Questions on Phuket
 

With BKK in turmoil and the airport under threat, I am thinking about going to Phuket instead. I have never been there before. Any information on the hotel, gogo and host bars, sauna, massage, etc? Any info will be helpful! Thanks.

The gay scene in Phuket is not nearly as developed as Bangkok or Pattaya, but it is still very worthy of a trip down south.
I don't know what is on offer in other parts of the island, but if it is gay bars, clubs, massage you are looking for, don't consider staying anywhere other than Patong Beach. The Paradise Complex is the main area for such establishments and can be a lot of fun.
There are a few hotels in the area, some specifically gay, also saunas etc. Check Utopia for listings.

Am going to Phuket this August. Thinking of staying in Cape Panwa area. I guess it is just a taxi hop away to Phuket city centre.

1) Anyone knows the area?

2) By the way, is the infamous "joiner's fee" common in Phuket?

Thank you for your input.

What's the infamous "joiner's fee"?

Joiner's fee : many hotels (but not all) would charge a fee for any non registered guest joining you in your room (even if you have booked a room for two).

Have been avoiding such hotels for the past few years in Bangkok but it is my first time in Phuket, so am wondering what the current situaiton is.

I think that joiner's fee is more a function of the hotel rather than the area. Therefore, I would suggest that without prior knowledge to the affirmative, it is either hit or miss on that front.

Are you aware the the centre of gay life on Phuket is not Phuket town, but Patong Beach? Unless you have your own transport, you will be at the very expensive mercy of Phuket's taxi cartel, the one thing that blights the beautiful island.

-- Make yr. reservations with a reputable hotel and one that provides its own tpt. from & to the airport as a start to yr. vacation there.

Thanks spoonfed. In Bangkok, my exprience was that all 5* hotels woud try and charge a joiner's fee, except the Sofitel, the Conrad (+ was told the Sukhotai an,d recently the Meridien). In Chiang Mai, same. In Pattaya, same.

So my experience is that the "norm" woud be "joiner's fee" and the exception woud be some individual hotels. Hence my question.

Regarding Phuket/Patong etc, thanks for the tip. I was not aware of the taxi problem in Phuket.

From what you are saying, they do not have the same baht bus system as in Pattaya or Chiang Mai...

Thanks. definitely my plan. Always do so when going somewhere for the frist time. Hotel being Westin (not opened yet), should not be a problem.

just chked and this is what they say "The resort offers daily shuttle services to and from Phuket Town and Patong Beach. Private transfers can be arranged upon request as well as car rental. By bridge, Siray Island is a quick 8 minutes from charming Old Phuket Town and 45 minutes from Phuket international Airport." so looks good to me. A bit of adventure for a while (lol) with this dip in uncharted waters (lol again)

Taxis from the airport to major hotels are about 500 to 600 bht and you dont need to spend 1500 bt on the hotel limo. (In rush hour , which is 70% of the time, its a tedious 90 min drive to the major hotels). As advised above forget Phuket town, the gay action is all in Patong Beach, but the 5 star hotels are 30 - 40 mins away from Patong and you will be ripped off on your nightly excursion into boystown and back. The problem in Phuket is that there are no Baht bus and the min fee (even to go 100m) is about 150 bt. rising in proportion to the perceived quality of your hotel. Westin will be top rate!

August may also be wet, windy and very humid, far less boys there then in dry season and my humble advice would be forget Phuket and if you want to be be pampered book into the Sherarton resort or Royal Cliff at Pattaya which are wonderful 5 star resorts just 5 mins form Boystown with better weather, a much bigger gay scene, better restaurants and every thing else half the price of Phuket. ( but then I am biased). From BKK airport its now a 1 hour expressway drive to Pattaya whereas if you are coming from Europe you can add 5 to 6 hours to your travel time to get to the Westin Phuket.

Thank you biggles for your input. In actual fact, I will be coming from KL and what drives me to Phuket this time is that I have never been there, it is easy drive from the airport, the hotel deal looks very good, the flight is short and wherever I am in Thailand, I always find something nice to do.

Regarding taxi cost, well... the hotel deal is so good that even 300 baht return everyday (and not sure I will go every day) woud still make the daily rate very low. Will check on the free hotel shuttle in any case.

Am aware of wet season thing, but have always been to this area of the world during during wet season and have enjoyed. Warm rain is wonderful. I enjoy night life and boys, but Pattaya is not my thing.

Made a point of never returning to Royal Cliff after strong argument wiht them over joiner's fee.

Hi Carnarvon, I don't know where the Westin is located, but from your description I assume it is on the east coast. If so, then you can forget a taxi to Patong for anything less than about 400 baht each way, unless you arrange a round trip and then 600 to 700 would be reasonable with some negotiating.
I have to say that Phuket, for me, is great any time of year. I am sure that you will have a fabulous time.

Thank you spoonfed. Yes, it is on the east coast. I will wai and smile twice as much as usual and negotiate with the taxi driver.

The hotel website mentions hotel shuttles to Phuket and Patong, so may use it to go and taxi to come back.

Knowing things the way they can be, I may even be able try and arrange pick up from the shuttle; if the driver is cute I will try harder <lol>.

