Popular Post Londoner Posted December 3 Popular Post Posted December 3 Our holiday is over and we return to our homes tomorrow. We've been discussing our impressions of the JC, the changes, the good and less good, and comparing what we found this time with the nine or ten previous stays. Firstly, the bar scene. Our knowledge is very limited because we usually have a walk through the soi quite early....20.00 to 21.00. We are therefore merely visitors. There have been occasions when there has been a vibrant atmosphere with many cheerful (and attractive) guys greeting us and inviting us to come in for a drink. And on others, with few punters and many guys, the atmosphere has been less pleasing. Guys transfixed to their phones, sometimes rather forlornly due to the small number of punters. They deserve better; I hope that, on our next visit in March, the good nights will outnumber the bad ones. But there was one impression at which we arrived independently; there were noticeably more visible falang/Thai partnerships, both around the Complex and in the beach area. I don't refer to self-evident LTRs like ours, but older falang visitors accompanied by younger guys. I can't recall seeing so many before and have no explanation why this is the case. Another positive is the evening scene on the beachfront. Families and holiday makers enjoying the cool of the evening with some good restaurants available and many food stalls for those wanting a cheaper option, including one offering fried insects, which only one of us bought. We enjoy watching the dance/ exercise groups even if their members are overwhelmingly female! Loy Kratong was , once again, a delight. It was the second time we'd enjoyed it at Jomtien. Much more relaxed and family-orientated than Songkran. Another word of praise for the Agate Hotel. I suspect that it had more gay guests this time which was pleasing. Such friendly staff; so close to the action and yet so quiet. Needless to say, we are looking forward to our return. Ruthrieston, vinapu, daydreamer and 7 others 10 Quote
bkkmfj2648 Posted December 3 Posted December 3 15 minutes ago, Londoner said: And on others, with few punters and many guys, the atmosphere has been less pleasing. Guys transfixed to their phones, sometimes rather forlornly due to the small number of punters. They deserve better; I hope that, on our next visit in March, the good nights will outnumber the bad ones. Nice summary of your stay in JC. I truly enjoyed Loy Krathong - it is my favorite Thai Buddhist holiday and I totally embrace it. I spent the evening on the Dongtan beach (directly in front of where all of those ladies do their daily aerobics) with my gym trainer and her Esaan friends. We sat down on a beach mat on the sand and drank together and then eventually launched our Krathongs into the sea after saying our prayers and then afterwards we then launched our floating fire lanterns into the sky - it was truly breathtaking to see the Jomtien sky full of illuminated lanterns all over the sea. I often wondered where did all of those floating lanterns end up. Well, the next morning while walking to the gym I found many of them on the ground within the VT complex where I live and even on the busy Thappraya road - so they do get quite far from the sea where they are launched. Please remember that in March - it will already be starting the beginning of the wind down from high season - and this is when the guys start to become more desperate - due to the lack of customers. Yes, there are us who live here full time - but there are not enough of us full-timers to support the massive number of guys who are looking to fill their wallets with Thai baht for food + rent. There is a temporary economic upward blip - during the Songkran week in mid April and then it crashes downward until late October when all of you part-time vacationers start to return to help with the filling of the local Thai wallets for food + rent. If you want to see the JC guys at their happiest - then it is usually during the high season. vinapu, Londoner and pong2 3 Quote
Travellerdave Posted December 3 Posted December 3 Thanks guys for your up to date impression of the Complex which I read with interest as I’ve just booked a trip in January, commencing with a few days in the Complex. Londoner mentioned the Agate hotel, which I tried to book but they had no availability for my dates. High season of course, when the boys are at their happiest. bkkmfj2648 1 Quote
traveller123 Posted December 3 Posted December 3 4 hours ago, Travellerdave said: Thanks guys for your up to date impression of the Complex which I read with interest as I’ve just booked a trip in January, commencing with a few days in the Complex. Londoner mentioned the Agate hotel, which I tried to book but they had no availability for my dates. High season of course, when the boys are at their happiest. I have stayed at The Agate many times in the past booking without any problems. I tried to book it for a short stay last month only to find there was no availability. When I stayed last Christmas there were many Russian guests who were clearly not gay and I suspected the Hotel had contracted with a Russian travel company Quote
vinapu Posted December 3 Posted December 3 7 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said: I often wondered where did all of those floating lanterns end up. .......................... beginning of the wind down from high season - and this is when the guys start to become more desperate - due to the lack of customers as garbage strewn all over I guess ........................... I wish I could agree with you but based on my somewhat disappointing and at times disastrous trip in August , low of low seasons, I did not detect any desperation, quite opposite I very much doubt about it's existence based on some guys behavior and lacking of even try to pretend they understand what client service is. I doubt very much that it was just my bad luck only. pong2 1 Quote
vinapu Posted December 3 Posted December 3 7 hours ago, Travellerdave said: Londoner mentioned the Agate hotel, which I tried to book but they had no availability for my dates. try another booking site and / or hotels website. This is how I landed space there in January this year - Agoda had nothing but some other platform yielded room available. The same happened with ThaiThai resort in Sukhotai so speaking from personal experience. Quote
Londoner Posted December 3 Author Posted December 3 The booking sites are bizarre when it comes to The Agate, demanding prices 200% above what we paid. Email the hotel directly.* It is true that there are many Russian guests; pre-covid, it was Chinese groups that were predominant, now it's Russian families escaping the cruel winter they suffer. *Suraksa.p@theagatepattaya.com The management is efficient; you'll get a speedy response. vinapu and splinter1949 2 Quote
