BKK first night

[t0oL1]

Tout grabbed me after visiting Balcony for Kamakazi and dinner. Took me to Sweet Bananna Bar + one other (with a show). Nothing much but tips for performers in show. Went to another bar off Soi Tawan- Super A. One nice small boy I wanted very much to swallow his children. Also interesting massage place along Soi Tawan.

Stopped by Fresh Boys on the way back to my hotel, BBB Inn. Some nice boys. Met Viet mamasan and tipped. Some boys cute. Also spottted Screw Boys downstairs so I stopped in for 1 drink (Red Bull).

 

Plan to stop into Super A tomorrow again after I get my AmEx card to work...

[abidismaili]

That is a long time ago that I read someone stayed in BBB Inn.  I did it one time. During my very first visit to Bangkok in 2014. It was very run down. Worst hotel I have been in, out of all my hotels in Thailand so far. 

How is it these days ?

[ggobkk]

Very active in a few  hours!  Congratulations!  
 

Your observations of Super A would be appreciated, haven't seen many mentions since Vinapu had his shoes flooded on a rainy night.

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, ggobkk said:

Your observations of Super A would be appreciated, haven't seen many mentions since Vinapu had his shoes flooded on a rainy night.

not only me but also ChristianPFC as well

OMG, you still remember that story, almost 2 years ago I guess, yes it was quite a deluge with all sois under water but what was more impressive it was how fast after rain stopped market along Suriwong  came back to life , say 5 minutes

3 hours ago, t0oL1 said:

 

Stopped by Fresh Boys on the way back to my hotel, BBB Inn.

do they still have massage boys at BBB Inn ? If Tao is still there I can recommend him, Wat Po trained and it showed.

2 hours ago, abidismaili said:

That is a long time ago that I read someone stayed in BBB Inn.  I did it one time. During my very first visit to Bangkok in 2014. It was very run down. Worst hotel I have been in, out of all my hotels in Thailand so far. 

How is it these days ?

not exactly surgical room in hospital but I stay there many times and it was not that bad , windows draperies could use some washing though.

Certainly fun to stay at and NO PROBLEM WITH VISITORS WHATSOEVER 

[t0oL1]

Super A - 300 Bt for a beer. Gave mamas an 500 bt bill. No change returned.    BBB Inn ok but smaller room 950 has NO tv. Figure nothing on anyway I can understand so why change room to superior (1250). Guessing no premium movie channels.

[t0oL1]

Need to give business lest BBB becomes next Chinese karaoke rooms like LCR. Tried not drinking alcohol. Couldn’t resist blue kamikaze at Balcony. Three other bars I had Red Bull- explains why I am up typing still at 7am fueling my jet lag

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, t0oL1 said:

Super A - 300 Bt for a beer. Gave mamas an 500 bt bill. No change returned. 

years ago the same thing happened to me at old Jupiter, ever since when I go to the bars I make sure I have enough small notes on me so I don't need to wait for  a change

[Patanawet]

13 hours ago, t0oL1 said:

Tout grabbed me after visiting Balcony for Kamakazi and dinner.

So much to comment on.

First, NEVER talk to a tout! This may be why you paid 300 in Super A (that is the price if you go in a tuk tuk . He gets commission for bringing you.) Don't pay more than 150 at Super A.    Ask price from doorman and barter if necessary (applies in every bar).

Most bars are asking 350 per drink but some like Jupiter and Tawan charge 500.

I stayed a few years ago at BBB. Very overpriced. Room clean enough but as stated earlier 'run down'.  Cable TV  terrible unless you like German or Thai channels or straight porno.  Have a look at Malaysia Hotel --- not the gay paradise it was years ago but still very friendly now -- and inexpensive.

Search this and other boards for advice and talk to other expats or visitors. Balcony was a good start to talk to people and free cabaret shows on Fridays and Saturdays.

 

As an irrelevant comment --- when Super A was upstairs, I got my feet soaked because the down pipe on the urinal was not connected to anything!.

Have fun.

[t0oL1]

Tried to give tout 100 bt to get rid of him after 2 bars he said give me 100 more. As my hand emerged from my pocket with 300. bt folded over he grabbed it all and took it. Plus he was getting my change from each of :2 bars skinning it for 50 bt. Then he kept asking for “drnnk for me?”     “NO cannot”

[t0oL1]

Pantanawet just was thinking of pool despite taxi costs  at Malaysia. Re: feet soaked- eew!  

