How much do you think GayRomeo and other sites have destroyed the bar scene?

[Guest sydneyboy]

I find this thread mysterfying. Gay Romeo escorts section lists 70 registered escorts in Bangkok, a good proportion of whom are foreigners, Europeans and other Asian nationalities. The Thais that advertise as escorts are (with a few exceptions)not especially attractive. As for the more general "users" section I agree with other contributors that the young Thais are seeking men of a comparable age. Bearing in mind that Go Go bars are frequented by middle aged and elderly foreigners seeking young Thais I fail completely to see how Gay Romeo can be any competition.

[Guest]

I think most of the people promoting Gay Romeo here are based in Pattaya.

 

When I've viewed profiles of young Thais in Pattaya, they often respond quickly & frequently seem to be professional escorts.

 

In Bangkok & the rest of SE Asia, the proportion who are money boys seems to be quite low. Most are Asians looking to meet people of their own age, or even just meet people for a chat.

[KhorTose]

In Bangkok & the rest of SE Asia, the proportion who are money boys seems to be quite low. Most are Asians looking to meet people of their own age, or even just meet people for a chat.

 

I agree. In Chiang Mai my friends all date through Gay Romeo and very seldom find they are dating money boys. However, they have told me the age the boys list is not the only age they will date. In almost all cases they will date interesting older men. Also, a great "lets just chat" can lead to something more intimate.

[Guest]

I would go further & suggest the tourist who is travelling around SE Asia & treats Gay Romeo as an electronic gogo bar might be wasting an awful lot of time (when outside of Pattaya).

 

I've encountered all of the following:

 

1 Being pestered by chubby guys.

2 Guys claiming to be 18 or 19, but as the conversation goes on, it turns out they are 18 NEXT year.

3 People who say they are moneyboys and want $200.

4 Those who are really keen, but then don't understand when you propose a meeting location. Even google translation into their language does not seem to work,

5 People who just don't show up (even though they sounded keen).

6 People who want a lunch date to start with. Fine if you live there and want to find a boyfriend. No good for physical action if you are only in town for one night.

7 Those who log on about twice a week & send you a message on the morning you check out of your hotel.

[Guest brandon]

On the financial side of using Gayromeo vs. Pattaya gogo bars:

 

Last night, I visited 3 bars in Boyztown. Cost of 3 drinks + 1 for a boy = 610 Baht

Off fee = 300 Baht

Tip = 1300 Baht

Total = 2210 Baht which I thought was quite cheap for Boyztown, but still it is USD 72 or 45 GBP.

 

Today, surfed Gayromeo and found a really nice young man who works in Boyztown. I always ask in advance how much they expect, and it was 700 Baht (I have been asked for 300 Baht before to f*** a boy).

 

Difference is a lot, no wonder most of the bars are empty of customers, an am sure a lot of boys like the one today said he wouldn't go to work tonight as he already got a customer.

Some, I am sure work Gayromeo daytime and late night and still work in the bars to maximise income.

[Guest]

It's not necessary to tip gogo dancers 1300 for short time.

 

A more realistic price is:

2 drinks -300

Off fee -300

Tip -1000

Total -1600

 

GayRomeo guys often ask for 1000, so saving is just 600, possibly increasing if they only want about 700 baht.

 

I would rather pay the extra, have a good time and off a guy who looks exactly like he does on stage, rather than rely on some tiny photo on Gay Romeo.

Of course permanent residents can afford to explore a few dead ends on GR, as there is always another day if a date has to be cancelled.

[firecat69]

Everybody should be able to decide whether Gayromeo, The Bars or a combination of the two works best for them.

 

But I never understand when people who don't understand Gayromeo come up with ridiculous reasons why it makes no sense for them.

 

The pictures are too small . Ridiculous. The overwhelming majority of the pictures are full size and a perfect indication of what the boy will look like. Of course if he wears sunglasses. has no face shots or the range of pictures in age looks suspicious, then you eliminate him.

 

As far as getting what you expect in performance , you are much more likely to get it from gayromeo because you can make it plain to the boy what you expect and with the translation programs they use , they understand. Try doing that in a bar with a boy who knows 7 words of english.

