Advice please

[reader]

7 hours ago, Draden said:

Don't over think your first visit.  Just trust your instincts and enjoy what the city has to offer.

 

3. Does anyone have experience with OneSpa? Most of my experience has been in Japan where they have browsable and bookable websites, so I kinda found that aspect of OneSpa appealing, but haven't seen much in reviews about them. Read the thread in this forum Massage shops on Sutthisan Winitchai Rd

4. I've seen it recommended that you check IDs. Does that hold true for massage parlors, too? I don't have any issue doing that, just don't want to seem weird if this isn't customary because masseurs are already vetted or something. You're ultimately responsible

5. When a Thai guy indicates he's Vers does that really mean he's a Top and is just trying to expand his possible customer base and - when you get down to it - he's not gonna be interested in receiving? Or do they usually mean what they say? You won't find any problem finding tops in Bangkok

6. When a "minimum tip" is listed, what is the usual "actual" tip you should leave for good service? Say there's a "minimum tip" of 1200 baht but the service is good, what would be the expectation for "actual" tip? Like in a restaurant: if the service is exceptional so should be the tip.

 

7 hours ago, Draden said:

Thanks, very helpful! (Not to sound super-weird or anything, but I do have a slight aversion to tattoos of any kind. But maybe this is just an opportunity to get over this affectation - ha!)

Hopefully you will. 🙂

[macaroni21]

8 hours ago, Draden said:

A couple other questions, if I may: 

1. I was never mpox vaccinated and, frankly, mpox is something I'd totally forgot about. Is this something I should do before going to Thailand? 

2. Curious - what is the preference people have for hotels over AirBNBs? 

3. Does anyone have experience with OneSpa? Most of my experience has been in Japan where they have browsable and bookable websites, so I kinda found that aspect of OneSpa appealing, but haven't seen much in reviews about them.

4. I've seen it recommended that you check IDs. Does that hold true for massage parlors, too? I don't have any issue doing that, just don't want to seem weird if this isn't customary because masseurs are already vetted or something. 

5. When a Thai guy indicates he's Vers does that really mean he's a Top and is just trying to expand his possible customer base and - when you get down to it - he's not gonna be interested in receiving? Or do they usually mean what they say? 

6. When a "minimum tip" is listed, what is the usual "actual" tip you should leave for good service? Say there's a "minimum tip" of 1200 baht but the service is good, what would be the expectation for "actual" tip? 

Sorry for so many questions! Thanks, in advance! 

I think I can help with a few of your questions.

3.  I have a revew of OneSpa in my blog (https://shamelessmacktwo.travel.blog/2024/03/13/shagging-in-the-shabby/)

4.  No need to check IDs in massage parlours. If you see anyone uncomfortably young (which I have never encountered), just ask to change the masseur.

6.  More often than not, they deserve no more than the minimum. When I think they're better than average, I may add 10 - 20%. When I am over the moon (which is rare), I may add 30%. I suspect many posters on this forum are shocked that I am giving farangs a bad name by not throwing money around (isn't the superior sahib supposed to do that when meeting the destitute natives?)

[Shax]

10 hours ago, Draden said:

4. I've seen it recommended that you check IDs. Does that hold true for massage parlors, too? I don't have any issue doing that, just don't want to seem weird if this isn't customary because masseurs are already vetted or something. 

In all the times I've brought guys back to my hotel room, never had their IDs checked by the receptionist at the hotel. I've heard some hotels (e.g. Tarntawan) might have that policy in place but most probably don't.

10 hours ago, Draden said:

2. Curious - what is the preference people have for hotels over AirBNBs? 

I think this differs between individuals but for me, a hotel is my preference when it comes to Thailand mainly because the rates are about the same with (or sometimes better than) AirBnBs, and you'd generally get better service at a hotel (e.g. breakfast, daily room cleaning, etc.). 

 

 

[Keithambrose]

1 hour ago, Shax said:

In all the times I've brought guys back to my hotel room, never had their IDs checked by the receptionist at the hotel. I've heard some hotels (e.g. Tarntawan) might have that policy in place but most probably don't.

