Pattaya Reports

[Allover]

Lately, my interest has piqued in GCs. Have tried most of the Soi Bongkoch ones. Would anyone be interested in GCs hopping?

Many of the Gentleman Clubs have organized club hopping. You can do it at a number of clubs. If you need more info stop by Maggie May on Soi Pothole. They are part of the club hopping circuit. Just ask about Gentleman Club tours. They have a poster in the bathroom with the info on it as well.

[Explorer8939]

Customers like you?

My point is that some bargirls are able to extract money from customers over the long haul.

Guys come to Pattaya, fall in love with a lady, and then lose their life savings.

However, lots of ladies can't handle more than 3 days with a customer unless they sense he will be a customer sponsor.

[HorseTrader]

Thanks much to all who weighed in. For what it's worth, here is my cash management plan for my winter holiday.

Two thoughts regarding your arrival at BKK airport. First, there is at least one AIS booth before you get to immigration. Other carriers are in the same immediate area. Second, there are plenty of ATMs of various brands in the baggage claim area.

Has anyone seen an ATM before immigration? I have not.

[Sam Sanuk]

What if she neither takes money from a man nor gives him money?

I call her a "keeper". I actually call 3 or 4 I have like that "giks".

[Bunky]

Thanks much to all who weighed in. For what it's worth, here is my cash management plan for my winter holiday.

FIRST: Will leave home with about 2,000 baht leftover from my previous trip. A few days in advance I'll get on the AIS web site and buy a travel eSIM that springs to life the second my flight lands at BKK. Super handy, but those SIMS don't include texting or voice calls. Fortunately, there is a lone AIS kiosk after immigration and before customs, close to the baggage carousels. The cheerful girls are happy to "top off" my SIM to allow texting and calling, but they do not accept credit cards. Having a bit of baht in my pocket solves that problem.

SECOND: After clearing customs I'll go downstairs to the money changers next to the airport rail link station. There I'll buy enough baht to pay for: (1) the nice lady from Nam's who drives me to Pattaya; (2) the agent who arranges my condo rental, who accepts cash only; and (3) my necessities and entertainment for 24 hours.

THIRD: For the rest of my holiday, I'll be hitting the Krungsri ATMs as needed and withdrawing 30k baht each time from my Schwab account.

FOURTH: I'll keep a cash reserves in USD squirreled away someplace safe, just in case. Plus a second ATM card linked to a different account.

Looking at the VISA wholesale crossing rate at roughly 1600 UTC on 17 October, I see they're buying my dollars at 34.26. Looking at the SuperRich web site, their booth in Central Mall is paying 33.18. So right this minute, the ATM exchange rate is 3.25% better.

Of course exchange rates are constantly changing. It may be that they move against me during my holiday and I'll regret not changing more money at the start of my trip. Plus it goes without saying that most of us don't spend enough to care about trivial exchange rate differences. Call me a geek, but I enjoy running the numbers.

Bunky

[Mr Enternational]

This bears repeating, especially with High Season approaching:

Rule #1: in Pattaya, if a lady loves a man, she gives him money. If a lady takes money from a man, he's a customer.l.

What if she neither takes money from a man nor gives him money?

[JizzyB]

Lately, my interest has piqued in GCs. Have tried most of the Soi Bongkoch ones. Would anyone be interested in GCs hopping?

-JizzyB.

[Mogwai]

Those ladies who can accompany customers more than 3 days make the most money.

Customers like you?

[LittleBigMan]

Following the advice of several gents here I opened an account at Charles Schwab and use their VISA debit card to withdraw Baht from Pattaya ATMs while I am on holiday. Works a treat. I always decline the dynamic currency conversion option, which means I get the VISA wholesale exchange rate. You can find it here:

https://usa.visa.com/support/consume...alculator.html

Schwab allows me to withdraw USD $1,000 per day. At the current crossing rate, that's about 33,000 baht.

