Pattaya Reports

[Member #4698]

Angkor what is the best thing I have seen on this planet. Followed by Machu Picchu. Followed by the Pyramids in Giza.

I totally agree. Angkor, Machu Picchu, and the Giza Pyramids are all must see places. I would add that Tikal Guatemala, Bagan Burma, Borobudur Indonesia, and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley are all 1st rate as well.

A problem arises, however, if you only have 2 weeks travel time. The Angkor Archaeological Park requires at least 2 full days to explore so that means 3 nights in Siem Reap which is a nice little town, but no longer a good place to find girls after a day out exploring the park. There used to be a disco / massage parlor called Sok San near the center of town that had a lot of nice girls. It was not cheap, but it was a great place to go after dark and find sexy girls. It is the same story only with less options in Bagan, Burma where there are virtually no girls to be had except for backpacker amateurs. Things are a little better over at the Borobudur Temple Complex near Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta does have a few, if not many, viable girly options at night.

If I were contemplating my 1st 2 week trip to LOS, I would concentrate on BKK & Pattaya. Nobody I know visits Thailand who does not return for more once they have sampled the nectar. Besides, there is plenty to see and do in BKK culturally speaking on a 1st visit. Download a good guide book. Angkor, the Beach Islands further south, Phnom Penh, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bali, AC, MNL, Yangon, Bagan and so much more can and should be considered as quality addendums on all subsequent trips.

[Christian G]

Thank you for the advice! Is "1 night 2 full days trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia" worth the hassle?

In my experience 3 days and 2 nights are better for visit all the best temples around Angkor Wat.

[Dinghy]

Angkor what is the best thing I have seen on this planet. Followed by Machu Picchu. Followed by the Pyramids in Giza.

You cannot do it all in 1 day if it is your first trip. Way too much to see and photo. Well worth the trip.

Plan on a whole day from BKK just getting there overland. Fly from DMK. Don muang. Is easier and faster but more expensive.

[Mr Enternational]

Thank you for the advice! Is "1 night 2 full days trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia" worth the hassle?

Angkor what is the best thing I have seen on this planet. Followed by Machu Picchu. Followed by the Pyramids in Giza.

[Franga]

Thank you for the advice! Is "1 night 2 full days trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia" worth the hassle?

No, it is not worth it unless you really have to see it. Try Koh Samet (island) which is fairly close to Pattaya. Water is fairly clean there with nice beaches, but better to go between Mon and Fri rather than a weekend to avoid crowds.

[VsebudetNY]

That's not much time, so yes, focus on Pattaya and Bangkok (an extra side-trip would eat up 2 days in travel / adjustment). I'd spend 2-3 days in Bangkok first, sleep off the jetlag and do the touristy stuff, then take a bus to Pattaya and play it by the ear regarding return to Bangkok. It's not North America, hotels are cheap and plentiful, no need to pre-arrange everything. Perhaps just book 1 night (so you know where to go), and extend if you like it.

Pre book two nights at The Landmark. Check in and head to Nana for a few hours. Then move onto Soi Cowboy. Book a car to take you to Pattaya after two days in Bangkok and spend a minimum of 4 days in Pattaya. Thousands of hotels to choose from. Maybe stay longer if you like it. Then back to Bangok for a few days. Check out The Royal Palace, go to Muay Thai on Sunday at Channel 7 stadium at Chatachuk and maybe go up to Ayutthaya to check out the ruins. Forget about Phuket and Sumui.

Thank you for your recommendations! It looks like I have a skeleton plan to start with.

I'm only confused about hotels: shouldn't I book in advance?

[VsebudetNY]

You may consider 1 night 2 full days trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia, for example. Sites like viator.com may help you to see what tourist options are available. I would recommend to plan 3 to 7 nights in Bangkok and you can fill enough tourism in those days, as well hit 3 major night areas and clubs. Seven days in Patts is enough to see all major attractions there.

Thank you for the advice! Is "1 night 2 full days trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia" worth the hassle?

[GoldMember33]

Hello all,

Long time dream come true and I'm finally going to Thailand!

20+ years mongering in US, DR, Mexico, Jamaica, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Greece, Netherlands and recently Colombia, but couldn't allocate at least 10 days to go to Thailand. Finally I was able to allocate 2 weeks of vacation time, convince my friend and pull the trigger. As of now only airline tickets were bought arriving BKK Nov 24 and departing BKK Dec 7.

I was reading a forum a lot and know for sure that I need to visit Pattaya and Bangkok but have no idea how to split the time and which one should be first? My friend and I are white divorced men in our 50's in good shape and we want this trip to be not only mongering but touristy also. Probably 60/40 or 70/30 with tourism on the lower side LOL, so please advise what MUST to be seen and if I need to consider other places for couple days IE any island, Cambodia, etc.

Also need advice on accommodations do we need to book 2 hotel rooms or look for AirBnB with 2 bedrooms.

All advices and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Hey,

I will be in Bangkok and Pattaya almost exactly the same time. I am coming from Hanoi though so won't be jetlagged. Would love to meet up for a beer or two in Bangkok or walking street in Pattaya. Its been almost 10 years since I was there last so expecting quite a few changes. But I know a little of the lay of the land. [Email address deleted by Admin].

