Low season trip to bangkok and phuket 2024

[spoon]

Its about time for me to start my trip report for my trip last month. This trip was a last minute trip planned only few weeks before. Prior to this, ive been in contact with several forum members to see if we can have our trip aligned but im on a strict schedule this year so in the end, i booked a trip for 2 weeks in July, only manage to be with a forum member (not active) for 4 days. I did managed to meet few others who are residing in bangkok though. 

Anyway, once i booked my ticket, time to start booking hotels and planning a side trip. Booked Furama Exclusive Sathorn for 6 nights, love the location, room was great although i prefer the modern furama hotel bathroom better, as the room that i get didnt have a separate shower, only a bath tub with shower attached. 

Exploring the options for a side trip, it was a toss between Phnom Penh, Phuket or Pattaya. Ive been wanting to go to phnom penh or phuket for a while now but ticket price to phnom penh isnt cheap booking this late, so maybe will put it for the next trip, hopefully soon. Having read that phuket gay scene is diminishing, i contacted a guy and proposed a trip together with him to phuket if he is interested and available. 

While waiting for his reply, i started to read back Vinapu's report on phuket, and start to look at options for hotels and location. Ive got to do few nights for upgrades on my Hilton Honors, so Hilton Garden Inn Bang tao seems like a great value for this purpose. The location is a bit far from the action which is concentrated in Patong but if i have a guy with me tagging along, maybe it wont be an issue. 

If he couldnt join me, im left with either going to Phuket alone and stay near Paradise Complex or go to Pattaya for the rest of my trip. Im not as motivated to go to Pattaya though, since i find out my crush now has a girlfriend lol. So, i was really hoping that my guy would say yes. Luckily, it wouldnt take too long for him to say yes to my proposal. So i proceed with hotel bookings at Hilton Garden Inn Bang Tao for 4 nights, and booked Hilton Sukhumvit for my last night in Bangkok before going back home. 

Now that all the bookings done, i had about 10 days before my trip to browse through the numerous lists of available massage guys to fill my time there in bangkok, before my guy join me for phuket. There are a few stunners that would definitely make my heart flutter. My usual targets are jey spa, arena and vck, but ive seen few stunners in aurora as well. 

For the bars, my usual hunts will be in jupiter, moonlight, the one, but have taken boys from banana, hotmale, and former screwboys too, so those are the targets for this trip. Ive yet to find anyone i like from freshboy and the last time i hire a boy from dreamboy was from their previous location in soi twilight, but since i heard a guy ive taken before had moved to dreamboy, i included dreamboy to the list, and visiting freshboy will be at the bottom of my list, unless someone drag me there lol. 

Other than bars and gay massage, onsen/sauna visit is on the list because the forum member im planning to travel together for part of my trip likes to visit them. And finally, no trip to thailand will be complete without a visit to Prime Massage, my favorite non gay massage place. 

[vinapu]

looks all preliminaries are prepared , we are waiting for real action

[bkkmfj2648]

8 minutes ago, vinapu said:

we are waiting for real action

@spoon is trying to tantalize us or cock tease us 😈 👅🍆💦 with this suspense

[jason1975]

So sorry that our schedule couldn't align! I enjoy going to bars with you @spoon 

[spoon]

6 hours ago, vinapu said:

looks all preliminaries are prepared , we are waiting for real action

 

6 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

@spoon is trying to tantalize us or cock tease us 😈 👅🍆💦 with this suspense

Rest assured, its coming hehe.

5 hours ago, jason1975 said:

So sorry that our schedule couldn't align! I enjoy going to bars with you @spoon 

Same here. 

[spoon]

My original arrival time was supposed to be 7pm, giving me ample time to travel to my hotel, clean up, and hit the bar. However, around noonish, i received a message saying that my flight will be delayed an hour, arriving at 8pm. Not too bad but it will be a bit of a rush. No further delay, so after arrival, went straight to the immigration, relief to see that there is literally no queue. Waited quite a while for my bag before heading down to the train station to change some baht. 

Heading back upstair to take the taxi, no queue again, but the taxi i got asked a fixed amount instead of using meter. As the request was reasonable, i said yes. He asked where im from, and then, some time during the trip, he plays something on his headphone. At first, i didnt recognize it, and thought he was having conversation with his friend. But after he repeat it few times, i finally heard it. Its basically his friend, using a translation function on the phone apps, literally begging me to give him more tips in my own language.... This went on for a while. Its a first for me, especially when i already paid the higher fee since im not using meter. I chose to ignore it and just paid the agreed fee when i arrived. 

