First Time in Thailand this August!
 

This august I have two weeks to spend in Thailand. I'm hoping someone on here can suggest hotels that are reasonable, comfortable, and nice to stay at.

I would prefer to stay at a gay hotel to support the local gay community. A gay hotel that also has masseurs who offer extras would also be nice.

If someone can recommend cities that would be grand. I definitely want to see Bangkok but after that I have no clue.

Some time at the beach would be great. Also is it possible to get a guide who would travel with me to show me the sights in and out of my hotelroom?

Thanks!

If you want the beach, Pattaya would be a good choice. You could go to Phuket, but Pattaya is closer to Bangkok and transport will be less of a hassle.

You might also consider Chiang Mai in the north. No beach but a different atmosphere from both Bangkok and Pattaya.

The Tarntawan Place Hotel in Bangkok and Ambiance in Pattaya are good choices for a first-timer.

Tarntawan Place Hotel - Home Page!

Ambiance, premier deluxe gay hotel in Pattaya, Thailand

I suggest you look through the massage and gogo bar threads here (go to the last page of each thread and read back a few pages since the earlier posts will be quite dated).

Also look through Dreaded Ned, bangkok gay listings - dreaded ned's explore gay thailand

Shameless Mack, 2009 June « Shamelessmack in Thailand and around


and Nicky's Nicky's Gay Pattaya - Bars, Gogo, Saunas, Massage, Restaurants


You'll need to do a little exploring away from the hotels for massages and gogo bars, but hotel staff can help you. Both hotels are located within the main gay areas.

I would suggest you NOT look for someone claiming to be a guide. It's not that difficult to explore on your own at first and if you off a boy from one of the bars with whom you feel some chemistry, he can also fill the role of guide if you agree that he'll stay with you for a few days.

Don't commit to any long term arrangement. Just take it a few days at a time since you may want to have freedom to meet other boys too. Do remember that even if the boys enjoy your company and the chance to show you around, it's not a holiday for them, it's how they make a living and these days income is bound to be down. You would be expected to cover all expenses while someone is with you and to provide a reasonable "tip," when you part company.

Have a nice time and report back to us later.

Businesses come and go, but for a general point of reference, relative to the two hotels I suggested here are maps of the main gay areas in Bangkok and Pattaya.

http://www.dreadedned.com/images/dir...gkok/silom.gif


http://www.dreadedned.com/images/dir...ya/pattaya.gif


Not sure if the maps are showing when you open the thread. Links to maps of Silom area in Bangkok and all areas in Pattaya are here:

http://www.dreadedned.com/directory/map/1/1/

http://gayaffairspattaya.com/maps/maps.htm

Thank you for all that info! I will take the advice about the guide to heart.

Those links are great!

I can't wait to get there!

I should mention that in Pattaya the Ambiance Hotel and Boyztown are just a two minute walk from the city beach, but you'll want to visit Dong Tan Beach at Jomtien.

Once you get the lay of the land in Pattaya it's quite easy to get to by Song Taeow for only B 10, but the first time you go get someone from the hotel to give you clear directions, or better yet have someone at the hotel get a "motorcy taxi" for you and have the hotel person tell the man that you want Dong Tan beach at Jomtien.

On this map, you'll come into Jomtien on Thappraya Road heading straight for the sea. The road and the song taeow will turn left along the (horror) straight beach. You want to get off and walk along the beach road to the right.
http://www.nickysgaypattaya.com/jomtien/jomtiemmap.jpg

Pick any of the places to sit (across from Tui's Hotel is the best). You can order drinks, food whatever from the boys where you are seated. When you leave you pay for whatever you consumed and a small amount for the use of the beach chair.

In August it won't be this crowded!

http://shamelessmack.files.wordpress...pg?w=430&h=323

VERY USEFUL INFORMATION ON FINDING THE RIGHT PLACE: Where is the gay beach in Jomtien? « Shamelessmack in Thailand and around



.

-- You have been given helpful information to get you started.

