Travellerdave

My trip starts soon also. I'm looking forward to your reports !

Thanks M I've just had another look at their website and on reflection I think a Bulgari Suite, with a private bathroom would be better for me and not much more expensive than the large Barrack Room. The breakfast finishing at 11 is not a problem for me as I often get up around 8 or 9 on holiday to eat and then go back to bed for another couple of hours, either alone or with a boyfriend du jour. Equally the distance to Silom / Twilight is easily overcome on motor bike taxis. I liked the Samsuk Sauna in Pattaya, with its quiet location, and of course the cruising areas upstairs. I hope the Babylon is a larger version.

I'm thinking of staying for a few days. On their website there appears to be two types of Barrack Room. The small ones seem to have twin beds and the large ones a queen size, which I would prefer. I note that they don't have private bathrooms, which is unusual bearing in mind the price of 1700 baht per night, although it includes admittance for two into the sauna, which I would like to enjoy, as I haven't been there before. Before I make a reservation (maybe not required in view of the current situation in Bkk), I wonder if anyone can give me the benefit of their experience ?. My previous Bkk stays have been at the Tantawan Hotel which is excellent and gay friendly, although I have been tempted to experience the BBB Inn.

Yes I believe the plan is for Pattaya to be gradually transformed into less of a sex tourist resort. The girlie bars are migrating to the Soi Buakhow area, where in had a walk during my last trip and was struck by the number of gogos in Soi LK Metro - there must have been about ten and also several ladyboy bars. It's predominantly a farang area as opposed to Beach Road where Chinese, Indian and other Asian nationalities and Russians are seen in great numbers. I also liked the improvements to the promenade but I can't say I saw any "Eye Candy" that appealed to me, although for str guys there were plenty of Russian girls wearing thong bikinis. Dongtan in the late afternoon is where I'm often found. One negative is that Beach Road is now more difficult for us joggers, apart from early morning when I'm usually otherwise engaged with my boyfriend du jour. The Chinese tour groups waiting to go paragliding and afterwards collecting their souvenir plates clog up the path.

I have been there twice more than five years ago. Once just for the day with a friend. We purchased a day excursion from Pattaya from a travel agent which included mini bus transport to Ban Phrea, (the ferry port to Koh Samet), the ferry to the island, the tourist tax (its a national park and non- Thais have to pay this,) lunch, and transport back to our hotel in Pattaya. The other time i took a boy and we stayed just for one night. Mini bus again to Ban Phrea and then ferry. The boy found us a bungalow to rent. There did not seem to be any hotels -just bungalows which i think can be expensive. I believe the island is busy at the weekends with Thais from Bkk. I was not aware of any specifically gay bars or beaches and you would be advised to take a boy with you. The beaches are far superior to those at Pattaya. For a first time visit it would be better to buy an inclusive trip probably from a travel agent.

I think it would bother you if you were caught up in violent riots or your hotel was near burning buildings. Perhaps BTS transportation would be shut down and the entertainment areas shut down. You should be cautious during you visit. As I mentioned before Pattaya has a substantial gay scene with bars, gogos, saunas and even a gay beach and of course many boys who would love to make your acquaintance. It has never been subject to significant unrest.

If there is trouble in Bangkok you would be better off in Pattaya, which is not usually subject to demonstrations or violence.

I never pay hotels, shops and restaurents using my cards. I pay cash in baht. I withdraw this in relatively large amounts (say 20,000 baht) from the ATM's situated in banks (not on the street). This mitigates the fees charged. I keep the bulk of the notes in the room safe. At the start of my trips I often change pounds or euros that i bring with me, although the rate seems to be worse than when using ATM's. I suppose if i was resident in Thailand I would open a bank account and transfer money in bulk. With the current turmoil you would think that there would be a further decline in the Thai Baht against dollar/euro/pound.