Once checked in and freshen up, i made my way to Patpong 1. Based on recent report, a guy i know who work in jupiter before, had moved to dreamboy. So im interested to see if i can see him in a diff setting, and maybe finally become my first off from dreamboy since it movement to Patpong. Arrived in the middle of the show, i was given one of the VIP table with circular sofa seat on the left corner. A bit awkward sitting on the table alone though the bar is not empty by any means. Many of the boys are already sitting with customers, but i couldnt see the guy i know, so maybe he isnt working tonight. Stay a bit for the show, nothing new as i can recall, and as before, none of the boys there offing candidate for me, except maybe one who is already with a customer. 

Once i saw the only plausible guy i might off changed to his street clothing, its time for me to move on to my next target, moonlight. When i arrived, the model are doing a number. I immediately greeted by the mamasan i knew from previous visits and he shared with me that many boys are currently doing a visa run. Customer wise, a bit scarce but by no means empty. 

Luckily, the two guys i look forward to see are still around, and available. Y, and J. Y is myanmar guy who ive off few times before, and J is vietnamese guy i off once last trip. Invited Y for a drink and when offing discussion begin, Y confirmed that he cant do LT anymore. He then suggested me to take J, and J is available. So i informed mamasan that ill be offing J and he proceeded with changing his cloth. We stay a bit for the show and proceeded to go back to our hotel. 

Asked J if he wanted to eat before heading to hotel and he ask if i want to eat as well. I replied that im not hungry and he said lets go to 7 eleven. Bought some supplies and off we go. Its great to off a known quality, especially when the subsequent encounter is better than before. 

[vinapu]

sad to hear taxi drivers are getting greedier and greedier. I guess it all depends of driver and good you did not fall into tipping him more.

Good to see you are not wasting time with two bars visited on the first night.

[Foolish]

I always felt that the taxi drivers in BKK are greedy. That's why I only use Grab even though it is slightly more expensive for the peace of mind. 

On my last trip in May, Moonlight was like a ghost town...that could be because it was a Monday. But it was boring and awkward to be the only customer 😅

[floridarob]

14 minutes ago, Foolish said:

I always felt that the taxi drivers in BKK are greedy.

It's a worldwide phenomenon.... 

[Keithambrose]

34 minutes ago, floridarob said:

It's a worldwide phenomenon.... 

And if you are worried  about tipping, you should try the USA!

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, floridarob said:

It's a worldwide phenomenon.... 

+1

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, Foolish said:

On my last trip in May, Moonlight was like a ghost town...that could be because it was a Monday. But it was boring and awkward to be the only customer 😅

likely you just had bad luck  , I was there twice in May and while not exactly packed , there was decent attendance on both occasions

[macaroni21]

5 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

And if you are worried  about tipping, you should try the USA!

It's not just the F&B businesses. Now other shops such as Walgreens pharmacy, after totalling up the items you're buying, put in an extra question, asking how much you wish to add to the bill by way of "donations"!

The other annoying thing about the US is the fact that their menu and sticker prices are before tax. There's no good way to know what the real prices are.

I can't understand why Americans put up with this.

[reader]

6 hours ago, Foolish said:

I always felt that the taxi drivers in BKK are greedy.

Try driving taxi in Bangkok and you'd become greedy, too.🙂

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, macaroni21 said:

The other annoying thing about the US is the fact that their menu and sticker prices are before tax. There's no good way to know what the real prices are.

I can't understand why Americans put up with this.

Probably because they don't know any better. Their nearest neighbour Canada does the same. 

[Keithambrose]

9 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

It's not just the F&B businesses. Now other shops such as Walgreens pharmacy, after totalling up the items you're buying, put in an extra question, asking how much you wish to add to the bill by way of "donations"!

The other annoying thing about the US is the fact that their menu and sticker prices are before tax. There's no good way to know what the real prices are.

I can't understand why Americans put up with this.

Hadn't found that yet in Walgreens! Next visit. Its also annoying, to say the least that they print suggested tips on the bill starting at 18%. It's always said that waiters don't get paid, but NY has a minimum wage, which, although complex provides a basic level for waiters. Where I have breakfast in NY, recommended, the Red Flame Diner, W44th near 6th, I worked out that with an average tip of $3.00 per customer,  the harassed looking Hispanic waitresses make up to $50 per hour. Mind you, they earn it, though they don't clear the tables!

