DivineMadman

There was sidewalk-vendor food sold on Silom near DJ Station, at the intersection with Sala Daeng and also near Soi Convent

thanks for the great report!

Sorry to hear the bad report about The Prince. I did hear a very similar report from another member recently. I'm lucky I've had more success there, so it's one of my favorite spots. (Been there more than 10 but less than 20 times?) I've never tried the VIP room, so certainly can't speak to that. My concerns about The Prince are that although there is a a core group of guys who have been there a long time, there are so many guys working there and there seems to be a bit of a high turnover, which always makes me wonder about quality control. Also, in my experience, you tend to shower alone before and after. I prefer help in the shower after to get the massage oil off. And if you go late afternoon/early evening the guys will inevitably return immediately into the bullpen for the chance of a future customer, which I think sometimes means they may rush and/or save themselves for the next customer. All this I think tends be true for most shops - I just present this in the interest of a fair appraisal. It's still in my top three places. The location works for me, I like the selection and the layout and because, as I noted, I've had success there ranging from great to good experiences. Statistically it means I'm probably due for a dud.

I think it would wise to be prepared for the entertainment zones to be shut down for some period.

welcome and thank you for your report. I think selfies are ok - but should ask first. 4 hand massages can be tricky. Some guys may be reluctant to perform with their co-workers, so the general rule for massages is true in spades for 4 hand massages: make 100% clear with the manager at the time of selection what you want, and then re-confirm with the guys before you start. (Another approach is to off someone from one bar, telling him at the time what you want, go to another bar and together select a another guy to off for joint extracurricular activities.)

If we're being pedantic, then wouldn't it be "if the sex scene were less visible" ? (subjunctive; expressing a condition not currently true). "If I were a rich man, . . . " But english is a vibrant and ever-changing language, so no need for pedantry. (Such as the prohibition on beginning a sentence with "but.")

It's a nice little city, with a pleasant lake and park in the center. There are some interesting temples in the area and a couple of ancient sites. Overall a pretty nice and inexpensive place. I am not sure i'ld recommend it as a major "destination," but not a bad place to go to get a bit off the beaten path and gang out with Thais. I don't believe there's much if any overt gay scene, but you might find some activity on Hornet.

Spa Bangkok|Bangkok Retreat is a high end spa that offers tantric massage for men. It's very nice. The tantric massage is a "legit" tantric massage without release, but you might find that when the tantric massage is combined with another massage that you will leave happy anyway -- if a bit poorer, because it is an expensive shop. But very very nice. It is in the same building as Arena. https://spabangkok.net/premium-spa-for-men/ Dr. Bear offers a \similar massage from their menu of massages. Depending on who you get for the massage it's a great place or a mediocre place. (That's true at most shops but my own experiences at Dr. Bear have been particularly inconsistent.) I believe that there is a private room available, which I've never seen, but otherwise the massages are given on massage tables separated by curtains. Not my favorite set up. Some people find it hard to get to, but it's not that bad. I can recommend the manager there as one of the best masseurs in Bangkok. https://www.travelgayasia.com/venue/dr-bear-massage/

FYI - http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/09/30/brit-catches-massive-record-shattering-100-kilo-siamese-carp-ratchaburi

Good to know! Outside Thailand, I can recommend the bagels (etc.) at any of the Joma Cafes - Luang Prabang, Vientiane & Hanoi.

Thanks for the great trip report!

Masseurs naked during massage at a lot of the shops: Arena, Prince, V Club, Banana, Senso, any of the Soi Twilight shops, King Spa, and many others.

So you really only have to pay 700 for full on oral and anal? That surprises me - but more power to you. When I go there I don't actually negotiate either - but I pay more than the 700. But what I am trying to inform people about is that the stated 700/hour tip is for limited services and either the guy will tell you during the massage if you want extras it will cost you "x" or if neither of you mentions it ahead of time, he will still be expecting more if you had extras beyond the limited included services. Same as the Soi Twilight spots, and many others. Personally, I prefer the places where the minimum tip for full services - it's just another thing not to worry about.

I found Hornet was pretty active in HCHC, Hanoi and to a lesser extent Da Nang (but still worthwhile). Other places not so much.

I don't think there is a consensus that Arena has the hottest guys. (Although "hottest" is of course relative.] Prince is a bit more upscale and charges a bit more, but the guys are more "model" good looks. The minimum tip at Prince is higher but it is full service - extras don't have to be negotiated at Prince, while they do at Arena - so at the end of the day I think the tip ends up to be the same. Basically the same as Arena as far as muscular guys. Prince usually has more guys than Arena - the "fishbowl" at Prince is bigger than where Arena is now. At Prince you are less likely to shower with your masseur - you typically shower by yourself before, and after is a toss-up. Senso - very hit or miss - sometimes there may be a good selection, sometimes not. [Vinapu will invariably say you only need one. ]. If you want to maximize chances, skip it. Far fewer guys than Prince or Arena.