 

Also you either have to be very easy to please if you are able to only buy 2 drinks before you find a boy. I rarely find an acceptable companion without visiting a few bars and if you are generous enough to buy a boy a drink or tip him even though you decide not to take him , your outlay on drinks and tips is far more then 300 baht. And I do mean Far More.

 

And the final thing against many arguments is that 1/2 the boys on Gayromeo are the same boys you would take from the Bar.

 

Let's see should I spend 2000 in the bars to get the same boy I could have from Gayromeo for 1000 or less. I think not.

 

And the best thing Gayromeo has is that 5 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon I can find a boy . I can only find that same boy in the Bar for 5 hours at night.

 

Like I said I go to the Bars and I use Gayromeo and anyone who does not utilize both is missing out on the best overall action!!!!

[Guest fountainhall]

I agree with z909 - to a certain extent. I have had some great times with guys from gayromeo. And as others have stated, in Bangkok there seem to be far fewer money boys than in Pattaya. I have encountered only a couple who asked for money (B. 500) either up front or after we have met.

 

As to someone requesting Bt. 200 (taxi money) when it has not been mentioned before, I have absolutely no problem with that in Bangkok. I live close to the centre and most guys I have met come from quite far out. Not only must they pay for transport, they also waste a lot of their time to get to me. So what if Bt. 200 is more than they'd actually pay? It would cost me a great deal more to go to see them! I also buy them coffee because I really want to get to know a bit more about them first.

 

Increasingly, though, I have met more guys who are a good few years older than they claim to be and their photos suggest (so it's not just a case of photos that are too small). I once met someone claiming to be 25 but admitted he was 33 (and he looked it). Sometimes stats do not match the photos and the tubbier reality. I met someone 2 days ago who claimed to be 168 cm and 55kgs. His height seemed correct, but he had mushroomed out to at least 65 (and that's quite a difference)! I suspect most of us older guys are guilty of shaving some years off our age. So it goes both ways, I guess. (Funny, though, how most guys say I look younger ) But meeting someone in bars or elsewhere at least ensures you get to see your guy and have a chance to chat with him first - provided you are prepared to pay for quite an expensive encounter.

 

Around the region, I have found fridae much more productive than gayromeo. And no-one I have ever met on fridae has ever asked for money.

[Guest JamesBarnes]

This is a most interesting topic. It is true that there is an emerging middle class of young Thai guys who are using the internet to hook up and there are also some freelancers out there on the web but there are a number of factors that make the bars more appealing- especially for visitors.

 

Most countries do not have a go-go or host bar scene and tourists surely prefer to do something which is a novelty that they cannot enjoy at home. There is also the added security of meeting in a bar; cases where internet connections have resulted in grief are not uncommon. Also, the internet profiles of users are notoriously unreliable and the nubile online beauty of 19 turns out to be a middle aged person bearing no resemblance to his online image. In a bar, there is no mistaking who will end up between your sheets! There are a lot of online time wasters who chat for ages and then fail to show up for a meeting.

 

Better to scout in a social environment, enjoy a drink and know what your getting.

[firecat69]

I can't believe how simple it is to not have these problem you say you have had.

 

Money or not I tell the boy if he does not look like the photos , I will say good bye immediately. I have had many boys fail to reply to that statement which of course means they don't look like the photos.

 

I have had one boy stupid enough to show up and I sent him away. Fact is I have had many boys more attractive then the photos.

 

Many of them have no idea how to take a nice photo.

[Guest]

I think it's reasonable to refuse a date with people who claim to be 20, but are actually 35 or 17 when they turn up. Also, if they look significantly different from the photo, no problem, say goodbye.

 

You then get onto the grey area. Many Gay Romeo photos are quite small. Also, it's quite reasonable that guys may not post underwear or body shots (I don't either). So a lot is left to the imagination. I don't feel it's fair to send someone back just because he's slightly different to what I imagined from the photo.

 

Selecting guys from the bar avoids such problems.

[firecat69]

I think it's reasonable to refuse a date with people who claim to be 20, but are actually 35 or 17 when they turn up. Also, if they look significantly different from the photo, no problem, say goodbye.

