Trip report: Thailand September 2022

[emiel1981]

On 9/3/2022 at 6:04 PM, reader said:

When I left in July, Nature Boy was open (diagonally opposite New Twilight) but the crew seemed to be the guys from Golden Cock that is closed.

You are actually right.

Today I walked passed Nature Boy and had a short conversation with the person sitting at the door (couldn't really tell if it was a boy, girl or anything in between...). I was told Golden Cock and Nature Boy merged into one bar, in the location of Nature Boy (both bars were already from the same owner). Lighted signs with both bar names are now at the wall. Don't ask me for any details as I didn't go inside because I was in a hurry to get to my other engagements... But wanted to be able to give you guys a quick update. 

[vinapu]

33 minutes ago, emiel1981 said:

 I didn't go inside because I was in a hurry to get to my other engagements..

late shopping at 7/11 in the next soi?

[gerefan]

I have stayed at the Tarntawan on and off for about 18 years.

So I booked two nights there last week and was appalled.

Reception was gloomy, dull and almost deserted. All the helpful staff have gone.

I was allocated Room 305 at the back of the hotel. It had a “City View”. In other words there was a brick wall 1 metre away which meant there was no light whatsoever! I couldnt even tell if it was raining. Even during the day you needed all the lights on. 
 

The TV didn’t work. There were two remotes (god knows why) but you could only watch one channel.

The room was tiny. Probably less than 15 sq m. If I was in the market for bringing an “off” back I would have been ashamed.
 

And finally it was 1200 bt a night...without breakfast.

Never again...

 

 

[fedssocr]

If my room had all of those issues I would have been at reception asking for a move to a better one. Surely the hotel wasn't full.

[reader]

Saddened to hear that the once most popular gay-friendly hotel has fallen so far.

Besides the ever-present manager, Lucas, there was one particular staff member I still recall fondly. He was one of the elevator guards who (20 years ago when I first arrived in Bangkok) was a young man. Courteous and friendly to a fault, I looked forward to his morning greeting. I believe he stayed on for a few years after new management took over. Even when I wasn't no longer staying there, I'd drop by to say hello and give him a red note for old time sake.

It was always entertaining to see who showed up in the lobby for breakfast with their overnight guests.

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, reader said:

. I believe he stayed on for a few years after new management took over.

he was till there in 2019 I believe

nobody by the elevator last May but desk was still there

[TMax]

I have started thinking of my next trip, around March next year and was considering which hotels to choose from. My last few trips I stayed at the Raya without any issues at all but was also thinking to try Tarntawan again but after reading some reports I think Raya may win out. I switched from Tarntawan to the Raya when Tarntawan management changed and dollar for dollar the Raya then was better value but now it seems it may be better to pay the extra and stay there again. After all, missing so many years of travel due to "pandemic" I may just treat myself, got a lot of missed times to make up for. 

[emiel1981]

15 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

That was true in July too. Credit to Hotmale.  If only more bars followed that example. By the way, did you pay 350 baht or 400 baht for your first drink there?

(...) 

In short: Shows in the form of short bursts of live porn add value to the bars businesses; shows in the form of hour-long wanna-be cabaret subtract value.

First drink in Hotmale was 400 baht. 

I think most of us think the same about the shows. Some (soft) erotic entertainment would be nice. But we are there for the boys, not for hours of bad dancing that is not erotic at all or poor drag / ladyboy performances. Bar owners seem to think otherwise. 

13 hours ago, floridarob said:

Paying rates in the low $20 usd including breakfast for 2 ......they'll never have a reserve to remodel. At this price point and location, what are the better hotel options?
😉

Well the Tarntawan is not 20USD per night anymore on booking.com as I just checked. I come back for another 5 nights in Bangkok end of this month. Some examples of the price (all without breakfast):

Tarntawan: 35 euro per night 

Raya: 55 euro per night 

Ibis Styles: 40 euro per night 

D Varee Express: 25 euro per night 

Im actually thinking about trying the new Ibis Styles at Silom road. I like the idea staying in a brand new, fresh hotel. Also the location is good. Just between where Patpong 2 and the Soi of Tawan come out on Silom Road. 