I think this differs between individuals but for me, a hotel is my preference when it comes to Thailand mainly because the rates are about the same with (or sometimes better than) AirBnBs, and you'd generally get better service at a hotel (e.g. breakfast, daily room cleaning, etc.). 

 

 

I would agree with that!

[Draden]

Thank you for all your responses - this was incredibly helpful!

[Draden]

3 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

3.  I have a revew of OneSpa in my blog (https://shamelessmacktwo.travel.blog/2024/03/13/shagging-in-the-shabby/)

"Almost like a cheap abortion clinic"

I LOL'ed! Great read! 

[reader]

3 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

 (isn't the superior sahib supposed to do that when meeting the destitute natives?)

In India perhaps during the British Raj but never heard the term applied in Thailand.

[floridarob]

6 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

I think I can help with a few of your questions

Glad I've blocked/ignored marc in calif, he's the king of the downvote on good replies.....I suggest doing the same to block a shithead like him out of your life 😉

[khaolakguy]

Surely "Bipaulm" is now in a position, OP having received the wisdom of the forum in response to his queries, to do a trip report? 

 

Note to Bipaulm, just because it was your first trip don't be discouraged from reporting back. It's always good to read another experience/point of view.

[Olddaddy]

2 hours ago, floridarob said:

Glad I've blocked/ignored marc in calif, he's the king of the downvote on good replies.....I suggest doing the same to block a shithead like him out of your life 😉

I blocked him ages ago .

I have no interest in American politics 

[Marc in Calif]

1 hour ago, Olddaddy said:

I have no interest in American politics 

You don't seem to have any interests at all! 😘

[vinapu]

21 hours ago, Draden said:

6. When a "minimum tip" is listed, what is the usual "actual" tip you should leave for good service? Say there's a "minimum tip" of 1200 baht but the service is good, what would be the expectation for "actual" tip? 

 

when minimum tip is listed , unless boy himself raised issue by asking for more for doing this or that, that minimum is what is expected , even in higher rend places like Jey Spa. Not that they throw back bahts  at you if you tip them more. 

If you are happy, specially if you think you will see boy again feel free to tip more to show he did good job. Not that is expected but you may buy better goodwill. Often 2nd encounters are more dynamic than first ones  as both parties are more familiar with each other.  But be warned , if you tip more ,  next time you will be expected to tip the same , improved formula amount. Boys have surprisingly good memory, even 1 year later they may quote you what you gave them last time, happened to me in January and I resorted to excuse ' last time I was rich, now I'm poor".

I simplified my life and use VST (Vinapu Standard Tip ) in massages : for 1 hr session 1000 or minimum tip, whatever is higher, for 1.5 hr session 1500 or minimum , again whatever is higher. I'm inclined to throw money around , if only to soothe boys stress after encountering stingy farangs but very rarely on 1st session.

[vinapu]

12 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

 

6.  More often than not, they deserve no more than the minimum. When I think they're better than average, I may add 10 - 20%. When I am over the moon (which is rare), I may add 30%. I suspect many posters on this forum are shocked that I am giving farangs a bad name by not throwing money around (isn't the superior sahib supposed to do that when meeting the destitute natives?)

I'm bit surprised by that statement. As I said above , based on my experience , minimum tip is what they expect unless they in no uncertain terms ask for more .

adding 10-20% ie 100 or 200 baht is pretty generous.

Boys are as much used to stingy as to money thrower farangs, I don't think they would consider one who tips stated minimum stingy though.

At end of day is up to client to see  how much is deserved. Service may be poor but feel good factor may be tip determining factor.

[bkkmfj2648]

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

I simplified my life and use VST (Vinapu Standard Tip ) in massages :

wow - first I learned about the "Vinapu tuck" and then I started to apply it in my life

Now I learn about VST - at first I was confused - as I thought that it was a new time zone = Vinapu time....

