Pattaya Reports

[QUOTE=Mogwai;2754994]I'm a reasonable average Joe making median wage, but I do not spend $1 K / month (or the equivalent in euro's, which is about the same at the moment). Not by far.
Unless I would pay the rent for my apartment, insurances, energy and so on, by credit card. But that doesn't make any sense.

I should mention that I don't have a car. But even if I did, I would not spend $1 K / month on average.[/QUOTE]Insurance and utilities are some of the easiest bills to pay via CC. Groceries and Dining are slam dunks. All national groc chains pretty much take credits cards with no upcharge in the US. If you get a Bilt credit card you can actually charge your rent to it (up to $50 K a year) with no surcharge / fees and get points for travel.

The median US individual income is $46 K / year, household is $70+K. (That counts retirees / students in that mix) Median weekly earnings per worker for Q3 was was $1070/ week. I would venture to guess that the median single person in the US spends $1000/ month on expenses that easily can be charged to a CC.

Bravo to you if you don't spend $1 K a month outside of rent.

I am able to pay my property taxes and quarterly income taxes via CC for a nominal (approx 1%) fee, so meeting minimum spend requirements on even large amounts is generally not an issue. Even with the fee's, the math easily works on sign up bonuses.

Current Amex Plat Business offer - 160 K pts for $16 K of spend in 3 months (Yep that's about the steepest min spend requirement out there) 171 K (160+11 for spend) amex pts is worth at very least $2,650 in redeeming for travel. The $695 cost of the card is offset by airline credits ($200), Dell credits ($400), Uber credits ($200) , and mobile phone bill credits ($120) + there are other benefits (free access to airline lounges, travel protections) Spending the $16 K purely on surcharged spend will cost me $190. A net $2475 worth of travel points. Enough points to get a person round trip to South Asia 2 X in economy, or 1 X in business.

[QUOTE=Ehs183;2755265]Insurance and utilities are some of the easiest bills to pay via CC. Groceries and Dining are slam dunks. All national groc chains pretty much take credits cards with no upcharge in the US. If you get a Bilt credit card you can actually charge your rent to it (up to $50 K a year) with no surcharge / fees and get points for travel.

The median US individual income is $46 K / year, household is $70+K. (That counts retirees / students in that mix) Median weekly earnings per worker for Q3 was was $1070/ week. I would venture to guess that the median single person in the US spends $1000/ month on expenses that easily can be charged to a CC.

Bravo to you if you don't spend $1 K a month outside of rent.

I am able to pay my property taxes and quarterly income taxes via CC for a nominal (approx 1%) fee, so meeting minimum spend requirements on even large amounts is generally not an issue. Even with the fee's, the math easily works on sign up bonuses..[/QUOTE]When you give the Platinum Amex as an example it just blows your Premise out of the water.

Not ez unless you a Saudi Prince type spender to make coin via credit card game.

Avg Schmuck have to do avg Schmuck things. Work, save, invest, for 39 years or more. Actually works.

[QUOTE=AlexAlexa;2755208]I'm opposite of you. Hahaha.

For me Face comes First,. No doesn't have to be Gorgeous, just one I like.

Question. Easier to find good face or body?

I think easier to find good body than good face.[/QUOTE]Good bods are 8/10 but faces are 2/10. Combo is harder but still enough to have a few options every night in pattaya.

[QUOTE=AlexAlexa;2755272]When you give the Platinum Amex as an example it just blows your Premise out of the water.

Not ez unless you a Saudi Prince type spender to make coin via credit card game.

Avg Schmuck have to do avg Schmuck things. Work, save, invest, for 39 years or more. Actually works.[/QUOTE]I used that as an example of the highest end:

Very achievable bonus mile offers right now on cards:

Citi AA card - 65 K miles for 4 K spend in 4 months.

Barclay AA Aviator Red - 60 K miles after spending $1.

Barclay Business AA card - 80 K miles for 2 K spend in 3 months.

BOA Air France card - 70 K miles for 2 k spend in 3 months.

Amex Green Card - 50 K pts after 2 k spend in 6 months.

The first 3 cards over a 6-12 month period could easily net someone 210 K+ AA miles, enough for 3 RT economy class tickets to South Asia.

Consider myself the avg Joe most of my life. 22 years in the military, 12 years enlisted / 10 years commissioned. Only started making decent bank in the last 7-8 years after leaving the service.

[QUOTE=Ehs183;2755524]I used that as an example of the highest end:

Very achievable bonus mile offers right now on cards:

Citi AA card - 65 K miles for 4 K spend in 4 months.

Barclay AA Aviator Red - 60 K miles after spending $1.

Barclay Business AA card - 80 K miles for 2 K spend in 3 months.

BOA Air France card - 70 K miles for 2 k spend in 3 months.

Amex Green Card - 50 K pts after 2 k spend in 6 months.

The first 3 cards over a 6-12 month period could easily net someone 210 K+ AA miles, enough for 3 RT economy class tickets to South Asia.

