TylerandAce

Stay in the old city .... "inside the moat"... It gives you a real taste for Chiang Mai. It is walkable, full of stuff to see and do., and kinda charming in a ramshackle way.

 

Do NOT miss a side trip to Dou Suthep! It is a mountaintop temple, about 20 minutes out of the city, and worth several hours. Also, try to go to Khao Soi Khun Yai (ร้านข้าวซอยคุณยาย) for lunch..... they only really serve one dish -it is the chiang man specialty, and it is good!

 

By the way.... outside of the main tourist-focused places, Thai people really speak very little english - just be prepared for that - google translate is your friend!

Thanks for that! We can’t wait. The side trip advice is very helpful!! You’re the best

i am very happy you decided to include chiang man in your plans..... when you are there you must try the local specialty "kaol soi" and i will give you the location of my favorite family run place for you to enjoy it.

 

please share with me your details for where you will stay and ask me if you need help with arranging transportation and other details. make sure you download GRAB app on your phone before you go.... it is like uber but better, haha

GRAB sounds like a good plan! lol. Trying to make a decision now about hotels. Should we stay super modern and trendy at the LeMeridien or more traditional at the Ping Nakara or inside the old city at Bodhi Serene?

And hope to see you in DC sometime. Not as exotic as Thailand but still a fun place to visit.

We do love DC and very overdue for a visit!! XO

So, we've decided 4 nights in Bangkok, 3 nights in Chiang Mai, 3 nights in Krabi, and 3 nights in Phuket. I've found a ferry that gets us from Krabi to Phuket through the Phi Phi Islands, so we will do some stuff there. Now we just have to book all the hotels and excursions! whew!

Thanks, guys!

 

I've been to Krabi many times and, to be honest, it is a nice place for a quiet time away. I have stayed at a hotel on Aonang beach; it is family-friendly and I'd describe it as demure. However, it is best to do your swimming at various beaches on the off-shore islands , many of which are beautiful. The main resort in Krabi is Ao Nang, There are about 10 girlie gogo bars and no gay scene at all.

 

Samui has a bit of a gay scene, mostly centered around Chaweng. A bar or two, a couple of massage places. But I think people who go there hoping for a robust gay scene are disappointed. Samui has some nice beaches and other things to do, but it's not as pretty as Krabi. And like anywhere else there are parts utterly lacking in charm. There are nice places to go and get away from it all on nearby Koh Phangan and tiny Koh Tao ("Murder Island"). There used to be a gay-ish bar with a ladyboy show on Koh Tao, but I don't know if it's still there. Also some decent SCUBA opportunities off of Koh Tao.

 

Krabi's clientèle is rather different to that of Pattaya or Phuket; honeymooners, couples, families. Little gay-presence (my then boyfriend and I play "spot the gay" when we go for dinner) and few singles.

Awesome! So many opportunities and we can't do them all. The decision making is tough!!

this thread has turned out great

so, navigate through all the information here and if you want some additional practical advice, please ask away -- stuff like how do i get from the airport? how do i pay for....?? how do i order a beer? -- anything at all and i am happy to help to welcome you to our wonderful country.

 

Much appreciated, sexy. Looking great!

Another question...what about Krabi? How's the scene there? Looks beautiful in photos and the reviews seem good from what I can tell so far.

Boys - I fear you may be getting overloaded with recommendations but this link may be useful. I have found it so in the past.

 

https://www.travelgay.com/destination/gay-thailand/gay-phuket/

Thanks! I've been using that one. It's very good.

though I've only been to Thailand once, here're my ideas:

 

though you guys live in the South and I live in the desert, be ready for stifling humidity....shirts soaked within minutes.....

 

wear no less than a short-sleeve shirt and long pants to the temples.....a travel companion had only a tank top on and had to rent (very cheap) a shoulder wrap.....just to be respectful and all that

 

Pattaya, to me, was exceedingly depressing.....ok beach, but just a noisy crowded city riding on its fading rep as a sex capital of the world.....hustlers try to pull you in to their sex shows, which, by the way, seem highly scripted and seem to lack any excitement.....travel companion and I took a bus out there from BKK (very cheap) and that was the highlight because we got to see the countryside.....but I got to see the place and that was ok.....I do remember an extremely good-looking Thai "tourist cop" taking a selfie of himself as he patrolled the red-light district.....

