Pattaya Reports

[QUOTE=Tiger 888;1380035]How do they compare with the real time rates in my link?[/QUOTE]I don't know. But unless you are exchanging thousands of dollars / euro at a time the difference is negligible. There is no sense in searching all over town just to save $3.

[url]http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx[/url]

[QUOTE=Tiger 888;1380141]I have so far never paid more than 2000 LT at gogos and almost always got good service.[/QUOTE]Here is a sticker shock for you. What's Up Go Go. 1am: barfine 1000bt + 2000bt ST or 4000bt LT. Is it worth it? My opinion: sometimes, but that is a very subjective answer. What's Up Go Go does have more than its fair share of lookers. I mean really attractive girls. There is no question about that. It used to be my favorite Go Go in Pattaya because of the quality, but no longer. I used to have a favorite girl in What's Up. I posted about her a few times and jokingly referred to her as the future Mrs. Natty Bumpo. Well, I think I am going to divorce Mrs. Natty. She is really good looking and the sex has always been great, but after I texted her recently that I was coming back to Thailand soon, she texted back that she needed $200 for medicine - could I send $$ too her right away. WTF!!!!! I have known this girl for over 2 years and she never asked for money on top of what i gave her for service and tips before. Too bad. It was a beautiful friendship while it lasted.

My new favorite Go Go is Airport because I am now in love (LOL) with a sexy and funny girl I met there last October. I like the party atmosphere of this little place and I like the mama who runs the joint. I think I was giving "N" 1500bt ST / 2500bt LT, but I can't remember exactly because even though I barfined "N" many times the cumulative effect of the Tequila shots have blurred the distinction in my mind between what she asked for service and what I gave her in total including tips. I will find out in about a month when I see "N" again. Can't wait!

[QUOTE=Natty Bumpo;1380243]Here is a sticker shock for you. What's Up Go Go. 1am: barfine 1000bt + 2000bt ST or 4000bt LT. Is it worth it? My opinion: sometimes, but that is a very subjective answer. What's Up Go Go does have more than its fair share of lookers. I mean really attractive girls. There is no question about that. It used to be my favorite Go Go in Pattaya because of the quality, but no longer. I used to have a favorite girl in What's Up.[/QUOTE]Well, the BF pricing at What's Up? Is much the same as it was last summer. Even then there some complaints hereabouts about this pricing. (Back then I stumbled into the place unawares of its notoriety on the $ scale.) Still, I ended up paying a girl the 1000 baht BF and 2000 for overnight (prolly about 2 a. M-ish leaving, and my hotel was in Jomtien. Explained to her ahead of time. So there may have been a tendency for her to want to get the money and call it a LT).

Perhaps average to above average in looks for the girls in What's Up? (at the time) , which had some stunners in their tasteful lesbian show. Tongues flickering across the labias. Nice! There seemed to be more energy to What's Up? Than most of the other joints. I recall also that there were a lot more younger punters there, too.

The girl I picked was very fun and friendly, a real sweetie. I ended up keeping her on for another day. She had to stop by the bar to hand over the 1K barfine (I also gave her the 2k). Up on return to sex prison got a few emails, but cut off communications after receiving the (utterly predictable) eventual request for money, ostensibly to buy milk for the kid. Suppose if she were desperate enough for money she could have posted a charity drive to her 3, 000 Facebook friends.

[QUOTE=Natty Bumpo;1380243]Here is a sticker shock for you. What's Up Go Go. 1am: barfine 1000bt + 2000bt ST or 4000bt LT. Is it worth it? My opinion: sometimes, but that is a very subjective answer...[/QUOTE]As long as the five day millionaire visitors pay up, it will continue to rise. I get girls in Hong Kong ST for 2000 Baht easily, no need to fork out the travel expenses. I give them my number and how much I am willing to pay and ask them to call me when they have no business with some rich or ignorant traveller offering 4 times that and more. I get way more calls than I can handle.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational; 1380216]I don't know. But unless you are exchanging thousands of dollars / euro at a time the difference is negligible. There is no sense in searching all over town just to save $3.

[url]http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx[/url][/QUOTE]You are right, but Csun asked to change 2000 USD and if he has the choice to make the next question is if it is worth to carry the cash around. I myself have opened an account with Kasikorn bank. If I do a wire transfer from HSBC Hong Kong in the morning it will be in the account the same day afternoon to be withdrawn by a local ATM card with no charges. The better TT rate is just about enough to cover the wire charges (14 US$) if you send 2000 USD. All in all it would set you back 27 USD for wiring 2000 compared to change cash at Superrich. It would set you back the same amount to change the cash in a bank in Pattaya.

[QUOTE=Tiger 888;1380348]You are right, but Csun asked to change 2000 USD and if he has the choice to make the next question is if it is worth to carry the cash around. I myself have opened an account with Kasikorn bank. If I do a wire transfer from HSBC Hong Kong in the morning it will be in the account the same day afternoon to be withdrawn by a local ATM card with no charges. The better TT rate is just about enough to cover the wire charges (14 US$) if you send 2000 USD. All in all it would set you back 27 USD for wiring 2000 compared to change cash at Superrich. It would set you back the same amount to change the cash in a bank in Pattaya.[/QUOTE]If he changes 2000 at Super Rich instead of Kasikorn he will get 920 baht more. The question is if it is worth his time and money to go around Bangkok looking for Super Rich just to have an extra 920 baht in his pocket (or 700 baht after taxi fare). His time may be worth more than that.