[vinapu]

6 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

 first I learned about the "Vinapu tuck" and then I started to apply it in my life

 

no denying that it's great invention, no ? he, he

[Riobard]

Draden’s 3rd question posed above: 

My observations on Airbnb:

Where possible, I often take Airbnb lodgings particularly for longer trips. This winter I booked 30 nights in a large one-bedroom apartment. It was decent, well-managed, excellent location easily walkable to the Silom/Surawong area action. I also took a nice hotel room for the trip for entertaining without any valuable belongings to worry about, with bottomless towel supply options, and without dealing with the impossibility of sleeping with the usual paper-thin walls and constant inconsiderate slamming of doors that typically occurs in hotels.

There would not have been a problem bringing guests, within reason, to the Airbnb condo. My “trainer” came up a few times. I don’t do overnights with guests. 

I was to check in on the 4th day as I technically needed 27 nights but I aligned with the one-month guideline. There is a lengthy thread here from around March 2023 on this subject.

The “Superhosts” objected to the add-on because they thought it was unfair and unnecessary. Their point was that it’s up to me but they preferred to not take the extra fee needlessly. I had raised my concerns regarding lodgings regulations and they proclaimed that they were not operating outside of guidelines. Most of the many stellar reviews appeared to be short period stays. They capitulated to my insistence.

There were no hassles whatsoever. Key pickup was from the reception staff and there was no prohibitive sign anywhere. I needed a few minor items for the kitchen and the hosts ordered them online and communicated with reception for delivery and pickup. Reception clearly knew I was a farang. I had even printed off the contract in case airport immigration were to have grilled me but it was stamp-and-go. 

The building had a few shops in the lobby. Other buildings in the area were similarly structured with mini-malls and some had Airbnb logo signs prominently displayed.

In October the national Hotel Act regulations were revised. A lot of dwellings qualify for hotel licensing exemption and hosts can apply formally using an online form. The room threshold was lifted from 4 to 8. The examples include villas, tents, rafts, and shipping containers. (Note that shipping containers were part of Qatar’s World Cup accommodations options). Condo apartments are neither listed as an example nor excluded. Clearly the aim is greater flexibility.

Some cities globally require that hosts must reside in the unit as a principal residence and only let their unit when they are willing and able to vacate it. Such a stipulation does not exist in Thailand.

My sense is that condominium directorship boards can nevertheless trump the above workaround and behave as a separate entity to restrict short-term rentals. My advice, then, is to clarify with an Airbnb host that they are not operating under the radar … that they have formally sought and obtained permission for the hotel license exemption, that the building has not imposed restrictions, and that they are operating within any requirements regarding  lodgings inspection, income subject to tax, VAT obligations, etc. 

[Riobard]

The Mpox vaccination question:

Still predominantly MSM age 18-39 infection case susceptibility, but WHO’s epidemiological tracking for Thailand indicates that from November to mid-March the new case incidence for the country averaged merely about one per day, consistent downward trend from last August. 

[Bipaulm]

On 3/22/2024 at 7:05 PM, khaolakguy said:

Surely "Bipaulm" is now in a position, OP having received the wisdom of the forum in response to his queries, to do a trip report? 

 

Note to Bipaulm, just because it was your first trip don't be discouraged from reporting back. It's always good to read another experience/point of view.

Hi there - here's a quick summary, I'll try to put together more later.

Thank you to everyone for their advice and input, all of it was helpful.

BKK - I was only there two nights so didn't have chance to experience much. I went to Obsession (ladyboy bar) and found it a bit intimidating. I think it must have been a quiet night as I was surrounded!

I had more luck off ThaiFriendly and Grindr (for boys and ladyboys). A had one great session with a boy who came to my hotel - very hot and active both ways. Around 2K including tip.

Pattaya - had a couple of ladyboy encounters from bars with rooms on site, on Soi 6. One great, one less so. Both around 1.5k.

One guy at my hotel which was pretty good and one boy in his room who was super hot. Both from Grindr. The area around Jomtien beach has plenty of bars, but I didn't like them much. But that's just personal taste - there were loads of hot boys around.

I also went to Sansuk sauna - it was ok, but not brilliant. 

I'll definitely be back!

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, Bipaulm said:

I'll definitely be back!

this is what we want to hear, good to know you had fun.