 

the suggestions to avoid Phuket may be valid, unless you heave your heart set on it because you've "heard" it's the place to be....I found the landscape/vegetation of the island in general to be dull and scrubby.....the west-facing beaches are, admittedly, home to fantastic sunsets if there are some big cumulus clouds out there.....as mentioned upthread, the geography of the island is such that it isn't easy to hop in a cab and go off somewhere....destinations are just far enough from each other that transport is not cheap (and the cabbies know they have a wealthy captive audience)....most tourists go there to just sit on the beach, I think, and don't hop around all day to the sights......I will say that the big nightlife party area on Phuket, Bangla Street in Patong, was very fun and didn't feel as sad and sleazy as the similar area in Pattaya......

 

we had a good time in Chiang Mai and really liked the relative quiet compared to BKK.....had a great foot massage there and companion and I stayed in a nice little local guest house as suggested by a former (??!!) forum member......great historic area and river.....went to a Muay Thai fight which was a bit touristy, but fun.....

 

if you get a full "massage", you'll be required to take a shower first in the private room and the required tip is nearly the price of the massage (but still incredibly cheap)......talk to the manager, who will probably speak English, for details.....

 

local flights are cheap, usually......drink bottled water and don't forget that that glass full of ice in your drink was once tap water!......

Very much appreciated. The tips are helpful and reinforce what I've been reading, so thanks. We are definitely beach people, so maybe Phuket isn't all bad? Probably depends on the area you choose. Is there a "gay" beach area more than another? We will stick to the coastal parts, although Chiang Mai sounds really cool. Doing more research now, but definitely will do Kho Samui.

This really didn't need to turn into a money issue. I was simply suggesting a nice place to stay.

 

These are tourist spots made for tourist money. I don't see how bringing up what a local makes in comparison as helpful, other than to wealth shame those who choose these hotels.

oh, you can wealth shame me any time. We is broke mofo's. This bitch has 3 kids in college. Thanks for the plan-B suggestions!

Yeah, go with Koh Samui....

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous hotel and fantastically situated, but is there one you'd suggest that isn't for the one-tenth-of-one-percenters? We is workin' men.

I second the Koh Samui rec. It's beautiful, can feel remote at the right hotel and is eons better than Pattaya and Phuket.

 

I've stayed at Conrad Koh Samui a few times and it's always been nearly perfect.

 

https://conradhotels3.hilton.com/en/hotels/thailand/conrad-koh-samui-residences-USMKRCI/index.html

 

If you're staying on that side of the island, let me also recommend Lajava. The family who run it are AWESOME.

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293918-d15089900-Reviews-Lajava_Beach_Lounge-Ko_Samui_Surat_Thani_Province.html

Thanks Benjamin! Really kind of you. Investigating now.

Just two thoughts jump out!

 

March/April is very very hot so be prepared, ok?

Also: April 15 Songkran.... Thai New Year... and the whole country goes crazy for a week - it is a nationwide water fight, haha, but also a time when Thai people return to their home villages so all the roads are very very crowded.... because your dates are close, make your plans in advance, ok?

got it! Thanks and great advice I'll DM with more

I am just back from a 20-day Asia cruise that included stops in Phuket and Pattaya (Well near Pattaya). FWIW, I thought Phuket as a town was a total dump. I gather there are some nice beaches outside of town. I'm not really a beach person anymore so I didn't see those. I saw nothing attractive or redeeming about the town of Phuket. I couldn't wait to get back to the ship.

 

I found Pattaya much nicer. I would be more inclined to return there than to Phuket. Anyway, just my thoughts. YMMV of course.

Thank you... I guess the things we've been reading are more true, then. Appreciate the info!

In Jomtien Complex I would suggest Agate Hotel....

And, yes, Phuket is totally overrun with tourists and mafia style taxi driver rip offs, haha...

Samui is much more beautiful and there is an easy flight from Bangkok if you do not want to do overnight train and ferry.

 

Sometimes people are surprised when I say this, but Thai people are really very shy and conservative in many ways and you will not see nudity on a beach.... Sometimes when european ladies remove their tops it is very unusual to thai people. Also public displays of affection should not take place. It is not polite.

 

what time of year will you go? and if you have more questions, i love to talk about thailand!

Understood...have read something like that about the public displays and nudity on beaches. Thanks for the information. If you have a favorite place to stay in Koh Samui, I'll certainly take recommendations. I may also DM you with other questions if it's not an imposition. We arrive March 29 and depart April 12

OK.... wow, how exciting for the two of you. I hope you will ;enjoy the street food that is the best thai food you will find in the world. If you do not like spicy, just say "mai pet, krub"

 

I would suggest that you stay in the Silom area because it is convenient to so many places, both daytime and night-time attractions. Sanuk mark mark! There are some nice smaller hotels in the area too instead of the big chains that you might like to try.

 

Pattaya is so-so to me... but if you go stay in Jomtien Complex area, near to nightlife and to the Dongtan Beach.

 

I do not like Phuket - and I would recommend Koh Samui to you instead, but that is just me, hah!

