Bangkok/Chiang Mai advice

[jimmie50]

On 8/8/2025 at 4:57 AM, Department_Of_Agriculture said:

The Empress probably isn't the best place for a solo stay. It is rather quiet in that area, while the real fun is in the night market area. For a comparable price, you could get a room at the Movenpick hotel, which is rather bland, but situated right on the doorstep of the action with the night market just steps away. If you want to splurge, the Marriott (formerly Le Meridien) is directly opposite.

Unfortunately, The Empress is the hotel included in the tour I have signed up for, and since I am staying two extra days I just extended my stay at the same hotel and it is already paid.  Nothing I can do to change that now, but I will keep that in mind for any future trips to Chiang Mai.  

[jimmie50]

On 8/6/2025 at 9:24 AM, daydreamer said:

In Chiang Mai, in the very central Thapae Road area, just a short walk from Thapae Gate and the old city moat, there is Classic House Massage on Thapae Soi 4. 

I have checked out their website and discovered they also have LINE account.  It isn't that far of a walk from my hotel, so I definitely plan to check them out.  ShamelessMack2 also mentioned a place called AQUA CNX which would only be about a 10 minute walk from my hotel.  They have a website, twitter and LINE accounts, so I plan to check them out as well.  

[jimmie50]

On 8/8/2025 at 9:48 AM, fedssocr said:

I agree that staying in Silom area is a good idea. Transferring to your other hotel is pretty straightforward either by BTS/MRT or taxi/Grab.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.  Based upon your recommendations, I will plan to stay in the Silom area for the first part of my trip, and then transfer over to the Galleria 10 when the tour begins.  Will spend some time this weekend deciding on which hotel and making the reservation.  

I am somewhat familiar with BTS, but have never tried using MRT, Grab, or taxi.  On all of my previous trips my Thai friends provided transportation to all of the various places of interest with their personal car.  I only needed to get a pass for BTS.  Is MRT similar to BTS...only underground?  Are you able to use one pass for both systems?  In addition to Grab, I believe there is something called Bolt?!?  Is one service better or more reliable than the other?  Kind of curious to try a motorbike taxi...lol.  

[jimmie50]

While certainly not a novice to this hobby, I have never been much of a bar person.  As a result, I have never been to a 'host bar'.  What exactly is a host bar and how does that work?  Someone mentioned the host bars on Soi 6 in Chiang Mai.  I suppose there are host bars in Bangkok as well.  

[fedssocr]

4 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.  Based upon your recommendations, I will plan to stay in the Silom area for the first part of my trip, and then transfer over to the Galleria 10 when the tour begins.  Will spend some time this weekend deciding on which hotel and making the reservation.  

I am somewhat familiar with BTS, but have never tried using MRT, Grab, or taxi.  On all of my previous trips my Thai friends provided transportation to all of the various places of interest with their personal car.  I only needed to get a pass for BTS.  Is MRT similar to BTS...only underground?  Are you able to use one pass for both systems?  In addition to Grab, I believe there is something called Bolt?!?  Is one service better or more reliable than the other?  Kind of curious to try a motorbike taxi...lol.  

Sadly BTS and MRT still don't have an integrated payment system. MRT is largely underground on the original blue line but there are many aboveground stations and lines now, especially away from the downtown core. I just use my contactless credit card (US-based Chase Visa) for the MRT as it's the most convenient option. Queues for the ticket machine or booth can get quite long at busy times otherwise. If you have a compatible credit card you just walk up to the fare gate and and touch the target on the way in and use the same card at the exit gate.

[PeterRS]

15 hours ago, daydreamer said:

Just be sure you are comparing the same class of room

Very useful advice. I quite often find that if I want, say, a large bed, the cheaper offer on another site will only be for a twin bed room. Not I think, what most posters here will be looking for! 

[floridarob]

4 hours ago, PeterRS said:

I quite often find that if I want, say, a large bed

Are you a room size queen too 😳

[PeterRS]

6 hours ago, floridarob said:

Are you a room size queen too 😳

Not at all! In Japan I have several times been in a room where if I stretched out my arms I could touch the side walls. Much more important to me is that the room is really quiet.

[Department_Of_Agriculture]

19 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

While certainly not a novice to this hobby, I have never been much of a bar person.  As a result, I have never been to a 'host bar'.  What exactly is a host bar and how does that work?  Someone mentioned the host bars on Soi 6 in Chiang Mai.  I suppose there are host bars in Bangkok as well.  