It's up to the masseur. Some do use condoms, some do not. If no condom is important to you then mention that to the manager when you are selecting your masseur. (It would be wrong to pressure or tell a masseur you do not want him to use a condom - it's his health at risk.)

I like the idea of tuktuks more than the reality. I am tall-ish, so the process of folding me into the tuktuk, and then unfolding me to get out, is not a pretty one. More important, because my head is jammed up against the roof I can't really see out the sides at all, so end up just looking at the traffic following behind. Having said that, I took a tuktuk from Vientiane out to the sculpture garden (name forgotten), and had a great, spine-re-aligning, time. But I agree Siem Reap can be very dusty out as you go exploring. Plus you're guide will probably really appreciate an air-conditioned car also.

You might keep The Prince in mind as an alternative to Arena.

Blued has been advertising heavily in Thailand.

Arena is full service but note that the minimum tip is just for the massage, shower and HJ. Anything more is in addition and should be discussed with the masseur.

You have to ask the manager at the time of selection. It's not a problem. Some places will expect you to tell the manager you like a particular guy and then you specify exactly what you want and the manager will confirm whether or not he does that. If yes, then you're good to go. If no, then it's a no pressure re-pick. Other places you can tell what you want and the manager can make recommendations. As often as not the manager will not pass on your specifics to the masseur, so you might also ask the manager to tell the guy what you want. He's not a mind reader. Communication = happy ending for all.

It's Arena at it's old location. Now it's in the same building as it has been, but different floor. Entry layout is different now - the guys are quite a bitter closer to you as you make your selection.

Really? I've never met him but I have noticed his posts will very often - not always, but often - have a touch of humor, which I appreciate.

Siem Reap is definitely a place for "cultural" tourism, rather than other kinds (sex). But for that, I think it's great. You can spend many days exploring the temples and just crack the surface. Or going out to a village or the lake. If you're not into that sort of thing, then of course it's a very silly place to go to indeed - a decent place for a visa run, not much more. A good guide is probably essential if you want to get the most of the UNESCO site. I have never used him, and can't vouch for him, but I see there is a guide listed on the highly-regarded siamroads.com website.

A couple Siem Reap notes: I've stayed at the Le Meridien most recently - very nice and relaxing on the road out to Angkor. Short tuktuk ride into town or to main temples. Town center can be very noisy with revelers - so you might think twice before staying right in the middle of the action there. Everything is very close and lots of tuktuks. I don't recall much availability on the apps, but wasn't really looking last time I went. The typical recommended routine is visit temples in the morning - not as hot and the light is better for photos. Mid-day photos tend to get washed out. This is most important for the Bayon. (Obvs only relevant if you care about the sun/heat and photos.). [Daily routine - morning temples, mid-day rest/pool, afternoon museum, shops, urban exploration, massage, evening relax, night party in old town. repeat.]. Late afternoon some of the temples also start clearing out, or your driver can take you to some of the beautiful smaller temples that dot the landscape. There's a "pink" one I recall being very nice. The museum is interesting and not too big. There's a nice night market across the river from the old part of town for shopping. Standard rules apply for tuktuk drivers - they will offer to take you to shops they know, and from which they get a commission. I preferred the night market in town and this one actress the street. For some beautiful examples of local crafts - at a very high price - check out Artisans d'Angkor. Also across the river is http://hathakhmerspa.weebly.com/siem-reap.html. Been there a few times and generally pleased. You pick from a handful of guys sitting in a room behind a glass wall. Good service all around. And nice guys. They also have a branch in Phnom Penh. I was also disappointed by Linga Bar massage. Wasn't really thrilled with the bar either. I think when I was there there was some tension between manager (owner?) and staff. Not a good vibe. I am sure I was just there on a bad night. Agree the cabaret show is fun. For a nice place to hang out, have some drinks and some food, I liked Miss Wong. Squirreled away on a little alley, so maybe a little hard to find (?) - but google maps is accurate as I recall. Only real bad part of Siem Reap is the taxi ride from the airport to hotel - drivers usually go for the hard swell on being your driver for your visit. Of course there is enough to keep you occupied in Siem Reap for many days, but I really really enjoyed visiting Tonle Sap. I'll let others who have visited Phnom Penh more recently than I speak to that.