Trip Report - Thailand June 2025

[zoomomancs]

I'm 73 and started coming to Thailand in 2011 after my bf died of alcoholism in UK. I have been here about 55 times so far, plus side trips to nearby countries. All visa exempt. I have been 'talked to' twice at immigration so because of that, and money reasons, I don't come as much as 4 times a year any more. Qatar landed at BKK at 19.00 on Thursday. Planes jammo as usual in economy but FA's very pleasant. I had printed out the DTAC so happily walked past the queue to use tablets to do it before immigration. BTS/MRT to Silom by 21.05 and walked to cheapish Surawong hotel, chosen as I'm trying to be more economical these days. You will soon see that I am not economical. Over to Freshboys to take out 2 of my favourite Vietnamese men for a drink. Take nobody back to my room as I slept a total of 15 minutes on the flights so not up to it. Friday I took out from Freshboys a lovely man from Myanmar for a drink and was embarrassed that I knew him from the past and already had him as contact on line. Maybe his hair was different. Saturday I took out a Vietnamese man from Good Boys I knew as a massage man from Silom Soi 6 to go to bed and that went well. He was into kissing which many Viet men are not. And today I invited a Laos man who I know from Pattaya, and is currently freelancing in Bangkok, to my room. He is even better at kissing. At my age I do like enthusiasm and I like to run winners. I know a lot of men from the bars and have them as contacts on Line or wherever so get requests for offs or help every day. While I am generous with 100 bt notes I stopped lending or giving more money some years ago as my finances declined. Many years ago on Soi Twilight I had a night where I decided whatever the lads asked for I would give them. That was a 30,000 bt night and great fun but I will try to avoid it on this trip. 

[Londoner]

I'd be interested to know why you were "talked to" at Immigration. UK or Thai?

I'm a little older than you and  "started" back in 1995 As I age, as disgracefully as possible,  Thailand becomes more, not less important to me. Our generation may have discovered it relatively late in our lives but, my goodness, have we not squeezed every ounce of sanuk (fun) out of our trips?

[zoomomancs]

Talked to at BKK. 'Why you come so often? Are you working?' Last time I was coming in the priority lane as over 70 and the IO showed me my passport full of stamps as I had a burst of visits here after the Covid lockdowns. Yes, we appreciate the sanuk as we know our time may be limited so we will keep squeezing. 

[vinapu]

17 minutes ago, Londoner said:

I'd be interested to know why you were "talked to" at Immigration.

I not surprised as it happened to me in my country quite few times. " Why you going that often?",  "do you know somebody there?" etc. Most drastic was when I was subject of such interrogation while coming from completely different destination, just because Thai stamps in passport. Twice I had my luggage searched and was questioned why my travel diary has small child photo on the cover!!!!! 

I did not have phone searched but was asked once to show pictures in my camera from recent trip. And my country is considered paragon of being  liberal  mind you! 

[zoomomancs]

1 minute ago, vinapu said:

I not surprised as it happened to me in my country quite few times. " Why you going that often?",  "do you know somebody there?" etc. Most drastic was when I was subject of such interrogation while coming from completely different destination, just because stamps in passport. Twice I had my luggage searched and was questioned why my travel diary has small child photo on the cover!!!!! 

Occasionally customs search me at UK airports but I am not a shopper so 2 cheap t shirts, maybe costing £10 here, is all they have to look at.

[PeterRS]

When i was buying RTW tickets in Bangkok, I'd often be stopped by the customs lot at JFK. I would be directed to a separate line, my bag opened and asked to switch on my computer, although I was never asked to open a photo file. It was clearly because Bangkok was the origin of the ticket and BKK then had a dodgy reputation. Never happened with tickets purchased out of Hong Kong!

[floridarob]

1 hour ago, zoomomancs said:

plus side trips to nearby countries.

3 Vietnamese, 1 Lao, 1 Myanmar.....

Much easier when the countries come together to you instead,  in one destination 😉

[jason1975]

@zoomomancs I love kissing as well! 🥰🥰🥰 Looks like Freshboys is your favourite bar. How long are you in Bangkok?

[zoomomancs]

1 hour ago, jason1975 said:

@zoomomancs I love kissing as well! 🥰🥰🥰 Looks like Freshboys is your favourite bar. How long are you in Bangkok?

7 nights, then 7 nights in Pattaya, then 11 nights to be decided 

[Olddaddy]

6 hours ago, zoomomancs said:

7 nights, then 7 nights in Pattaya, then 11 nights to be decided 

I guess you feel "comfortable" going back to the same places ,but have you thought of just going for a few days to the Philippines or Malaysia?

[Kiwi306]

Please may I ask which Surawong hotel you booked and would you be likely to recommend it?

[zoomomancs]

28 minutes ago, Olddaddy said:

I guess you feel "comfortable" going back to the same places ,but have you thought of just going for a few days to the Philippines or Malaysia?

I've been to Malaysia twice. Maybe I caught a poor night in the one gay bar I went to but countries where gay sex is illegal have a hill to climb. I haven't yet been to  Philippines, though I read about it of course. 

[PeterRS]

4 minutes ago, zoomomancs said:

I've been to Malaysia twice. Maybe I caught a poor night in the one gay bar I went to but countries where gay sex is illegal have a hill to climb.

