are a LOT more expensive than Pattaya. I think the quality of the Bangkok gogo bars can be better, so if your bank balance resembles that of Jeff Bezos, it would make a difference.

2 Pattaya is the easiest place in the world (that I have found) to hire a lad on a phone app, as a high proportion of them are hookers. It can also be done in Bangkok, however a little more effort is required to sift through the offering.

3 Also, it depends on whether you prefer the attractions of a capital city or a beach & sex resort. I wouldn't reach any conclusions before trying both.

[Oliver2]

One of the advantages of Pattaya is that the gay customers are on holiday, usually for a couple of weeks or more, and so the guys seek repeat custom and respond accordingly. Of course, it's true of some in Bangkok as well but a higher proportion of visitors there stay for a short period... some are there on business, others in transit.

[scottish-guy]

.. Sic transit gloria.

I didn’t know Gloria was sick :eek:

[Marc K]

I fear that the commercial gay scene might never recover.

Commercial gay scene, RIP. It was nice knowing ya. Now we must move on.

[Daveuk]

Yes RIP it is I fear. But move on to where that’s the question.

[dinagam]

Yes RIP it is I fear. But move on to where that’s the question.

Paradise naturally, where a bevy of virgins of both sexes will be waiting to give the righteous ones continuous climaxes!

[Daveuk]

Paradise naturally, where a bevy of virgins of both sexes will be waiting to give the righteous ones continuous climaxes!

A bevy of 18 year old Asian boys would be wonderful, but I fear that the angels to carry me up are currently in lockdown.

[Nirish guy]

Paradise naturally, where a bevy of virgins of both sexes will be waiting to give the righteous ones continuous climaxes!

Well If that "Paradise" is the one in Phuket they'd need to be cleaning it up a right bit before I'll agree to spend eternity there thats for sure !

[arsenal]

Can't be that one. They charge a joiner fee.

[goji]

Paradise naturally, where a bevy of virgins of both sexes will be waiting to give the righteous ones continuous climaxes!
Offing a male virgin isn't necessarily an advantage, as once he's bent over, things can be a bit too tight for the next stage.

[Nirish guy]

.... things can be a bit too tight for the next stage.

Wow, Goji really takes Kinky to a whole new level eh !! I'm guessing that takes a LOT of lube !!! :)

9959

[arsenal]

Pattaya vs Bangkok? It's not a fair fight. Bangkok has more go go boys (for a lot more money) but in everything else Pattaya wins.

[Oliver2]

Another thing I liked about the Pattaya go-go bars (when I was allowed to spend time in them) was that the guys were often old friends, travelling from Isaan or wherever in groups, living together in Pattaya and working in the same bars. This meant that they would joke and tease and have a whale of a time, rather than standing in serried ranks like guardsmen. I always found that the laughter was almost as enjoyable as the dancing....yes, once upon a time, there was dancing.

Bangkok is different in that the guys often live far apart and meet-up only work. Relationships are different.

And yes, I am generalising.

[Manforallseasons]

The title off this thread should be updated to read “Nothing vs More of nothing”.

[goji]

The title off this thread should be updated to read “Nothing vs More of nothing”.

Those of us who retain a positive outlook on life recognise that the current covid lockdowns will not last for ever.

[Oliver2]

Absolutely. The financial problems facing huge numbers of Thai families will result in plenty of workers looking to participate in the commercial scene. Come to think of it, of all the employment opportunities that will recover from the present circumstances , it will be one of the most immediately accessible. That doesn't mean that all bars, hotels and tourist restaurants will survive of course, but there'll be plenty that do.

[Manforallseasons]

Those of us who retain a positive outlook on life recognise that the current covid lockdowns will not last for ever.

Don’t hold your breath, I live here and see the carnage. A side note Double Shot in Sunee has been emptied of everything as is the adjacent hotel..

[dinagam]

This is the time to read into the tea leaves as things are going from bad to worse. For the majority of the population who have plans to restart and rebuild while at the same time trying to reign in their spending, this is the conundrum. Their confidence may remain low for the next six months or even longer. I doubt very few gay businesses in Pattaya have very deep pockets to enable to reinvent themselves for an ever dwindling custom.

[gerefan2]

I doubt very few gay businesses in Pattaya have very deep pockets to enable to reinvent themselves for an ever dwindling custom.

I compare it with the closure of all pubs in the UK for an indefinite period. The only ones which will survive are the ones owned by the large chains. The independently owned ones will go to the wall unless the owners have cash to spare.

So in Pattaya the big players in Boyztown will survive. The smaller “privately” owned ones will only reappear if their owners put their own money on the line. Possible, but unlikely. The ones already in a precarious financial state won’t reopen.

I have said before we won’t see Sunee reopen and I stick with that. Most bars there are run on a shoe string and this will be the final straw for most. Nice Boys, which must make a tidy profit, may survive but will find itself in a gay desert. Maybe it should relocate as there won’t be many other gay places nearby to attract passing punters.

Jomtien will emerge as the prime gay location. Already more and more popular with gays, there will be no shortage of customers. It has everything going for it, bars, restaurants (where else has restaurants?) and massage joints. Just needs Gogo bars!

[gerefan2]

A side note Double Shot in Sunee has been emptied of everything as is the adjacent hotel..

Moving to Jomtien.

[Daveuk]

Could not agree more about gogos in the Complex. They are needed to restore Pattaya/Jomtien to be a prime gay resort when travel resumes. The Complex has all the other assets - gay friendly hotels, host bars, massage, restaurants and the gay beach. I used to stay in BT but during February it was Jomtien at the Zing.

[Oliver2]

Jomtien could certainly do with some variety. The host bars are distinguished only by the colour of their chairs.

[goji]

Jomtien could certainly do with some variety. The host bars are distinguished only by the colour of their chairs.
I recommend paying attention to the colour of the chairs and the demarcation between bars.

On one visit to Jomtien, I was wandering up the street and met a group of particularly cute, pleasant & smiling lads. One of them led me to a seat & shortly after ordering drinks, I realized he had placed me in the bar NEXT to the one with all the cute lads, where he worked.

Rightly or wrongly, I'm not a regular visitor to Jomtien Complex and have in preference been a customer of Boyztown, Sunee and phone apps. I suppose the regulars have learnt to choose their chairs more carefully.

[Daveuk]

Early in the evening say 7pm to 10,pm the bars and their boys concentrate on attracting potential customers to take a seat and buy drinks. It’s a favourite time for expats and long term tourists to meet in groups to socialise without interacting much with the boys although a few are seen with their Bored boyfriends . Later from about 11 pm it’s more about the customers looking for a possible off and boys circulating to provide just that or at least boy drinks. The double seats facilitate closer intimacy, particularly kissing and caressing. After midnight customers start departing with their newly acquired boyfriends for the hotels.