Pattaya Reports

Thanks for the reports so far.

I'm hoping to visit the latter half of this December if I get time off from work. We'll see how things are then. I don't have the luxury of getting much time off due to lack of personnel and a busy schedule, and I prefer not to go in December but I'll take what I get.

In terms of long term outlook, I think things will go back to normal. People have been predicting that places like Pattaya would eventually get rid of all red light areas in favor of mainstream tourists for over a decade now, and probably even longer than that. And for the most part things are still the same and thriving as ever. I think some were even saying that eventually Nana Plaza would be demolished, and guess what, it's still there (as well as Soi Cowboy, Patpong, etc.).

There may be some rough spots for sure, but I think the successor will eventually find his way with the Thai people and things will go back to normal on that front also. I am not an expert by any means, but just an optimist I suppose.

[QUOTE=OlderMan4U;1949483]Thanks for the reports so far.

I'm hoping to visit the latter half of this December if I get time off from work. We'll see how things are then. I don't have the luxury of getting much time off due to lack of personnel and a busy schedule, and I prefer not to go in December but I'll take what I get.

In terms of long term outlook, I think things will go back to normal. People have been predicting that places like Pattaya would eventually get rid of all red light areas in favor of mainstream tourists for over a decade now, and probably even longer than that. And for the most part things are still the same and thriving as ever. I think some were even saying that eventually Nana Plaza would be demolished, and guess what, it's still there (as well as Soi Cowboy, Patpong, etc.).

There may be some rough spots for sure, but I think the successor will eventually find his way with the Thai people and things will go back to normal on that front also. I am not an expert by any means, but just an optimist I suppose.[/QUOTE]The shophouses in Cowboy are individually owned. If there would have been own owner of that land, it would have been gone a long time ago, probably when Interchange Tower was developed. Nana is one owner. When he thinks he can make more money from a sale; he will. Patpong will continue as tourist "Disneyland" or sorts. Kind of like Bourbon St in New Orleans is today. The bars in Pattaya are really not what they were even a decade ago. Beers bars have just about died out and really only a few GoGos bank. Soi 6 is still doing ok, but overall Pattaya does not really need to monger any more with more and more mainstream tourists.

[QUOTE=OlderMan4U;1949483]Thanks for the reports so far.

I'm hoping to visit the latter half of this December if I get time off from work. We'll see how things are then. I don't have the luxury of getting much time off due to lack of personnel and a busy schedule, and I prefer not to go in December but I'll take what I get.
[/QUOTE]Why would anyone prefer not to go in December? Peak Season? December has the very best weather in Thailand in normal circumstances (balmy warm but not so hot and sticky). If you want beautiful beaches, the Andaman side of Thailand is more beautiful in December, e. G. Phuket.

Bangkok is very quiet when getting close to new year. I guess Pattaya may be quieter too. Girls go back to their provinces for New Year.

I go to Thailand any time of the year, since I live there part time. I don't see any great issues.

[QUOTE=NattyBumpo;1949430]I am concerned about the medium to long term political stability of the country after the One Year mourning period ends. The king was the glue that held this country together. The left, right and the military all respected him and listened to him when he chose to speak. Going forward, the new King will not have this same majesty or respect. He has his work cut out for him. I am not predicting it, but things could go bad fast.

Meanwhile I expect the P4P venues to be open for business soon, but to remain very subdued for the remainder of the 30 day mourning period. Social media sites like Thai Friendly, Badoo and others should pick up the slack and it might be a real opportunity for them to gain market share. By mid November, however, things should be back to normal in LOS until the December / January crazy high season takes over. I dislike BKK / Patt over the Dec / Jan period. Too many drunk holiday punters. I am booked to return to BKK in March. I am really looking forward to it and baring any unforeseen events, I expect to have a really good time.[/QUOTE]With all due respect natty your post sounds like you heard this all on the BBC news, are you even in thailand to be able to know what the facts are?

For the guys that want to know the facts from the streets and not idle speculation, here goes.

The police and army have advised all bars, gogos, and all other entertainment venue that is it up to each one to make up their own minds as to whether to open or not, as to sell alcohol or not, the only thing that is being asked for is that music if played be played at very low volume.

Most bars are open, most gogos are open, most girls are at work, the places that decided to stay closed Friday night will probably open again tonight (Saturday).

Sunday is a total no alcohol day as it is the end of lent and a Buddha holiday (nothing to do with king).

Talk from most of the bar / club owners is that they will operate as normal but with low music for the next couple of days and take further instructions as they come in from the police.

7/11, tesco and other stores, the banks are all open for business as usual, some 7/11's are selling alcohol, same as supermarkets, some are not, as said it is up to each establishment to decide.

Talk of doom and gloom or anything else is pure speculation and has nothing to do with reality, nobody including the government knows what will happen in the future, good or bad.

