General Reports

[QUOTE=Opebo]I have a question for all experienced punters: Given what we read in the news reports from the hospital, and the rumors which fly, just how long do you think the entertainment venues will have to close when [i]that dreaded day[/i] comes?

I hazarded the guess of three months in a rl conversation recently, with the observation that it might be long enough to kill them (not many bars and nightspots can survive three months revenue free). Of course on the other hand there might be a civil war so mere closure might not really be the worst of it.[/QUOTE]

The responses from Tansak and Daddy San are somewhat surprising, expressing their ignorance of Opebo's point, since they are regular contributors and surely know a bit about Thailand. That's the sort of response I would expect from a newbie.

I would imagine that after the first week things will return to a semblance of normality, (after all people need money to live), and then there will be a few days at a somewhat later date when everything shuts up for the final ceremonies. After that of course, due to the expected "coloured" in fighting, I would expect a complete take-over and clamp down by the military; farangs vacationing elsewhere, and a complete liquidation of Thailand's monetary system.

Perhaps time to start reading up on the Cambodia and Vietnam forums!

[QUOTE=Bumholes1]The responses from Tansak and Daddy San are somewhat surprising, expressing their ignorance of Opebo's point, since they are regular contributors and surely know a bit about Thailand. That's the sort of response I would expect from a newbie.

I would imagine that after the first week things will return to a semblance of normality, (after all people need money to live), and then there will be a few days at a somewhat later date when everything shuts up for the final ceremonies. After that of course, due to the expected "coloured" in fighting, I would expect a complete take-over and clamp down by the military; farangs vacationing elsewhere, and a complete liquidation of Thailand's monetary system.

Perhaps time to start reading up on the Cambodia and Vietnam forums![/QUOTE]

Shit I will always be a newbie... :D And if you think you will ever know Thai without being a Thai then you are a fool. Or I should say if I as a foreigner ever think I will understand Thai then I would be a fool to think this. Others want to think they can be accepted and understand the society as an outsider then fine.

But since he has been ill for years and in the hospital for over a month already but the last report I have is that he was supposed to be recovering it's not the top of my list of things to worry about.

It's been a dark cloud hanging over Thai for years now, you never know when it will happen but it's not like this is anything new. It is unfortunate to say but we've operated in our work that he has already passed and there has been no stability in country for a long time now. With all the govt. changes we've had to change our operations so many times it is not even funny.

The only difference will be a long period of mourning and then a complete change in who we at my work are dealing with. The only answer for punting is to have a rolodex while things shake out.

The venues will of course close for a while, but many venues will close and the tourism will only suffer more then what it has been.

Enjoy what you have now and face the music when the time comes. Why be concern with something you have no control over? It’s inevitable that we will all meet the same fate as the revered one will. However, life will go on. There have been other (popular) Kings who have passed and we're still here. As popular as the King is, the Thais are smart/greedy enough to know that they must survive therefore the real power brokers will surely not let things get out of hand to the point where they start losing money for a noteworthy but increasingly symbolic gesture/figure regardless of how important it is to some.

Hey open an e-trade account. Then when close to travel set up transfers from primary bank to e-trade bank account. E-trade oes not charge you an also reimbureses you for forgien atm bank fees! Worked in Colombia and Peru this summer. Chuk dee krup!

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]ATM,

For the past month Goverment Bank (Pink Machines) have been reconfiguring their computers and ATM, to make the charge official 150 Baht for Foreign ATM cards. This last month you put in your Foreign ATM card and after a few seconds especially after you push " English " seconds later the response is that there is a problem. I went to over 6 ATM's throughout Pattaya and they came up with all the same response. Now as stated they are all working if you agree on the 150 baht.

The only Bank now that I know is AEON, that isn't charging is the Japanese owned. And most have been removed or not working throughout Pattaya except the main branch in Lotus, North Pattaya!

Now one has to consider this when they use the ATM'S, is along with the 150 Baht charge is what is the rate they are giving you. Here is what I found!

Using this general example in USD currency! Lets say the official rate is 33.50 Today!

Bank of Bangkok: ATM rate given is 32.45
Siam Commericail: ATM rate given is 32.42
Bank of Ayuthya: ATM rate given is 32.33
Govenment Bank: ATM rate given is 33.35

I have found although all the above banks are charging now the 150 Baht the Government Bank is giving the best rate!