I have Kasikorn in Thailand as well as an HSBC internet account in the USA. But it is so complicated to transfer from HSBC USA to Thailand that it is just much easier to bring the cash, exchange it, and deposit it into my Kasikorn. HSBC USA international wire transfers have to go through the branch in Los Angeles and forms have to be filled out, etc bla bla bla.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational; 1380382]If he changes 2000 at Super Rich instead of Kasikorn he will get 920 baht more. The question is if it is worth his time and money to go around Bangkok looking for Super Rich just to have an extra 920 baht in his pocket (or 700 baht after taxi fare). His time may be worth more than that.

I have Kasikorn in Thailand as well as an HSBC internet account in the USA. But it is so complicated to transfer from HSBC USA to Thailand that it is just much easier to bring the cash, exchange it, and deposit it into my Kasikorn. HSBC USA international wire transfers have to go through the branch in Los Angeles and forms have to be filled out, etc bla bla bla.[/QUOTE]There's a Superrich at the Chit Lom BTS. How much street food will 700 baht buy?

The barfine is 1000 baht in at least 5 go gos that I know in Pattaya right now, some as far out as on Soi 8. Seems to be the new trend. My new favorite is mamasans with set prices written on a piece of paper that they show you that say "Short time 1500, long time 2500" haha

[QUOTE=Rick Rock;1380418]The barfine is 1000 baht in at least 5 go gos that I know in Pattaya right now, some as far out as on Soi 8. Seems to be the new trend. My new favorite is mamasans with set prices written on a piece of paper that they show you that say "Short time 1500, long time 2500" haha[/QUOTE]What strikes me most after two weeks in Pattaya is that supply of almost everything so exceeds demand. (Condos for rent are and tall girls are the only exceptions I have come across.) Just sit in any gogo for a while watching the bored girls go through their paces without getting any interest, or wait till closing time, or look at the beer bars, or walk along Beach Road almost any time, except just after the police have done a sweep. The mystery isn't so much how some gogo's can charge so much, but how the minimum price of 500 holds up.

Gogo and beer bars provide a service and have overheads, so have to make something. But 1, 000 bar fines, including when they are about to close and there are still 10 girls left? Some girls are more attractive than others, and you might want to fall in love for a couple of days and pay whatever. But, unlike our home countries, there are always adequate alternatives at the standard prices.

Maybe its just that the suppliers are just better organised than the consumers. And sober.

There's a case for starting a thread on value in Pattaya. Contrasted with ripoffs, or if you like the higher end of the market. Covering prices, for drinks, fines, girls, but also pressure to buy drinks, clearly posted prices, and compliance with pre-barfine agreements.

Thanks guys for the response for changing money. Here is a little more information. I am coming to Bangkok and then going to Pattaya. A few friends will be coming with me for the first time. They are pretty new and will be bring new US $100 bills so hopefully won't have any problem with money changers. We were just wondering if it is better to change money in Bangkok or Pattaya to get better rate. We will probably be changing at least $2000 each and maybe more. It doesn't make any difference in the risk since we will be carrying either Thai Baht or US $ on our person either way. We are staying in hotels with in room safe so hopefully that would be safe. Thanks again for taking the time out to help us.

[QUOTE=Csun213;1380673]Thanks guys for the response for changing money. Here is a little more information. I am coming to Bangkok and then going to Pattaya. A few friends will be coming with me for the first time. They are pretty new and will be bring new US $100 bills so hopefully won't have any problem with money changers. We were just wondering if it is better to change money in Bangkok or Pattaya to get better rate. We will probably be changing at least $2000 each and maybe more. It doesn't make any difference in the risk since we will be carrying either Thai Baht or US $ on our person either way. We are staying in hotels with in room safe so hopefully that would be safe. Thanks again for taking the time out to help us.[/QUOTE]Far too many agonising changing money and worrying where to change it.

For frequent travellers: I usually keep about $50 in baht back from each trip and that gets me out of the Airport into Bangkok or Pattaya.

For newbies: Buy $50 in Baht at home or at the Airport and get to your destination.

Then when you are settled in look around a few (but don't waste too much time) banks / dealers and find a rate you are happy with.

Do not change a large sum all at once. You may not need it all and you will lose changing baht to $ when you leave.

But above all quit worrying about a baht or two on the exchange rate. You are there to enjoy and a couple of beers will negate any gain from trudging the streets when

You could be deep into a FL.

[QUOTE=Csun213;1380673]Thanks guys for the response for changing money. Here is a little more information. I am coming to Bangkok and then going to Pattaya. A few friends will be coming with me for the first time. They are pretty new and will be bring new US $100 bills so hopefully won't have any problem with money changers. We were just wondering if it is better to change money in Bangkok or Pattaya to get better rate. We will probably be changing at least $2000 each and maybe more. It doesn't make any difference in the risk since we will be carrying either Thai Baht or US $ on our person either way. We are staying in hotels with in room safe so hopefully that would be safe. Thanks again for taking the time out to help us.[/QUOTE]As I said, Superrich is the place to go. Another option would be Vasu at the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 7/1, the rate is just almost as good. But there better change smaller chunks (I'd say 500 USD at a time) , as I heard stories that make me not trust them with large amounts. Superrich is where many if not most of the smaller changers change.

[QUOTE=Paul Kausch;1380397]There's a Superrich at the Chit Lom BTS. How much street food will 700 baht buy?[/QUOTE]They are a second separate superrich company called superrich 1965 with more branches and all different rates. Only the head office is competitive.

[url]http://www.superrich1965.com/rate.php[/url]

[QUOTE=Superrich1965 Website]
These rates are applicable for business hours from 9.00 am - 6.00 pm. at the RAJADUMRI and SILOM branch only.
[/quote]