In England tipping is not so common as in North America, but is usual in restaurants and with taxis and very often, but not always in hotels. In bars and pubs I tip occasionally when the bar staff have given good service, but very often the customer does not give money directly. Instead at the bar whilst ordering a "round" I say "and one for yourself". This takes the form of the price of a drink being added to the bill at the discretion of the barman. He does not usually actually drink it but instead pockets the cash. Within limits he can determine his own tip, although any abuse, such as selecting an exotic, expensive spirit would quickly be news in the pub and further tips would dry up.

I always tip the room cleaner with 100 baht per day, although occasionally I will forget. If they are about I give it personally otherwise I leave the note on the bed. This pays off when I ask for extra towels above the normal two, when I have a boy during the day and another one overnight, or when I have thoughts about offing two boys overnight.

This thread is firing up my memory of incidents which have annoyed me over the years concerning overnight guests. The more expensive hotels always provide nice little bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Also small high quality small soaps and even tooth brushes and paste. I once had a boy take them all without permission and I didn't notice till he had gone. This like the raids on the mini bar show a lack of respect, which i suspect many Thais have of Guests in their country. On the hand i don't want to exaggerate . These incidents only occurred on a very small minority of occasions.

Yes Vinapu I also dislike them raiding the mini bar without permission. Sometimes I have drinks in there which I have bought from 7-11 but the boys go for the more expensive bottles charged by the hotel. This annoys me. During my last trip I was woken during the night by the boy who was going through the mini bar and making a noise clinking the bottles. I told him to stop and get back into bed. He did so but rolled into ball sulking. I suppose the few extra baht on my hotel bill is trivial but I value politeness and good manners.

It took me a couple of minutes to review what I actually do when the boy leaves me. I don't seem to have any set pattern. I always give the tip in the room and never at the hotel exit. I seldom give taxi money unless somehow he doesn't seem to have small change for this. I am a generous tipper which covers his expenses. Mostly I accompany him to the reception desk and wait for him to retrieve the card. Often I am leaving the hotel at the same time. Occasionally I have even bought him breakfast and one time having eaten we returned back to the room and got back into bed together. It's never happened when on receiving the phone call I reply in the negative having some sort of problem, like the boy removing some item. My money, IPad, phone etc are always in the room safe or hidden away.

Perhaps they have been eaten !. Thais will eat anything. I hope Lumpini Park is back to some semblance of normal during my next visit, as I will miss jogging a few circuits in the early evening. Perhaps the joggers have found somewhere else - I can't think where though. Running from the Tarntawan Hotel to Lumpini Park was impossible on the crowded pavements.

Thanks bkkguy I note what you say about small towel-less saunas, but after visiting Thailand quite a few times I think a visit to Babylon is well overdue. I've just been checking their accommodation and see that large barrack rooms are available at a rate of 1700 baht which is cheap for Bkk, but I note these rooms do not have private facilities, Though you get two bathhouse entrance passes within the room rate. I will no doubt make a reservation for three nights as soon as I have firmed up my dates.

Can't say I'm interested in the foam party - its hardly a regular event !. However I'm planning to spend a couple of days or more in BKK during my next trip before heading to Pattaya. From what I have heard and read it sounds like Babylon is a larger version of Samsuk Sauna in Pats. Would this be accurate ? If so it will definitely be on my agenda for a visit. Like at Samsuk it seems surprising that nudity does not break out, bearing in mind than a large proportion of customers are farangs, who wander about with the large white bath towels round their waists. Totally impractical as they have a tendancy to slip off and get in the way in the cruising areas. I never know what to do with mine when I hook up in the dark maze. I suppose it's the tradition in gay bathhouses.