Took out money from AEON two weeks ago at Lotus, no charge! The day exchange rate was something like 33.65, and they gave me 33.42!

Some are reporting that some of the above might not be charging ( Except AEON ) but that depends on where the card comes from.....

Good luck, LBM[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Bumholes1]I would imagine that after the first week things will return to a semblance of normality, (after all people need money to live), and then there will be a few days at a somewhat later date when everything shuts up for the final ceremonies. After that of course, due to the expected "coloured" in fighting, I would expect a complete take-over and clamp down by the military; farangs vacationing elsewhere, and a complete liquidation of Thailand's monetary system.[/QUOTE]

I would say you slightly underestimate the difficulty of the mourning period, and probably overestimate the long-run difficulties, Bumholes.

[QUOTE=Opebo]I would say you slightly underestimate the difficulty of the mourning period, and probably overestimate the long-run difficulties, Bumholes.[/QUOTE]

I really hope that I have over-estimated the long term difficulties, but I fear the "coloured" war and the return of a certain person will totally destabilise Thailand.

[QUOTE=Bumholes1]the return of a certain person will totally destabilise Thailand.[/QUOTE]

He already is pulling a lot of strings and many countries / companies are having talks with this certain person. Means little if he is out of country and a criminal or not.

[QUOTE=Opebo]probably overestimate the long-run difficulties[/QUOTE]

From my little corner in the world and what I gotta do, Thai has not been stable politically and it won't be they just keep making new parties and every time I walk in a building there is a new person sitting behind the desk that I gotta talk to and start all over. Which is not a bad thing it keeps me coming back to thai.

With what I do we've look at it for three years now as an unstable govt.

This is not a slam on the Thai's, it is stable for visitors to come, but going from a monarchy to change into god knows whatever they will become will take time and growing pains. The benefit is that I gotta keep going back to thai as we can't get anything accomplished :D

I am more worried about our financial assets being in PI then in Thai even after whenever the passing will happen. I firmly believe international Assets will be OK in thai but I am sure gonna keep a rolodex handy for my enjoyment purposes.

The most valuable asset will be NicFrenchy's black book. I'll start the bidding at two seats first class BKK to Paris :D :D :D

[QUOTE=Tansak KTV]I firmly believe international Assets will be OK in thai but I am sure gonna keep a rolodex handy for my enjoyment purposes.

The most valuable asset will be NicFrenchy's black book.[/QUOTE]

I couldn't care less about any international assets, I'm only concerned about the venues. If they are closed, no reason to stay here.

Well, i have trip planned to bkk from nov10 to 20 and I have tried to read about the locations of where to go as far as a hotel. Im looking for a nice but cheap hotel that is very close (pref walkable to the action) Do I want to be near Soi Cowboy? And is it worth it to head to Pattaya for a few days or should i take my whole trip there? I am very excited but feel I will be looking in the wrong places. Please any kind of direction I should be pointed in to take me to the right hotel and the right bars would be great. I am a huge contributor in the US board and only have a few adventures over seas. any help would be great.

[QUOTE=George Sims]Well, i have trip planned to bkk from nov10 to 20 and I have tried to read about the locations of where to go as far as a hotel. Im looking for a nice but cheap hotel that is very close (pref walkable to the action) Do I want to be near Soi Cowboy? And is it worth it to head to Pattaya for a few days or should i take my whole trip there? I am very excited but feel I will be looking in the wrong places. Please any kind of direction I should be pointed in to take me to the right hotel and the right bars would be great. I am a huge contributor in the US board and only have a few adventures over seas. any help would be great.[/QUOTE]

You just asked so many loaded questions I'm afraid to even attempt to help you in fear of the back lash.

BKK vs. Pattaya... everyone has their own opinion, some folks hate pattaya as an in your face hell hole. Others think it is a great place with open minded people, lower costs in hotels, food, women, and a much better mongering scene.

Pattaya sex scene is MUCH larger then in Cowboy, it is a little more rowdy, a lot more naughty, but the girls also can roll you easier, pull some bait and switch and I think the crime in Pattaya is higher. But it is a lower cost. As far as girls go, there are hot thai chicks in both locations.

Pattaya can be a little over whelming for a first time visitor, especially if he is solo. And you got so many options that from what I've heard people say... first visit they hate it, second visit was ok, third visit they like it, fourth visit they really enjoy it. It takes a while find what you like about Pattaya, where you like, where things are etc...