A host bar is a bar that has boys - hosts - available to take care of you in the bar. Guys will sit with you, chat with you, drink with you, play around with you and, in a proper host bar, take care of things such as making sure that your glass is full and topping-up the ice. Beyond that, formats may vary in-terms of whether or not a boy can be offed during working hours, whether or not they have stage shows, how hands-on you can get with the boy while in the bar and how exactly a boy's payment is handled. In the Thai-style places, there is usually a fixed amount or fixed formula per hour that varies by bar. Most of the Thai-oriented places will also offer food and the guys are usually lined-up on stage while waiting to be called down by customers. Thais will usually go to these places in groups for a night out. You will find host bars in all the major cities and some of the smaller ones as well. Thais, generally, prefer these places to the go go bars, which are increasingly seen as quite déclassé and definitely passé. 

While everyone is welcome in these places, the atmosphere in these Thai-oriented host bars is quite different from what you will find in the Western/foreign-oriented "host bars". In the Western-oriented ones, such as you will find on Soi 6 Chiang Mai, you will have bar with a bunch of boys sitting around, hoping that you will invite them over for a drink and then take them off from the bar. If you see one or more that you like, invite them over for a drink. Some guys may take the initiative to come over and say hello. Invite or don't invite them to join you according to your preference. In the Western-oriented host bars, your tip to the boy for the time he spends drinking with you is at your discretion. Obviously, don't be a stingy dickhead, though, or you won't find a warm reception from the boys the next time you show-up. The guys in the Western-oriented host bars are less polished in-terms of actual hosting; they aren't likely to top-up the ice in your drink, for example, but they are usually quite interactive. All boys can be offed from these places, if they are willing. Another difference is that most of the Thai-oriented host bars are staffed by Thai boys; The foreign-oriented host bars, increasingly, often have a large proportion of foreign boys. That matters to some. Overall, host bars are less in your face than the go go bars and the boys are more interactive by virtue of the format.

Specific to Soi 6 in Chiang Mai, there are now three Western-oriented host bars: Orion (the oldest); Connections; and Charm, which is the newest and smallest. Charm was set-up by the bartender from the old New My Way bar and a couple of the guys from that bar can be found here. Generally, though, the crew is made-up of friendly young guys. If you are new to the scene there, I would start with Charm. I like Connections as well. The owner was formerly a mamasan at Dream Boy when it was on Soi Twilight.  

There is also a fourth bar on that street - RAM Bar, which is a drag show bar that is popular with foreigners. Someone on here once called it the best drag show bar in Thailand. I would just call it a small slice of hell. 

 

[vinapu]

16 hours ago, PeterRS said:

Very useful advice. I quite often find that if I want, say, a large bed, the cheaper offer on another site will only be for a twin bed room. Not I think, what most posters here will be looking for! 

in some hotels where twin beds can be put together is easy to utilize such a bargain , if they can't it's still pleasant , even if bit crowded experience to share twin bed with suitable companion 

[jimmie50]

8 hours ago, Department_Of_Agriculture said:

A host bar is a bar that has boys - hosts - available to take care of you in the bar. Guys will sit with you, chat with you, drink with you, play around with you and, in a proper host bar, take care of things such as making sure that your glass is full and topping-up the ice.

Thanks for the detailed explanation. Sounds like something I would enjoy much more than going to the clubs or go-go bars.  A little more calm and I enjoy people watching...even more fun to do so if you have some company while you are doing it.  Checked out the location of the ones you specifically mentioned and they are an easy walking distance from my hotel.  

[PeterRS]

6 hours ago, vinapu said:

in some hotels where twin beds can be put together is easy to utilize such a bargain , if they can't it's still pleasant , even if bit crowded experience to share twin bed with suitable companion 

Respectfully I disagree. I have on I think three occasions ended up with twin beds when I have ordered and been promised one large bed. Pushing them together looks as though they make a better larger bed, but you always end up with the gap in the middle, no matter how small. As soon as you cuddle up to someone you hit that gap. If the beds are on some form a castor, you can quite easily fall down between the two. Even if you remain on the bed, I find the dip between the two more than annoying! Trying to share just one twin bed in the tiny room of a Japanese business hotel - good luck!