Consider myself the avg Joe most of my life. 22 years in the military, 12 years enlisted / 10 years commissioned. Only started making decent bank in the last 7-8 years after leaving the service.[/QUOTE]Benefits can be had I agree. BUT.

Studies have shown the Consumer comes out on the Short end majority of the time.

I got lots of points about 5 round trips to Bangkok. The cheapest flights always are bad Routings.

I prefer to just pay $1,000 regular price.

[QUOTE=Ehs183;2755524]I used that as an example of the highest end:

Very achievable bonus mile offers right now on cards:

Citi AA card - 65 K miles for 4 K spend in 4 months.

Barclay AA Aviator Red - 60 K miles after spending $1.

Barclay Business AA card - 80 K miles for 2 K spend in 3 months.

BOA Air France card - 70 K miles for 2 k spend in 3 months.

Amex Green Card - 50 K pts after 2 k spend in 6 months.

The first 3 cards over a 6-12 month period could easily net someone 210 K+ AA miles, enough for 3 RT economy class tickets to South Asia.

Consider myself the avg Joe most of my life. 22 years in the military, 12 years enlisted / 10 years commissioned. Only started making decent bank in the last 7-8 years after leaving the service.[/QUOTE]As an American, my primary credit cards for earning points are Chase cards, specifically United Airlines Chase cards. One of United Airlines partners is Thai Airways so you can book Thai Airways flights directly on United's website with your points. The pro tip with United cards is you can apply and get approved for both personal and business (an actual business isn't needed just make one up) cards. Thus, you can get a new United card yearly between the two.

[QUOTE=AlexAlexa;2755272]When you give the Platinum Amex as an example it just blows your Premise out of the water.

Not ez unless you a Saudi Prince type spender to make coin via credit card game.

Avg Schmuck have to do avg Schmuck things. Work, save, invest, for 39 years or more. Actually works.[/QUOTE]LOL. I use my Amex Platinum on a daily basis for every purchase possible. If someone does not accept Amex then I use my X1. I usually rack up $3500 to $4000 per month on it. Right now I have 80,000 points. I always use mine to get $100 gift cards for Walmart which I use for grocery shopping at 14,000 points each. I get my money's worth, but I really would have to be a Saudi Prince type spender to have enough points to pay for vacations.

High Season is almost upon us.

It is getting harder for ladies to show up in my condo in the early afternoon, since they go with customers until almost dawn, and then sleep past noon. Or they are too busy to even schedule time with me.

When I go into a bar where ladies have come to the condo to drink, the second and third tier ladies ask to come to the condo, after hearing about it. I don't have time to see top tier ladies, let alone 2nd tier, unless they have something special.

Last night, I had the misfortune of a lady drinking too much, she did 10 shots quickly, got naked and passed out. Oops.

I just got back from a short trip to Vietnam yesterday, and today I go to Koh Lipe with her twin sister. Next month, I will take both to South Africa. Two bedrooms, though.

[QUOTE=Explorer8939;2755594]High Season is almost upon us.

It is getting harder for ladies to show up in my condo in the early afternoon, since they go with customers until almost dawn, and then sleep past noon. Or they are too busy to even schedule time with me.

When I go into a bar where ladies have come to the condo to drink, the second and third tier ladies ask to come to the condo, after hearing about it. I don't have time to see top tier ladies, let alone 2nd tier, unless they have something special.

Last night, I had the misfortune of a lady drinking too much, she did 10 shots quickly, got naked and passed out. Oops.

I just got back from a short trip to Vietnam yesterday, and today I go to Koh Lipe with her twin sister. Next month, I will take both to South Africa. Two bedrooms, though.[/QUOTE]Big wig Thai tourist official s are dis- at pointed in tourism number, in people and dollars spent.

Red Planet Pattaya good proxy of Pattaya demand. God I e never seen rates so low.

Your Data points for expecting a High Season, beside mature weathered Bargirls?

[QUOTE=AlexAlexa;2755672]Big wig Thai tourist official s are dis- at pointed in tourism number, in people and dollars spent.

Red Planet Pattaya good proxy of Pattaya demand. God I e never seen rates so low.

Your Data points for expecting a High Season, beside mature weathered Bargirls?[/QUOTE]Pent up demand, this is the first High Season since before Covid.

The dollar is at 38 to the baht, which means that Short Time costs $25.

I have many ladies telling me that their customers are making reservations for the holiday season.

The authorities seem to recognize that Pattaya will be jammed, so they are tearing up Second Road to make sure that traffic is gridlocked.

[QUOTE=Explorer8939;2755819]Pent up demand, this is the first High Season since before Covid.

The dollar is at 38 to the baht, which means that Short Time costs $25.

I have many ladies telling me that their customers are making reservations for the holiday season.

