General Reports

[MutantChicken]

Nothing could be further from the truth. Thais are extremely judgemental and try to place each other within a hierarchy all the time. They are non-confrontational, but that's an entirely different beast, it means won't call you out to your face, especially not if you might be their social equal or superior.

Farang are mostly outsiders to the Thai social hierarchy and generally wealthier so Thais usually did not care to confront us even if we did something out of line, although that is changing in recent years.

Sure, plenty of Thai men visit prostitutes (although the numbers seem to be declining), but unlike Farang, they keep it discreet and low-key.

I totally agree, plus with regards to Thai men visiting prostitutes, sure THEY do, but that doesn't mean they appreciate you doing so. It the usual not in my backyard mentality and what is good for the goose doesn't mean it good for the gander. The guys who say otherwise just show they don't know enough about Thailand.

[LittleBigMan]

Nothing could be further from the truth. Thais are extremely judgemental and try to place each other within a hierarchy all the time. They are non-confrontational, but that's an entirely different beast, it means won't call you out to your face, especially not if you might be their social equal or superior.

Farang are mostly outsiders to the Thai social hierarchy and generally wealthier so Thais usually did not care to confront us even if we did something out of line, although that is changing in recent years.

Sure, plenty of Thai men visit prostitutes (although the numbers seem to be declining), but unlike Farang, they keep it discreet and low-key.

This is very true very true! Many here will never experience and thank the lucky stars they won't!

[Crocodilexp]

Thais are by nature nonjudgmental.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Thais are extremely judgemental and try to place each other within a hierarchy all the time. They are non-confrontational, but that's an entirely different beast, it means won't call you out to your face, especially not if you might be their social equal or superior.

Farang are mostly outsiders to the Thai social hierarchy and generally wealthier so Thais usually did not care to confront us even if we did something out of line, although that is changing in recent years.

Sure, plenty of Thai men visit prostitutes (although the numbers seem to be declining), but unlike Farang, they keep it discreet and low-key.

[BionicMan]

Very strange. Last weekend, the ladies were in Singapore. This weekend, they played in Pattaya. Maybe my math is off a bit, but I didn't count 14 days for quarantine, unless there was some time travel or manipulation going on. By the way, they don't have to wear masks, but somebody who is vaccinated and sitting alone in a their car has too. By the way, the ladies are staying at Avani and it's like a fortress.

Even more strange, COVID-19 supposedly has 14 days incubation from the time of contact. It's the guideline they use to establish how many quarantine days. However, an office was closed because somebody who was sick visited the office. All the staff was shipped off to 14 days quarantine. April 22 was the date the visitor made contact in the office. But the staff will be quarantined May 4-17.

Strangest of all is when that office staff was sent to quarantine. But when Jomtien Immigration was listed by officials on the track and trace timeline for an infection. It was business as usual with the same immigration staff in place. No quarantine necessary. This is why I have no guilt about how I live my life because it's pretty much all crooked.

International major sport activities participants, staff and media are generally exempted through local rules to quarantine.

They all go through a strict daily rapid test program and act in bubbles. You will not see much covd blow outs from these, as a matter of fact. Just very few and minimal cases that are quickly sealed in quarantine.

14 days quarantine is the safest option, but usually symptoms (or positeviness) develop in 4-5 days from the contagious contact.

To the point many countries reduced the quarantine to 10 days for visitors from overseas countries, and 5 days (if any) from nearby countries. 14 days is maintained for those having visited high risk territories.

[Houston Player]

From the EVA Air website. Looks like you can no longer transit through Taipei on the way to Bangkok. No exceptions even if fully vaccinated or negative COVID test.

So which airlines have North Americans used recently to Thailand? Which countries can we still currently transit through? Looking to book my next flight and looking for the shortest flight possible, regardless of price.



Good to know. That's a decent price. My psycho road rage ex-G Club taxi driver is more fun but much more expensive.

Qatar has flights through DOH and ANA has flights through Japan but I'm sure it depends on which US city you are traveling from.

[RacShack]

From the EVA Air website. Looks like you can no longer transit through Taipei on the way to Bangkok. No exceptions even if fully vaccinated or negative COVID test.

So which airlines have North Americans used recently to Thailand? Which countries can we still currently transit through? Looking to book my next flight and looking for the shortest flight possible, regardless of price..

Emirates maybe? Bit Siri!

[Banana Boi]

May 17, 2021 News Ticker

Effective from 00:00 am on 19MAY2021(local flight schedule departure time). CECC imposes entry restrictions for non-R.O.C. nationals and travelers transiting through Taiwan are temporarily prohibited.

From the EVA Air website. Looks like you can no longer transit through Taipei on the way to Bangkok. No exceptions even if fully vaccinated or negative COVID test.

So which airlines have North Americans used recently to Thailand? Which countries can we still currently transit through? Looking to book my next flight and looking for the shortest flight possible, regardless of price.

With Bolt a ride from Central Festival to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya is now 60 baht. Used to be at least 200. Most cars accepting Bolt rides in Pattaya are now taxis (green & yellow).

Good to know. That's a decent price. My psycho road rage ex-G Club taxi driver is more fun but much more expensive.

[Turgid]

... my contributions are negligible.

I applaud your honesty.

[Franciscass]

I'm guessing that means you are one of those 70 yr olds seen talking loudly on the skytrain walking around with a open shirt; beer belly exposed with a "I fcuk bargirls" tattoo, holding hands with a ladyboy explaining to her how much better they do it in the west compared to Thailand right?