[Patanawet]

26 minutes ago, t0oL1 said:

Tried to give tout 100 bt to get rid of him after 2 bars he said give me 100 more. As my hand emerged from my pocket with 300. bt folded over he grabbed it all and took it. Plus he was getting my change from each of :2 bars skinning it for 50 bt. Then he kept asking for “drnnk for me?”     “NO cannot”

Plus the commission he got from the bars for taking you there.

Take care and listen to others. A good bar to try is Lucky boys in Patpong 2. Just politely brush aside the mamasans saying your''re only there for the show and don't want a boy (even if you do).

I too liked  Fresh boys, especially the waiters near the door. It is loosely family owned by the same people from Banana Room Club and Welcome Bar (host boys) in Silom soi 4.

[Patanawet]

32 minutes ago, t0oL1 said:

Pantanawet just was thinking of pool despite taxi costs  at Malaysia. Re: feet soaked- eew!  

Malaysia is walking distance or a 40 baht taxi ride from Silom and steps away from Babylon.

The outside terrace by the fish pond and many of the rooms have been refurbished.

[Guest]

5 hours ago, vinapu said:

years ago the same thing happened to me at old Jupiter, ever since when I go to the bars I make sure I have enough small notes on me so I don't need to wait for  a change

Good advice.     Some bars return change reasonably promptly.    In others it's best to give them the exact amount.   

Toy Boys  frequently leave your wallet on the bar for about 10 minutes before returning it.   Presumably in the hope that you leave without it, which is unlikely if waiting for ~700 baht.   I try to pay the exact amount there.

 

1 hour ago, Patanawet said:

First, NEVER talk to a tout! This may be why you paid 300 in Super A (that is the price if you go in a tuk tuk . He gets commission for bringing you.) Don't pay more than 150 at Super A.    Ask price from doorman and barter if necessary (applies in every bar).

Two pieces of good advice.    Never talking to touts (or any other pushy salesperson) is my default setting. However, perhaps I should learn something about getting the right drink price.

 

 

 

[spoon]

I first notice some bars also charges differently on alcoholic drink like beer, soda, and water in toyboys. If you just take bottle water, its cheaper but still not by much. Cant recall exactly how much, it could be 220 for water bottle, and 280 for beer.

[t0oL1]

22 minutes ago, Patanawet said:

Malaysia is walking distance or a 40 baht taxi ride from Silom and steps away from Babylon.

The outside terrace by the fish pond and many of the rooms have been refurbished.

Bar closing time taxis go way up usually 100. One time I took tuktuk without asking price. 500 bt then no change for 1000! Very mao .

[spoon]

13 minutes ago, t0oL1 said:

Bar closing time taxis go way up usually 100. One time I took tuktuk without asking price. 500 bt then no change for 1000! Very mao .

Ergh, you got ripped off left and right. I always use grab. If im in need of taxi, always insist on meter, and take taxi that are noving on the road instead of those parking waiting for customer. For tuktuk, i avoid them in silom all the time. Ive used motosai in pattaya, but not in bangkok but generally, try to get motorsai from their stations, which usually have many motorsai waiting and a signboard with bunch of locations with fares, unfortunately in thai. Image below might help.

Always insist on setting the price upfront and always have the exact amount. Bts station is a great place to exchange smaller bills.

[a447a]

t0oL1, you were ripped off at Super A. If I'm paying 300 baht for a drink, I expect more....err...salubrious surroundings. 

Those  two mamasans are total pains in the arse. I had a short altercation with one of them when he tried to pocket my change. It was quite an effort to get it from him. If they refused to give you your change, then basically they stole the money from you. And they got away with it.

It seems that tout also stole from you when he grabbed that 300 baht. And he got away with it.

Word gets around amongst the boys and the bars.  Soon they'll all be seeing you coming a mile.

Maybe it's time for you to put your foot down.

[Londoner]

I agree...but always smile when you do so. A smile is  often returned, but even if it's not, it is far more effective than a show of   annoyance The loss of the 300bht will be a good price to pay for learning this lesson.

And yes, a good supply of 20s and 100s is a must. Ask when you change money and use the 500s and 1000s in restaurants.... and 711s. I've never had any problems there, even if I'm only spending 30bht.