[vinapu]

43 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

Respectfully I disagree. I have on I think three occasions ended up with twin beds when I have ordered and been promised one large bed. Pushing them together looks as though they make a better larger bed, but you always end up with the gap in the middle, no matter how small. As soon as you cuddle up to someone you hit that gap. If the beds are on some form a castor, you can quite easily fall down between the two. Even if you remain on the bed, I find the dip between the two more than annoying! Trying to share just one twin bed in the tiny room of a Japanese business hotel - good luck!

looks that I had much better luck with my choices of twin bed accommodation in the past

[jimmie50]

Is anyone familiar with a massage shop named ATMAN?  I think it used to be called Zen Prime Massage.  It isn't in the Silom area.  I cannot locate a website for ATMAN, but somehow ended up on their daily LINE update.  I must have subscribed to Zen Prime.  Old Facebook page for Zen Prime hasn't been updated since February 2023...but I find that isn't so uncommon with many of the places in Thailand.  Curious if anyone has been there before.   

https://www.facebook.com/zenprimemassage

 

[jimmie50]

hmm...nobody familiar with ATMAN/Zen Prime?   Also interested in knowing if anyone has actually visited TK and what that experience was like.  I somehow managed to get on their daily LINE updates and they are quite graphic.  Certainly leaves no doubt in anyone's mind what to expect.  No idea where the shop is located. 

On another note, I do have a question about transportation from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Ibis Styles Silom.  From reading on here, it appears most people take the train from the airport.  On my previous trips to Thailand, I have always had my Thai friends pick me up.  This time I will be on my own and really don't want to deal with my luggage on the train.  Can anyone recommend a good, safe car service?  I'm ok with some sort of shared shuttle or private car.  Tried searching on here for airport transportation but got something like 23,000+ results!!!  That would be like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack go through all of those.  lol.  

Also, do you usually get a Thai phone number (e-sim) when you are in Thailand?  I never have before...always used WhatsApp for communicating with my Thai friends.  Not sure if this is something I need to get since I will be traveling solo this time.  

THANKS, everyone!  

[12is12]

I always take a taxi. Simple, no prblms, cheaper.

[vinapu]

I always take train unless it's not running between midnight and 6 am. I even chalked off first and last train for the day from airport and last train to the airport. 

Getting taxi from Swampy is no problem but depending of time of day not necessarily time saving exercise. 

I always get SIM card in the airport , it's offered by fee providers with kiosks all over the airport. 

As for those massage replaces, after travelling all over Bangkok  over the years I came to realisation that all I need can be obtained  in Silom ghetto. I make occasional trips to Jey Spa , Glam and shops in Saphan Kwai area , just to change daily diet .  Just soi 6 could keep me occupied with different guy every day for a month if not better. 

[Keithambrose]

9 minutes ago, vinapu said:

I always take train unless it's not running between midnight and 6 am. I even chalked off first and last train for the day from airport and last train to the airport. 

Getting taxi from Swampy is no problem but depending of time of day not necessarily time saving exercise. 

I always get SIM card in the airport , it's offered by fee providers with kiosks all over the airport. 

As for those massage replaces, after travelling all over Bangkok  over the years I came to realisation that all I need can be obtained  in Silom ghetto. I make occasional trips to Jey Spa , Glam and shops in Saphan Kwai area , just to change daily diet .  Just soi 6 could keep me occupied with different guy every day for a month if not better. 

I agree about sim card, really cheap at airport,  but you have to pay cash. I have a modest, but entirely  satisfactory phone, that doesn't support an e-sim.

[fedssocr]

9 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

hmm...nobody familiar with ATMAN/Zen Prime?   Also interested in knowing if anyone has actually visited TK and what that experience was like.  I somehow managed to get on their daily LINE updates and they are quite graphic.  Certainly leaves no doubt in anyone's mind what to expect.  No idea where the shop is located. 

On another note, I do have a question about transportation from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Ibis Styles Silom.  From reading on here, it appears most people take the train from the airport.  On my previous trips to Thailand, I have always had my Thai friends pick me up.  This time I will be on my own and really don't want to deal with my luggage on the train.  Can anyone recommend a good, safe car service?  I'm ok with some sort of shared shuttle or private car.  Tried searching on here for airport transportation but got something like 23,000+ results!!!  That would be like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack go through all of those.  lol.  