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[LittleBigMan]

No. Because 300 baht is just what they wrote as the law a couple of years ago, but as we know, many laws do not mean much in Thailand. So there are still too many people making less than that. And when I look at my rent being the same for the last almost 10 years and the stable taxi price between the airport to Pattaya, then the math still holds. The only thing that has gone off the rails is the pricing of bar fines and chicks in bars and gogos. (Well cigarettes and liquor as well, but only due to a tax increase on those particular items.) But I can not remember one report stating how much the price on someone's favorite hotel or beer has increased over this time period.

Correct! The 300 baht is just the minimum wage put in place by Yingluck S. Just an opinion this was a way of gaining support no different the brother putting in health care. The minimum is basically a Bangkok thing also for foreigner companies operating in Thailand. It is effective for example with 7/11, KFC, Lotus, Big see, many of the hotels have to abide by the minimum things like this once in place you can never get rid of it. I know the minimum wage being $15.00 per hour in S. F. Has caused prices to shoot through the roof for some business. The difference in Thailand the minimum majority, as far as I know, don't include benefits like medical, retirement and majority work 6 days a week.

Of course, it does affect some bars usually the foreign-owned ones which I believe have computerized billing like the Nightwish group? As for how much you pay for pussy minimum doesn't apply? Its capitalism at its best for the oldest profession?

[Syzygies]

But I can not remember one report stating how much the price on someone's favorite hotel or beer has increased over this time period.

Not in this thread but I wrote how the cost of living has risen in Bangkok in last couple of years. Cost of buying BBQed chicken on the street as example has risen a lot. Then exchange rates may have declined too.

I think I also complained about steep Hotel prices, but may have been seasonable or lot of people in Bangkok at the time.

What amazes me is how little the prices changed for sex in an MP for so many years. Meanwhile go go bar prices increased a lot. Long ago gogo girls were the cheap ones.

[Banana Boi]

If you paid 1000 for the past 11 years, doesn't that mean you were grossly overpaying for several years?

I was too lazy to look up 2008 reviews specifically so went to the 2006 Pattaya archives. In Dec 2006 seems like guys were paying 1600 at soapies, 1000 LT on soi 7/8, gogo girls asking for 2000 but dropped to 1000 for LT. Littlebigman posted on Dec 1, 2006 he paid 300 barfine and 500 FS for a girl on soi 6.

Guess we shouldn't complain that the soi 6 BF went up 50 baht a couple of years ago. Seems like soapie girls were top of the food chain back then based on my very small sample size.

[Mr Enternational]

I have tremendous respect for you Mr E, but out of curiosity I have to ask this.

If you paid 1000 for the past 11 years, doesn't that mean you were grossly overpaying for several years? Surely the daily wages 11 years back would not have been 300 ?

No. Because 300 baht is just what they wrote as the law a couple of years ago, but as we know, many laws do not mean much in Thailand. So there are still too many people making less than that. And when I look at my rent being the same for the last almost 10 years and the stable taxi price between the airport to Pattaya, then the math still holds. The only thing that has gone off the rails is the pricing of bar fines and chicks in bars and gogos. (Well cigarettes and liquor as well, but only due to a tax increase on those particular items.) But I can not remember one report stating how much the price on someone's favorite hotel or beer has increased over this time period.

[Bouvis]

Hello all,

Long time dream come true and I'm finally going to Thailand.All advices and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Pre book two nights at The Landmark. Check in and head to Nana for a few hours. Then move onto Soi Cowboy. Book a car to take you to Pattaya after two days in Bangkok and spend a minimum of 4 days in Pattaya. Thousands of hotels to choose from. Maybe stay longer if you like it. Then back to Bangok for a few days. Check out The Royal Palace, go to Muay Thai on Sunday at Channel 7 stadium at Chatachuk and maybe go up to Ayutthaya to check out the ruins. Forget about Phuket and Sumui.

I hope you enjoy this wonderful place.

[Crocodilexp]

I was reading a forum a lot and know for sure that I need to visit Pattaya and Bangkok but have no idea how to split the time and which one should be first? My friend and I are white divorced men in our 50's in good shape and we want this trip to be not only mongering but touristy also.

That's not much time, so yes, focus on Pattaya and Bangkok (an extra side-trip would eat up 2 days in travel / adjustment). I'd spend 2-3 days in Bangkok first, sleep off the jetlag and do the touristy stuff, then take a bus to Pattaya and play it by the ear regarding return to Bangkok. It's not North America, hotels are cheap and plentiful, no need to pre-arrange everything. Perhaps just book 1 night (so you know where to go), and extend if you like it.

[Blanquiceleste]

Thanks for the good luck. I can never get enough of that. But I have been paying 1000 for the last 11 years. Only in the last couple of years have I started giving 1200 sometimes. I have given 1500 exactly twice

I have tremendous respect for you Mr E, but out of curiosity I have to ask this.

If you paid 1000 for the past 11 years, doesn't that mean you were grossly overpaying for several years? Surely the daily wages 11 years back would not have been 300 ?