[Patanawet]

18 minutes ago, Londoner said:

I agree...but always smile when you do so. A smile is  often returned, but even if it's not, it is far more effective than a show of   annoyance The loss of the 300bht will be a good price to pay for learning this lesson.

And yes, a good supply of 20s and 100s is a must. Ask when you change money and use the 500s and 1000s in restaurants.... and 711s. I've never had any problems there, even if I'm only spending 30bht.

Agree 100%.

Never take a taxi from those parked outside a popular bar area or hotel.

As Londoner said don't get in a taxi offering you a fixed price. Open the car door - state your destination and say ""meter". If he says meter no work or any other excuse smile and say "fuck off".

If you were talking about taxis from soi 4,  cross over Silom and try a taxi from the left hand corner there.

[macaroni21]

6 hours ago, z909 said:

Toy Boys  frequently leave your wallet on the bar for about 10 minutes before returning it.   Presumably in the hope that you leave without it, which is unlikely if waiting for ~700 baht.   I try to pay the exact amount there.

I can't be absolutely sure that it was Toy Boys since it's been years ago, but I think it was that place that once gave me about 300 baht change from a 500-baht bill (drinks were cheaper then) all in 10-baht coins. The hope was that I'd leave most of the coins in the bill folder as tip. However, especially as they went over the top with the coins, I deliberately took my time picking each and every one up, inspected them for genuineness and with great ceremony put them in my coin purse. They didn't get a farthing.

Now I make sure I have plenty of small change before I step into these bars. 

--

http://shamelessmacktwo.travel.blog

 

[spoon]

I had that done to me, change with lots of coins, in old freshboys. Being an avid user of bts, i need those changes in coins lol

[PeterRS]

One trick sometimes used in bars is for your change to come in a mix of notes and coins. But 2 or 3 10 baht coins will be tucked into a tight flap at the bottom of the folder. If you dont plan on leaving a tip, make sure you take all your change.

[Guest]

7 hours ago, Londoner said:

The loss of the 300bht will be a good price to pay for learning this lesson.

And yes, a good supply of 20s and 100s is a must. Ask when you change money and use the 500s and 1000s in restaurants

The loss would be a good price, providing the lesson IS learnt.    

A certain amount of common sense is required when travelling.

Take several ATM cards that work.  

Avoid touts.  

Carry a good range of notes to pay taxi drivers, bars etc.   If you failed to keep notes to pay your taxi driver the correct fare, DON'T hand over your 1000 baht note.    Insist he goes to get change.   Most likely, some change will appear from within the car.

If someone tells you the "Grand Palace is Closed Today" and offers to take you on a tuk tuk tour, ignore him.

If they want to sell you an expensive Persian carpet, keep walking etc etc.

 

2 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

I can't be absolutely sure that it was Toy Boys since it's been years ago, but I think it was that place that once gave me about 300 baht change from a 500-baht bill (drinks were cheaper then) all in 10-baht coins.

As I see it, in order for me to consider paying a tip, a bar needs to provide good service, including bringing the check bin back promptly AND with sensible change.      If the mamasans are pushy, or if returning the check bin is deliberately slow or they bring a stupid number of coins,  the last thing to do is to pay a tip.
 

 

 

 

[vinapu]

18 hours ago, t0oL1 said:

Super A - 300 Bt for a beer. Gave mamas an 500 bt bill. No change returned.  

 

8 hours ago, t0oL1 said:

Bar closing time taxis go way up usually 100. One time I took tuktuk without asking price. 500 bt then no change for 1000! Very mao .

that 100 at closing time  from Patpong to Malaysia is my experience also , few times even driver refused to go for that much / and I refused to pay more, plenty moving taxis in BKK at any time/

Otherwise you seem very frivolous with money, nothing wrong in being in spending mode on vacations but your money should go to the boys , not waiters , mamasans or tuktuk/ taxi drivers unless you have some designs on those.

[vinapu]

7 hours ago, Patanawet said:

... don't get in a taxi offering you a fixed price. Open the car door - state your destination and say ""meter". If he says meter no work or any other excuse smile and say "fuck off".

 

that's rude, I'm not saying undeserved but still rude.

BKK taxi drivers are definitely not worse that everywhere else and yes , sometimes they try to skin clients alive but they still are very good value considering rest of the world and size of city they are serving