The hotel shoud be pretty quiet, since they are just opening in August, so may get special treatment (or no treatment because no shuttle because no guests. hahaha)
Main pen rai.

Will see. Just want to relax. 400 Baht won't kill me. I will spend more time swimming in the pool or in the bay and less time drinking with the guys in the bars. Better for my health!

Only stay in Patong Beach
 

If you want to have any sort of gay life you should DEFINITELY stay in Patong. Staying on the east coast, Cape Panwa or any of the other resorts will make it very difficult to enjoy the island's wonderful gay life. It is totally centred in the Paradise Centre. Relying on taxis, shuttle services and private limousines is costly and can only cause problems - you really don't want them getting involved in your "noctunal affairs" and then there is the usual drama of the boys wanting to go back before you, etc.

Patong Beach has some lovely hotels, where you should be very happy. Many will try to rip you off with a joiners charge - ask directly before you book, preferably in an email, so you have a record.

Alternatively take a room in one of the guesthouses in the Paradise area, which you can use whenever you need it, without any questions asked, etc - and also means you can have a relaxed hassle-free time at your resort.

A number of visitors take a room in Paradise for the duration of their stay. You can get a room for around 500 baht a night, with aircon, bathroom, TV, etc and clean sheets every day! THe best on offer is LE TANJONG guest house, but you can also try Baan Paradise, Connect Guest House or Paradise Corner.

You will probably find that you are happy to stay in your Paradise guesthouse for the entire stay. Some are really nice and show how overpriced the so-called luxury resorts are.

Thank you for the tips littlechang.

Access to pool in Paradise
 

If you don't want to miss out on the luxury swimming pool/spa feel of a resort, then you can use the facilities at the Royal Paradise Hotel, which is in the centre of Paradise. The hotel has a lovely tropical garden and pool area, and the spa/gym facilities are good. If you stay at the CORNER GUEST HOUSE (which is located above the hotel's coffee shop) then you get free access to the pool and spa. A room costs around 800 baht per night. Alternatively, stay at any other guesthouse in Paradise and buy a membership to the spa (around 1000 baht for a month is the shortest). That will give you a lovely pool to use - they provide towels and even give you a discount on food and beverages at the pool. Don't stay at the Royal Paradise Hotel itself - they have an on-off joiner policy which can cost you 800 baht every time you bring someone back to your room. The guesthouses do not have joiner fees. An indoor swimming pool is available at the AQUARIUS gueshouse and spa. This is a popular sauna complex in the centre of Paradise. You can either pay per entry or stay in one of the rooms and get free entry to the sauna/pool. If you want to stay in a hotel, then my recommendation is POPPA PALACE, which is located down a small alley across the road from Paradise. Its a nice hotel with two swimming pools and close to the beach. Make sure you book a DOUBLE room for two people and then you won't have to pay the 500 baht joiner fee there. Good luck - I hope you enjoy your holiday.

Hi,

I'm also visiting Phuket for a few days. Is there a bar with beef boys ? I'm know it won't be possible to find the kind of muscled Tawan boys, maybe there is a bar with more gymnast guys than the others.

I have been back in Phuket for about a week and have been impressed with the busy-ness of Soi Paradise and the surrounding sois for the time of year.
Evenings (10pm onwards) sees most of the pavement bars filled up, with the seemingly endless parade of fabulously dressed dancers and skimpily dressed hotties giving the place a much friendlier and more relaxing ambiance than Bangkok's Soi Twightlight. Last night, a birthday party in Sundowners Bar saw a wonderfully camp, theatrical performance in the street for all to enjoy.
Kiss and The Boat Bar were both well attended with lots of cuteys, both Thai and farang.
Dolphin Massage, just behind Soi Paradise, has a nice collection of boys at the moment, and no sign of the obnoxious farang who imposed the ridiculous service fee, although that remains in place (1 hr cream massage 470 baht + 300 baht service fee for the boy - and then you need to tip him).
Hotel prices are way down at the moment - decent rooms with AC from around 500 baht per night in Soi Banzaan.

"Obnoxious Farang" ? I ve been at BD guesthouse several times and found the manager..William... to be very friendly and polite. Maybe he has sold the place, now and there is another farang. If they really charge 300B service fee now, then vote with your feet. Quite a few other massage places in this area.

All the main gay bars other than Superboys are in the Paradise Complex which is not that large - so will not take you long to inspect them all. My Way generally has more of the larger non effeminate types.

I don't know the name of the obnoxious farang whom I encountered, but he was continental European. Possibly he is a great guy, and I was unlucky to catch him on a bad day, but he exuded a patronising arrogance that really annoyed me and stopped me from going for a few months. If it was not that I had received a cheery 'hello' from one of my favourites there a few days ago, I would probably still be boycotting it.

Previously they had 2 levels of service charge - the 300 baht basic and the 'erotic' service charge which, if I remember correctly, was around 700 baht. When I enquired as to the purpose of the charges and the difference between the two, I was pointedly told that the purpose was 'as service charge' and that the higher fee was the 'erotic service charge'.

My pointing out that no other massage parlour operating such a ridiculous pricing structure fell on deaf ears.

But that is not the fault of the boys (although I presume you should take the service charge into consideration when giving a tip?) and they currently have some lovelies who make the nonsense worth it.