The authorities seem to recognize that Pattaya will be jammed, so they are tearing up Second Road to make sure that traffic is gridlocked.[/QUOTE]Perhaps they'll be an increase in monger tourists this high season, but not tourists as a whole. All the Thais I talk to do not expect a good high season in terms of the number of tourists. Even the Bolt drivers say their customers in Pattaya are mostly Thais and my hotel I stay at is mostly empty during the week and full of Thais on the weekend. I just don't see tourist numbers all of a sudden start to rise in one week. High season is high season so numbers will go up, but me thinks not to the extent the TAT think. The global recession is a real thing and is going to get worse.

Decided check out the row of GCs here. Poked my head in to all them and yikes, these were some pretty rough looking gals. Do not plan to head back there anytime soon. Since I made the trip there I sessioned. The girl seemed to have a nice body with clothes on, once upstairs and in the shower I saw what I'd be working with. Fake boobs which I am not a fan of and they were the lopsided kind that feel gross to touch (she told me she's had three boob jobs). She turns around and looks like she's had ass implants which I find completely off putting, the way the ass looks and feels is just a turn off. I also noticed in the light she has that botox, lip filler face thing going on. Aside from the looks issue she gave good service and I ended up having a decent session, she's less than five feet and slim, but an obvious no repeat.

I needed to redeem myself so headed to Soi 6. Walking down I found a decent looking one, slim body, no apparent baby damage with an average face. Start talking to her on the curb and she quotes 1,500 plus 400 for the room. Of course I countered with 1,000 and she says "go go, bye bye" in a very rude way (the ego of average looking broads). Turns out she did me a favor, the bar right next to this one is a chick wearing some black netted underwear with a plump little backside on the curb and I tap her on the shoulder and she turns and to my surprise is cute, smiley and sanuk. Within half a minute 1,000 baht is agreed upon and we are upstairs. Had a great session. She was legit one of the five most attractive chicks I observed on the Soi and yes it was 1,000 plus 400 for the room and great customer service. Funny thing is we were talking after and she was saying how much she hates sex LOL. I was like You wouldn't know it given your service and she said "I do for money, me need to send to family in Isaan."

[QUOTE=CaliGuy33;2755562]As an American, my primary credit cards for earning points are Chase cards, specifically United Airlines Chase cards. One of United Airlines partners is Thai Airways so you can book Thai Airways flights directly on United's website with your points. The pro tip with United cards is you can apply and get approved for both personal and business (an actual business isn't needed just make one up) cards. Thus, you can get a new United card yearly between the two.[/QUOTE]The issue I have this Chase is that I am always running up against their 5/24 rule. The Sapphire / Rewards cards are actually better value than the United cards. They earn 3 x /2 x on travel and dining and the points transfer to United (And Hyatt) 1:1. Another bonus is that when you have a Chase visa card you can get 10% off of BA flights via an easy hack.

For Star Alliance, I used the Air Canada program as my go to. They take point transfers from all the major point currencies, allow to you book flights 360 days out, and have reasonable surcharges. I can accumulate a whole lot more Amex points (Do to fact it is easy to get 55 K points a year in referral bonuses and you can have more cards) than chase points in a year. The best all around card for amex is the Amex Gold card. 4 X points on dining and groceries. I end getting a net 3 X /4 X on almost all spend via gift card purchases at the local Kroger. (Along with fuel points).

It all depends on routing, since I am east coast it is actually about the same flight time routing via EMEA / Middle East to South Asia. Plus, I sometimes do stopovers in AMS to whet the appetite on the way over.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2755583]LOL. I use my Amex Platinum on a daily basis for every purchase possible. If someone does not accept Amex then I use my X1. I usually rack up $3500 to $4000 per month on it. Right now I have 80,000 points. I always use mine to get $100 gift cards for Walmart which I use for grocery shopping at 14,000 points each. I get my money's worth, but I really would have to be a Saudi Prince type spender to have enough points to pay for vacations.[/QUOTE]90-100 K amex points can get you almost aa round back and forth to Thailand via transfer Air Canada, Avancia, BA. I don't know where your based but I can find availability 1 stop ORD-BKK for Feb / Mar on Qatar or United / Thai. Out of NYC 1 stops to BKK on Qatar, EVA, Singapore. Out of LAX, 1 stops on SIN, Qatar and even a 72 K point roundtrip + $70 redemption on Korean Air via Delta's program.

[QUOTE=AlexAlexa;2755549]Benefits can be had I agree. BUT.

Studies have shown the Consumer comes out on the Short end majority of the time.

I got lots of points about 5 round trips to Bangkok. The cheapest flights always are bad Routings.

I prefer to just pay $1,000 regular price.[/QUOTE]Smart consumers do just fine, never carry a balance and cancel expensive cards with little benefits besides the sign up bonus after the first year. Routing / prices on award flights all have to do with travel flexibility, if you can travel mid-week there is plenty of availability. That extra $1 k in a person's pocket will pay for 2 weeks in a condo or reasonable mongering in Pattaya in a heartbeat.