Also, do you usually get a Thai phone number (e-sim) when you are in Thailand?  I never have before...always used WhatsApp for communicating with my Thai friends.  Not sure if this is something I need to get since I will be traveling solo this time.  

THANKS, everyone!  

I always use SP Limousine to get to/from the airport. Nice cars, fairly easy to find in the airport. I get a small discount as a repeat client. Basic rate for a regular midsize car like a Camry is TBT 1150

There are a variety of eSIM providers out there. But I think most of them are data only. I have used Flexiroam many times. Good customer service. They have regional, country-specific, and worldwide plans. Airalo is pretty well reviewed but I have no experience with them. They seem to have much cheaper plans

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, vinapu said:

 

I always get SIM card in the airport , it's offered by few providers with kiosks all over the airport. 

 

and it comes with Thai phone number if you need one 

[PeterRS]

12 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

I do have a question about transportation from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Ibis Styles Silom.  From reading on here, it appears most people take the train from the airport.  On my previous trips to Thailand, I have always had my Thai friends pick me up.  This time I will be on my own and really don't want to deal with my luggage on the train.  Can anyone recommend a good, safe car service?

Just take the official airport limousine service - website below. You can not book but they have a lot of cars, mostly higher end models. Details of pricing are on the site and should not be more than Bt. 1,200.

https://www.aotlimousine.com

[Kiwi306]

I mostly go downstairs to the taxi rank, as I don't know how to travel light and it's a hassle to lug luggage around You get a number which gives you an allocation for the taxi. The cost should be about 600 baht.

I have used the train twice, without luggage, to go to meet people at the airport. It's very straightforward. From the airport you travel to Makkasan, then follow the crowds to walk a fairly short distance to Phayathai station. Get the train which goes to National Stadium and change at Siam station and get the train from there to Saladaeng on the Silom line, which goes to Bang Wa. Someone please simplify it if I have made it a bit complicated.

If you are reasonably fit and can handle the heat, it's a walkable distance to Ibis Styles from Saladaeng station.

The good thing going from the airport is that you should be able to get a seat. Going to the airport can be a lot more difficult because people are usually packed in like sardines.

The SIM cards are useful if you want to order a Bolt or Grab taxi or use Google maps, etc, otherwise just use the hotel WiFi.

Vinapu, can you please tell me how much you pay for your SIM card? I have a separate Thai phone, keep the SIM card in there and top it up when I arrive. It would probably be easier just to use one phone which can take both cards.

[Keithambrose]

1 hour ago, Kiwi306 said:

I mostly go downstairs to the taxi rank, as I don't know how to travel light and it's a hassle to lug luggage around You get a number which gives you an allocation for the taxi. The cost should be about 600 baht.

I have used the train twice, without luggage, to go to meet people at the airport. It's very straightforward. From the airport you travel to Makkasan, then follow the crowds to walk a fairly short distance to Phayathai station. Get the train which goes to National Stadium and change at Siam station and get the train from there to Saladaeng on the Silom line, which goes to Bang Wa. Someone please simplify it if I have made it a bit complicated.

If you are reasonably fit and can handle the heat, it's a walkable distance to Ibis Styles from Saladaeng station.

The good thing going from the airport is that you should be able to get a seat. Going to the airport can be a lot more difficult because people are usually packed in like sardines.

The SIM cards are useful if you want to order a Bolt or Grab taxi or use Google maps, etc, otherwise just use the hotel WiFi.

Vinapu, can you please tell me how much you pay for your SIM card? I have a separate Thai phone, keep the SIM card in there and top it up when I arrive. It would probably be easier just to use one phone which can take both cards.

As I said, sim card at airport is very cheap, but as you pay in cash, I have no note of the cost!

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, Kiwi306 said:

I mostly go downstairs to the taxi rank, as I don't know how to travel light and it's a hassle to lug luggage around You get a number which gives you an allocation for the taxi. The cost should be about 600 baht.

I usually get a taxi. At some times of day it is a reasonably fast and painless operation. If it is a peak time, though, you can wait in long slow moving queues in the heat and humidity for a good 15 minutes or more. The ticket machines only give out tickets when a taxi is about to arrive at its position. Quite often I have found the reason for delays is not just the large volume of passengers, it is the scarcety of taxis. Non peak times should be a breeze. 

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, Kiwi306 said:

Vinapu, can you please tell me how much you pay for your SIM card?

I believe it was 699 for 15 days validity