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

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-- 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. --

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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