My answer to you, you will never know unless you try both BKK and Pattaya. The BKK purists will tell you it is scum on earth in Pattaya and the Pattaya gang will tell you BKK is an overpriced egotistical opinionated scene. But being a virgin and alone in Pattaya you wont' see probably what you should see.

Seriously try to pay up to a senior member or such to get PM's so others can help you directly is my advice.

Hotels... you opened a can of worms there too... In BKK you got what I think of as 7 main areas for sex. Cowboy, Nana, Soapies, Massage Parlors, Soi 33, Clubs, then Free Lance Places.

Cowboy is a small street full of bars for girls, some bars have shows, some are topless, some are clothed etc... Everyone likes their own bars. Baccara is more Asian but have OK girls. Tilac is improving. Suzie Wong / Shark are more dirty type places etc... Midnight and others are OK, it's all hit and miss and what you like. There are hotels around there, MP Lurker just posted some hotels in the BKK hotel thread, Admiral Premier and others.

Nana, you got Majectic Grand and a host of others, you got Soi 11 with citadiens and Grand President etc... Those are all around NEP. Nana is a corner basically with different floors of small bars, some are lady boy bars but some bars like Rainbow 4 are OK bars, it is more crowded etc.... More compacted. Some folks only like Nana some folks HATE nana.

Soapies... those are an MRT ride away so don't bother with a hotel near there IMHO. Worth a visit if you are a newbie, there are some soapies or semi soapies in Sukhumvit area, Annies, Darling is kind of a soapie I guess etc... But most of the known better Sopaies are off the MRT (underground Rail System)

MP's are spread all over but Tulip is off the BTS (sky rail system), same with snow white, mango, aviva, and many others... There are MP's (for sex) all over the town.

Free Lance Places, Gullivers, Sukhumvit Road, Beer Garden, Hillary's, New Wave and others... Thermane etc...

Disco's or such, CM2, Boss, Spice, Bed Super, Q Bar etc... Higher cost, can find rusian chicks at a few of these places.

Soi 33, you got a few hotels near it, it is higher costing places, You got some hotels on soi 22 near it, and then Novtel Lotus and Livingstones on the street. The bars are more hostess bars.

Hotels.... shit man stay where ever you want, read the hotel thread as there are too many to pick seriously. Any place you go most of the girls will want to taxi back to your place. If you get a place on Soi 11 and end up at cowboy the girls will want to taxi... 40 baht... so what... big deal.

Go read the hotel thread a little we all have our preferences as to where to stay and what bars to visit. You asked way to much of a general questions for one answer. There's 100's of bars / MP's / hotels in BKK and even more in Pattaya....

You are way too vague for me, what is nice but cheap mean to you? To some guys under 150 USD a night is a cheap hotel. For others cheap is 800 baht a night. Near Cowboy means what, a 10 minute walk or right next door? Not trying to be rude but you are just asking way too vague questions and need to read up or google the scene a little more.

[QUOTE=George Sims]Well, i have trip planned to bkk from nov10 to 20 and I have tried to read about the locations of where to go as far as a hotel. Im looking for a nice but cheap hotel that is very close (pref walkable to the action) Do I want to be near Soi Cowboy? And is it worth it to head to Pattaya for a few days or should i take my whole trip there? I am very excited but feel I will be looking in the wrong places. Please any kind of direction I should be pointed in to take me to the right hotel and the right bars would be great. I am a huge contributor in the US board and only have a few adventures over seas. any help would be great.[/QUOTE]


If this is your first time to Thailand then spend 3-4 days in Bangkok and the rest in Pattaya . There is plenty of info ref hotels in the in the hotel thread .

If you want any info on Patts you can PM me

[QUOTE=Opebo]I couldn't care less about any international assets, I'm only concerned about the venues. If they are closed, no reason to stay here.[/QUOTE]

You better care about international assets or thai will end up like Philippines. You don't want the Thai Govt. to take away protection of foreign assets, freeze foreign assets, or disallow foreign assets and have the economy crash farther.

In true thai mentality since economy goes down they'll try to up the price for pussy. Hell maybe BKK will end up like Vietnam where Hanoi is dead (from what I'm learning as I gotta go there) but Ho Chi Min still has options.

And what venues? You don't head to Venues :D Or you rarely head to the tourist joints from your posts. You think they'll close china town or chicken farms? If shit hits the fan then Soi 33 could die but your haunts might spring to life so you could be in heaven. BB all over for a few baht... who knows.