6 hours ago, reader said:

It was always entertaining to see who showed up in the lobby for breakfast with their overnight guests.

Haha! I can imagine! 

10 hours ago, vinapu said:

late shopping at 7/11 in the next soi?

No... I was in a hurry to catch the show at Tawan. How that expierence was, I will post in my next report later today... 😉

[TMax]

That Ibis Styles looks like a reasonable deal, has me rethinking which hotel. 

[BiggusDikkus]

21 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

During my last trip I decided not to book Bally Suite anymore. The rooms are showing age. Air-conditioning was not working well. And you have to be in luck with the allocation of your room. If you’re placed in a room at the DJ Station side of the hotel, you will be able to hear the music in your hotel room almost as loud as if you are in the club itself. D Varee Express I would still recommend

I think this is the first I've heard of D Varee Express. It looks to be right next to G.O.D. Are the rooms somehow insulated from the thumping bass of that place? Does anyone else have any input on D Varee Express? It looks like it has an excellent location. I'd love to stay in that neighborhood.

[jason1975]

4 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

No... I was in a hurry to catch the show at Tawan. How that expierence was, I will post in my next report later today... 😉

Can't wait to read your report on Tawan. Thank you for your real-time live reporting.

[emiel1981]

Part 8: Muscle mania at Tawan 

I started the evening wearing a nice schnitzel at G's in Soi 4. Chatted on grindr with boy from Myanmar who was having drinks at balcony pub alone. He asked me to join him. Was nice conversation and company. But not my type so after 1 drink I excused myself saying I had other engagements. Which was actually true. As I planned to check out Tawan bar tonight. 

I arrived in Tawan around 10:30pm. It was 400 baht for a drink. Also my 2nd drink was charged 400 baht... In my opinion a bit overpriced for a second drink. Most boybars charge you less for 2nd+ drinks and only first drink is 400 baht. 

Around 20 shirtless boys in tight navy themed underwear, some more other less muscled. When I came in only 4 other guests in the bar, but around 5 more came in just before / during show. 

Also ladyboys again here in the show... Why? Even in Tawan... 
They are still doing the part where 3 boys do competition who can cum first, for some tips off course. But I liked it the most when they put "I know you want me" song on and all guys, with hard cocks, walked around the bar for customers to feel, touch and grope. I took the opportunity to touch some muscles and 6packs and licked some nipples. Get your 100 baht notes ready for some sexy fun! 

Also part of the show is off course a bdsm themed act. Muscleboy 1 wearing a balaclava (but we all know who it was because you can recognize him at his tattoos) and muscleboy 2 ties him up and slams his body with insulating pipes before pouring candle wax over his but. Sucking cock and licking ass was also part of this erotic act. 

By the way: where else do they have a toilet boy who gives you small shoulder massage while you are washing your hands after peeing... Lol Special gesture of hospitality in Tawan! 

Off fee (or price for going to upstairs room): 500 for the house, 2500 for boy.

Found a very nice muscle boy with great 6pack. He spoke decent English and told me he is "straight" but can kiss, suck and get sucked by guys. Only can't be fucked, only fucks. 

A Korean guy next to me, I had nice conversation with, already told me this guy was his favourite in the bar and already talked to him. So 6pack guy ended up sitting in between me and Korean guy. Being his first time in Tawan, Korean guy was a bit shy. So it actually was me doing most of the muscle touching. When Korean guy went to atm te be able to pay the off fee, 6pack guy told me he liked me more because I was so enthusiastic when he came around during the "I know you want me" song. He was the guy I licked the nipples of. And while sitting next to me he was touching my crown jewels. Omg... 

Actually I was already very tired (liked the fun I was having but not necessarily looking for an off) and also just couldn't "snatch" 6pack guy away from Korean guy. Because I also don't like when that happens to me. So with fresh bahts from the atm, Korean guy went to the upstairs room with 6pack guy. I stayed watching the other muscle boys, some of them in the meantime naked.

