Off tips in Pattaya, Bangkok, but not internet
 

In Pattaya - as I said in the title to my earlier post.

I don't quite agree that 500 is the short-time rate in Pattaya as Biggles69 said. At least not with respect to boys off'ed from the Pattayaland bars. (Note: Unlike many on these forums I have little interest in Sunnee, therefore whereas many others' information are based on Sunnee experiences, mine are more often Bangkok, Chiangmai and Pattayaland-based.)

I agree with Icon513 that 1,000 is regarded nowadays in Bangkok as an unacceptable rate. Mamasans are trying to push for 1,500, but considering the dismal situation in the bars as I have reported, I don't think the market has moved there yet. Perhaps 1,200 or 1,300 for short-time would be acceptable.

There is a whole segment of the market that is internet-based. I don't have a lot of experience with this segment. Prices for internet hook-ups are likely to be quite independent of trends in barboy fees. They may be hgher or lower based on the dynamics of its own segment (i.e. demand and supply). Perhaps others can advise.

Requested internet rates for short time range from 1,000 to 2,000.

I would recommend 1,500 baht as a rule of thumb for short-time bar pick-ups, as a minimum for average service.

Why has it gone from 1,000 to 1,500 in just a few short years? Baht's buying power internationally hasn't shrunk. Has there really been that much inflation in Thailand?

Off tips in Bangkok
 

When was it last 1,000 baht in Bangkok? I think about 10 years ago. So it's not been "just a few short years". Creeping up at about 4 percent a year would mean something like 1,500 baht within 10 years.

4 percent per annum isn't a particularly high inflation rate.

Also, demography and economic growth are working against buyers. Thailand's birth rate has stabilised for the last generation or so. Whereas in the 1980s and early 1990s, there were plenty of young men from Isaan, etc, with no jobs, today, there are fewer young men available and somewhat better job prospects even if pay remains low. But the situation is not so bad that boys would want to stand under spotlights in their underwear (or less) to be bought like in a slave market. Those who want the money from working in the sex business nowadays tend to go into the massage business, not the gogo business. Thus the average age of gogo boys is now in their mid 20s and will soon be in their 30s. The really attractive young ones are getting fewer and fewer. That they can command a steadily increasing fee is hardly any surprise.

Stillthrobbing:

"Why has it gone from 1,000 to 1,500 in just a few short years? Baht's buying power internationally hasn't shrunk. Has there really been that much inflation in Thailand?"

Yes! I've had masters students doing assignments on this recently, the cost of living in BKK has gone up quite a lot over the last ten years with some strong leaps even within the last few months.

'Working men' definitely can't survive (rent, food, clothing, tpt, etc etc.) on 500Baht tips and I hope that punters are not trying to get away with paying this rate.

I agree with ICON, given the cost of living, 1,500 for short time for just accepable service is now the norm.

Almost everything has gone up 50% or more in the past 10 years.

1,000 baht was considered good for short time in 1990. Definitely not in 2010.

I'm not sure what "the baht's buying power overseas" has to do with it. Oh, yeah...nothing.

off tips in BKK and Pattaya
 

So to recap, the recommended tips for off boys are:

For Pattaya:

Short time $1,000
Overnight $1,500

For Bangkok:

Short time $1,500 minimum
Overnight - ?

I'd say 2,000 for overnight in Bangkok.

I have never done an over night -- sleeping with a stranger is of no interest to me, and I wouldn't get a good night's sleep -- so I can't be sure.

Short time Pattaya 1000? If my January visit is anything to go by searching for an attractive boy in Pattaya these days is like a search for the Holy Grail. Any stunner should command a fortune.

Agreed...that's anyone who is saleable gets his ass to Bangkok to make some money, and the dregs stay in Pattaya.

In fairness this was not always the case. My January visit was my first in 5 years and I could not believe how the place had deteriorated. On my first night I did the rounds of the bars in Boyz town and they were as dead as a dodo. Bars like BoyzBoyzBoyz which once had a stable full of some the most attractive boys I have encounted in Thailand had a handful of unattractive boys and at about 10pm (from memory) I was the only customer. The next night I went to Sunee which is fine if your into tattooed, pubescent anorexics. In summary, a dismal experience.

Maybe Bangkok is a bubble. I don't see how Bangkok can keep getting more and more expensive when the baht keeps rising strongly, and almost all world economies are very weak. (I'm writing this from U.S.--but maybe my view of the rest of the world is wrong.) Is the Thai economy really strong? I know agricultural commodities (rice, rubber, cotton, etc.) are way up. But from what I see on internet dating sites, the young guys seem almost all to be students and/or unemployed.

Someone posted that they thought tourism was down now (which is strange for high season). Maybe tourism is down because of a higher and higher baht, increasing prices, less young guys (and increasing money expectations), ever-increasing air fares, bad economies elsewhere, etc. I think with Europe tightening up on welfare, there will be less younger and middle-aged farangs circulating around Thailand (I could never figure out how these people travel around so much and for such long periods).

Internet hook-ups vs bar boys
 

It sounds like there are more and more boys who work through internet connections, rather than trying to get offed in bars. Is the selection better? Which web sites are the most fruitful for connections?

How does one deal with the usual internet hook-up concerns, such as the person being very different from the internet description. Is there any safety issues?

I said short time in Pattaya starts from 500 to 1,000. I've had boys on the internet touting short time as low as 400 bt. .. and yes internet boys here are cheaper than bar boys - but will expect motor cycle taxi fees if they cum to you .

Completely disagree with that Icon. All I find in BKK is aging boys who should have given up years ago, while Pattaya has a constant supply of cute/ hot/ fun (mainly Isaan) guys in their prime. How long is it since you visited Funny Boys or some of the other good Boystown Bars ??