Bangkok or Pattaya? An long-time poster asks for advice

[numazu]

Apologies are in order, I think. I have abandoned GayThailand in general, and my last trip report, in particular. It is no secret that Brazil has succesfullly claimed me, and will continue to do so for the forseeable future. But sometimes my work does get me to Asia, and in June, I’ve planned a 4-night stopover to Thailand. The last time I was in Thailand was a short stopover in Bangkok last year. 

And life does happen, and goes on, and in between that trip to now, a lot has changed. I’ve been going to Brazil every month, making more and more friends with locals, have had a boyfriend, broken up, and found another boyfriend in the process, and I am more or less fluent in the language (really surprised how easy it was, and easier than, let’s say, learning Thai). 

That’s what is good (and bad) about Brazil, it demands your attention. Of course you can get away with just staying in the saunas and the tourist ghettos and have a perfectly good time, but I made the mistake of wanting more, and in return, Brazil has shown me way more than what I bargained for, for better or for worse. I believe that with a country like Brazil, with its superficial charms and deeper conundrums, you really have to take the good with the bad, and it’s almost a crime to not allow yourself to experience EVERYTHING. 

But here we are, with me asking for advice on what to do in my 4 nights in Thailand. Should I go to Bangkok, where the boy bar landscape has changed drastically.  Last time I was there was June 2018, and Soi Twilight was still a thing. Pattaya? Last time I was there was even further back than that.  Last time I was there was July 2016, where I famously had a muscleman Tawan guy drive me in his SUV to get back to Bangkok. 

Old-timers (of this forum) know what I like: lean muscular to muscular guys. I mean, twinks do it for me too, but with Brazil being chock-ful of twinks who are free on Grindr (and muscular guys a dime a dozen), having to turn my attention to twinks in Thailand and pay would be kind of weird for me. The Moonlight and Jupiter aesthetic fits pretty well with what I am looking for, but to be honest, anything can happen, and I am open to let the trip decide my fate. I am not looking for the same things I get from Brazil. I’d rather let the obvious charms of Thai, Viet, Myanmar and Khmer boys speak for themselves. 

And of course, to pay you back for your valuable advice, I will write a trip report, and promise to even finish it. So, where should I go? Please let me know in the poll and comments.

[TotallyOz]

I was in Pattaya recently and the apps were great.  But, IMHO, Bangkok still kicks ass with the gay bar scene and the vast number of guys. I like the new gay area much better than before and have been there 4 times recently and that is about 3 times more than last year before it changed. So, I voted Bangkok! But, I also enjoy Pattaya but can't really comment on the bars there as I have not been in ages. 

[Londoner]

I've been dividing my time between the two for  twenty years. Usually at least 80%  of the time in Pattaya....which sums up my preference. I like Pattaya's clearly-defined gay areas and larger number of venues , even if they aren't what they were. Bangkok's have declined even more and I was unimpressed by my first visit to the Patpong gay area last week.

One other thing. The Pattaya guys know that that many of their clientele are like to stay on holiday for two weeks or even more, while the Bangkok guys are often meeting-up with short-term visitors. This has an effect on the nature of the assignations, in my view.. I'd hazard a guess that those of us who subsequently developed LTRs did so in Pattaya rather than Bangkok.

Babylon is a draw for me; were it not there , I'd probably dispense with Bangkok. 

[TotallyOz]

34 minutes ago, Londoner said:

Babylon is a draw for me; were it not there , I'd probably dispense with Bangkok. 

1

Curious here. Why? I visited a lot during my early visits to Thailand but not much in the last 15 years.  Do you meet people here or just like the scene?

[Jasper]

Welcome back Numazu!

We all missed you.

I voted Bangkok as Jupiter, Moonlight, Dreamboy and Tawan are enough for me.

[Londoner]

Michael; the answer is simple. I met someone  in Pattaya sixteen years ago....and without him,  I'd have probably stopped coming. We are aware of  the scene- in both paces- and like being in a gay environment even if we are not participants. I must confess that I do explore Bangkok  the day before he arrives from  his home in the north of the country. Hence my comments about Patpong and Babylon.

[spoon]

I voted for pattaya. One for my selfish reason, to hear your recent account of pattaya lol. Not sure when is your 4 days stop over, but there will be a circuit festival asia party in pattaya in june 7-9, so if your visit coincide with the date, might be a fun time to visit pattaya if u like parties, or might be a reason to avoid pattaya if u dont. 

[vinapu]

Bangkok !

If only to get your assessment of all recent changes.