Received a little souvenir 

Just when I finished my 2nd drink, Korean guy came back from upstairs. He said 6pack guy is very friendly and he had a good time some muscle worshippping and sucking his cock. Good review by Korean guy, so I probabaly have to go back to Tawan to have my own try with 6pack guy. 
 

[BiggusDikkus]

11 hours ago, reader said:

It was always entertaining to see who showed up in the lobby for breakfast with their overnight guests.

I used to stay at the Tarntawan on every visit to Bangkok. Then one trip I met a friend from New York who was staying at Pinnacle Lumpini, which had a bit smaller rooms at about half the price. So I started staying there. I think I checked out of Tarntawan the very day I saw my friend's Pinnacle room and checked in there.

The breakfasts at Pinnacle were even more interesting than at Tarntawan. I met a real cutie in DJ Station one night. He came back to the hotel with me and we stayed up till about 7 in the morning having some wild, tequila-fueled sex. We got into positions I had never even dreamed about, then he insisted that I cum on his face. After showering we decided to go downstairs for breakfast. Neung wore one of the hotel-supplied bathrobes because why not? There were a few other couples like us who had obviously been up all night long. But most of the tables were occupied by families. At one point, a blonde little boy walks up to Neung to ask him why he was wearing a bathrobe. Neung spoke good English, gave the kid a charming reply and the two kept talking, mostly about the little boy's first trip toThailand but also about why Neung spoke English and stuff like that. What I remember most was the little boy's parents watching the conversation, checking out Neung, looking at me, sizing up the mixed-race, mixed-age gay couple and letting the conversation go on. Both Neung and the little boy were so pleased with their encounter, with the chance to talk to someone from a different world, with the knowledge that that chance encounter could only have taken place at a hotel breakfast buffet in Bangkok.

It was wonderful.

[BiggusDikkus]

15 hours ago, vinapu said:

Some of cheap hotel have their use for me when arriving late or departing late evening / early in the morning. Paying full rate for very reduced room use doesn't make any sense for me so if my flights land say at 3 am or depart at midnight I book for first and last night or two room in one of those cheapies. this way even for half day I still have bed and shower.

A lot of wisdom in this reply. Thank you very much for this fantastic idea! My fights to Bangkok often arrive at 2:30 a.m. or 6 a.m., then leave around midnight.

[Londoner]

I ask this question in all innocence; are there any gay men who wish to see ladyboy shows? Honestly?

 

 

[TMax]

11 minutes ago, Londoner said:

I ask this question in all innocence; are there any gay men who wish to see ladyboy shows? Honestly?

 

 

Yes but only if I go to one of the ladyboy cabarets for a night out with friends

[macaroni21]

29 minutes ago, Londoner said:

I ask this question in all innocence; are there any gay men who wish to see ladyboy shows? Honestly?

 

 

They may not be numerous but there are. In Pattaya, the cabaret shows at The Venue and Castro draw decent crowds. The difference is that these bars position themselves as showbars and the clients go there wanting/ expecting that. I think their prices are also much lower than the boyticeria prices ( haven't been in lately) so they achieve a high-ish level of customer satisfaction.

The boyticeria, on the other hand, charge customers for their shows when customers are looking for sex and do not care much for their shows.

It's like @Gaybutton's example of some hotels making all their guests pay for Christmas dinner whether they wish to participate or not.

And as @emiel1981 reported above, even if the show price is jusifiably built into the first drink, why is it also in the second drink?

[emiel1981]

21 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

Once again, @emiel1981's observations match mine - this time about Tarntawan Hotel. It is habitable, but it's getting really old.  I also have a personal dislike of bathtubs. A modern shower stall is important to me. preferably one big enough for two. 

I found out another issue with the shower in Tarntawan Hotel... The shower hose is short, so can't put the shower high enough for me to be able to actually stand under the shower head. For washing my hair in needed to bend over. A position I normally never find myself in... Lol

5 hours ago, TMax said:

That Ibis Styles looks like a reasonable deal, has me rethinking which hotel. 

Booked it for in a few weeks from now. For sure update will follow from me about how the hotel was. 

