Londoner

I'd be interested in the experiences of our posters who use 5* hotels....how do the duty-staff react? I assume with total neutrality, or they should at that price. And the other customers? But most of all the guys themselves. Excited? overwhelmed? expectant of a huge tip? Or merely "cool". I recall that I was often asked about my hotel when I offed a guy. Tarntawan and Ambiance seemed to receive expressions of satisfaction, perhaps because they were only a short walk away! But I wonder how the prospect of an assignation in The Oriental or Royal Cliff would be received?

Good news. You will live longer and be able to walk. Even I, merely a visitor, know two people who were killed on motor-cys, one in Pattaya, the other in a rural area outside Nakon Sawan. Which reminds me; increasing age means that I can no longer swing my leg over a motor-cy seat (avoid the UK joke about leg-overs, please)....and so I too will live longer. At a cost of 200 bht per taxi trip as opposed to 40bht on a motor-cy. And worth every baht.

It depends on the health and resilience of the traveller. I was just under fifty on my first trip and so dazzled was I at what I experienced that I booked up another two flights on my return. However, I was still working then and the best I could do was one week, of which two days were devoted to the flight. From London, door to door, including waiting at the airport, the journey was about seventeen hours each way. And at that I age I coped. Now? no chance! I find the journey absolutely worthwhile and regret nothing.....but, the truth is, I struggle even now when I use Business Class. So, if you are young (under sixty, or whatever!) and are full of beans ((as we Britons say), go for a long weekend if you like! And good luck to you

Yes; try London. For example, a Tantawan or similar here would cost at least 8000 pn.

TB is often the first indication of Hiv+. I don't know whether this is the case now but I recall reading about strains of TB that are resistant to the usual medications across the world. I remember a Thai guy some years back who made zero progress while under the common (perhaps cheap?) medication at his hospital but was able to find the money to buy a more effective one which worked quickly.

I note that my Jomtien hotel is putting-up prices for my November visit, but only by 200 baht pn. Bearing in mind that I've been paying the same price there for five years, I'm not complaining. I also see that baht-buses are charging the same 10 bht that they were in 2000. Beer prices in bars are higher than in 2000, but the increase is less than it is in the uK. Restaurant prices have risen a little but they remain excellent, so much so that I find London prices fearsome when I come home. Air fares have certainly increased but there are many good deals for long-haul flights available, at least from the UK. As for travel within Asia, the budget airlines still provide good value. When I arrived in 1995, an off was in the region of 500 bht+ but it had increased to 1000 bht by 2005. If it is now 1500 in Pattaya, then the increase is by no means surprising. I understand BKK prices are higher. When I was (idly!) Googling London prices, the usual sum required was (in Thai terms) at least 6000 an hour. Conclusion; we get a good deal. Or at least, I do. Anyway, for me, my trips to Thailand are such an essential part of my life that any sacrifice at home is worth it.

I read that book a few years ago. Some a fascinating insights though I suspected that the events portrayed may have been a composite of the experiences of more than one guy! Perhaps slightly OTT for one life-time? Still, I recommend it.

Ah yes, the Colonial Way. It used to work decades ago in some parts of the world but Thailand was never colonised and many falang visitors have found out to their cost that Thais don't like being patronised or bullied. On the contrary, they feel that their ancient civilisation and their spiritual beliefs are of far more intrinsic worth than ours.

"No Sir. For when a man is tired of Pattaya, he is tired of life. For there is all in Pattaya that life can afford......" as Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) almost wrote.

We like Balcony (Soi 4) for traditional Thai food. Well-priced and good for people watching.

That was certainly true a year ago....and those roadworks had begun before the Covid period. I'm not saying all is well but our March stay was much better than our November one in this respect, particularly in Second Road. Twenty-five minutes as opposed to forty from the JC to Central in the early evening.

I'd be interested, Foolish, if you have been to Pattaya or Bangkok? The most important thing is not to expect Phuket (specifically Patong) to replicate the sort of scene you find in those two places. It's a good place for beaches- though not the best in my view- and has some good hotels, but you'll be disappointed if you expect to find the extent of gay life available elsewhere.... I found this out as long ago as 1997....which is not say that none exists around the Paradise area. I recall massage joints and a number of bars. So if you go there, explore the possibility of other activities rather than relying on the scene. By the way, prices used to significantly higher than in Pattaya ...but I haven't been there for six years or so.

Some of us are blessed with good looks.....

Yes, I used to find that in Bangkok. not so much in Pattaya where the "walk" is a lot shorter if you're staying in the Boyztown area. What was more concerning was the occasional guy whose good humour and affectionate disposition evaporated by the time we arrived in the hotel room. Perhaps it was the result of getting a closer look at me!

