Pattaya or Bangkok

[Olddaddy]

No 50/50 split 

Bangkok or Pattaya for fun , sex , ?

[vinapu]

Bangkok, big time !

Pattaya is fun but after few days there there's problem how  to fill one's daytime. 

And Bangkok's MRT and BTS much better than Pattaya's 

[mauRICE]

55 minutes ago, vinapu said:

And Bangkok's MRT and BTS much better than Pattaya's 

Pattaya's got a mass rapid transit system?

[floridarob]

1 minute ago, mauRICE said:

Pattaya's got a mass rapid transit system?

The baht busses 🤷‍♂️

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, mauRICE said:

Pattaya's got a mass rapid transit system?

no, it's why MRT and BTS in Bangkok are better 

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, floridarob said:

The baht busses 🤷‍♂️

which work really well, at least  along routes I'm taking

[Londoner]

I always spent three nights in BKK before moving to Pattaya but it ended for me with the demise of Babylon a few years ago. I find the Pattaya restaurants equally as good, the improved beaches  a draw for our walks early morning and early evening, and the  more relaxed atmosphere more suitable to our tastes. Which happily coincide.

When I was a punter  and spent time in both places, I used to argue that the  guys in Pattaya were more affectionate and willing, owing to the fact that their market was holiday-makers staying weeks rather than days. This encouraged them to try to make a one-night stand into something longer. 

This was based, rightly or wrongly, on the presumption that BKK punters tended to stay for shorter periods. But I'm woefully out-of-date.

I miss Babylon in both its manifestations. Favoured bars close and new ones open; Babylon was unique. I assume it was another victim of the apps.

[jimmie50]

5 hours ago, Londoner said:

When I was a punter

Pardon my ignorance...what is a 'punter'?   

[FunFifties]

1 hour ago, jimmie50 said:

Pardon my ignorance...what is a 'punter'?   

UK slang for client of prostitutes

[PeterRS]

17 hours ago, Londoner said:

I miss Babylon in both its manifestations. Favoured bars close and new ones open; Babylon was unique. I assume it was another victim of the apps.

I miss the original Babylon big time, but was never as much a fan of the newer one as I know most readers were. Did you ever go to Chakran in its early years? With its Moroccan theme, it was more along the lines of the original Babylon plus it had a huge jacuzzi and a small swiming pool. And the vast majority of patrons were Thais. It took a while before it was discovered by other Asians and expats.  

Lying on a lounger by the pool sipping a vodka tonic as I watched the boys in their towels come down the open staircase on the opposite side was both incredibly relaxing and incredibly tempting. In many respects it was similar to having drinks in the bar area at the top of the original Babylon.

[Marc308]

There is nothing that can match or replace Babylon, at either site. Nothing in my experience comes even close. Babylon was unique in Thailand, in Asia and perhaps unique in the world. A true wonder of the gay world. It was at the same time an upscale bar, eatery and pool with all the down-n-dirty accoutrements of a gay sauna. 

[siriusBE]

6 hours ago, Marc308 said:

There is nothing that can match or replace Babylon, at either site.

Even if you didn't got a hoockup, the restaurant was outstanding! Enjoyed it many times... I do miss  it so much!!!!

[PeterRS]

Aniki in Taipei was allegedly as great, something I find a little hard to believe as it catered mostly to Chinese rather than expats. But I never visited and it is now closed for good. Hutong in Hong Kong also gets very good reviews. But no sauna in Asia of which I am aware has anything like the range of facilities Babylon offered.

[emiel1981]

On 9/24/2025 at 3:09 PM, Olddaddy said:

No 50/50 split 

Bangkok or Pattaya for fun , sex , ?

I'd say: it's not Bangkok OR Pattaya, but do Bangkok AND Pattaya. I think that's the perfect combination. Generally, Bangkok has more guys of my type (a bit more muscular, not too skinny) on offer. And there's more to do in Bangkok during the day in terms of interesting places to visit (repeatedly). But I find Pattaya a nice change from metropolitan Bangkok for a few days of just relaxing on the beach. For me, a 66/33 split is ideal. One week in Bangkok, one week in Pattaya, and then another week in Bangkok. That's exactly what I'm planning to do in late November/early December.

[vinapu]

11 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

 For me, a 66/33 split is ideal.

I kind of agree

[jason1975]

12 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

I'd say: it's not Bangkok OR Pattaya, but do Bangkok AND Pattaya. I think that's the perfect combination. Generally, Bangkok has more guys of my type (a bit more muscular, not too skinny) on offer. And there's more to do in Bangkok during the day in terms of interesting places to visit (repeatedly). But I find Pattaya a nice change from metropolitan Bangkok for a few days of just relaxing on the beach. For me, a 66/33 split is ideal. One week in Bangkok, one week in Pattaya, and then another week in Bangkok. That's exactly what I'm planning to do in late November/early December.

Where are you staying in Pattaya? I have a 3 week trip in December. I already booked an Airbnb in soi 3 but I am thinking of going to Pattaya for few days.

[10tazione]

19 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

For me, a 66/33 split is ideal.

And where do you spend the missing 1/100? 

[Keithambrose]

59 minutes ago, 10tazione said:

And where do you spend the missing 1/100? 

Vinapu spends the 1% in a stamp shop!

[floridarob]

Over the years I liked Pattaya more than BKK and vice versa.... depending on the vibe at the moment.

Now I like to go to Pattaya first, since Swampy is closer to there, then back to Bangkok for a few days on the way out, the airport is closer to the city.... in Pattaya  money seems to go a lot further and the sex a little less transactional than Bangkok.

[jimmie50]

My straight friends have a condo somewhere in Pattaya.  We drove down on one of my previous trips and spent the night.  I am not sure of the exact address, but I remember it was near the famous Walking Street.  We went to the beach, but otherwise didn't do much exploring.  Originally, when I first started planning my upcoming trip they offered the condo to me for the winter months to avoid the worst of winter weather here in Denver.  I was wanting to go to Pattaya after my tour and stay two or three months.  Then I learned about the change in visa from 90 days to 60 days.  Also, my sister scheduled knee replacement surgery around Thanksgiving, so I need to return to help her out during recovery.  So, that put the kibosh on the Pattaya part of my trip.  I am thinking after the holidays I might plan a return trip to Thailand and go directly to Pattaya for two months to avoid the winter here.  Not sure if it will all work out just yet, but interested in exploring the Pattaya area.  

[mauRICE]

18 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

I was wanting to go to Pattaya after my tour and stay two or three months. Then I learned about the change in visa from 90 days to 60 days. 

Currently the visa exemption is 60 days (free upon entry) and can be extended by another 30 days at the immigration office of the city you're staying in for 1,900 Baht.

[jimmie50]

Thanks for that info.  If I do return in January and stay in Pattaya, I will definitely consider the extension in order to avoid winter in Denver.  

[floridarob]

15 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

Thanks for that info.  If I do return in January and stay in Pattaya, I will definitely consider the extension in order to avoid winter in Denver.  

or you could take a side trip to Vietnam/Cambodia and restart the number of days....