I am currently in Pattaya and was wondering how the bars will handle the passing of the King. As expected, after a first shock, the business sense prevailed for quite a few. Imagine all the tourists and all the girls. The tourists came here for fun and not for mourning. The girls (and the families they support!) can only survive a few days without income and, hence, the business must go on. This was then also my impression when I was in WS around 10 PM. Quite a number of bars were open at that time. However, they had no lights outside and only briefly opened the doors to let customers in and out. Inside it was close to normal. Most of them just tuned down the volume a bit (which I appreciated anyhow! Some of the open bars, however, even had somewhat louder music, which you could hear in the whole WS. Altogether, perhaps about 40-50% of the bars in WS were in operation. Only did the girls not dance topless or nude. They were all covered like "coyotees". Nevertheless, you could barfine and take them out as normal. At least if you were fast enough. Due to the pressure by the police (and one mama mentioned the military), they closed at midnight sharp. So, you were on the lucky side if you had made your catch by then.

I am not sure, and this is only a guess. Perhaps the Thai-owned bars were open, while the foreign-owned bars were closed. I believe the Thais know better how to deal with the police and the military, if necessary. However, the foreign owners might also not get the same treatment if in violation of rules and the mourning.

I assume the coming days will be similar, but probably more and more bars will follow suit and open, just keeping low profile and possibly closing a bit earlier, like midnight. This might persist for the 30 days of public mourning.

We will see in the coming days and weeks how it develops. I am not a prophet, but I don't believe in the turmoil that some people forecast, and I don't hope it's going to happen. I am under the impression that the military has a pretty good grip on the power and maintain things under control. They will not allow any turmoil or riots, whoever will be the new King. They have prepared quite well for the current situation and will make sure Thailand is not falling into a dark hole. The country depends too much on the income from tourism, and scared tourists who stay absent are no good for the country. Therefore, I trust the military has all the interest (and most likely also the power) to return to normal as soon as possible. At least for the ordinary people. Yes, there will be change. No new King will have the same respect and love from the Thai people as had King Bhumibol. Therefore, the monarchy might undergo some changes. But I don't expect the whole country to change so dramatically from the current situation. Just IMHO.

[QUOTE=Goatscrot;1949527]The bars in Pattaya are really not what they were even a decade ago. Beers bars have just about died out and really only a few GoGos bank. Soi 6 is still doing ok, but overall Pattaya does not really need to monger any more with more and more mainstream tourists.[/QUOTE]Why on earth would there be more and more mainstream tourists going to Pattaya? I am not arguing, merely I just don't get it. What is the attraction, if tourists are not after hot Thai girls?

I know North Pattaya was a holiday destination for Thais even in very old times, due to proximity to Bangkok. However Surely there are more appealing places for non-mongers coming to Thailand?

In past when doing touristy things in Thailand, Pattaya was never on my list. What are the exciting tourist attractions? Last time I saw a Lonely Planet Guide for Thailand (quite a few years back), I thought it was pathetic, since for most places in Thailand covered, it really failed to cover the things worth seeing and doing in each province and city. Crappiest tourist guide I ever saw. Was very oriented to transport, Hotels, Restaurants, etc. Boring stuff.

[QUOTE=Syzygies;1949560]Why on earth would there be more and more mainstream tourists going to Pattaya? I am not arguing, merely I just don't get it. What is the attraction, if tourists are not after hot Thai girls?

I know North Pattaya was a holiday destination for Thais even in very old times, due to proximity to Bangkok. However Surely there are more appealing places for non-mongers coming to Thailand?

In past when doing touristy things in Thailand, Pattaya was never on my list. What are the exciting tourist attractions? Last time I saw a Lonely Planet Guide for Thailand (quite a few years back), I thought it was pathetic, since for most places in Thailand covered, it really failed to cover the things worth seeing and doing in each province and city. Crappiest tourist guide I ever saw. Was very oriented to transport, Hotels, Restaurants, etc. Boring stuff.[/QUOTE]It's packaged as a cheap beach holiday. Bus loads of Chinese tourists. And they take them all out to Koh Larn as well. Place is also chocked full of Middle Eastern tourists as well. Mongers are by far the minority these days. I'm with you. I don't get it. It would not be on the top of my list as a beach holiday.

Isn't Pattaya just one of the stops for these Chinese tours? I assumed they travelled through Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket.

Before another ISG member started talking to me about Pattaya 2 years ago, I don't even think I had heard of Pattaya before. Non mongers from America likely know Bangkok and Phuket as sex destinations. Not so much Pattaya.

[QUOTE=Syzygies;1949560]Why on earth would there be more and more mainstream tourists going to Pattaya? I am not arguing, merely I just don't get it. What is the attraction, if tourists are not after hot Thai girls?[/QUOTE]It is still one of the fastest and cheapest trips to "the beach" for tourists, expats and Thais living in or visiting Bangkok. It can be an easy day trip at a cost of less than 250 baht round trip on a bus. Maybe takes a couple of hours to get there. Not too bad. I was just there a couple of weeks ago for a one night stay with a girlfriend and it was pleasant to stroll the beach (Jomtien, not the beach areas near Walking Street), dinner overlooking the ocean at sunset. Many, many Thais and Farangs playing on the shore. Not a bad day trip getaway.

