General Reports

Talks about how the new train service to / from BKK sux:

[url]http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/496840-suvarnabhumi-airport-rail-link-a-completely-inconvenient-means-of-travel/[/url]

[QUOTE=Freezone; 1195331]Just post this in the BKK thread but figure it might be better if I posted this here instead.

Anyone have a list of good but cheap traditional thai massages places (the ones without sex). Looking to relax with a few sessions on my next time in BKK. Massage places near a subway or train stations a plus.

Also what are the going rates these days for a thai massage and how much is an average tip afterwards.

Thanks[/QUOTE]I've used this place a number of times through another posted years ago. It is around the corner from Landmark Hotel on Soi 8, on the right hand side on the first side Soi, which is the location of Lotilas. I believe there are two on the corner one on each end, the one I use is across from the first one ( straight ahead not across left ) as you approach the Soi, Sorry can't remember the name? I believe the price was somethng like 200/250 baht per hour for Traditional massage I usually do a two hour and tip them 100 baht when I leave that is my rate and I have never been hit up for extra.

LBM

I was curious to know if anyone has flown Emirates from NYC to BKK with a layover in Dubai? If so did it break up the flight better than going through HK or Japan? Those are really long hauls to be on one plane.

Thanks.

Artisttyp

Due to the dismal $US/Baht exchange rate and general increase in prices, IMHO BKK is not a budget mongering destination anymore.

[QUOTE=David_33;1196491]Due to the dismal $US/Baht exchange rate and general increase in prices, IMHO BKK is not a budget mongering destination anymore.[/QUOTE]Depends on what you mean by [I]budget[/I]. If you want an Amsterdam-style quickie (ok looks, mechanical one-shot 30-min service in an ST hotel) , that can still be had in low-end Thai-oriented areas for 300-800 baht.

As for Farang-oriented bargirls who offer long-time, more-or-less GFE sessions... you just won't find them in many places outside of Thailand. Perhaps the Philippines, but that is a dump and has a comparably small scene. AC scene is 1/10 of Pattaya and Manila is less than 1/10 of Bangkok and not much cheaper, if at all.

You're correct that BKK scene deteriorated significantly over the last 5-10 years. The heyday is well and truly over. I remember a time when you could meet sweet 20-year old part-time freelancers from Chiang Mai down on lower Sukhumwit, and take them for a LT with no discussion on price (they were happy with 1000 baht in the morning). Now that zone is full of hardened, spent Thai hookers, along with African and Central Asian hags. Bars are more glitzy, but not much better.

[QUOTE=Artisttyp;1196478]I was curious to know if anyone has flown Emirates from NYC to BKK with a layover in Dubai? If so did it break up the flight better than going through HK or Japan? Those are really long hauls to be on one plane.[/QUOTE]Whether going east or west from NYC you are looking at damn near the same total time. Keep in mind that it is generally faster going west to east (due to tail wind/head wind) so going through Dubai is an hour and a half shorter for the NYC DXB flight but coming back it will be longer. Whereas going through Tokyo it may take longer going than Dubai but it will be shorter coming back. Also I do not think there are any quick connections once you get to Dubai so you will have to wait a few hours versus Tokyo.

1a) Flights from New York, NY (all airports) to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB)

Non-stop flights: 2 per day. 12h 45m duration.
Airlines: Emirates.

1b) Flights from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB) to Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)

Non-stop flights: 5 per day. 6h 32m duration.
Airlines: Emirates, Thai.

2a) Flights from New York, NY (all airports) to Narita, Japan (NRT)

Non-stop flights: 3–4 per day. 14h 11m duration.
Airlines: JAL, ANA, Delta, Continental.

2b) Flights from Narita, Japan (NRT) to Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)

Non-stop flights: 8–9 per day. 6h 39m duration.
Airlines: Thai, ANA, JAL, and 2 more.

3) Flights from Narita, Japan (NRT) to New York, NY (all airports)

Non-stop flights: 3–4 per day. 12h 45m duration.
Airlines: ANA, JAL, Delta, Continental.

4) Flights from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB) to New York, NY (all airports)

Non-stop flights: 2 per day. 13h 45m duration.
Airlines: Emirates

[QUOTE=Artisttyp;1196478]I was curious to know if anyone has flown Emirates from NYC to BKK with a layover in Dubai? If so did it break up the flight better than going through HK or Japan? Those are really long hauls to be on one plane. Thanks. Artisttyp[/QUOTE]Should you take a virtual private flight BKK-DXB-JFK, it will take some 21. 30hrs and 9899 miles.

