For me, the most important thing in a gogo-bar are the boys. Everyone has different preferences, either they are your type or they aren't.

 

I don't go to a bar because the music level is low or the toilets are clean. Maybe because the drinks are cheaper than elsewhere. I go because I hope to find a boy I like. And you can't rate that.

I go because I hope to find a boy I like. And you can't rate that.

Well said! I agree with you.

Having been generally "hitched" for years now, I don't go to the bars (the traditional boy bars versus a drinking bar!) that often (maybe once or twice a month on average) and I guess I'm not particularly in the "hunt" mode when I do go. On the other hand, I do like to look and I always find somebody (usually at least a few) who strike my fancy.

 

I dont' care about the drink prices (hasn't stopped me yet although once or twice I intentionally slowed down my drinking) but I have left bars before solely because the damn music was much too loud.

 

As another poster has suggested, everything in this area is so subjective so I wouldn't pay much attention to any rating system anyway.

...I don't go to the bars (the traditional boy bars versus a drinking bar!) that often (maybe once or twice a month on average)...

Living in the USA I get to the bars of Pattaya even less often and the one thing I have found is that the bar I enjoyed the most on my last trip has never ended up being my favorite on the current trip. Most often it is due to a change of boys, but a change of boys often leads to a change of energy or atmosphere. Sometimes the mamasan or owner has changed, so reviews haven't been that helpful for me. A few bars, like Funny Boys, Crazy Dragon, Panorama and a few others manage to keep a consistency that brings me back at least once each trip, but as far as "Most favorite" goes, it has changed for me every time.

Interesting as I was in MJ's which is a bar that has gogo boys in Los Angeles recently. Great atmosphere and clean facilities. Of course, I think USA bars have certain sanitary requirements to stay in business.

 

I like the idea of rating bars for cleanliness as it is important to me. There are so many times I go to a gogo bar in Thailand and love the boys but can't wait to get out to use a clean toilet.

There are so many times I go to a gogo bar in Thailand and love the boys but can't wait to get out to use a clean toilet.

Amen to that! My sentiments exactly!

Ultimately it's the boys on stage that are the main attraction.

Power Boys in Chiang Mai had immaculate toilets, however on my one visit, not one of their gogo dancers was my type.

 

If the backroom facilities are below par, they can always be avoided with some advance planning.

Voting at www.out-in-thailand.com Awards has been brisk and it will be fascinating to see who wins our readers' votes in all the categories and locations. The winners will be announced in our January, first birthday issue.

When I am planning a vacation I often use TripAdvisor.

It has a simple rating system of hotels and space then for users comments. One person may give high ratings another may hate the place. But over time there seems to be a trend. Same would happen for gay bars.

 

Nothing has to be 100% correct. Of course it depends on multiple factors. So what. It may encourage the owners to look at comments and see what people say about the place.

 

Some problems will naturally arise. As on TripAdvisor, I have heard that some hotels pay firms or advertising groups to post favorable comments.

 

The truth is, I doubt that there is a big enough audience to make it worthwhile to have such a site. But as to the idea I like it

When I am planning a vacation I often use TripAdvisor.

 

When making advance bookings at a hotel for the first time, I also use Tripadvisor. However, where I am confident of finding a choice of vacant hotels, I am content just to show up and inspect the room before checking in.

 

When bars are closely located together, it is just so easy to walk into a bar and if it's not to your liking, leave immediately.

As the majority of Pattaya gay bars are close together in one of 3 areas this works.

 

When the bars are more widely spread out, such as in Chiang Mai, perhaps it is helpful to know which bars are good in advance.

 

Of course, the Tripadvisor model has its limitations too. There are several quite promising looking gay hotels in Pattaya without a single review on that site. People would be even less inclined to review bars, as it's so easy to move to the next one.