Seeking Pattaya Information
 

I expect to go to Pattaya in a couple of weeks for the first time in maybe ten years. I would appreciate suggestions for hotel/guest house. I am basically cheap - in Bangkok I stay at the Malaysia, but might go a bit upmarket in Pattaya.

Also, what is the going tip rate in Pattaya - not stingy, not over generous. When I was last there, 500-600 baht seemed fine, but I assume it is more now (like everything else).

Thanks.

There's a lot of possible responses to either question. Regarding accomodation, if you want inexpensive and near Sunnee, Howard's Guesthouse is reasonable: ::: Howards Pattaya :::

If you want slightly more expensive to decidely more expensive and in Boyztown, there are the traditional Ambiance: Ambiance, premier deluxe gay hotel in Pattaya, Thailand and Le Cafe Royale: Reservations - Le Café Royale Hotel Restaurant & Piano Bar Pattaya Thailand

There are many other possibilities, including staying in Jomtien.

As to tips, I would say the minimum is B1000 to B1500. Better service or overnight would be B1500 to B2000.

I'm sure the kee nieow will say that's too much.

My last visit there (in December) I stayed at the Poseidon in Jomtien and was more than satisfied. Not cheap, but not too expensive.

Too right mate!! I am in Pattaya a lot! I have never paid more than 1,000 for an overnight stay and never had a hint of complaint. With the lack of customers at the moment I doubt 500 would be sniffed at, (especially for short time) but I think 1,000 is fair to both parties. I always offer them a feed as well, both before and in the morning, plus the contents of my "cocktail cabinet," use of internet etc. Treat them as friend and the money is a welcome bonus.

I'm in Pattaya more or less permanently and don't want to take advantage of the economic slow down to exploit anyone... nor do I wish to get a bad reputation in my home town.

I've been with boys who have seen some familiar farang, which prompted either some contemptuous tales about their sticky-shittedness or favorable comments about how “good” he is. I even know someone who hasn’t worked in the bars for 5 years and still, if we are together at Jomtien and he spots a couple of old time regulars, he mutters “there sticky shit!”

I don’t go into the bars that often, but when I do I’d prefer to be thought of kindly and, considering the tough economic times, I’d prefer to be a little too generous to help these guys survive. They of course get fed and can watch TV or use the Internet if they are interested.

I try to be generous with friends. Paying them as little as possible and giving them a little food & booze seems an odd approach to friendship.

Please don't tell me that Bt 1,000 in hand is not generous ! You also ignore the fact that for many UK and Ausse clients (whether tourists or retired ) the value of their $ or GBP is now worth 30% less than last year. Add on drinks, off fees, meals and often a little "shopping trip" for essentials like new jeans, T shirts, runners etc, and I am very comfortable with my treatment and respect for these boys. ... and they are invariably very happy to cum back for seconds whenever if I repeat.

So these impoverished tourists are getting reduced prices at the hotels & restaurants? Or is stiffing the boys just the easiest way to save money?

If I can't afford something, I either go without or do with less, I don't expect businesses to adjust their prices based on my income of the moment.

Yes and I imagine they tell you they love you and you're sexy and their sister needs an operation.

Of course they act happy in the hopes they get a better tip. Behind your back they may feel otherwise.

The value of the USD, GBP, EUR, etc. to the THB is of absolutely no consequences to working boys, and does not enter into the equation when discussing what is a fair tip and what is not a fair tip.

Oh dear...I guess the best thing I can do when I come to Pattaya this April is look but don't touch. If what I read on another thread is correct, I am afraid as a struggling writer, for the last few years, I have been earning even less per day than the boys here.

It takes me at least two years to save enough for a two-week trip to LOS - just transport (train or bus - can't afford to fly), hotel and food, never mind a little bit of selective shopping around for sexy underwear, let alone offing boys.

different rates?
 

I was always under the impression, or perhaps this is some sort of gay urban myth, that Pattaya boys expected to be paid less than Bangkok boys. The quoted rates in the last few posts seem to be about average for the Bangkok scene but higher than I would have imagined for Pattaya. I tend to be generous in paying for good service (but not for bad, apathetic performances ... or lack of such), but I also would agree that in the current economic times, the boys should not expect to get as much as what they received a year ago. That said, I haven't started paying any less than I did a year ago, but I'm not going to bars and offing guys as often either. And THAT said, I don't see as much nice eye candy in the bars (in the streets it's another matter entirely; lots of juicy stuff abounds!) as I used to either!

I think it depends on what boys you are talking about.

Show-stoppers at Boys Boys Boys will definitely expect more than one of those sewer rat boys that hang out in the dark corners of Sunee Plaza.

Just like Soi Twilight Boys expect more than Soi 6 boys, who expect more than Robinsons sidewalk boys, who expect more than Sanam Luang Boys.

Can not agree more. Whatever the boys get paid should bear no relation to currency exchange fluctuations.

So regardless of world economic conditions, these boys should be shielded from the down turn while every-one else suffers declining living standards? Not very logical.

Locals suffer from the downturn due to a decrease in the number of customers.

Did you double what you were giving the bar boys when the THB went from 25 to over 50 to the dollar? No -- I didn't think so. And no one -- including the boys -- would have expected you too.

Their services are priced in Thai baht. The value of your home currency to the Thai baht is irrelevant. If it were, they'd be giving blow jobs to guys from Zimbabwe for a couple satangs.

Yes and no.

If something is priced in bahts, the fact that a customer doesn't have enough bahts (because his home currency has declined) is no reason to change the baht price for him.

