Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?

[Guest Motel69]

I love the gay life of big cities. And I used to really love that of Bangkok. But for me, the city's nightlife has drastically deteriorated over the past two years. Perhaps that's not fair. It's really DJ Station, which used to be such a wild place, that has taken a big tumble. I haven't had any fun in there since 2008. And now it looks like G.O.D. is closed.

 

So this New Year's I'm gonna give Cambodia a try. A straight coworker just got back (from Siem Reap) and raved about it. Plus, there's always buzz about Cambodia on sites like stickmanbangkok.com

 

My inclination is to head to Phnom Penh. It's the bigger city, so it must have better gay nightlife, right? But looking at gay travel sites, it looks like Siem Reap has tons more gay businesses.

 

So I guess what I'm really asking is this: Is the nightlife in Siem Reap good enough to warrant a four- or five-night stay?

[TotallyOz]

There are several great threads in the Gay Cambodia section that gives reports of these two cites. I have written a few myself.

 

I love PP. I think the gay life there is a lot of fun and can easily spend lots of time there. I like Siem Reap for other reasons and if going looking for hot gay action, I think PP wins out.

[Guest Motel69]

Thanks, Michael.

 

So Phnom Penh it is.

[Guest]

It kind of depends on why you go to the cities.

 

I don't make decisions solely on nightlife, but want to spend at least some of the holiday visiting special attractions such as Angkor Wat, or a city that's new to me.

Now as long as I can get a massage, or find a willing cute guy in a gay bar, the nightlife is sufficient.

Siem Reap & Phnom Penh both met my requirements & I would rate them higher than for example Saigon or KL.

[Guest kjun12]

When you started the poll you should have allowed multiple selections. Surely some have been to both places.

[Guest]

I couldn't find an option to vote for both, so cannot participate.

Ideally, the poll needs options of "both" & "Neither"

[Guest thaiworthy]

I couldn't find an option to vote for both, so cannot participate.

Ideally, the poll needs options of "both" & "Neither"

 

I didn't vote, either. Mebbe the OP didn't want my vote since I haven't been to either place and merely by abstaining it becomes a "null" vote. The poll merely asks, "have you ever been to . . . ?" I agree with Z that "both" would have been appropriate.

[Guest Motel69]

I travel almost solely for nightlife. I also like to dine out. When I was younger I also looked forward to shopping. And Bangkok was awesome for all three of my desires. It still is great for shopping and dining. Siam Center is filled with some great Thai designer boutiques. I still get compliments on clothes I bought there years ago. Benjarong, in the Dusit Thani, is among the finest restaurants I have ever been to. Always great food. And DJ Station used to be full of life.

 

During the day, I like to hang out at the pool, under the sun. And sometimes I go for a workout. But really I just relax until night comes.

 

I've been to all the wats and tourist places, but they just bore me.

[Guest Motel69]

When you started the poll you should have allowed multiple selections. Surely some have been to both places.

 

You're right. Why didn't I think of that?

[Rogie]

I travel almost solely for nightlife. I also like to dine out. When I was younger I also looked forward to shopping.

I've been to all the wats and tourist places, but they just bore me.

Enjoy your time in Cambodia, Phnom Penh, or wherever you decide to go Motel69. I like it there but unlike you I go for the usual tourist things like museums, temples, general sight-seeing (making sure to take lots of photos) and shopping, but the sort of shopping I like is wandering around traditional markets rather than super-modern malls. If the night-life is slow that doesn't bother me at all.

Do you have a hotel lined up?

______________________________________________________________

 

Have you considered Taipei (Taiwan)? There are some good threads on the Gay Asia Forum. Here is one that may interest you, whether for this year or sometime in the future. I haven't visited Taiwan but I believe the air fares from Bangkok are reasonable.

 

http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/7344-taiwan-gay-parade-2011-dates-announced/

 

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After I posted I noticed a new topic on the main forum which I'd missed earlier - what I'd read as Taiwan update is actually Tawan update!

[Guest]

Why not do BOTH?

 

Fly to Phnom Penh. Then, when you've had enough, take a bus to Siem Reap.

After that, either take a taxi + bus back to Bangkok, or fly.

[Guest Motel69]

Enjoy your time in Cambodia, Phnom Penh, or wherever you decide to go Motel69. I like it there but unlike you I go for the usual tourist things like museums, temples, general sight-seeing (making sure to take lots of photos) and shopping, but the sort of shopping I like is wandering around traditional markets rather than super-modern malls. If the night-life is slow that doesn't bother me at all.

Do you have a hotel lined up?

______________________________________________________________

 

Have you considered Taipei (Taiwan)? There are some good threads on the Gay Asia Forum. Here is one that may interest you, whether for this year or sometime in the future. I haven't visited Taiwan but I believe the air fares from Bangkok are reasonable.

 

http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/7344-taiwan-gay-parade-2011-dates-announced/

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

After I posted I noticed a new topic on the main forum which I'd missed earlier - what I'd read as Taiwan update is actually Tawan update!

 

 

Ah, funny you should mention Taipei. I just got back from there. The boyfriend and I have been making yearly trips. It's wonderful. And getting better. We had some great experiences. The highlight was the G5@Luxy party. Luxy is a huge nightclub right in the middle of the city. And the G5 party is held sporadically throughout the year. It was the best gay event I've ever been to. Tons of energy. Real, hard-thumping club music. Almost everybody had their shirts off. I felt so free.

 

We stayed at The W. Lots of gays on our same floor. They must've been from Singapore. The hotel had a great pool area, an awesome restaurants and a couple really hip bars.

 

I cannot recommend Taipei highly enough.

 

As for a hotel in Phnom Penh, I've been browsing TripAdvisor.com, and so many of the places look so cool that I think I'm gonna just wait till I arrive in Phnom Penh and then scout around for a hotel like I used to do in Saigon. Like I used to do in Ko Samui and Patong, too. I used to get some great rooms and rates that way.

 

Do you have any recommendations?

[Guest Motel69]

Why not do BOTH?

 

Fly to Phnom Penh. Then, when you've had enough, take a bus to Siem Reap.

After that, either take a taxi + bus back to Bangkok, or fly.

 

A good idea. Is it possible to fly into Phnom Penh on a one-way ticket? That way, if I get the urge, I could move on to Siem Reap, then fly back from there. Or, if I fell like it, I could just stay put and buy my outbound tix later.

[Guest]

A good idea. Is it possible to fly into Phnom Penh on a one-way ticket?

 

I arrived there on a one way ticket with Air Asia from KL. Air Asia also fly Bangkok to Phnom Penh, plus maybe some other routes.

As Air Asia run the "low cost" model, one way fares are a given.

 

I think Bangkok Airways fly Siem Reap to Bangkok, but their fares are higher.

 

I use the following link to find out which low cost airlines fly which routes.

Airninja

If anyone has a better site, please feel free to post the link.