Pantherz

Thanks for sharing your experience, Peter. I imagine CT scans and MRIs aren’t usually done without a clear reason, partly because they’re expensive and the equipment is probably in high demand at major hospitals. Plus, CT scans involve ionizing radiation, which can raise cancer risk over time. MRIs seem much safer in that regard, though they can be tough for people who struggle with claustrophobia. I’m curious… do you get these tests as a way to screen for anything that might be wrong, or are they recommended because of an existing health condition?

Thanks Marc, I really appreciate your perspective. I agree that too much testing can backfire. I’ve put a lot into preventive care over the past decade, with regular check-ups and tracking my results over time. It helps me catch any changes early and adjust my lifestyle if needed. Good to know you feel the same way about Bumrungrad. That’s reassuring.

I'm planning to schedule a comprehensive wellness check at Bumrungrad. Their packages look pretty impressive, especially since they include preventive tests meant to identify potential health risks or conditions you might be at risk for developing later in life. I know some of you might be inclined to tell me that I could do these tests for less at smaller clinics, labs, or more affordable hospitals. I totally understand that, but I prefer Bumrungrad and am comfortable paying for the experience. That said, I still want to make sure I’m getting the best price possible. I’ve compared Bumrungrad’s packages with those at Samitivej, BNH, Bangkok Hospital, and Bangkok Christian Hospital. Bumrungrad is the only one I found that offers a package including the specific preventive medicine diagnostics I’m interested in. I came across some information online about older promotions, like a 25% discount for Thai Airways passengers who showed their boarding pass, although that seems to have expired. I also read that guests staying at Ascott properties can get a 15% discount by showing their room key at the hospital. If anyone knows of any other current offers like these, preferably ones that don’t involve signing up for a local Thai credit card, I’d really appreciate the info. I’d also love to hear about the experiences of anyone who has done executive check-ups or comprehensive wellness tests at Bumrungrad or other hospitals in Bangkok. Thanks in advance.

I recommend this dinner cruise https://www.banyantree.com/thailand/bangkok/dining/apsara-cruise

Was the issue that without the printed voucher you wouldn’t have been able to check in to your hotel in Hong Kong? I remember it being necessary to bring a paper airline ticket to the airport, but not needing to bring a paper voucher to a hotel.

Thanks Marc! That first video is a great tour and gives you a good idea of what the place is like.

Submissive Older White Travellers for Submissive Local Bottoms 😆 Came across this on Facebook and thought it was funny. Has this been the experience of those of you who stayed at A&P?

I don’t know if they earn a basic salary, however I and other customers in the bar tipped all of them on several occasions. It’s quite common for them to get 100 baht tips from different customers during some or all of their hourly dance performances as well.

The guys at Dragon & Koi are very nice and don’t take advantage of you. They are grateful the drinks and generally drink them at the same pace as you do. They aren’t hunky like the ones at Space Bar, but I the “type” of enjoyment to be similar. Good times. I really like these types of bars and wish there were more of them.

If you could please post that updated list I would be very grateful! Thank you 😊

The Nobu rooftop bar is the new place to go. Check it out, I had a great time there.

Wow thanks for your post it really added a lot to the story after having just read the book. If anyone happens to see Chai or knows where he works, it would be great to say hello to him.

Now that’s an oxymoron.

Thanks that’s helpful. I was thinking that I’d prefer to be in Bangkok over the weekend and go to Phnom Penh afterward, but was worried that I’d miss out on the weekend vibe. Doesn’t sound like it’s an issue. I guess the guys each take a day off on alternating days throughout the week.

How are Space Bar and Toolbox early in the week? Do they tend to be better since the guys are less busy with tourists, given that bars are usually slower from Monday to Thursday? Or are they worse because fewer guys are scheduled to work?

I just finished reading this book. In the epilogue, the author mentioned that he could be found as a “ghost guide” in Patpong and Soi Twilight, which suggests the book was written before the pandemic. He’d be in his mid-50s now and might still be around one of Silom’s two gay streets. Has anyone come across him?

Thanks, it would be my first time so that’s a compelling reason to give the Hilton a try.

Thanks for the info! Is the beach clean and swimmable there? I have been told that some areas of beach in Pattaya aren’t very clean. How did you find the area around the Hilton?

I’d say that’s the best in Bangkok at the moment, followed by Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons closely tied. None are conveniently located for gay nightlife, but wonderful properties. You will probably want to spend a lot of time on property at the pool anyways since you will be paying so much for it. Are you going to be inviting over any dates?

The W Bangkok was focused on a lot of Chinese families last time I was there. People in pajamas and slippers down in the lobby and all. Very noticeable change of demographic. Breakfast was very unpleasant with all the children running wild and touching everything with their hands. Definitely not the same LGBT demographic of traveler that it used to cater to in Bangkok. I probably wouldn’t return again and I’ve stayed there many times.

I don’t like it anymore since the renovation. It used to have an open feel to it so you could better see people who were coming and going, but now they have segregated it quite a bit from the rest of the lobby with big walls.

Bali gets a lot of hate because of them and because of all of the digital nomads, but there are still lots of cute Indonesians and Asian travelers!

Has anyone stayed at the Hilton in Pattaya? I just looked at a couple videos and the beach and views look nice. I had asked about Andaz Pattaya a while back in a separate thread and was told that it is too far out, but looking at Google Maps the Hilton appears to be more centrally located.

Some of the problems included being loud and boisterous in restaurants and by the pool, jumping queues, and smoking where smoking is prohibited. There are good and bad people everywhere, but the type of tourist that was at Le Meridien when I stayed there wasn’t the type of tourist I wanted to be around. Maybe I just had bad luck and they were part of a large group. Who knows.

Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn’t heard about that one. 4.7 / 5 stars on Google Reviews with 1,475 reviews so it looks like a pretty solid property.