But if lots of customers lack enough bahts (or dollars, or euros), businesses have been known to choose a course other than just resigning themselves to fewer customers.

They have been known to lower their prices to a point that they hope will actually result in more income from more transactions than they'd get by keeping their prices where they were. (The same principles apply to would-be employees in the labor market as well.)

Thus, a few customers' hard times should make no difference. It's often another story when hard times are more widespread.

However, all of that's more applicable to local customers than to tourists: Tourists will have paid still-hefty travel fares and barely-reduced hotel and restaurant prices, and they'll have a limited amount of time--which argues against casting themselves as strapped, and which pressures them to pay the "asking" price or risk a bad reputation or going home unsatisfied.

Actually this isn't such a bad idea.

I'm just going down to the supermarket now. I plan to put about B 1500 to B2000 worth of things in my cart. When I get to the check-out, I'm going to tell the clerk that I want her to be my friend and that some of my investments haven't been doing so well recently.

I'm sure if I hand over B1000 she won't complain.Just the opportunity to be my friend should be enough, so the money will be a welcome bonus!:D

After all, why should they be shielded from the slow down.

This thread is getting off track. I have not paid less because of the THB rate... I have been paying a std 1,000 bt for regular service, quite often more for very good service. ... I just dont think it's the right time to be upping those rates 2,000 bt as suggested by one of the earlier posts.

Anyway in a free market economy supply and demand will ultimately set the rates (with a little help from the local mafia!)

What I said was: Since the range I mentioned ran from B1000 to B2000 and you now state you pay "1,000 bt for regular service, quite often more," your rush to proclaim my comments out of line and all the subsequent blather about exchange rates and distraught pensioners in need of subsidized sex was just noise for the sake of making noise, umm?.

I'm sure it was quite helpful in answering the OP's question.

-- This last week-end I took the 'bus. down to PATTAYA; arriving early on fri., (27th.), a'noon..
- As previously I checked-in at LE CAFE ROYALE,
- addr.: 325/102, Pattayaland soi 3,
PATTAYA, Chonburi, 20260.
- loc'n.: BoyzTown, (off Beach rd. soi 13/4.).
- tel.: (038)-42 35 15.
- web: Home - Le Café Royale Hotel Restaurant & Piano Bar Pattaya Thailand
- room-rates: Std.: 1,100.Bh., Superior: 1,400.Bh., (both PLUS 7%. GST., b'fast. not incl.).
-- Having stayed there before my name is on their computer - as the then Receptionist told me.
- My man-friend, (38YO. and a jnr. partner in a Travel Agency; coming from work he was wearing a polo shirt over trousers), arr'd. later-on and asked after me. The Receptionist told him that with somany others checking-in that day he did not know. My friend suggested that he check the computer, to wch. the man replied that he was too busy and that my friend should go and check outside.
- I'd say that the gen'l. level of service was alright, but with that slight touch of condescension that g*y svce. staff offer all too often to other g*ys.
- A couple of times, at b'fast., we saw one of the farang managers, but he did not come-over and enquire if e'thing. was satis. - hence my comments in this thread.
-- Bibi. --

I'm really surprised at you, an experienced Thai resident, staying in one of the cobbled together shophouses in the gay ghetto.

With all the gay friendly hotels & guesthouses in Pattaya offering better facilities for the same or cheaper rates and NOT located in the depressing, dark, dreary, sordid Boyztown ... you really must cast your net further afield when you next visit us.

-- I'm not really a Pattaya-person.
- I've stayed at LE CAFE ROYALE every time that I've visited PATTAYA for the last score or so of yrs.; olde habits die hard. Those who know their Good Book would probably quote Proverbs XXVI:11.
- Recommendations for other accn. would be gratefully rec'd.
-- Bibi. --

A very attractive mental picture of a dog & his vomit.

Anyway, I don't have the need to stay in a hote so my up-to-date knowledge needs to be refreshed, but if you list your requirements before your next visit ... beach? pool? location (near Boyztown or Sunnee or Jomtien), guesthouse versus full service hotel, strictly gay or mixed, price range, etc., I'll try to do a little on-the-ground exploration on your behalf.

-- Khun Nalong,
- Many thanks for yr. kind offer - appreciated!
- I'll be sending you a PM..
-- Bibi. --

No problem. I've "profited" from your many extensive & thorough reports on massage venues in Bangkok.

I can also sympathize/empathize with you continuing old habits. Whenever I come to Bangkok, about once a month, I always stay at the Tarntawan even though I know it's over-priced and the food is deplorable and everyone keeps telling me there's better value for money to be found elsewhere. Convenience & familiarity still win out.

Anyway, here are a few links to some specifically gay guesthouses about which I've generally heard good things. Some obviously are fairly bare-boned in terms of amenities, but they are also not hard on the wallet. The last is a "proper" hotel which seems to be popular and spoken well of. Of course, as you well know, tastes & requirements in accomodation are as variable as they are in boys

Two Guys Guesthouse Pattaya Thailand Friendly Gay Guesthouse

::: Howards Pattaya :::

Sansuk Sauna & Guesthouse Pattaya, Thailand

Baan Dok Mai - Baandm.com > Rooms Services in Pattaya Thailand , Bar, Coffee shop

http://www.agoda.com/asia/thailand/p...iew_hotel.html

And one convenient, cheap hotel.

Welcome Group Hotels Pattaya Thailand

Do feel free to contact me before your visit, but the list above might at least broaden your perspective on what's available.