tm_nyc

USD are accepted in Cambodia; the Euro & THB are not. Probably easier to change Euro to USD in BKK but it's certainly possible to do it in Cambodia. Many (not all) ATM's in Cambodia dispense USD so that's the easiest way to get dollars while you are there. Cambodians seem to be using the riel more. So, if one pays a $15 bill in a restaurant with a US $20 note, the change may come in riels. I find that the amount will be generally accurate & I leave it at that. I try to use a credit card as much as possible but I still have a wallet full of riel notes that won't pay for very much.

@PeterRS thanks for all the great information! What has your experience been (if any) with massage venues in Taipei? My impression is that they are quite expensive (by BKK standards) & may or may not include extras. Also, the Blowing Wind Forum has a Taiwan section that is worth a look (IMO).

Plus extra bonus points for travelers who are using the currently very strong USD.

Yes! I am in Siem Reap right now & I agree that it's an excellent time to visit the ruins. Otherwise, I think it's going to take years (definitely more than one) for SEAsia tourism to get back to its pre-Covid levels but things are moving in a positive direction. So, yes, travel now!

Yes! I visited Yogya right after Bali & I liked it a lot. Not a gay destination (as far I could tell) but really an interesting place with nice people & lots to see. The highlight was visiting Borobudur. To get there, I rode on the back of a motorcycle, driven by a sweet but (alas) straight tour guide.

Thank you, dscrtsldnbi, for the excellent posts! Are you familiar with the gay scene in Ubud, especially the massage scene? On my one short visit to Bali, years ago, I thought that Seminyak was OK, but I really preferred the atmosphere in Ubud.

My reply to the title question is 'yes'. Not sure that all/most people under 50 have stopped reading but I do know that Amazon has killed off a lot of bookstores in the US. I agree that (Amazon) Kindle is a great convenience for travelers. I put a lot of books on my Kindle before I leave & I borrow books while I'm traveling from my public library at home as well.

Same-same here. I saw Top Gun Maverick in Bangkok & really enjoyed it. It's one of those movies that really should be seen on a big screen.

It would be great if someone could come up with a breakfast option or 2 for Silom. As for Foodland Patpong, it takes a certain very refined farang taste to appreciate its unique charms.

For visitors from the US, the much lower cost of the airfare (compared to going to Thailand) would offset the higher cost of the recreational activities. Thanks for the excellent posts!

Bros is said to be the first romantic comedy about 2 gay men from a major Hollywood studio. It stars Billy Eichner & Luke Macfarlane & Eichner also co-wrote the film. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQIeBB9XMe8

I knew in advance that Thailand still has a Covid mask requirement in place but, traveling from the US, I was still a little surprised that virtually all the Thais I see in Bangkok are wearing masks. At the same time, many/most of the farang I encounter are not. Personally, I would much rather not wear a mask but I do because it feels a little disrespectful not to. I am curious to know what other members are doing. Yes, I understand that many Asian countries (starting with China) have not lifted Covid restrictions as quickly as the US & Europe. No, I absolutely do not want to re-open the discussion of the pros & cons of how different countries have responded to the pandemic.

Min's post 'Min's Tidbits about my Thailand and Vietnam Experiences', posted several months ago in the Gay Thailand forum, also has worthwhile information on the Phnom Penh gay scene (such as it is), including the bars & clubs.

Unfortunately for you, your niece is 100% correct. Third-part ticket brokers can offer very good deals but I try to buy only direct from the airline for just that reason. Of course, post-Covid, I know that there are a million stories about people failing to get refunds from the airlines. Here's hoping the situation works out for you.

Yes! Agree 100% on both. And, no, the 'digital' exam is no fun at all.

I have no recent, first-hand experience flying on Iberia but these customer reviews make interesting reading: https://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/iberia/ As young11 suggests, Iberia's customer service may not be the greatest.

I am a fan of Le Siam/Swiss Lodge too. It was the very first hotel I stayed at on my first Thailand visit. Biggus could request a room facing away from the construction. But, judging by 10tazione's photo, it appears like the construction is pretty far advanced, so maybe less of a problem.

Back to AirBNB: if you are thinking of a 1-2 month stay, find out if the room is cleaned & the sheets on the bed are changed on a regular basis. I stayed in an AirBNB in Silom Soi 6 & it was fine otherwise but there was no cleaning service at all.

That doesn't sound like much of a Thailand high season to me. I suppose that China accounts for a big percentage of the shortfall & the Russia situation doesn't help.

Wow, I had the same thought as Gerefan about the news that BA is not resuming flights to BKK: that's not a big loss to Thailand-bound fliers from London. I flew on BA LHR-BKK & return in biz class several years ago &, while it was not 'bloody awful', it was mediocre in every respect. Never again.

Excellent! Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed, candid account of your experiences. It's great that you have a positive approach to try & see what works & what doesn't. Sorry to hear that Aswan was a disappointment but very interesting about the hammam & massage availabilities in Cairo. Also, UBER bike. What agreat idea! I visited Egypt about 10 years ago & had zero luck with shop keepers, tour guides, taxi drivers, hotel staff because they were generally older & bulkier than the kind of guy I prefer. Also, I think that it's necessary to have time to explore. It was my first time there & I was generally running around doing touristic stuff (which I loved) which didn't leave a lot of time & energy for 'other pursuits'.

My pre-Covid recollection is that Best Massage had twinky guys, while Arena definitely does not. Silom Plaza does have an escalator (which may or may not work) plus elevators toward the back so access to Arena should not be a problem. Totally agree with sydneyboy1 about the old Hero but that was then & this is now!

My impression is that Delta is the most aggressive US carrier in terms of 'post-Covid pricing". Also I think that, as reader points out, it's cheaper booking from a hub than from a smaller airport. My sister lives in Charlotte, NC & I am shocked at how much higher the international fares are there, as opposed to flying out of NY, even in Economy.

Yes, I agree that it all sounds a bit unworkable. All the booking sites like agoda are going to have to post 2 rates for Thai properties, one for Thais & one for the farang? Sounds pretty unlikely! Also, I think that Reader is right about this being another ineffective attempt by the Thai government to lure wealthy tourists & to hell with everyone else.

You have already checked the AirBNB reviews of the place. If there are a decent number of reviews & if there is no mention access problems by other renters, then you should be OK. I stayed in an AirBNB in a condo building on Silom Soi 3. The location was excellent & the studio apartment was a decent size & quite comfortable. Both the building & the apartment were well-maintained but a bit dated & tired looking. The management was aware of my AirBNB status & there were no problems about that. There was a rooftop pool that I rarely used & a 'gym' with equipment that mostly did not work. But, no cleaning service at all during my 2-week stay &, if I wanted clean sheets, it was up to me to launder them & make the bed myself. That was the only thing I did not like.