I prefer to be discreet and make myself a small target. I am no "expert" like you, with opinions literally on every thread on this forum. But I think that perception is more important than fact in this situation. Regardless of how much I spend, I as a sex tourist will be seen as a unwanted pest by the majority of Thais, as such I don't broadcast that I'm a sex tourist. Further in fact I believe, and it seems (supported by some facts) that my contributions are negligible.

Actually MC not sure I'm with you on the "unwanted pest" description. For Thais paying for sex is not an unaccepted part of life, either by way of a visit to the local brothel or if you are able to afford her a Mia Noi. On top Thais are by nature nonjudgmental. That said I accept that there are a sufficient number of assholes who bring their loutish behavior with them with zero respect for their hosts quite often treating working girls as countryside illiterates only good for shagging for as little as they can get away with before sending them on their way. For me it's simple, be nice, show respect and Thais will welcome you with open arms.

[XXL]

"The Department of Land Transport has given the green light to legalise ride-hailing apps such as GrabCar and Bolt in Thailand. ".

Not a big deal in Bangkok since taxis there are dirt cheap but this is huge news for tourist towns like Pattaya and Phuket. No more 300-400 baht for a 7 minute 2 km taxi ride from Hollywood to LK Metro.

I will assume Uber hasn't buttered up the right people to get on the list. I expect some motorbike taxi shakedowns on people taking these ride share taxis.

I think Ueber withdrew from Thailand a couple of years ago over an agreement with Grab that Grab would be taking over.

With Bolt a ride from Central Festival to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya is now 60 baht. Used to be at least 200. Most cars accepting Bolt rides in Pattaya are now taxis (green & yellow).

Remains to be seen if the apps will be tolerated by the local mafia on some islands. Ko Tao comes to mind.

[Banana Boi]

"The Department of Land Transport has given the green light to legalise ride-hailing apps such as GrabCar and Bolt in Thailand. ".

Not a big deal in Bangkok since taxis there are dirt cheap but this is huge news for tourist towns like Pattaya and Phuket. No more 300-400 baht for a 7 minute 2 km taxi ride from Hollywood to LK Metro.

I will assume Uber hasn't buttered up the right people to get on the list. I expect some motorbike taxi shakedowns on people taking these ride share taxis.

[Banana Boi]

Spending too much time in Pattaya is misleading, you see very few female tourists.

The majority of guys on here only know Pattaya as the main baht bus route. Pre-COVID if you went to areas like Pratumnak Hill and Naklua-Wongamat you will see your fair share of female tourists, usually Russian. In fact, you will hardly see any single guys other than that small strip of bars near the Dolphin round. There is a small patch around Korea Town between the soapies and Terminal 21 that has a lot of female Korean and Japanese girls usually walking around in female only groups while their boyfriends are on Soi 6 during the day and Walking Street at night.

[Mr Enternational]

Spending too much time in Pattaya is misleading, you see very few female tourists. If you look at Samui, there is about a 50-50 mix of male-female tourists. Phuket also has a more balanced group of tourists, even Bangla Road has many female tourists.

Exactly. People get caught up and develop thinking that the small corner they hang out on is representative of the entire picture. I have said before that when I am on a flight from Philippines to Thailand I am usually the only single man that I see. Just look around when you are in the plane. It is not full of single guys. It is generally older married couples and young groups of couples or family and friends.

[HorseTrader]

The number of mongers visiting Walking Street, Cowboy, Nana, Bangla is tiny compared to the total number of tourists visiting the country often in tour groups from other Asian countries. Add in oilies soapies escorts, on line etc and I would hazard a guess that sex tourism adds at most 1% to 2 % to GDP but pre covid this still makes it a relatively significant 5 to 10 billion dollar business.

During my last entry into Thailand there was a huge line to get through border control and I snapped a picture of the mob. I just looked at that picture and estimated the group was 60% men and 40% women (I saw zero children in my picture). Probably a few men were business travelers. From that, I'm guessing more than 10% of travelers were unaccompanied men on vacation, who most likely selected Thailand for sex. If 20% of Thailand economy is tourism, my crude math says that about 2% of Thailand economy is based on sex tourism. Even though each sex tourist may spend only 20% of his vacation budget on sex, the destination was probably largely based on availability of sex.

Spending too much time in Pattaya is misleading, you see very few female tourists. If you look at Samui, there is about a 50-50 mix of male-female tourists. Phuket also has a more balanced group of tourists, even Bangla Road has many female tourists.

I forgot how the "left" and "right" was divided at border control, I think ASEAN citizens to the right and others to the left. The picture was taken on the left side so I couldn't estimate the male-female balance on the ASEAN side.

[MutantChicken]

So according to your logic sex tourists like you are somewhat useless to the countries that you visit.

I'm guessing that means you are one of those 70 yr olds seen talking loudly on the skytrain walking around with a open shirt; beer belly exposed with a "I fcuk bargirls" tattoo, holding hands with a ladyboy explaining to her how much better they do it in the west compared to Thailand right?

I prefer to be discreet and make myself a small target. I am no "expert" like you, with opinions literally on every thread on this forum. But I think that perception is more important than fact in this situation. Regardless of how much I spend, I as a sex tourist will be seen as a unwanted pest by the majority of Thais, as such I don't broadcast that I'm a sex tourist. Further in fact I believe, and it seems (supported by some facts) that my contributions are negligible.