[Keithambrose]

7 hours ago, vinapu said:

Probably because they don't know any better. Their nearest neighbour Canada does the same. 

Vinapu, I know you live in Toronto,  but when we had supper together,  I dont remember aggressive tipping? When I had dinner later with a relative, again I was not aware of an issue?

[vinapu]

it's not about tipping , nothing aggressive here in this respect.

it was about tax being added to the price at the cash register or when you receive a  bill, if some sticker or menus shows price 10 $  ,you will be asked for 11.30  . Tip , if any,  will be on top of it

[spoon]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

it's not about tipping , nothing aggressive here in this respect.

it was about tax being added to the price at the cash register or when you receive a  bill, if some sticker or menus shows price 10 $  ,you will be asked for 11.30  . Tip , if any,  will be on top of it

Similar in malaysia. Not all price shown are final price. However, this should be clearly indicated in the menu if there is sales tax, service charges to be added, usually in small print below menu lol

Some businesses uses signs like 40++ to indicate its not final price u pay, or 40 nett to indicate that the price includes tax and service charges. 

[10tazione]

6 hours ago, vinapu said:

it's not about tipping , nothing aggressive here in this respect.

it was about tax being added to the price at the cash register or when you receive a  bill, if some sticker or menus shows price 10 $  ,you will be asked for 11.30  . Tip , if any,  will be on top of it

Advantage of European Union, shops must state the final price including surcharges and taxes.

[Keithambrose]

1 hour ago, 10tazione said:

Advantage of European Union, shops must state the final price including surcharges and taxes.

Same in UK. VAT, ie tax, has to be included in the stated price. Service charge has to be clearly set out on menu, normally 12.5%, usually said to be optional, though I mostly pay it!

[Keithambrose]

8 hours ago, vinapu said:

it's not about tipping , nothing aggressive here in this respect.

it was about tax being added to the price at the cash register or when you receive a  bill, if some sticker or menus shows price 10 $  ,you will be asked for 11.30  . Tip , if any,  will be on top of it

OK!

[floridarob]

On 7/30/2024 at 9:10 AM, vinapu said:

Their nearest neighbour Canada does the same. 

Yet the other neighbor, Mexico, doesn't...tax is included already.

[vinapu]

25 minutes ago, floridarob said:

Yet the other neighbor, Mexico, doesn't...tax is included already.

sadly it looks Mexico it not  a role model for USA. And I believe they have Labour day on May 1st , like rest of civilized world

[spoon]

My stay in Furama Sathorn includes breakfast for 2 and I usually will have breakfast with the guy im with. After our morning gymnastic, I mentioned about breakfast but J said he is not hungry, but will accompany me to see whats on the buffet. We went downstairs and true enough, he didnt feel like eating so we say our goodbye. After breakfast, i went back to hotel room for my much needed beauty sleep. 

Woke up around noonish, and thought that i should pay a visit to my fav massage place, Prime. At the counter, was told that slot available is at 1.30pm. since i have around 1.5hr before that, decided to go to Maha massage nearby for a session. A bit of backstory on maha massage. Someone recommended to me a masseur there, who would be my type. Yesterday night, when i was doing my first walk-around silom, i noticed a well built, smaller frame guy wearing a yellow shirt when passing prime on my way to Surawong side before heading to dreamboy. So, it was a no brainer for me when i saw him in front of maha massage, so i immediately go inside with him escorting me, taking a 90min session of full body oil massage. 

After paying the fee upfront at the counter, my masseur showed me the my room, two level up. The room is equipped with a massage bed but without the head hole, so it wasnt my preferred set up, but still better than massage on a thin mattress on the floor. There is also a small shower inside the room. I rinsed for a bit, and he went outside to prepare the oil. Later, i find out that he is in fact the same guy that was recommended to me after i learnt his name. Massage was a mix of strong and sensual, although he started fully clothed. He did hinted that he is available for hotel visit as well. Towards the end of the massage, he proposed extra service, i asked how much, he says his price, i counter and he agreed, and he changed to his birthday suit. I left very satisfied indeed and we ended on time. 

I headed to Prime for my customary legit massage session, 2 hour oil massage. Another well executed massage, and it was so relaxing that i almost dozed off a few times. As expected, nothing was offered. Now that my body as been fully pampered, time to pamper my tummy, so i head to mango tree for their pad thai, mango sticky rice and coconut juice. Delicious indeed. I head back to hotel for a rest before heading out for dinner and bar visits tonight.