I'm on my way home after a few amazing days in Bangkok. Before my trip I read this forum from top to bottom and took copious notes on the Bangkok massage scene, places to go, etc. I took a lot of notes to help me remember for my next visit. I wish I could share therapist names here because they are not all created equal and I ran into some total duds as well as some amazing ones.
Here's my take on the massage places:
1. S'sense massage - by far my worst experience and the only massage I walked out on in the middle. When I arrived, they did the "bait and switch" and said my therapist was not available but tried to offer me another one who was not my type. I asked for someone else and they gave me one who was cute but a total dud. I laid there bored while the therapist gave me a massage that seemed to focus on the calves and feet FOREVER. Zero fun stuff. I remembered reading on this forum that if you're in that situation, just get up and walk out, and I did just that. I hopped into a Grab (that app is awesome! The way Uber was when it first launched... clean cars great drivers cheap cheap cheap) and went to PARADISE...
2. Paradise is on the street with all the gay massage places in Silom 6. Basically by my third day therapists recognized me and told me they saw me walking the street HAHAHAHAHA. Small town. It's clean, friendly, and I had one of my best therapists there... good lord he was huge and ready for action. Not the cutest but again this forum indicated that the cuter they are the less they do and that's usually right based on my experience this week. Did I mention huge? Anyway excellent masssage and double x 2 happiness.
3. Relax Massage - my husband went here, right across from Paradise (he also checked out Mr. Big at Paradise) and had a good massage with a cute guy. They are running a "rainy season special" and are half the price of Paradise. Great value.
4. JeySPA.... you knew this one was coming! This consistently ranks high on this forum so my final day there I splurged (it's definitely spendy with a tip of 1500 baht) ... I was very clear what I was looking for (big everything with six pack abs) and OH MY GOD did they deliver. They sent photos that let me know exactly what I was in for. That was one of my best massages in Bangkok (best massage of the trip was in Samui, but that's a different post...) Very clean and yes as others have said, horrible traffic in that area so I took a Grab but wished I had taken the train. Easy to find with Google maps. You can negotiate on the room price.
5. Prime - 90 min head/feet and then 90 min Thai by the same guy who was touchy but Prime doesn't seem to go beyond massage and that's fine... it was just amazing. Great massage with great technique, clean, and they give you pajamas (I didn't wear the top) and you just feel like you're being pampered.
6. Green Massage - I wish I had time to go here... looked good and would love to read someone else's feedback
7. 9-Teen - on same road with 2 & 3 above, they did the bait and switch again when I arrived... I rejected their substitution and they found someone suitable, but he started negotiating tip in middle of massage before he would even remove his shirt. That was a HUGE turnoff and I felt like I was in a used car lot all of a sudden. All the other therapists at other places were much more subtle or trusted you to tip the min 1000 baht. My husband ran into the same thing. We did not return here and cancelled subsequent appointments we had made.
8. Natural Spa - super friendly guys and one of my cuter therapists (straight, small assets) worked there then kept in touch on Line but I didn't return due to aforementioned small assets. Room smelled musty and towels weren't fresh smelling. But they do seem to have cuter guys than the others.... I wouldn't rule them out next time but wish their rooms were cleaner. This also seems to be the feedback on Google reviews.
9. Magic Touch Massage with Mr. Tree... this was our first massage in Bangkok and was very mediocre. Shower didn't work and therapist wasn't very skilled in anything. Would not recommend.
Things I learned:
1. This is all really close to the Skytrain. When we first arrived we had some trouble with Google maps and it seemed like we walked all over. Silom 6 is maybe 8 mins from the station and there's lots to see on the way.
2. Great lunch spot in the heart of it all is Mango Tree Surawong. If you're a massage whore like we are, book 11 am massages, then lunch at Mango, then walk 2 mins to Prime for a real massage, happy finish at Paradise or Relax/Natural Spa.
3. This I haven't figured out but I developed some theories on this. Most guys who weren't that into it I asked if they were straight and yes they were. As a top that provides limited options for me which is why I was going for SIZE and appearance. One guy showed me photos of his girlfriend. They are all really sweet but I wish there were a way to color code the t-shirts... red is top, blue is bottom, purple is both.... I assume the blue shirts would be the gay guys but I may be making an incorrect assumption there. I think next time I'll try to ask for some bottoms even though I don't want to do anything more than play... see #4 below...
4. These guys have got to be riddled with all sorts of diseases. NO way would I consider anything unsafe, but I was able to have a lot of fun nonetheless. It does seem like most of the clients go there to just get PLOWED because everytime I got on a massage table they went straight for my butt and I had to make the universal sign for no intercourse but just playing. I do not hold any judgment against anyone who wants to take more risks, I am just saying that once I got there and saw the guys and the environment and the steady stream of customers I knew that my shields were going to be up and I would still have fun. AND I DID. (See JeySpa again).
5. I did not go to 15M based on feedback on this forum.
6. The drag (?) cabaret at Asiatique was AMAZING!! Calypso!! We were grinning ear to ear the entire show... if you buy tickets, buy them from their site (not Klook or resellers) and put in comments you are gay and excited to see show. We did that and they gave us the best seats in the house. (Seats are assigned by them earlier in the day, then they print tickets when you arrive)... huge highlight of our visit. It would be fun to see with a group - the audience was all reserved asians for the most parts and there were points where we were the only ones clapping and cheering them on. Those boys were working hard and dancing their asses off.
7. I walked through Silom 4 and loved the drag show there, but felt sort of self conscious as I was dressed for dinner at Vertigo and it was really strange walking the catwalk (street) with all the chairs and tables facing you... I needed someone to show me the ropes. My masseur from Natural Massage offered to come with me but he didn't speak English and I wanted some alone time.
8. Really regret not having time to try The Green Massage.
I hope this helps someone else who may fit our profile (newbie, more conservative, clueless and naive at times, see newbie part). Thanks to all who have posted here offering advice and help… I found it immensely useful as I planned our trip!!