Should you do the same via TYO it will be 9619 miles and nerly 21hrs, and via HKG account for just below 20hrs and 9121 miles.

Having said that, you really need to cross check the airlines timetable to see how much you spend in a layover in one of the connecting airports as arilines might have from 2 to more hrs connecting time. (you will anyhow change planes, whichever way you take.

On the other hand when you fly from Europe to Australia is not going to be mich more difference as "long stay on a plane".

[QUOTE=Artisttyp; 1196478]I was curious to know if anyone has flown Emirates from NYC to BKK with a layover in Dubai? If so did it break up the flight better than going through HK or Japan? Those are really long hauls to be on one plane.

Thanks.

Artisttyp[/QUOTE]I always fly Emirates if I can, as the layover in DBX is first rate. The last 6 hours when flying direct I find really drags, so the layover in Dubai comes at just the right time!

Narita (Japan) is good for a layover, but inflight comfort depends of course on what airline! I have found US airlines and Air Canada to be pretty average at best.

With Emirates I find the service first rate, better than its Middle East rivals of Etihad (Abu Dabi) and Qatar (Doha) primarily because of the facilities at DBX.

Qatar is a pain because of the limited airport facilities. Etihad I would rate as second to Emirates.

If you get to frequent flyer status with Emirates, which actually doesn't take that long, you can avoid the queues and use business check-in and get automatic access.
to business class lounges at all departure points, and often get upgraded to business especially if the A380 is on the route, because they are used on the more popular
routes.

Also, if you have an Amex card you can gain access to the Marhaba business lounge at DBX even if you don't have the frequent flyer status.

(Apologies for the grammatical layout of this reply, I can't get it to post correctly!)

Cathay Pacific through Hong Kong. Hong Kong airport is the best.

[QUOTE=David_33;1196491]Due to the dismal $US/Baht exchange rate and general increase in prices, IMHO BKK is not a budget mongering destination anymore.[/QUOTE]OK, tell us 5 that are better in the overall experience for the money.

[QUOTE=Crocodilexp; 1196531]You could meet sweet 20-year old part-time freelancers from Chiang Mai down on lower Sukhumwit, and take them for a LT with no discussion on price (they were happy with 1000 baht in the morning). Now that zone is full of hardened, spent Thai hookers, along with African and Central Asian hags. Bars are more glitzy, but not much better.[/QUOTE]That is BS.

[QUOTE=Luvpuss;1196643]That is BS.[/QUOTE]Are you taking into account " over the last 5/10yeear, The heyday is well and truthfully over, I remember " Part? He isn't talking about today.

LBM

[QUOTE=Bonker04;1196544]I always fly Emirates if I can, as the layover in DBX is first rate. The last 6 hours when flying direct I find really drags, so the layover in Dubai comes at just the right time![/QUOTE]That's what I was thinking. I prefer that split better than the 17 hr haul to HK. This is all theoretical to me since I don't know if I have the stamina to deal with it. I'd be flying coach and probably be bouncing off the walls. Even with pills.

I would have a budget of $40 a day for hotel and $100 a day for all the other expenses including PFP. The usual rations.

Thank you for responding.

If I may I would like to ask a general sort of question. I'm visiting for the 2nd time in December and am arranging to have a massage lady (cougar) come stay with me 2 nights. We are sort of friends more than trick and john. But she has asked that I compensate her for time off work. I have no problem doing that. But here's the question. How much would you pay? I have agreed to 500 bt per day for her boss. I was thinking 1000 for her per day.

Any thoughts?

[QUOTE=Hatguy; 1196677]If I may I would like to ask a general sort of question. I'm visiting for the 2nd time in December and am arranging to have a massage lady (cougar) come stay with me 2 nights. We are sort of friends more than trick and john. But she has asked that I compensate her for time off work. I have no problem doing that. But here's the question. How much would you pay? I have agreed to 500 bt per day for her boss. I was thinking 1000 for her per day.

Any thoughts?[/QUOTE]If you're friends, what was the arrangement when you stayed together before?

You definitely DO NOT need to pay her boss, that's a scam. Middle-aged massage ladies are not exactly precious workers that the establishment depends on to draw business (like bars do). She can take unpaid time off, if she gets regular salary at all. More likely (90% likely) she just gets half of money for each massage she does, and zero for sitting around.

For a freelancer. 1000 baht / day is an acceptable going rate (although 500 is still probably more than what she earns at the massage shop. Unless she does extras). If you pay her less she'd be doing you a service. And you probably don't want a situation where you're still paying her, and she's also doing you a service (worst of both worlds).