My experience of massages in Bkk is limited, as I have spent the majority of my time in Pattaya. My most memorable massages have been in Jomtien Centre, where I often go after an afternoon on the Gay Beach. There you can sit outside with the boys having a tea/coffee before making a decision. I remember a couple of years ago sitting outside the Question Mark Bar feeling horny and wanting a massage. A few boys were there and I was delighted when a handsome one wearing a cute striped vest top and tight shorts came over and sat next to me on the sofa. I bought him a drink and indicated I would like a massage. We chatted and sipped our drinks with him close to me. Before going inside I put my arm around him and tongue kissed him which for me guaranteed electricity between us. Going upstairs past the ping pong table I observed his butt in the tight shorts. We showered separately with him being last and me lying on the massage table waiting impatiently for him thinking he was taking too long. The massage was enjoyable and gradually my hands strayed to his butt and dick. Suddenly he rolled onto the bed and commenced a b2b with his dick probing between my butt cheeks, which I loved. I assumed a position to be topped and he quickly had the condom on, and I felt his cock easing its way in. He came eventually and I wanked to completion. I can't remember how much it cost but it was one of the best experiences I have had in Thailand. I returned twice and hired the same boy to repeat the performance until I had to return home. I wish I had offed him for the night. When I returned to Pattaya 4 months later I was disappointed to find he no longer worked at the Question Mark.

Is Euro Boys back in business ?. It used to be my favourite gogo. It was closed in February.

Beach Road is now useless for jogging due to the structural alterations and being crowded with walkers, Asian Tour Groups congregating around pictures of them paragliding affixed to plastic plates. Also groups of Indian Men ogling girls in bikinis. Also Thais going the wrong way on the footpath on motor cycles. Groups of farangs bemoaning the decline of Pattaya as a sex tourist destination. I could go on and on. Running there is only possible before 9 am and I'm usually otherwise occupied at that time. Pattaya is one of the worst places in the world I have come across as a venue for the jogging enthusiast. Las Vegas and Cairo were even worse. Bangkok has Lumpini Park otherwise it's bad. The best place is on Buddha Hill where there is a circuit around the hill, where there are a lot of runners in the early evening. In fact it's still OK during the day, owing to the shade provided by the trees and a breeze from the sea.

Ryoyo I think you got reasonable values for your money - maybe your expectations were a little too high. You had a massage and after the massage boy fucked you and also there was nipple play. I'm versatile also and this would for me be the climax with me wanking. I suppose you could have mentioned your requirement to the mamasan. Of course the choice of a new masseur is usually hit and miss, but I don't think you had a miss on this occasion. Thanks for the report and would welcome more of your experiences. I will certainly visit Hero during my next trip.

Z909 - 5mph is a very fast walking pace, especially over the hill Jomtien > South Pattaya. In fact I don't jog much faster. Such a speed walk every day would go along way to keep fit in Pats, and you could dispense with the gym. I do weight training but I'm far from convinced that it's doing me any good. I always feel better after jogging/running. Also swimming seems to be beneficial keeping the aches and pains away.

Yep confusing Tony with Mike. Getting old !!

It's on Third Road near the junction with South Pattaya Road. The main gym and Thai boxing centre is in the left side going towards Jomtien. The smaller gym, swimming pool, tennis court etc is on the right. Big place - you can't miss it. Both gyms have up to date weight training equipment, but some of the aerobic machines are in a poor state of repair. A free gym is on Pratumak Hill near the big Buddha. Here you can train at the various exercise stations and have a run around the mile circuit under the trees with a breeze from the sea !. Balance your budget after spending too much on boys !.

The only gym I attend in Thailand is the Mike Sport World in Pattaya. When in Pats I'm normally to be found there from about 10 am. I train with the weights and on the treadmill and finish with a few lengths in the pool. A months membership is 4000 baht if I remember correctly. It's the best of the Pattaya gyms, most of which are rather basic. I like to relax on Dongtan gay beach in the afternoon.

For non money boy action the best Option I believe is gay saunas. I've only spent a limited amount of time in BKK, having spent a number of vacations in Pattaya. However I intend to visit Babylon during my next trip. I did go to the Samsuk Sauna in Pattaya a number of times during my February trip and very much enjoyed it. I always went into the dark maze and had encounters with T hais and farangs there.. I particularly enjoyed being topped with the cubicle door open and an audience.