Jasper above summed it all neatly. 

[floridarob]

I forget , have you been to Bali?

BKK is good, but knowing the Brasil scene and cost of living...it's mind blowing how some of the boys charge what they do (as well as drink prices, but you're not a drinker)....

Then there's always the AMAZING food in Thailand and good massages, that has been my draw recently along with long flights to maintain status with the airlines.

[anddy]

unsurprisingly, I voted Bangkok. For one I simply don't like Pattaya, but also for the selfish reason that it might give me an opportunity to meet you and hear all about your brazilian life  . Of course, as others have said, only by taking a look for yourself can you gauge whether or not you like the change in the bar scene. At the end of the day, though, a bar is a bar, and the Asian boys are the Asian boys their charms we all know and love. So apart from some new, external environment you already know what you are getting. 

[Boy69]

18 hours ago, Londoner said:

I've been dividing my time between the two for  twenty years. Usually at least 80%  of the time in Pattaya....which sums up my preference. I like Pattaya's clearly-defined gay areas and larger number of venues , even if they aren't what they were. Bangkok's have declined even more and I was unimpressed by my first visit to the Patpong gay area last week.

One other thing. The Pattaya guys know that that many of their clientele are like to stay on holiday for two weeks or even more, while the Bangkok guys are often meeting-up with short-term visitors. This has an effect on the nature of the assignations, in my view.. I'd hazard a guess that those of us who subsequently developed LTRs did so in Pattaya rather than Bangkok.

Babylon is a draw for me; were it not there , I'd probably dispense with Bangkok. 

This is exactly why I vote for Pattaya it's easier to find long term boys I know that most members in this forum doing only ST and  visit massage parlours .I am too shine by nature and feel uncomfortable at saunas and massage parlours and if I find the right boy I prefer to stick with him and it's easier to find it at Pattaya. 

Pattaya has other advantages :

Leaving costs much cheaper than BĶK, Beaches, Boys fees is more reasonable,more boys willing to do LT .

[Travellerdave]

I agree with you Boy69 and have always preferred Pats to Bkk, since I discovered the place nearly 20 years ago. Although I concede that Bkk is better for hunks rather than twinks of which there is an ample supply in Pattaya available at lower prices, prepared to stay overnight and maybe become a holiday boyfriend. Bkk is rather overwhelming and I suspect the traffic pollution is not good health wise.

[ggobkk]

Numazu - with only 4 days to spend in Thailand, I would suspect you are not looking for a long term relationship...

I don’t know what to recommend.  I’m now in the midst of day 2 of the Pattaya leg of this trip.  All sorts of guys from other visits are finding me and making it a great time.  Yet, Bangkok was incredible for gracing me with exceptional offs.  

I think having a chance to hang a bit with anddy would weigh in favor of Bangkok. 

 

[Aux1010]

I like both for different reasons, but if I have to pick one it's normally Pattaya. Primarily for the pure sleeze of Sunee Plaza (and more particularly Nice Boys).

FYI - Burboy is back living in Pattaya, if you were after a bit of nostalgia lol. I FINALLY had the pleasure of catching up with him again for a drink when I was there in March...still as handsome and charming as ever!! 

[Londoner]

One thing I liked about Pattaya is that the guys who worked in a particular bar are often friends....some of them from the same village who had traveled together to the bright lights. They often lived together, or close to each other and socialised. This meant that the atmosphere in the bars (and I must admit that I'm now talking about the past) was more humorous and friendly. 

In Bangkok, the guys often live far away from the work-place meeting the other workers only in the bar and so their relationships are less warm. And the bars less vibrant.

[reader]

So where did you decide to go and how was the trip?

[GPAPA]

On 5/26/2019 at 5:02 PM, floridarob said:

I forget , have you been to Bali?

BKK is good, but knowing the Brasil scene and cost of living...it's mind blowing how some of the boys charge what they do (as well as drink prices, but you're not a drinker)....

Then there's always the AMAZING food in Thailand and good massages, that has been my draw recently along with long flights to maintain status with the airlines.

Just curious about how much do they charge in Brazil? Cheap and fun?

[floridarob]

4 hours ago, GPAPA said:

Just curious about how much do they charge in Brazil? Cheap and fun?

in the sauna 100-150 reis after the sauna or house visit 150-200

 

100 reis =26usd

Fun...?? Fuck yeah, lol

 

passionate sex for both tops & bottoms

[Londoner]

What is the situation for gays now that there is an evangelical, homophobic, racist thug is in power? I have read reports that the gay community is very nervous.