 

You then get onto the grey area. Many Gay Romeo photos are quite small. Also, it's quite reasonable that guys may not post underwear or body shots (I don't either). So a lot is left to the imagination. I don't feel it's fair to send someone back just because he's slightly different to what I imagined from the photo.

 

Selecting guys from the bar avoids such problems.

 

Again so easy to not have a problem. I don't contact guys with tiny photos. There are 100's of guy, why do you insist on wasting your time on profiles that you should have known had a high probability of failure. All you have to do is only make contact with the boys who have good face and body photos and make it plain to them they must look like the photos. No different then in a Bar where you eliminate 90% of the boys when you walk in.

 

It is so simple , that I am astounded anyone does not get it!! Again I want to make it plain , the bars can be a great place but they have their own problems. First of all they are at least double the price and very easily could be much more if you get a boy from gayromeo that is not looking for money.

 

Second, 95% of the boys in the Bar will tell you they do everything and then fail to do so. They are not worried about not performing. They get credit for an off which they need and money on the drink you hopefully bought them and at worst will probably get a small tip if you are unhappy and will run back to the bar and look for another customer.

 

The boy on Gayromeo, because of translation programs understands exactly what you expect. He has to pay his own way to come to you and if you have done your job, he knows he will get Zero Baht if he does not do what he said he will do. He is much more motivated to make you happy. Thats if he is a moneyboy, if not he is coming to you for SEX and wants it so naturally you will get what you expect.

 

Anyone who follows some simple rules will have at least the same success rate as the bars and once again I point out in Pattaya for sure many of the boys on Gayromeo work in the bars. How smart are you when you spend twice as much for the boy in the Bar who is on Gayromeo???

 

Practice makes perfect. Anyone who tries to tell me they have not had many less then successful encounters with boys from Bars , is just not telling the truth. You learn what mistakes to avoid by making those same mistakes. You have to pay for your education!!!

[Guest fountainhall]

It is so simple , that I am astounded anyone does not get it

firecat69 makes it all sound so easy! The fact is: if you want to be brutally straightforward with a Thai guy who has been reared in a culture where being direct and calling a spade a spade is frowned upon, go ahead. It may be OK with moneyboys who are there for a business deal and to satisfy your needs. It does not, in my view, work for ordinary guys who proliferate the Bangkok board and who are just looking to meet a farang with the possibility that sex may eventually be part of the mix. Sure you can say you want sex, and that will weed out most of those who want a slower approach. But what if the guy meets you and then changes his mind? Or just doesn't turn up? I know both have happened to guys before.

 

Laying down rules won’t work with most non-commercial guys. It's almost like saying: OK meet me at X coffee shop or Y street corner at 18:00. Be late and you will not find me! How many Thais will agree to that? All, in my experience - and then they’ll turn up at least 30 minutes late, often longer? Do you walk away at 18:05? 18:10? Yet we all know full well that not being anywhere near on time is an ingrained part of Thai culture.

 

Just as some guys disguise their ages, stats and photos, so some disguise their true desires. Sex often means “sex once I have got to know you a bit”. I have known cases where guys will bring along a friend - unannounced, either because they are shy, or because they are not used to meeting farang and want a more comfortable first meeting. I’ve had that happen, and then sex ensues after a coffee and the friend disappears. Others may be put off by the presence of the friend and give up.

 

So to say “it’s so simple” is, I suggest, far from always the case. Plus I have never yet found a translation programme that gives the precise meaning every time. Sure, you can narrow down the possibility that you won’t get what you want, but gayromeo is never a sure-fire thing. Against that, as firecat99 rightly points out, neither is bar hopping!

[firecat69]

firecat69 makes it all sound so easy! The fact is: if you want to be brutally straightforward with a Thai guy who has been reared in a culture where being direct and calling a spade a spade is frowned upon, go ahead. It may be OK with moneyboys who are there for a business deal and to satisfy your needs. It does not, in my view, work for ordinary guys who proliferate the Bangkok board and who are just looking to meet a farang with the possibility that sex may eventually be part of the mix. Sure you can say you want sex, and that will weed out most of those who want a slower approach. But what if the guy meets you and then changes his mind? Or just doesn't turn up? I know both have happened to guys before.