Good information! Thank you so much. Yes, we were looking at the Jomtien Complex area. Great suggestion for Koh Samui. We have read that Phuket is completely overrun with tourists. Another question....there is no nude beach scene, right?

Yep...first time for both of us. Bangkok because of my (Ace) day job. Staying over for a while. Pattaya because it's near Bangkok and seems to be concentrated gay with a gay beach and gay tourist area. Phuket because I've always wanted to see it. Definitely open to suggestions, though.!

sawasdee, krup....

 

exactly right - and via massage studios and certain saunas that cater specifically to people looking to hire - remember BKK is a huge city and sometimes hard to get around - where are you staying? that will help to know how to give advice!

Looking for advice on that. Thinking somewhere in Bangkok for a few days, then Pattaya before heading to Phuket.

Very little.

 

RM is generally unknown in Bangkok, for example... Almost everyone uses their phones for everything and that site seems to feature only guys way more expensive than the market will allow for and also guys who are just passing through. Very little hiring is actually done via web sites - you can try but I suggest go with low expectations.

 

(and, quite honestly, most people who are hiring in thailand are not looking for farang...)

gotcha. thanks. Clients are hiring at the bars/clubs?

Reading here on the forum and a few blogs about the plethora of affordable local "talent" available in all of Thailand, especially Bangkok, is it even worth the effort of posting for hire while we are there in April? I see several listings on RM in that area, but for those who've been there and tried to work, what should we expect?

@TylerandAce Thank you for sharing. Obviously, it takes a lot of work but you guys look so comfortable working together that you make it seem easy. COMMUNICATION is so important. In my experience, that was where we fell short, or I should say, it was where the boyfriend who was a provider fell short. He dismissed my concerns as unfounded jealousy and thought I was being unreasonable for feeling neglected.

 

 

 

This ⬆️ So true. In my admittedly infrequent 3-ways with couples in my younger years, it invariably turned ugly. Being the “fresh meat” meant I got most of the attention during the encounters and there was always more chemistry with one of them, which left the other feeling excluded and jealous. I lost a good pair of Clavins once when one couple came to blows (not the good kind). I pulled my jeans on (sans Calvins), grabbed my shirt, shoes, and bolted.

Lol...lessons learned. We’ve had our growing pains with it, too. I don’t think we ever ran anybody off, though ? lol. It’s definitely a process

@TylerandAce seem to make it work, although I believe their services are only available as a couple. Yet Tyler does videos with other guys. I’d love to know how they make it work, if they’re willing to share. ?

Happy to share. We do only see clients together as a couple. Tyler retired from doing work with studios when we got together in 2013. He still appears in the content we do for our fans pages, of course, but we only do it together. Even the scenes that are solo with him and another partner, I’m the cameraman in the room. It works with LOTS of communication and constant check-ins. It’s not easy, but we have a mutual understanding about boundaries and inclusion. Egos are nothing to play around with in a relationship, and we know that. Thankfully, we both like watching the other one with a third or even fourth. We don’t do groups so much because we tend to lose each other and it’s not as comfortable. It took a while for us to work to this point and we seldom invite another person recreationally. We both have different types, so agreeing on a guy is tough if it’s not business. Also, if it’s not business that means there’s a risk for too much attraction by one or the other. We talk through that and understand that men always like new. Thankfully, we enjoy that together and it is, honestly, healthy for our relationship. It doesn’t lead to less sex, either. On the contrary, it makes us more into each other to have the experiences. It’s hard to explain to folks who don’t really understand, especially straights. Also, seeing clients is a different motivation for each of us, and we understand that, too. It just takes communication.

It looks like you've made up your mind. Personally, I would get HBO to watch it! But I think you are risking too much with your kids. There is too much potential for the secret side to come out. That could, for some people, taint the good you intend to do.

you’re right, of course! We’ll be happy to give you the version of what they were going to shoot...without the drag! Rofl

I'm late to this discussion, but I think the hive mind has confirmed your initial gut feeling that it would not be a good idea. The list of answers to the question, 'What could possibly go wrong?' is not short anywhere, but I suspect longer in a conservative community. To the suggestion that there might be an answer other than a straight yes or no, I disagree. HBO makes films so the choice is binary. The calculus might be different if your story was being sought for a PBS radio documentary or a print piece, but those formats are not on offer, at least not now.

Exactly right. The format would demand different involvement. HBO would be going after some drama and entertainment

Don’ tease me Ace! ?

Ain’t no teasin!!! ??

Didn't Tyler get his fill of shooting documentaries already? Wait, you mean those massage videos WEREN'T documentaries?

Lol...of a sort, yes! ??