2 hours ago, BiggusDikkus said:

I think this is the first I've heard of D Varee Express. It looks to be right next to G.O.D. Are the rooms somehow insulated from the thumping bass of that place? Does anyone else have any input on D Varee Express? It looks like it has an excellent location. I'd love to stay in that neighborhood.

I stayed a few time in D Varee Express and never heard any noise from DJ station. I actually think there one more bukkding between that hotel and DJ station. So you will be fine noise wise. 

1 hour ago, Londoner said:

I ask this question in all innocence; are there any gay men who wish to see ladyboy shows? Honestly?

If the quality is good (nice uptempo song, act doesn't carry on too long...) it can be fun. For variation. But erotic boy acts should always be the main feature in the show. 

[Gaybutton]

2 hours ago, Londoner said:

I ask this question in all innocence; are there any gay men who wish to see ladyboy shows? Honestly?

Somebody must like them because as far as I can tell every one of these shows include ladyboys.  If the venues were not profiting by these shows, then why would they present them?

The ladyboys in these shows are one of the main reasons I don't go.  Even on the rare occasions when I think the show is one I can enjoy, the ladyboys ruin it for me.  Sorry, but spending my time and money watching these zero talent ladyboys is not my idea of enjoying the evening,  Include me out.

 

"I hope you ENjoy - your eeeeveNING"

-  Bela Lugosi (Dracula)

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

 By the way: where else do they have a toilet boy who gives you small shoulder massage while you are washing your hands after peeing... Lol Special gesture of hospitality in Tawan! 

 

it looks they re-introduced an idea, was not there in may but yes , if was feature of old location.

Not exactly hospitality though, guy was expecting small tip  , like 20 baht for his troubles. If you did not tip him , next tip make up and tip him 40 please 

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, Londoner said:

I ask this question in all innocence; are there any gay men who wish to see ladyboy shows? Honestly?

 

I don't but treat them as part and parcel of boy hunting experience in the bars along with deafening music,  freezing A/C, pushy mamasans and of course smiling boys on the stage.

[floridarob]

9 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

Well the Tarntawan is not 20USD per night anymore on booking.com

Must be something going on Sept 23 & 24, other than that it goes back down. Use google and it lists all the travel site prices for a hotel....Agoda is typically cheaper in Asia.

[Boy69]

21 hours ago, vinapu said:

For me best options in Silom area are Raya, Baan Silom soi 3 and Furama Xclusive Sathorn. I did not try yet new arrivals 56 Suriwong and Ibis Silom. Quarter Silom is excellent but rooms too small for a price so I rather walk to bars  from more roomy places

For me the  best options is Furama Silom and Le Siam mainly because you have straight access to the elevator and you can bypass the reception.

Furama Silom have specious rooms and lovely rooftop pool and Le Siam has unbeatable location behind Silom mall and footsteps from Sala Deng BTS.

 

[emiel1981]

Part 9: "Roomservice" 

Today I had lazy day. And I did what one does when having a lazy day in Bangkok: looking on grindr for a massageboy to come over to your hotel room...

My choice of the day was a boy who works at Bangkok Spa in Silom Plaza. Before he had to start working at 3pm, be came to my hotel room to give me a nice massage. I was too lazy to go to the shop. And I like the comfort of my own room over a maybe dirty, old massage room somewhere in a shop. In my own room I know I can have a nice shower after and can just relax on bed instead of having to travel back to my hotel first.

He had some very sexy pictures on his profile, showing a nice 6pack. Versatile, so so the after-massage-fun looks guaranteed. 

I felt for the 6pack...

Only a few minutes after the agreed time he was in front of my hotel room door. No problem for him to get into the hotel. Friendly, goodlooking guy indeed. He spoke good English, always nice to be able to have something of a small conversation. He even spoke a few words Dutch as he visited my country (the Netherlands) and has a friend from there. 

Massage was nice, the after service even better. Good skills on sucking and eager to get fucked. What a nice way to have a lazy afternoon. And the day is still young... Still have the evening adventures ahead. 

[Nathan_B]

2 hours ago, Boy69 said:

 you can bypass the reception.

 

Boypass?