-- Checking the 127 postings for the last year I see the following -
1.- About 11 mention PATTAYA in their titles.
2.- The REGENT*, THE ROSE and THE TARNTAWAN** HOTELS,(all in BKK.), are mentioned specifically by name;
*- à´ÍÐÃÕਹ·ì ÊÕÅÁ ::: The Regent Silom
**- Tarntawan Place Hotel - Home Page!
3.- There is also a more general thread entitled: 'Hotel query.'.
-- In PATTAYA the AMBIANCE HOTEL has been mentioned -
Ambiance, premier deluxe gay hotel in Pattaya, Thailand
- So quite a lot of useful & before-bedtime reading for you! ;)

-- About 6 months ago I looked-in at the TARNTAWAN HOTEL, and was told that the prices for their rooms would be about THB.2,200.oo. daily to include breakfast, (but am not sure if the price included service & taxes?), (approx. GBP.40.oo. & USD.64.oo.),.
- No difficulties in bringing-back a companion with you, should you wish. But, in fairness to all, do make certain that all of your valuables are locked-away safely: 'The hotel is not responsible etc, etc. ... .'.

-- From memory the ROSE HOTEL'S prices are of the same order; it is reported as being gay friendly.

-- In PATTAYA I have no first hand knowledge of the AMBIANCE HOTEL - but I am sure that others' recommendations are to be noticed favorably.

-- "Sanookie dee!" ;) -- Bibi. --

With all the good advice you've been getting, I hate to add a note of caution. The eye candy at the beach in Pattaya is excellent, but the water itself is pretty murky and some would think twice about swimming in it. If it's swimming you are after, you might think about venturing a little further along the coast to Koh Samed. I have not been there, but am told the beaches are nice and there is plenty of cheap accommodation. Not nearly as cruisy as Phuket, but there are usually some gay guys around. Very quiet during the week, but busy at week-ends and public holidays.

He asked about time at the beach not swimming. Who comes to Thailand to swim?:eek:

Anyway there are always some people in the water. I suppose most of them are peeing, but none of them appear to have developed suppurating sores and some of them are there every day over periods of time.


Unless you have a compromised immune system, I don't think there's that much of a problem off Jomtien ... although I wouldn't encourage brushing your teeth in the sea there.

As you get closer to your arrival and after arrival you'll likely have lots of further questions.

You'll get lots of on-going good advice on this board, if you want.

All the current information is available on their website that I gave in my original response.

The B2,200 rate would be for the broom closets that they keep for ancient British visitors and other ne'er'-do-wells whose main concern is whether or not they get a free breakfast. Go for the Deluxe Surawong Room. It's not all that deluxe , but you'll have a view of the courtyard. Don't go for a suite. They're a waste.

I also gave a link in my original post for the Ambiance, but Mother Inferior decided to include it in his post since his memory is failing and he forgot he had seen it a minute earlier.

Thanks for all the advice and tips, guys. I'm getting excited. I have a month of waiting, but im already trying to plan what sights to see and advetures to have.

How many adventures per day?
 

For first trip, perhaps you should set a goal of three adventures a day.

Quite easy to achieve in a town like Pattaya, but dependant on the size of your wallet and your stamina.

My guess is that most of the regular contibutors on this board have been through the same 'first trip' experiences (for me that's over thirty years ago), a bit like a bull in china shop, or a kid in a candy store.

Go for it, and don't forget, please, to share your experiences with us.

If it's beautiful swimming you want (taking a break from cruising and f**king ) take the 30 minute, 30bht ferry ride from Pattaya Bali Hai Peir to Koh Lahn. The water is crystal clear, the beach clean and a huge range of food and other stalls to choose from . Make sure you take the 30 bht boat not the more expensive (I think about 100bt one) as the cheap one goes to a nicer beach and you have a walk off pier at Koh Lahn not a boat transfer.

Three weeks until I arrive. I have yet to plan past Bangkok, but there's still time for that.

Right now I'm deciding between the malaysia hotel and pinnacle hotel. Which do you think is the better bet?

I understand they are both close to the gay area with discos, bars, and such places, right?

Fairly close -- a quick motorcycle taxi ride or a medium long walk (10-15 mins?) to Silom. Babylon is a very easy walk.

The Malaysia is definitely grungier, with a sixties seedy vibe. Definitely a period piece, which I kind of like.

Pinnacle is non-descript 80's concrete block; more modern/boring.

Nearby alternative hotel
 

Hi, Phoenix storm. IF you are considering between the Malaysia and Pinnacle hotel, you should also look at the Ibis Sathorn hotel that just opened less than a year ago, and going for between 950 (breakfast 150-200THB per pax) to 1400THB (breakfast included).

You can look at the hotel info at Book a hotel online with Accor Hotels

Good luck!