[Draden]

Question - so the week I'm going to be in Bangkok is because I'll be in Asia anyway. I don't think I'm quite as experienced with MBs as some others here so was hoping to get an idea as to whether my time would be better spent there or if I should try Japan or Taiwan instead (my only other two experiences with MBs). 

I notice some of the trip reports involve negotiations, hits and misses, guys who are unwilling to bottom, etc. I regret I may not be as much of an amorist or socializer as some of the others here and am primarily interested in ST interactions that just get "down to business" so to speak with a guaranteed - or at least high - rate of return. My previous trip to Japan and its brothels you knew precisely what you were going to get when you walked into the room. Will it be significantly different in Bangkok, specifically with massage parlors? 

Sorry, in advance, for chilling the vibe with my aromantic personality! (But many thanks, in advance, for any advice.) 

[Draden]

That was maybe unnecessarily vague. At the risk of being crude, maybe I can phrase this as an equation ... say I have an extremely strong preference for bottoms in their 20s-early 30s without tattoos (or only lightly tattooed) who are 170CM or less in height. If I were to take four trips to BKK massage parlors looking for full service extras that fit that criteria, what percent could I expect to find something like that would you think? 

(Hopefully I threaded the needle correctly between vagueness and graphicness in this one. And hopefully I'm not coming across as some kind of sociopath!)

[Foolish]

1 hour ago, Draden said:

That was maybe unnecessarily vague. At the risk of being crude, maybe I can phrase this as an equation ... say I have an extremely strong preference for bottoms in their 20s-early 30s without tattoos (or only lightly tattooed) who are 170CM or less in height. If I were to take four trips to BKK massage parlors looking for full service extras that fit that criteria, what percent could I expect to find something like that would you think? 

(Hopefully I threaded the needle correctly between vagueness and graphicness in this one. And hopefully I'm not coming across as some kind of sociopath!)

I'm not familiar with massage parlors. But given your specifications, from what recall during my last trip in Jan, you would probably have the best luck in fresh boys or screwboy in silom. You could ask the mama to point out the bottoms for u. 

[spoon]

Any of the full service massage place can be your best bet then. Id stick with vck, arena, prince since u can actually go there and pick the masseurs from a line up, while the mamasan can help u with your specific requests and point out who fits the specs. 

Other massage places that has lists of masseurs pics on line apps can be hit or miss in terms of their pics, height, stats, but i guess position usually clearly stated in their stats. I can attest that jeyspa is the one that ive tried and their masseurs pics and stats are quite acceptable. I have no issue with heights though but cant recall if its on display for jeyspa. 

6 hours ago, Draden said:

That was maybe unnecessarily vague. At the risk of being crude, maybe I can phrase this as an equation ... say I have an extremely strong preference for bottoms in their 20s-early 30s without tattoos (or only lightly tattooed) who are 170CM or less in height. If I were to take four trips to BKK massage parlors looking for full service extras that fit that criteria, what percent could I expect to find something like that would you think? 

(Hopefully I threaded the needle correctly between vagueness and graphicness in this one. And hopefully I'm not coming across as some kind of sociopath!)

 

[reader]

If you're looking to boost the likelihood that you're going to find your preference (which in your case is a bottom), no massage shops I'm aware of do a better job of displaying photos and information that will help you in your search.

Two stand out in this regard: One Spa and KK Massage. One Spa offers close to 300 and the website allows you to search exclusively for bottoms if you wish..

As for accuracy of photos, I've found that generally they accurately reflect what you'll get. However, the guys with lower numbers tend to have pre-covid pics. Also they have a tendency to air brush the complexion of some boys to make them appear lighter than they actually are.  This is because local taste like a paler skin color. This is particularly true of clients visiting from the north (Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China).

Many westerners on the other hand prefer darker complexion more common for those from Thailand's northeast and some ASEAN countries.

Be flexible and considerate.There is much waiting to delight you in Thailand.

[Draden]

Thank you all very much!

Aside from the question of specific type availability, is there typically a lot of haggling involved? I just note that, in some reports, a user will say that they struck out at XYZ place or, at the end of the massage, no specials were offered by ABC masseuer.