Jimbillp Posted November 7, 2016 Posted November 7, 2016 There's no hiding. Just check out the shops. Christmas is looming! So I thought a thread on Christmas and New Year in Bangkok would be a good idea. I'll be there for the fortnight with trips out of town too. All tips and advice for this time welcome. Both general tourism stuff and the more specialist scene. What's good to know and do? What's been good and bad in the past? Is it peak high season? Anyone else around? Hoping for a lively and informative thread and may everyone be Merry. Quote
DivineMadman Posted November 7, 2016 Posted November 7, 2016 In a normal year, Bangkok is a great place to celebrate NYE. This year it looks like things will be subdued. Khaosod reports that Central World will not be having it's NYE party, and I read that some of the beer companies announced they will not be setting up beer gardens, which used to be fun places to hang out with friends, enjoy the crowds and celebrate. Some hotels are reported to have cancelled their big NYE events. River boats are also a fan fave for NYE. So, yes it's high season, the weather is nice, it's a fun time to be in BKK, and it's hard not to laugh at the Christmas carolers who wander through the various mega malls giving their own take on Christmas standbys, but hard to predict what it will be like in BKK this year. Quote
numazu Posted November 8, 2016 Posted November 8, 2016 I am spending NYE in Bangkok, specifically for the White Party: I bought tickets months ago at super early bird rates, and will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express Siam, which walkable to the venue at CentralWorld, in December 30 - January 1. I was able to use only 15,000 points a night to book my hotel room. That's a huge steal, considering that now it is 3,514 baht a night to stay at this 3 to 4 star hotel during this time. The hotel room rates are usually high over NYE. BUT, as DivineMadman has mentioned, most of us are in a holding pattern. We do not know yet if the celebrations will be scaled back due to the death of the King. As already said, most NYE parties are already cancelled. If the White Party is scaled back or cancelled, I will just spend more time in Myanmar, as I will be staying there before the White Party. I will be spending Christmas Eve in Bangkok before my flight on Christmas Day to Yangon. Maybe Yangon will have a more chipper Christmas spirit than a mourning Thailand. Quote
anddy Posted November 8, 2016 Posted November 8, 2016 I will be spending Christmas Eve in Bangkok before my flight on Christmas Day to Yangon. Maybe Yangon will have a more chipper Christmas spirit than a mourning Thailand. Well in my opinion there is no "Christmas spirit" in Bangkok or any other country or city in the region. As a westerner you may perceive such spirit because of the xmas decorations and the xmas carols being played everywhere, but if you're Thai (SE-Asian) I don't think you'll feel any sort of xmas spirit that my this year be squashed by the mourning. Christmas is a purely commercial affair here IMO. As for big NYE events, yes that remains to be seen. Given that WP is behind closed doors I'd think that it can go on with no or at most very limited scaling down. That kind of thing is happening even now while we are still in the 30 mourning period. Alexx and vinapu 2 Quote
ozmouse Posted November 9, 2016 Posted November 9, 2016 Alas, after spending 3 xmas' in BKK, i will not be there this year. (but will be there for songkran!) I really enjoy the xmas week in BKK. Weather is pleasant, air seems cleaner. City empties out over NY holiday - to the point of traffic being a breeze to navigate. some of the shops close for the NY holiday. the food market in saladeang closes. There is the unique asian application of western xmas traditions applied... i find quaint... but certainly not replacing/satisfying any of my heartfelt traditions. just quaint asian.... we did one of the NYE dance parties one year... great night... but im past that these days. Hero was busy the one year. was >hour waits 2 times i went. didnt wait around. Compared to phuket, i prefer bangkok over this period. Too crazy and expensive with european tourists. pong and DivineMadman 2 Quote
Brummbaer Posted November 10, 2016 Posted November 10, 2016 I'll be in Pattaya Christmas day until 29th and then Bangkok until 1/1. Unfortunately I have to work up until Dec 23rd and again from Jan 2nd, Unlike the UK, Austria does not add on free days to the weekend, should Christmas/Boxing Day/New Year happen to be a saturday or sunday. Nothing planned as yet, I'll let my boyfriend decide what we will do. Quote
