Babylon.Time Magazine
 

Last paragraph interesting.I think numbers not true.Very quiet there.All article interesting too.

From Bangkok to Berlin, Hard Times Hit the Sex Trade - TIME

-- Interesting? Yes.
- But is the quoted BAYLON SAUNA, B&B., the same as the BABYLON SAUNA & SPA., in Soi Nanda, that possibly some of us might know?
- While I've never made any accurate head-count I doubt if B'LON. SAUNA & SPA. has ever held as many as 8OO patrons, even for its New Year's Eve's party.

-- Bibi. --

I have no problem believing that Babylon has attracted as many as 800 patrons in one day.

What's a little incredulous is how the manager whines about how cheap their admission already is, and that they can't lower the price.

What are they, like 3x what a lot of saunas charge?

I agree. Not at one time, of course. But over the course of an afternoon/evening I can see how 800 could easily have been accommodated in the peak tourist season during previous years.

At Babylon's anniversary parties about 700 attend.I think the locker capacity is 800.

Some staff now work two jobs as hours have been cut.Upstairs cafe closes as early as 6pm on slow nights.Nights that used to be busy now so-so and the additional weekend cruise area remains shut.Security vision of lockers now non existant.

If the next high season is low-tourist numbers wise -then Babylon's future will be interesting.Why they don't have buddy night promotions or even ,controversially,under 25y.o. deals to make a night out attractive is puzzling.In June fewer farangs or other Asian visitors meant fewer locals willing to pay 200+bht to relax there.While other hotels cut prices during these slow times Babylon did not.

For all its faults it would be a pity to see it fade away.

I have been to Bangkok on average once a month for the last 5 months and usually stay at Babylon. But I have to say that their room prices are no longer competitive with those at the main hotels all of which are offering specials due to the economic downturn.

I wonder if this is because the hotel is still succesful.Think they may be adding to this side of the business.

Did you find the construction work across the road noisy during your stay ?

I didn't notice the noise probably because I was staying in a Bulgari Garden Suite which is located way back from the Babylon entrance, unlike the Boticelli House Suites.

Maybe this is reason for Babylon tourist quietness.Thanks to Sloots shamelessmack blog.

Gay Boy Thailand » Blog Archive » Thai-farang tension

plenty of cash reserves - main restaurant now closed for 1 month renovationwork - they already started ripping down the ceiling. yes the business is down 4 hotel and sauna but this place has been a goldmine for many years so any crying and closure threats are not to be taken too seriously- the moment it would close all the old farangs and potato queens will run elsewhere

I don't doubt 800 in one day, especially in the old location. In it's very early days you had to be inside by about 3.30pm or line up in the entrance foyer to wait a long time for a locker. And I can recall leaving there say 9.30pm in the evening and the waiting line still quite long. In those days it was close to full within 30 or 40 minutes of opening each day.

Would this have been in the 1980's ? The owner must have made a packet out of these places and should be able to ride this period out.But he is a little older and greyer now.

Anyone been on weekends recently ?

I'm not good on dates / time periods etc., but I think it would have been the early to late 80's period and even well into the 90's.

When Babylon first opened the gossip was that the owner came from a very very wealthy family and that his parents gave him the land and access to whatever funds he wanted, without question.

Let me repeat, this was the gossip.

Perhaps the 'open cheque' gossip could be true, the costs to initially build decorate, equip and start up the original Babylon would have been massive and a business analyst would probably have trouble seeing that the return would make business sense.

Additionally, at that time, the gossip was that Babylon was not in fact set up as a business venture, and in fact made no sizeable return on investment and was in fact just a toy / a hobby.

I repeat this was the gossip.

I am currently staying at Babylon and it is as busy as ever. No signs of slow down. Main restaurant is being renovated and noise of workers (even during this weekend) a bit of a nuisance for people around the pool. Had a great massage there yesterday. I think the place is good value and very well located.