[QUOTE=George Sims]Well, i have trip planned to bkk from nov10 to 20 and I have tried to read about the locations of where to go as far as a hotel. Im looking for a nice but cheap hotel that is very close (pref walkable to the action) Do I want to be near Soi Cowboy? And is it worth it to head to Pattaya for a few days or should i take my whole trip there? I am very excited but feel I will be looking in the wrong places. Please any kind of direction I should be pointed in to take me to the right hotel and the right bars would be great. I am a huge contributor in the US board and only have a few adventures over seas. any help would be great.[/QUOTE]
Hello George!
I wish you would stay longer on your first trip, but as you only have 10 days I would recommend you to focus on only one of the places. And I would have chosen Bkk.
If you want a very good, close to action hotel, I would have just stayed in the Dynasty Grande. Its between soi 4 and 6 sukhumvit and you can walk to Nana plaza in about 4 minutes. Great rooms and bathrooms. Lcd tv, and dvd. Very big rooms. Cost about 2100 thb.
The best choice in this area. I have tried most others as well.

From this hotel you have walking distance to everything around soi 4. If you want to go to Cowboy you can just take the skytrain for 4 minutes and you will be there.

Remember the hotel name. Its absolutely the best value in this area.

[QUOTE=George Sims]Well, i have trip planned to bkk from nov10 to 20 and I have tried to read about the locations of where to go as far as a hotel. Im looking for a nice but cheap hotel that is very close (pref walkable to the action) Do I want to be near Soi Cowboy? And is it worth it to head to Pattaya for a few days or should i take my whole trip there? I am very excited but feel I will be looking in the wrong places. Please any kind of direction I should be pointed in to take me to the right hotel and the right bars would be great. I am a huge contributor in the US board and only have a few adventures over seas. any help would be great.[/QUOTE]

If it's your first time in Thailand and if you are coming here mainly for mongering, I would recommend that you directly go and spend most of your holidays in Pattaya. You will get more fucks for your bucks than in the capital city. In Pattaya, prices for (almost) everything are not only lower, but there are less variations too.

In Bangkok, a first-timer is an easy target and may be charged several times more for the same service or goods than an experienced traveller or resident. In Pattaya, it might happened too, but not as often as in Bangkok (in my humble opinion) and most of the time, as the regular prices are lower, the scams are (usually) less ambitious or harmful as well at the end of the day!

If I were in your shoes, I would spend only two or three days in Bangkok, but at the end of my holidays. You will be already more experienced after a few days in Pattaya and you should be better armed than a perfect newbie once you are in Bangkok.

But Bangkok is probably a better choice if you come to Thailand not only for its nightlife and P4P scene. Of course, you can also find other activities in Pattaya too, but on your first stay there, you might find Pattaya a bit dull in the morning and in the early afternoon. Bangkok offers more obvious non-mongering attractions. Shopping is also more interesting in Bangkok (provided that you look around and try to know the regular prices before spending your money).

Let me say THANK YOU to those who responded because I am positive that I have asked questions that have been asked millions of times before and some may be numb for answering and people not reading the forum.

First, I gather a few days in Pat and majority in BKK. One question i was worried about is which hotel is safe and not goin to steal my things while I am gone because I do plan to shop. So to make this more exact, I think around 2500 baht or less for a hotel should be fine.

To explain myself more, i have been to PI manila before so I am not a complete newbie and have some street smarts to me.

I would like to invite anyone who is here for a few beers on me. I hate being alone but only find a few friends will be able to travel with me and this time it was alone or not at all. I would love the insight.

Being that soapies and MPs are avail here in US i tend to enjoy the freelancers and go go bars.

One thing i am completely drawn to check out is the bj bars. This sound amazing.

I also like really small skinny younger girls (18 plus of coarse) so finding these girls or bars is important to me.

So I guess a nice hotel that is close to freelance and go go bars and 2500 baht or less and safe. I am coming in at 1145pm so I would like to know where I am heading and know its safe.

Also, Im assuming that all this action is not spread out in great distance, sounds like everythig is relatively close via taxi, am I right??

Sorry for the loaded and vague questions, but answer if you like, I love the help and Im sure there are other newbies that apprciate the answers.

Let me know if anyone is meeting up for beers or anything of that nature. I am game.

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