Brummbaer Posted November 10, 2016 Posted November 10, 2016 Yes. I've only come back from the last visit (17-31 Oct) and had already been advised by my bpyfriend to pack mainly black and white shirts for that trip. Quote
Guest ryanasia Posted November 10, 2016 Posted November 10, 2016 Yes. I've only come back from the last visit (17-31 Oct) and had already been advised by my bpyfriend to pack mainly black and white shirts for that trip. I wasn't being serious. Quote
pong Posted November 13, 2016 Posted November 13, 2016 When asked about it, most Thai (boys) seem to think of Xmas as just yet another ''partee'', without any clue of what it means. The current silent atmosfere anywhere, even in big AC shopping centres, could well hold off those eternal ''Merry Klissemes'' piped sonds too. OZmouse is just spot on on what BKK looks like in that week preceding 1/1. Also expect overloaded transport out of own before and into just after. Quote
Nikom Posted November 13, 2016 Posted November 13, 2016 -- "most Thai (boys) seem to think of Xmas as just yet another ''partee'', without any clue of what it means." AND Most western (boys) seen to think of Xmas as just yet another "Partee", without any clue of what it means! eurasian, vinapu, traveller123 and 1 other 4 Quote
crayontt Posted November 18, 2016 Posted November 18, 2016 Anyone wanna meet up during new year Quote
Guest ronnie4you Posted November 18, 2016 Posted November 18, 2016 I'd love to go to the White Party. Imagine. Thousands of hunky gym guys who have been working out for weeks! Shirtless, sweaty, muscular and hot. I am ready to go. Yet I am an old white man. Do you think they would care that I was only there to see them? (Well, any and all strippers,too) Has anyone here gone to a previous event? I could not go the first night. How much does it run. Is it as sexy and erotic as the ones in the USA? Quote
Jimbillp Posted November 25, 2016 Author Posted November 25, 2016 Just ONE month to go!! Thanks for the responses so far. The new year White Party looks superb, is it confirmed yet Numazu? Please keep updating with news, tips and anything relevant to Christmas and New Year in Bangkok and if you are around for this holiday period. Is 3 Jan an additional holiday to 1 Jan now? Jingle bells to all Quote
numazu Posted November 27, 2016 Posted November 27, 2016 Just ONE month to go!! Thanks for the responses so far. The new year White Party looks superb, is it confirmed yet Numazu? Yes it is confirmed. Seems that after the mourning period, they've had a few announcement on the special guests and DJs, as well as sneak peeks on the stage design and the parties. From the Facebook page it looks like it is not scaled back at all and not at all affected. There has been a good amount of gay press about it too. I'd love to go to the White Party. Imagine. Thousands of hunky gym guys who have been working out for weeks! Shirtless, sweaty, muscular and hot. I am ready to go. Yet I am an old white man. Do you think they would care that I was only there to see them? (Well, any and all strippers,too) Has anyone here gone to a previous event? I could not go the first night. How much does it run. Is it as sexy and erotic as the ones in the USA? I am sure most people are there to gawk at the hunks in the event. I am sure you will have a good time, old, young, or whatever else you are. There is more info at their website: http://whitepartybangkok.com/tickets/ but here are how much the individual tickets run: I've never been to the White Party Bangkok before (I've been to the one in Palm Springs many times), but I've been to the Songkran parties three times, which is run by the same people, and yes its very erotic and sexy. I am looking forward to this one. Quote
Guest Promsak Posted November 28, 2016 Posted November 28, 2016 -- "most Thai (boys) seem to think of Xmas as just yet another ''partee'', without any clue of what it means." AND Most western (boys) seen to think of Xmas as just yet another "Partee", without any clue of what it means! My friend thinks it is to celebrate Father Christmas's birthday. Quote
Jimbillp Posted December 14, 2016 Author Posted December 14, 2016 Not long till Christmas now. Not long till Bangkok too. Any more tips or thoughts around the holiday season? Just two days till arrivals for me. Can't wait. Who else is going/already there? What are your plans? And enjoy the countdown everyone, wherever you are in the world. Quote
jason1975 Posted December 14, 2016 Posted December 14, 2016 I shall be in bangkok during the Christmas period too. First time experiencing Christmas in Bangkok. Quote