 

Laying down rules won

[Guest fountainhall]

Most of my comments are replies about moneyboys and the comparison of finding them at bars versus Gayromeo . . . Bangkok and Pattaya are 2 completely different animals when it comes to Gayromeo.!

I fully accept these points.

[Guest]

How smart are you when you spend twice as much for the boy in the Bar who is on Gayromeo???

 

When one is paying for entertainment, it is not always smart to select the lowest cost option. The quality of the experience & convenience should be balanced against the cost.

I find the bars are a more pleasant and reliable environment in which to meet people. Then if I want some evening entertainment at say 9:00 pm and maybe sex at 10:30 pm, it's no use going on Gay Romeo if the guy I want is in his gogo bar.

It's worth the extra 900 baht so I don't have to wait up to 1:00 am to meet my guy !

 

However when I do fix up a Gay Romeo date, stating "I will wait outside Tuk Com for 5 minutes from 21:00 to 21:05" seems to result in them turning up on time.

If he's not there by 21:06, then I'm off to the bars!

[Gaybutton]

I find the bars are a more pleasant and reliable environment in which to meet people. Then if I want some evening entertainment at say 9:00 pm and maybe sex at 10:30 pm, it's no use going on Gay Romeo if the guy I want is in his gogo bar.

Everyone's experiences are different. My own is different from yours. I prefer Gay Romeo to the bars for a variety of reasons, although that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with finding boys in the bars too. Both work just fine for me.

 

First, not all the boys on Gay Romeo work in the bars. Many do and many don't. One reason I would rather find a boy via Gay Romeo is because when I take a boy off from a bar, then the boy usually assumes I'm there for him if I return to the bar. As soon as he spots me, he comes right over. That can be very awkward sometimes if I've returned to the bar to look for a different boy, especially if the first boy is someone who I've had over for a little visit several times.

 

Another reason I prefer Gay Romeo is the availability of willing young gents at any time, day or night. I'm writing this message at 5:55am, Thailand time (I woke up early). I just looked at Gay Romeo. At this moment there are 5 pages of boys currently online in Pattaya and 15 pages of boys online in Bangkok. Even at this hour. No complaints from me . . .

 

As far as I'm concerned, between the bars and Gay Romeo, I'm pleased to have both. And Gay Romeo isn't the only hook-up site.

 

There are so many ways and places to meet boys in Thailand. Bars. Gay Romeo. The beach. Shopping. Restaurant waiters. Hotel staff. Saunas. You name it. Nothing like that ever happened to me back in the good ol' USA, and that was when I was a hell of a lot younger and somewhat better looking than I look now.

 

In Bangkok, one of the reasons I like the Malaysia Hotel is because even there, just about any time of day or night, all I have to do is simply walk outside the door. The restaurant, the gazebo in their parking lot, the walkway to the street, and usually just outside their parking lot there are always boys. And if none of them appeal to me I'm within easy walking distance of the Babylon Sauna.

 

I'm very happy having all these choices and possibilities available. I think I'll just stay right here in Thailand.

[Guest]

In Bangkok, one of the reasons I like the Malaysia Hotel is because even there, just about any time of day or night, all I have to do is simply walk outside the door. The restaurant, the gazebo in their parking lot, the walkway to the street, and usually just outside their parking lot there are always boys.

I have met people outside the Malaysia hotel, then returned by taxi to my room at the Om Yim. What is the standard of the rooms like at the Malaysia?

Sadly the Om Yim has no money boys on the doorstep, but it's fine in every other respect.

[Guest shockdevil]

I had never heard of GayRomeo until I a few years ago when an Indonesian friend asked me to help him create a profile on the site. When he told me that many Asian guys use this site for

[Gaybutton]

What is the standard of the rooms like at the Malaysia?

They're old, dumpy, and definitely could do with renovation, but everything works. The rooms have all the standards - mini bar, refrigerator, air conditioning, TV, bath tub, etc, but no room safe. They have safes in the lobby, behind the front desk. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are on different floors. Behind the restaurant there is a swimming pool. Good maid service every day and room service available. Very gay friendly and if a boy is "visiting" you, they hold his ID card until you give them the all clear.

 

I've seen complaints posted about the older man who has worked behind the front desk, seemingly since the hotel first opened, saying he can be unfriendly and uncooperative. I can only say I've never had any kind of problem with him at all and he has always been very friendly and helpful with me.

