Londoner

That's important to me as well. And also the unobtrusive checking of the IDs of visitors....and their departures. The problem of noise is very real. Why the show bars are now open to the soi is incomprehensible When Copa and LCR are competing in their "battle of the sound-systems " at about 2330, the noise forbids conversation at any of the host bars or on the terrace of Ambiance. Fortunately, the worst of the noise is over soon after 0030. Unless LCR has one of its karaoke nights for the tone deaf. Nevertheless, Ambiance is the place. If you can afford it, choose one of the better rooms; those facing the rear of the building (the cheapest) have very little natural light.

A few further reflections on Phuket. Firstly the beach. I don't agree with z909; the sea is blue- how often can that be said of Pattaya and Jomtien?- and the water is cleaner. As far as the visitors to Phuket are concerned, I feel much more relaxed in Pattaya because gay couples are more visible. My boyfriend and I seldom, if ever, saw other gays outside Paradise Complex. There were certainly khatoeys, one of whom publicly abused him, calling him a prostitute because he was with a falang. That's never happened anywhere else in Thailand, even in places like Krabi and Chiang Rai which have no visible gay scene.. Another difference is the age make-up of Phuket; much, much younger than in Pattaya. Many will prefer this but I don't. Fewer single men, of course, more young straight couples. These reflections relate specifically to Patong. As I said previously, the attractions of Phuket for us are in other parts of the island.

I've been there on about seven occasions, the first of which (about fifteen years ago) was as an independent traveller. I've never been an admirer of Patong, or at least its gay scene. It offers nothing that Pattaya hasn't got and is more expensive, and unless you expect to spend time on the beach (much better than Jomtien's), you are likely to be disappointed. I've never seen busy bars bars there. They were deserted when I visited with my boyfriend four years ago....but that was the low season. There are decent places to visit outside Patong and some good boat trips. However, if it's beaches and swimming you want, Krabi is much better while Pattaya offers a more interesting night-life and better restaurants and shopping. By the way, Patong's straight night-life can be extraordinarily noisy right through to 0600. Choose your hotel with caution. I like Rendezvous, a small gay hotel in the Paradise area.

Regarding mamasans in Bangkok, I don't remember them being so numerous and irritating during my visits in the late 90s. Of course, memory plays tricks- Thailand was, to me, a paradise then- but my impression is that their role has increased at the same time as the number of punters has declined.