AQUARIUS LODGE
 

Has anyone stayed recently at the Aquarius Lodge in Bangkok? I would appreciate your opinion.

If your not already familiar with this place, and not aware of the police raid about one year back, then suggest you do some background reading before making any decisions.

I've never stayed there (because I live in BKK) but twice visiting friends have made bookings at this place. Both would never return.

It's not that easy to find. It's an old Thai house, with various add on annexes, parts of which are quite run down. Seems they have a few OK rooms, but some rooms are very downmarket.

The second occasion I took a friend there, direct from the airport, he was assigned to a room at the back of the premises which was awful (in fact I was shocked that they would expect anybody to occupy the room). The lock on the door was broken, and the manager could not see that this was a problem. My friend refused to take the room, and I took him to the Pinnacle Hotel.

The two times I've been there (both times to to deliver friends from the airport) many of the 'staff' appeared to be underage. But not sure what the current picture is.

This place has been around for at least the 12 years I have been in Bangkok. And I've never heard a good thing said about it.

Thanks for the advice. I will give it a try, and report back next month.

My friend Bobcan...after all this advice you still want to give it a try??...as if there is nothing else....Bangkok has so many great gay-friendly and totally gay lodgings...why you even want to stay in this dump puzzles me...anyhow...you go check it out and report back
love to you!

Dear Condor 88, not all reports have been bad, and anyhow most of the reports are from a very long time ago.
As for why I want to go to the guesthouse, the fact that it is away from the bar scene in the Patpong area, and has,as you can see in its ad on Dragoncastle, certain attractions of its own, pleases me.

I stayed at the Aquarius last year and was ver disappointed...Not at all friendly..They offer hotel pickup..which foolishly I thought was included...i tipped the driver very well and then was charged 800 baht on the way out...Most fares run around 200 baht for taxi from airport. The rooms were very dated and worn. Empty boxes skate boards and bicycles laying all over the place.. Their web site shows a good supply of guys around during the day but the only ones I saw were on the cleaners and one waiter and they were much older..The driver was friendly but very expensive... The location is not bad tho walking down that street late at night could be risky...I would recommend you try somewhere else...

Hi Wantsome00,
Thanks for the advice. I am travelling for over 27 hours to get to Bangkok, and will be very tired, and not in the mood to start looking for a room. Like you,I have arranged for a pick-up but at 600baht not 800. I realize this is still high, but I don't want to have to start looking around for a cheap trip around midnight to a place I am not sure of its location. Also, I had a very bad experience with a Bangkok taxi a couple of years ago. I was trying to get to Queen Sirikit Stadium from Ramkahaeng Rd. This was my first trip to Bangkok, and I was quite disoriented with the street pattern. The Taxi driver said he knew where the stadim was located, so I hopped in. I soon found myself out going by the airport and in some rice paddy area. I told the driver to stop, which he did and seemed to ask a farmer where the staduim was. We got back in the taxi and started off but to me seemed to be going in circles.As I didn't know where we were I couldn't just hop out in the middle of some rice field. I got very upset and told the driver to get me back to Ramkahaeng Rd. When we got back to an area I recognized, I jumped out of the taxi, leaving 200baht. I haven't ridden in a taxi in Bangkok since, prefering buses and the skytrain.
I'll post my further adventures and let you know about my December stay at the Aquarius.

Take the Thai Limo service. B500 - fixed rate within Bangkok and extremely reliable. Will find it as you come out of the Customs area.

Avoid the Aquarius. Worn out lousy place.

Before u book aquarius do check this site
http://aquariusraid.com

If ur looking to pick up boys without leaving hotel Malaysia Hotel is good.

Bobcan

You are very determined! If I were you, I would have changed my mind after reading these reviews.

I have not stayed there since the raid, but heard about what happened from this board at the time, and had wondered if it had actually closed down.

I've stayed there 3 or 4 times. Granted that
some of the rooms could be grotty, but if you are not satisfied, you could arrange to get another one when it becomes available. I did this once when the room I was in let in too much light in the early morning.

Why do I stay there?

Walking distance to Patpong (if you're reasonably fit) and the babylon sauna.

Very quiet location. Away from the bustle.

It is for gay males, and you don't have to pay a fee for overnight or short time guests, which is not always the case in other gay friendly hotels.

The lounge area is a pleasant place to socialise with gays from all over the world,and if there's a good crowd there you can go out on the town together. I've always met up with others there - guys who are all there for the same reason.

The owner does seem a bit gruff at times, but has very good english and is a mine of knowledge.

I hope your stay will be good.

BTW, I cannot imagine a trip from the airport costing 200 baht. It's a long trip.

Hi Kiwi,
Thanks for the advice. It is precisely for your reasons that I picked the Lodge;quiet, gay positive, and near other places of interest.I am not looking for a palace.As I said before I will let everyone know how I made out later in the month.