 

If you're looking for luxury, the Malaysia isn't for you. Personally, I couldn't care less about luxurious accommodations as long as a hotel room has the basic amenities.

 

 

I am by no means opposed to the bar scene, however, after joining GayRomeo I met more guys on the site than I would have ever met in a bar or night club.

I really don't foresee Gay Romeo replacing the bar scene. I doubt that Gay Romeo even puts much of a dent in it. There are always plenty of boys willing to work in the bars. Many do both - working the bars and also Gay Romeo.

 

I suppose Gay Romeo has the potential of eventually hurting the bar scene and some believe that's exactly what's going to happen. I don't think so myself, but even if it does happen, there are still always plenty of boys on Gay Romeo looking for hookups. As long as Gay Romeo continues to exist, there always will be.

 

If Gay Romeo has actually hurt anything, maybe it has hurt the beach scene. For years, the beach was fabulous for finding willing boys. But over the past year, whenever I go to the beach there are hardly any boys at all anymore, with the exception of the regulars. And even their numbers seem to have diminished. I have no idea whether Gay Romeo has anything to do with it, but I'll bet most people who have spent time at the beach lately, and have been coming to Pattaya for a number of years, have also noticed the decline in numbers of "farang hunter" boys at the beach.

[Guest fountainhall]

Everyone's experiences are different.

Bang on the button!

 

As has been said earlier, in Thailand much depends on whether you are looking for immediate sex and whether you are in Bangkok or Pattaya (or elsewhere). I remember a post somewhere by someone who lives in Germany and who had arranged a whole host of hook-ups on gayromeo in advance of arrival. He was, I believe I recall correctly, rather disappointed when it did not all work out as planned.

 

There are so many ways and places to meet boys in Thailand. Bars. Gay Romeo . . . You name it. Nothing like that ever happened to me back in the good ol' USA, and that was when I was a hell of a lot younger and somewhat better looking than I look now

So true! Although this is slightly off-topic, it leads on from GB's comments. I do find that some visitors just expect guys to fall out of the trees. In my view, much depends on your attitude to them. When you see a guy you really like, the first rule in my book is: relax and smile at him! I have seen so many farang who walk around with expressions on their faces as though they are walking in a mine field. Hang loose, as those half my age (jeez - a quarter my age) would say! If you meet him on the street, make eye contact. Even if there is no hint of recognition as he passes you, wait a couple of seconds and then look back. If he looks back, 90% of the time it means he could be interested. Sure, the other 10% may mean 'who is that jerk maying eyes at me?' but that's part of the game. Stop and keep looking. If he stops, walk back towards him, say 'Hi' with a smile - and take it from there. Always smile. In other words, let your gaydar do the work for you! I have lost count of the number of really nice guys i have met that way - and no mention of cash.

[Gaybutton]

In my view, much depends on your attitude to them.

I think that is one of the most important points of all. We've all seen the posts from people who call these boys prostitutes, and say it in a demeaning manner, just as if they are somehow better than the boys and are perfectly justified in looking down their noses at them. How many times have we seen those kinds of posts? I've lost count. And don't forget all the posts about how the boys were so good looking ten years ago, but now they're ugly. I've lost count of those posts too.

 

If they think that kind of attitude isn't picked up by the boys, they need to think again. Then they complain and can't figure out why the boys they were with turned out to be duds.

 

Some of these people are very good at putting down the boys. Meanwhile, the boys are the primary reason these same people come to Thailand in the first place. That kind of attitude definitely makes it to my "I Don't Get It" list.

[Guest fountainhall]

Coming back to the gayromeo topic, I have occasionally seen posters on some Boards complain extensively when something goes wrong with their gayromeo hook-up. There have even been a couple where a poster actually posted the hook-up's name and personal details.

 

I can understand that someone gets frustrated when the person he meets is not as he described, or something else is not as expected. It must have happened to us all from time to time. It's also not unreasonable to give an account of what happened, if things have not worked out. On the other hand, I think it is disgraceful to post someone's name publicly - unless there could be a very obvious danger to other readers when, say, a guy turns up with friends intent on robbery or worse. If it