Usually I use ATM at the Krungsri Bank inside the Central Pattaya Mall on L4. It's close to where I stay, and it feels safe and secure. Problem is, Krungsri limits ATM withdrawals to 30k.

I know I could just do a second withdrawal. And it's really not a big deal. But I was wondering if there are any ATMs with a higher limit? Dr. Google says the United Overseas Bank (UOM) machines go up to 50k, and I see there is one at the corner of Second Rd. and Soi 7.

Does anybody have any first hand experience with ATMs that dispense *MORE* than 30k?

Even if CS, doesn't or the Thai ATM limits the amount, I've done this with a friend Debit card which I handle his finances, it is with BOA, I need more than the amount, so I put in his card and got 25,000 baht, then I stepped over to the other machine and got another 25,000 baht. Yes we have to pay another 250 but it is an non issue for the guy.

Remember these days standard, after agreeing to pay the 250, the screen will give you a breakdown of the transaction it looks like they are doing you a favor but don't push YES OR AGREE!

JUST PRESS NO OR DECLINE THE RATE BEING BROKEN DOWN IS ANOTHER POINT LOWER!

[Explorer8939]

This bears repeating, especially with High Season approaching:

Rule #1: in Pattaya, if a lady loves a man, she gives him money. If a lady takes money from a man, he's a customer.

Rule #2: if you send a lady money after you go home, she will hand it to her boyfriend.

The biggest tension in a bargirl's life is dividing money between her boyfriend and her mother. Most bargirls have kids back in the village, and the mother takes care of the kids, and gets paid by the bargirl. Even if there are no kids, bargirls support their parents (generally). This provides food for the mother and allows the father to drink all day (generally).

I'm traveling through Isaan for a couple of weeks, and staying in 4 different villages, but I see this all the time.

So, when you meet a bargirl, remember that her goal is to extract your money while doing as little work as possible. If she is capable, she will work the long game and go for the big bucks. Those ladies who can accompany customers more than 3 days make the most money.

You've been warned.

[SubCmdr]

You can call them to get it raised for 24 hours.

You can actually raise it permanently. Simply tell the the limit you want and they will tell how high they will allow it to be for your particular account activity.

[Mr Enternational]

Schwab allows me to withdraw USD $1,000 per day. At the current crossing rate, that's about 33,000 baht.

You can call them to get it raised for 24 hours.

[Banana Boi]

Seeking ATM for Withdrawal >30,000 Baht

I think for Farang 30k at Krungsi is the max. There's ICBC 50k if you have a local card. I think UOM is the same as ICBC where you need a local card. If you need LOTS of cash go to a teller in a bank branch.

Wish Thailand came out with a 5k baht note. It's one of the reasons if not the main reason why ATM withdrawals are so low. ATM would only have to hold 6 notes instead of 30 notes for 30k baht.

Pro Tip - For those who don't have a Schwab card use Aeon ATMs to withdraw cash. Lower fees.

[Bunky]

Following the advice of several gents here I opened an account at Charles Schwab and use their VISA debit card to withdraw Baht from Pattaya ATMs while I am on holiday. Works a treat. I always decline the dynamic currency conversion option, which means I get the VISA wholesale exchange rate. You can find it here:

https://usa.visa.com/support/consume...alculator.html

Schwab allows me to withdraw USD $1,000 per day. At the current crossing rate, that's about 33,000 baht.

Usually I use ATM at the Krungsri Bank inside the Central Pattaya Mall on L4. It's close to where I stay, and it feels safe and secure. Problem is, Krungsri limits ATM withdrawals to 30k.

I know I could just do a second withdrawal. And it's really not a big deal. But I was wondering if there are any ATMs with a higher limit? Dr. Google says the United Overseas Bank (UOM) machines go up to 50k, and I see there is one at the corner of Second Rd. and Soi 7.

Does anybody have any first hand experience with ATMs that dispense *MORE* than 30k?

[Mari1256]

You will find everything and more on the Pattaya addicts forum.