Apologies......I was about to comment that age has certainly vanquished my "adventurous spirit." For thirty plus, I ached for the unusual and the edgy. Travelling for miles through the West African bush with my (very handsome) friend, Ismaila, to visit a celebrated marabout to receive some sort of magical charm. White people didn't go there and the children were so frightened of seeing a white man they ran away. Nevertheless, I was still invited to a circumcision hut where small boys awaited their fate. Both eye -opening and knee- crossing. Later on in Palestine,, confronting settlers in Hebron and callow, aggressive army youths outside Jerusalem who enjoyed sticking guns in my face. And the kindness, even love, I received in the refugee camps. And there I was, driving through West Kingston in Jamaica in the middle of a political gang war (this was the 70s). OK, it was by accident.... we'd taken the wrong turning and had arrived in Trench Town, of Bob Marley fame. That was scary. Later, my spirit somewhat tamed, I was still anxious to visit places off the beaten rack. In Thailand, some of my happiest memories are of when we rented a car and explored the north... places like Mai Salong and Mai Sai. Now, we stay comfortably in tourist hotels in Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Jomtien. And our journey to Terminus 21 is the furthest we venture. However, I've no doubts "as the days darken around me" that some of my happiest memories (apart from being with P, naturally) are of those places which were difficult to access and had an element of, well, insecurity and chance about them. Places where I was an outsider, though- and this is crucial- where I was warmly welcomed. Indeed, the more disadvantaged the community, the more kindly was I received.

The JC to Central journey in the early evening often took over forty minutes last November owing to the never-ending roadworks. In March it was better, perhaps thirty. Occasionally even less. If you go during the daytime, twenty minutes is the average in my experience. Much the same as the return to the JC. It's a d**n nuisance but we don't find the JC at night as interesting as central Pattaya. However, I must add that the Jomtien promenade at sunset is fun with a couple of decent places to eat as a change from Dick's. Better than Pattaya's in fact. And no business girls. I like seeing the women do their dance-exercises to music- often fifty of them- and admire the occasional elderly falang who tries courageously to participate! I've said before that the atmosphere there is almost Mediterranean. Not just falangs but Thai families.

Yes. The rooms are, if anything better than at Ambiance, including the penthouse ones. A friend stayed there a few years back and his only criticism was that it was more of an apartment block than a hotel in terms of front desk. He was a newbie and liked someone on the desk to review visitor IDs. For my part, I wondered about the noise from down below. But the rooms...yes, excellent. Prices were similar to Ambiance's.

The choice between Jomtien and Boyztown is the big one. Too much to say in a brief post but I recommend you read through many posts on the site which will describe the differences. A couple of suggestions. Why not split the time between the two? We did this a few times And it worked. However, over the twenty-years I've been visiting both my partner and I have become "Jomtien" people, regarding the Agate Hotel in Jomtien Complex as our favourite in Thailand. And it's nowhere near the most expensive. Others feel differently and there are certainly some things in Pattaya we miss. Bear in mind that we're not "bar-goers"; those that are may well think differently. Of course, you can do what we do, that is stay in Jomtien but take the bus into Pattaya in the evening. Floridabob's recommendation is seconded; I stayed at the Ambiance happily for twenty years. We moved to Jomtien because the area became too noisy for us after midnight when our routines changed.

Another of my favourite places! There's also a monkey temple near Ubud where the audacity of the inhabitants is remarkable; audacity and strength. I once saw a tug-of-war between an angry monkey and and even angrier Japanese tourist. The prize? A camera. The tourist won but the monkey escaped with a torn strap. Is this an Asian monkey "thing"? I remember being in Kenya long ago and monkeys used to roam the grounds of the bungalow-style hotel. However, they were relatively tame and would beg for food like dogs, although one did manage to get in to my room once. The Thai/Balinese ones seem particularly aggressive. And confident. Different species?

You were lucky...our walk was barred by hoards of them! But you are lucky to be going to Railay, my favourite beach in Thailand.

Which gang is the West arming? By the way, has anyone tried the walk from Aonang to Railay (Krabi) over the cliff guarded by an army of settler-monkeys?

Thanks! Good to see twinks having a good time! These were the sort of guys who first brought me to Thailand and then demanded that I take early retirement to spend more time there. I could do without the tattoos though....

Thai names are temporary, or so it seems. They can change first names very easily and , when it comes to nicknames, at will. I know a guy who operates with two; a "stage" name and home one. If there was something that would irritate me is when a guy on the scene adopted an English name in the hope of sounding cute; for example "Dream" or "Boy". I would always ask for his "original" name. With a smile of course. And was invariably given it.

Forgive my ignorance- I only use LINE for free calls from the UK- but surely only guys whom you already know and have your ID can contact you on this app?