I understand the concern, but while the law is the law in Malaysia it basically covers the Muslim population. In my visits I have only met up with young Chinese and never encountered any problems - and that included visits to the main gay bar Blue Boy and a couple of saunas, one of which has been going for around 30 years. Even once - but ages ago - cruising in a very cruisy shopping mall!

[zoomomancs]

21 minutes ago, Kiwi306 said:

Please may I ask which Surawong hotel you booked and would you be likely to recommend it?

I'm currently in 56 Surawong which is basic and can be noisy so higher rooms are better. The wi-fi can be iffy so I run the laptop off an AIS card. They don't check id's of men I bring back so I prefer it to hotels which are strict about holding id's. Some may prefer the security of the latter system. Once in Pattaya the hotel gave my Thai friend the wrong id card back. He didn't check it and only realised as he was about to hand it to the guard at the entrance to Sattahip naval base, which is open to the public, if they have correct id. Happily the hotel still had his id when we returned. I do recommend 56 Surawong as a cheap option which is near the bars.

[jason1975]

8 minutes ago, zoomomancs said:

I'm currently in 56 Surawong which is basic and can be noisy so higher rooms are better. The wi-fi can be iffy so I run the laptop off an AIS card. They don't check id's of men I bring back so I prefer it to hotels which are strict about holding id's. Some may prefer the security of the latter system. Once in Pattaya the hotel gave my Thai friend the wrong id card back. He didn't check it and only realised as he was about to hand it to the guard at the entrance to Sattahip naval base, which is open to the public, if they have correct id. Happily the hotel still had his id when we returned. I do recommend 56 Surawong as a cheap option which is near the bars.

I agree that 56 Surawong is a fantastic value! Great location and rooms look modern and clean. I haven't stayed there personally but I saw the photos and I like them. If not for my preference for swimming pool (and sometimes kitchen), I probably stay at hotels such as 56 Surawong.

[zoomomancs]

15 minutes ago, jason1975 said:

I agree that 56 Surawong is a fantastic value! Great location and rooms look modern and clean. I haven't stayed there personally but I saw the photos and I like them. If not for my preference for swimming pool (and sometimes kitchen), I probably stay at hotels such as 56 Surawong.

I would also recommend the Raya (lift in car park so avoids reception and no discussion of men's id's), Tarntawan (strict on id's if one likes that), Quarter Silom (still newish and nice pool and English speaking staff) and Ibis Styles on Silom (responsive management). My favourite used to be Pantip Suites on Sathorn Soi 1 but Covid finished it off.

[Slut1215]

In fact for The Raya, I just bring guys up the main lift, so long as I'm not staying on the 5th floor where the reception is located on.

[Kiwi306]

3 hours ago, zoomomancs said:

I would also recommend the Raya (lift in car park so avoids reception and no discussion of men's id's), Tarntawan (strict on id's if one likes that), Quarter Silom (still newish and nice pool and English speaking staff) and Ibis Styles on Silom (responsive management). My favourite used to be Pantip Suites on Sathorn Soi 1 but Covid finished it off.

I stayed at the Tarntawan for a few nights last year. The policy was that the guest had to show ID, but it was just a formality and there wasn't a problem. At Quarter Silom you could just go straight up to your room. 

I will consider Ibis Styles. I seem to recall that they have a lunch buffet.

I am following this thread, as well as several others, but have not been getting notifications for a few weeks. I'm not sure why.

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, jason1975 said:

I agree that 56 Surawong is a fantastic value! Great location and rooms look modern and clean. I haven't stayed there personally but I saw the photos and I like them. If not for my preference for swimming pool (and sometimes kitchen), I probably stay at hotels such as 56 Surawong.

I stay there and second recommendations above although in the area  Raya ( if price is right) is still preferable option for me. Both Quarter Silom and Ibis Styles, while new and modern I consider overpriced due postcard size of their rooms

[zoomomancs]

Sunday had started well with the Laos man coming to my room. He arrived on time and all went well. In the evening I had agreed to meet a Vietnamese man for a drink and give him 2000bt as he in a very serious financial hole. I have known him for 11 years and lent him cash in the past which he still owes. He asked for more which I refused and I found the conversation dispiriting as I don't see how he gets out of this problem. Later in Freshboys, while I gave away a good number of 100bt notes, I felt nagged for a tip by others. I don't like saying no as I appreciate their lives are not easy but we all know our limits on the cash we have available. I went on to Good Boys, bought a Thai lad a beer and gave him 300, and gave away a few more red notes. If I see a lad looking a bit depressed I surprise him with 100bt. Please don't tell them this.

[jason1975]

2 minutes ago, zoomomancs said:

Sunday had started well with the Laos man coming to my room. He arrived on time and all went well. In the evening I had agreed to meet a Vietnamese man for a drink and give him 2000bt as he in a very serious financial hole. I have known him for 11 years and lent him cash in the past which he still owes. He asked for more which I refused and I found the conversation dispiriting as I don't see how he gets out of this problem. Later in Freshboys, while I gave away a good number of 100bt notes, I felt nagged for a tip by others. I don't like saying no as I appreciate their lives are not easy but we all know our limits on the cash we have available. I went on to Good Boys, bought a Thai lad a beer and gave him 300, and gave away a few more red notes. If I see a lad looking a bit depressed I surprise him with 100bt. Please don't tell them this.

You are a kind soul! 👍👍👍