Phnom Penh

[QUOTE=Anzac; 1325521]"I think it's a spillover effect from Thailand. Most tourists in PP flew in from Bangkok."

Its more than a tourist effect. Its also cultural and national pride. Living in Thailand and having mongered in PP for 15 years, I am well aware.

Of the animosity and jealousy between Cambodian and Thai women. I have a Thai wife who refuses to go to Cambodia for a holiday. My advice to mongerers seeking the going rate for ST / LT in PP is to never, ever mention that you live in, or have just come from holidaying in Thailand. Cambodians are just as proud as the Thais, and the working girls of PP know exactly how much punters are paying in BKK, Pattaya etc. Guaranteed you tell a Cambodian girl you have just come from Thailand,

Its the Thai price or more you will pay. In their Asian way of thinking, to accept less money than the Thai girls is to admit that they are a lesser race than the Thais. Something they will never do. To this day, unless there are girls that know me in the bars / clubs, I still play the dumb newbie and get treated like one (lets face it, the girls pay alot more attention to newbies than regular punters) , with the knowledge and experience behind me to know when they are trying to rip me off.

On the topic of the cheapest, young good looking girls in SE Asia, I have found Vientiane to be the best value. 20USD LT no probs. Give it a try if PP isn't for you.[/QUOTE]What a load of horseshit! (except the last paragraph, never been to Laos so can't comment)

I've been to PP over 20 times in the last 3 years and have never paid more than $20 ST/$30 LT and I consider those prices fair.

All the girls I've been with know where I live (Bangkok) , as it is usually the first or second question they ask me. It makes absolutely no difference where you come from, the majority of working girls in PP wouldn't have a clue what the going prices are in Bangkok.

Regarding your comments that the girls pay more attention to newbies, again I beg to differ. The regular punters who live in PP or visit on a regular basis are their bread and butter. The girls need these customers more to keep things ticking over when there's a shortage of tourists in town, so they look after them very well.

Yeah I disagree too.

I always tell Khmer girls that I live in Thailand and it's no big problem. They never try to demand Thai prices.

The only girls who try to charge me $40-50 are girls who think I'm a dumb tourist.

And only the hardened sharks go after the newbies. I see plenty of newbie tourist looking guys getting no attention because they look clueless like they don't even know what a working girl does.

A lot of the best girls go for the guys who are already known to be nice.

[QUOTE=Leftfield1965; 1325701]What a load of horseshit! (except the last paragraph, never been to Laos so can't comment)

I've been to PP over 20 times in the last 3 years and have never paid more than $20 ST/$30 LT and I consider those prices fair.

Leftfield, you are entitled to your opinion, as everyone is. My advice and observations are based on 15 years of mongering in PP. But then again, if you consider yourelf the infinite wisdom on such things after 3 years, who am I to argue.

[QUOTE=Anzac;1325521]On the topic of the cheapest, young good looking girls in SE Asia, I have found Vientiane to be the best value. 20USD LT no probs. Give it a try if PP isn't for you.[/QUOTE]20USD is no where near the norm in Vientiane. That was how much I paid 20-25 USD ST in the karaokes and disco pick ups back in the early 90's when I first discovered Vientiane. The average now in Vientiane from karaoke bars, expect to pay minimum 50USD up, for freelancers, expect to pay at 35 USD or 1000 baht for a medium doable girl, for a cutie freelancer, believe me, the Lao girls know if they are cute or not by now, always want around 50 USD up. Of course the price can fluctuate 5-10 USD depends on the demand and supply of that time. But 20 USD for a good looker all night in Vientiane, well, she must like you so much to give you 30 USD discount. It's a market economy, very unfortunately the demand has spoiled the supply. BTW, the cheapest sex in Vientiane besides the unattractive freelancers, is the hotel brothels, which also cost 1200 bahts or 40 USD ST room included. Vientiane is definitely more expensive than PP.

[QUOTE=Anzac;1325910]Leftfield, you are entitled to your opinion, as everyone is. My advice and observations are based on 15 years of mongering in PP. But then again, if you consider yourelf the infinite wisdom on such things after 3 years, who am I to argue.[/QUOTE]I've countered your (crap) observations and all you can come up with is the old "I've mongered in PP for 15 years compared to your 3 years" chessnut.

How about addressing my points?

Take all the time you need, looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

[QUOTE=Leftfield1965; 1326085]I've countered your (crap) observations and all you can come up with is the old "I've mongered in PP for 15 years compared to your 3 years" chessnut.

How about addressing my points?

Take all the time you need, looking forward to hearing your thoughts.[/QUOTE]In addition I'd say at the pace things change any experience older that 1-2 years is pretty much useless.

[QUOTE=GentleBoner;1325843]A lot of the best girls go for the guys who are already known to be nice.[/QUOTE]Another so very true. In being a regular, though new, by my third evening at Martinis, more girls would smile and approach me than on the first couple of evenings. When I asked them why, I'd get answers along the lines of "you smile and XYZ says you're nice".

From past countries experiences, if you want a better time, bar hop only the first evening or two, but then start sticking with just a couple of places and cultivate mini-relationships with the girls. In the long run, you'll have a much better time.

Despite all of the recent complaints about PP, I really had a great time and I consider PP one of the top places I've been during my world travels. Another top favorite comes from spending time in the Russian country side with WGs there.

[QUOTE=Gone Around;1326128]From past countries experiences, if you want a better time, bar hop only the first evening or two, but then start sticking with just a couple of places and cultivate mini-relationships with the girls. In the long run, you'll have a much better time.[/QUOTE]Excellent advice. I have stayed in PP a number of times (at the Bourganvillier in response to any un-asked questions) and have always stuck to the pattern of bar hopping (choosing bars far enough apart so the local jungle drums don't get a chance to compare notes) , being polite and investing in a few lady drinks, and then focussing in on two or three bars for the next few days.