My more pertinent question is why on earth would tourists landing in Bangkok spend much time in Pattaya beyond satisfying their curiosity if they were after "hot Thai girls." SHEEWwwweee! My girl and I walked the length of infamous Soi 6 early that evening and out of a couple of hundred ladies sitting and standing outside those bars, maybe there were 3 that would rate above a bargirl 5. And even then they would only rate a generous bargirl 6, imo. Maybe. The very few "hot" girls we saw later in the 2-3 Walking Street go-go bars we stopped in seemed so full of themselves for being the "stars" of Pattaya I can't imagine any of them would actually be worth the time or money in the bed. And I'm hearing barfines and girl's money are higher in Pattaya than Bangkok these days!

Pol Col Apichai Krobpetch, chief of Pattaya police, revealed that the governor of Chonburi already declared that entertainment venue can open as usual; however, any kind of entertainment would be totally cancelled.

[URL]http://pattayadailynews.com/official-fly-flag-at-half-mast-venue-still-open-entertainment-cancelled/[/URL]

Huh? WTF? Entertainment venues can open as usual but entertainment is banned? So the go-go's will be open as usual but it will be like going to the library.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;1949584]Isn't Pattaya just one of the stops for these Chinese tours? I assumed they travelled through Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket.

Before another ISG member started talking to me about Pattaya 2 years ago, I don't even think I had heard of Pattaya before. Non mongers from America likely know Bangkok and Phuket as sex destinations. Not so much Pattaya.[/QUOTE]Brits and Euros can't go to Muslim beaches like Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, anymore because the Muslims want to kill them with M 15's nd bombs. So they go 10 hours to Thailand.

Guess it just means that they let the meat market to run just the facade a bit cleaner, i.e just with lower noise and dimmer lights and / or doors closed if such exist.

As before, crackdown just means market will go a bit deeper in shadows for a period, but continues to operate. China is the same. For sake of official face they need to say entertainment is forbidden, however what actually happens behind the scenes is another thing. Asian way. Entertainment (like concerts etc) is reduced or even banned , but normal human interaction between genders is let to run i.e boys and girls can still meet.

After a midnight session with my regular went out to check WS clubs last (Friday) night and contrary to our expectations 808, iBar and Insomnia were open. Ibar sound level maybe 60-70% of normal, not many people either. Insomnia maybe 90% vol level, almost normal. 808 open but doors closed to reduce noise to street, inside sound level normal but very few people. When leaving asked the familiar guard if they open on Sat and he said yes.

My girl (who works in bar in evenings) told bars are allowed to run just no music or bright lights. Many girls relieved after initial concern of no money for a month.

I would expect from mongering perspective bars and clubs run as before after couple of days, maybe with doors closed or sound level a bit lower. Girls also likely to co back work after couple of days of mourning, as my girls said yes they love (d) the king but they need to eat too. Agogos seemed to be mostly closed. No issue for me as would not go anyway, actually better for me as closed agogos mean more pretty girls in clubs 555.

So in short. Most probably mongering continues, just maybe a with a bit lower sound and light level.

Alcohol sales not impacted at all.

[QUOTE=Daddy07;1949616]Pol Col Apichai Krobpetch, chief of Pattaya police, revealed that the governor of Chonburi already declared that entertainment venue can open as usual; however, any kind of entertainment would be totally cancelled.

[URL]http://pattayadailynews.com/official-fly-flag-at-half-mast-venue-still-open-entertainment-cancelled/[/URL]

Huh? WTF? Entertainment venues can open as usual but entertainment is banned? So the go-go's will be open as usual but it will be like going to the library.[/QUOTE]

It is a bit confusing but it never surprises me? Here you have the Governor of Chon Buri, saying Entertaining is okay Makes you wonder who is actually running the whole picture. A law is created for the entire country but each province can choice to deviate from it?

Good that the Bars and Go Go can go on as before but I think what they are referring to are the concerts etc. That have been plan. Current one is coming up is the Big Moon festival, I before that has been cancelled. Not sure of the big fireworks competition is on that list. It was rumor events like Loy Krothong, New Years Celebration has been cancelled in Pattaya. No lost for me maybe they can extend it for Songkran?

What he say is that.

1. visible events like concerts are off, and sound level of music playing places needs to be reduced or even turned off.

2. people can go meet each other as before (mourn together).

Think like Asian...There is no conflict...

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;1949645]It is a bit confusing but it never surprises me? Here you have the Governor of Chon Buri, saying Entertaining is okay Makes you wonder who is actually running the whole picture. A law is created for the entire country but each province can choice to deviate from it?

Good that the Bars and Go Go can go on as before but I think what they are referring to are the concerts etc. That have been plan. Current one is coming up is the Big Moon festival, I before that has been cancelled. Not sure of the big fireworks competition is on that list. It was rumor events like Loy Krothong, New Years Celebration has been cancelled in Pattaya. No lost for me maybe they can extend it for Songkran?[/QUOTE]

Hi All,

I will be in Thailand for about 5 days in early November. Wondering where to best spend the time for some R & R fun. Bangkok vs Pattaya vs Phuket. First time here in Thailand. Thanks for any advice.

- DD Phil.