Trouble is that even experienced mongers feel the need to dive straight in when they get to a new source f different pusst

[QUOTE=Leftfield1965; 1325701]What a load of horseshit! (except the last paragraph, never been to Laos so can't comment)

I've been to PP over 20 times in the last 3 years and have never paid more than $20 ST/$30 LT and I consider those prices fair.

All the girls I've been with know where I live (Bangkok) , as it is usually the first or second question they ask me. It makes absolutely no difference where you come from, the majority of working girls in PP wouldn't have a clue what the going prices are in Bangkok.[/QUOTE]I second that. Just to blow more holes... I live in Thailand and the only time I have ever been to PP was last March, so I was a newbie. I paid $15 for ST with a Walkabout chick and no more than $28 for LT with HOD chicks. Just to be fair, the hot Vietnamese chick in Martini's did want $40 for LT, but I didn't let her come with me and only secured her phone number just in case, because I wanted to see what HOD had on offer again.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1326316]I second that. Just to blow more holes. I live in Thailand and the only time I have ever been to PP was last March, so I was a newbie. I paid $15 for ST with a Walkabout chick and no more than $28 for LT with HOD chicks. Just to be fair, the hot Vietnamese chick in Martini's did want $40 for LT, but I didn't let her come with me and only secured her phone number just in case, because I wanted to see what HOD had on offer again.[/QUOTE]I will be visiting PP, SR and S'ville in November. I plan to monger in all three places. My preference is for ST. During my trip I will report back bot with prices asked and prices paid. The information should be useful for the rest of of the tourist season.

[QUOTE=Scorchin1470;1326321]I will be visiting PP, SR and S'ville in November. I plan to monger in all three places. My preference is for ST. During my trip I will report back bot with prices asked and prices paid. The information should be useful for the rest of of the tourist season.[/QUOTE]Try taking the initiative on prices. Instead of asking how much for ST, tell them what you will pay.

For example a conversation at Walkabout, after exchanging pleasantries and you deciding that you want the girl, might go like this.

You: I want short time. $10.

Girl: Ohh. $20?

You: $10.

Girl: OK, I go with you for $15.

At this point you can decide that $15 is acceptable, or keep pushing.

You: $10.

Girl: please. $15, I give you good time, good boom boom.

You: $10.

Girl: OK $10. But maybe you give me tip if I boom boom good? (laughs)

You: Maybe.

I've had this conversation many times in both freelance bars and hostess bars, with good success. Your starting price in the hostess bars usually has to be $5 higher and you're up for the $7-10 barfine as well.

[QUOTE=AussieGuy100; 1326429]You: I want short time. $10.

Girl: Ohh. $20?

You: $10.

Girl: OK, I go with you for $15.

At this point you can decide that $15 is acceptable, or keep pushing.

You: $10.

Girl: please. $15, I give you good time, good boom boom.

You: $10.

Girl: OK $10. But maybe you give me tip if I boom boom good? (laughs)

You: Maybe.[/QUOTE]Pretty good advice here. Be reasonable in what you're offering and stick with it.

If the gal comes down to it, more than likely you'll have a good time. If not, she was only there for the money and wouldn't have been much better than a cold fish lay. Ick.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1326316]I second that. Just to blow more holes. I live in Thailand and the only time I have ever been to PP was last March, so I was a newbie. I paid $15 for ST with a Walkabout chick and no more than $28 for LT with HOD chicks. Just to be fair, the hot Vietnamese chick in Martini's did want $40 for LT, but I didn't let her come with me and only secured her phone number just in case, because I wanted to see what HOD had on offer again.[/QUOTE]Where, what the heck is HOD?

[QUOTE=AussieGuy100; 1326429]Try taking the initiative on prices. Instead of asking how much for ST, tell them what you will pay.

For example a conversation at Walkabout, after exchanging pleasantries and you deciding that you want the girl, might go like this.

You: I want short time. $10.

Girl: Ohh. $20?

You: $10.

Girl: OK, I go with you for $15.

At this point you can decide that $15 is acceptable, or keep pushing.

You: $10.

Girl: please. $15, I give you good time, good boom boom.

You: $10.

Girl: OK $10. But maybe you give me tip if I boom boom good? (laughs)

You: Maybe.

I've had this conversation many times in both freelance bars and hostess bars, with good success. Your starting price in the hostess bars usually has to be $5 higher and you're up for the $7-10 barfine as well.[/QUOTE]Exactly what I suggested! Price asked and price paid implies bargaining!

[QUOTE=Scorchin1470; 1326158]Excellent advice. I have stayed in PP a number of times (at the Bourganvillier in response to any un-asked questions) and have always stuck to the pattern of bar hopping (choosing bars far enough apart so the local jungle drums don't get a chance to compare notes) , being polite and investing in a few lady drinks, and then focussing in on two or three bars for the next few days.

Trouble is that even experienced mongers feel the need to dive straight in when they get to a new source f different pusst[/QUOTE]Bourganvillier looks great, but my gosh, the prices. I get nice non-GF places to stay for 2-3 nights for those prices and book a decent $ 10. $ 15 short- or long-term hotel by whatever spot I'm picking up in. Hmm. With the combined prices though, I should upgrade my main place to nice GF hotel and stop the cheapo on the side. I partially do it to protect my stuff and help keep ST to ST.

Might as well ask, in keeping to $ 30 to $ 40 a night for a hotel or villa, that's GF and away from the riverfront, what do you recommend?

Lastly, if I'm really antsy before going to the bars, I go get a massage with a HE and then I'm calmer before the real shopping. As a bonus, I get a little extra hang time with the girl from not being so tense.