Thailand

[Guest PreppyWatcher]

Please let us know how to contact 'Tours to Paradise' please. Tried them on the net, no luck. Thank You!

[Guest roque23]

I saw one reference to Tours to Paradise in a posting under Asia/Australia where someone had asked about going to Bali. The consensus was that going to Thailand would be better and he mentioned the L.A. firm Tours to Paradise was a superb agency. Has anyone ever gone on these tours with this firm and would you recommend it to others? Thanks!:-)

[Losgatan]

Roque,

 

I have used Tours to Paradise twice and highly recommend them. The agency has its own staff in major Thai cities and completely understands what travelers like us are looking for.

 

You get an excellent combination of cultural activities by day and bar-cruising by night. Almost all the host bar owners know Sam Jones (president of Tours to Paradise) personally and they often schedule special shows for his clients.

 

Further, Sam always books his clients into hotels that have no objection to non-registered visitors, even overnight.

 

If you are really interested in visiting Bali, Cambodia, Laos, or Viet Nam, Sam can also set up a custom tour for you and fill you in on the local scenes.

 

If you have any specific questions, let me know by email and I'll do my best to answer them.

[Guest pshaw]

I agree with Lucky that Thailand isn't that difficult place to handle on your own and certainly that the Thai are a friendly people, but recognize that many people might be a bit more comfortable with a tour group for their first visit. My first visit was with a gay tour group (no longer in business) and I picked up alot of pointers that were useful to me in my subsequent solo visits. The guides on that tour were very good and were quite familiar with both the historical sites and the gay gogo and massage clubs of the cities we visited.

 

The company mentioned in my prior message offers a nice sampling of what Thailand has to offer. Considering that they include hotels, guides and transportation within the country, the prices of the tours are quite reasonable. You could do a bit cheaper on your own if you know what you are doing, but not a whole lot cheaper.

[Guest roque23]

Hi Preppy:

 

Try http://www.tours-to-paradise.com. You can also call them at (323) 962-9169.:-)

 

Roque

[Guest PreppyWatcher]

To Roque and Losgatan, many thanks!

Peace & Happiness for the New Year!!!!!!!

[Guest pshaw]

While I have never used this company, the cost of their various Thailand tours (airfare not included) are quite reasonable:

 

http://www.gaythailandtravel.com/

[+ Lucky]

I have been to Thailand 11 times and never needed any kind of a guide. It is a very easy place to visit and very friendly. Finding gay life is a breeze. A reguular guide book will tell you the rest.

[Guest sunnyside33]

The best travel agency for gay men in Thailand is

 

http://www.gayasiantravel.com/

 

Please ask for Franz

 

Sunnyside33

[+ Axiom2001]

I read Losgatan's message with fervor; he wrote what I should have written. If this is your first time--take a tour or get one or two extremely competent Thai tour guides who can and will show you the ropes without your having to do too, too much work prior the visit as well as during. I liked Sam's format, for as Losgatan stated oh so succinctly and eloquent-- the tour varied. It contained excellent cultural activities as well as social. You get the flavor; if you want to venture out on your own and go elsewhere, i.e. Phuket--Sam can arrange that to happen. I think he will even arrange for you to have a guide if you travel solo.

 

I do plan to return to this "City of Smiles" and very, very warm people, but I do not know when! I don't know if I will go solo and obtain a guide or two, or do a tour again with Sam or with someone else. Good luck! If you do go, please write about your trip when you return. :9 :9 :9 :9 :9

[+ Axiom2001]

After I perused today's "Newest Reviews", I came to this room. YES, I went on one of Sam's Tours to Paradise during the early nineties. It lasted for fourteen days, all men, small group of twenty, each having our own room and plently of privacy and freedom. Had a wonderful time. Sam is a "hoot"! He made sure that all had a good time. He began to orientate us soon after we arrived y taking us to the Papong (sp) District to some of the clubs. He basically stuck to his itinerary which is detailed and received a few weeks before departure. Very reasonably priced; he goes often, almost every month. I am finding it difficult to write in complete, cogent sentences, so I shall stop.

Get the brochures; email or talk to same on the telephone-- take and make the most of it.

P.S. Many of my traveling partners were in to younger guys, and the Thais are generally on the youthful side, so when I did get with a man, I requested of Sam that he must be 25 or older. Muscle men at the Twaan Club; I had a good time, but I did not "off" anyone-- that's is taking a man with you. The possibilities are limitless; you can have as much freedom from the group as you want, just don't hold up the group when its together--let Sam know of your plans well in advance; then everything is fine. Am I making sense? (I am a teacher of English!) (I do not like how I responded, but I am too tired to change it to perfection, oh perfectionist and fastidious me!!!!!!):9 :-) :9 :*

[+ Axiom2001]

>Roque,

>

>I have used Tours to Paradise twice and highly recommend

>them. The agency has its own staff in major Thai cities and

>completely understands what travelers like us are looking

>for.

>

>You get an excellent combination of cultural activities by

>day and bar-cruising by night. Almost all the host bar

>owners know Sam Jones (president of Tours to Paradise)

>personally and they often schedule special shows for his

>clients.

>

>Further, Sam always books his clients into hotels that have

>no objection to non-registered visitors, even overnight.

>

>If you are really interested in visiting Bali, Cambodia,

>Laos, or Viet Nam, Sam can also set up a custom tour for you

>and fill you in on the local scenes.

>

>If you have any specific questions, let me know by email and

>I'll do my best to answer them.

[Guest pshaw]

I personally would not recommend going with a group as large as 20. The group I went with was only 8 - the company had a limit of 10 per tour - and were still quite a handful for the guide. Gay travellers (sometimes called "gay American princesses" by gay travel agents) can be a bit demanding at times. The guide for our tour - a gay Thai - confided to me that he used to have a much easier time being guide for 30 straights than for 10 gay tourists. The small size of the group made it much easier to get around and easier for the guide to accomodate individual requests (the guide was with us night and day).

I would recommend checking with all the tour groups mentioned in this thread and try to find one that limits the size of the tour groups to no more than a dozen or less. There is also a recommendation for a private guide on the CSF message board: http://web.cruisingforsex.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=66&t=001459 While obviously you would be paying for accomodations and internal transportation after you got to Thailand, this could really be the ideal way to go.

[+ Axiom2001]

>I personally would not recommend going with a group as large

>as 20. The group I went with was only 8 - the company had a

>limit of 10 per tour - and were still quite a handful for

>the guide. Gay travellers (sometimes called "gay American

>princesses" by gay travel agents) can be a bit demanding at

>times. The guide for our tour - a gay Thai - confided to me

>that he used to have a much easier time being guide for 30

>straights than for 10 gay tourists. The small size of the

>group made it much easier to get around and easier for the

>guide to accomodate individual requests (the guide was with

>us night and day).

>I would recommend checking with all the tour groups

>mentioned in this thread and try to find one that limits the

>size of the tour groups to no more than a dozen or less.

>There is also a recommendation for a private guide on the

>CSF message board:

>http://web.cruisingforsex.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=66&t=001459

> While obviously you would be paying for accomodations and

>internal transportation after you got to Thailand, this

>could really be the ideal way to go.

[+ Lucky]

Dreaded Ned's gay Thailand site is extensive. I don't have the link, but if you go to google.com, just type in "gay Thailand" and you will be amazed!

[Guest pshaw]

There are quite a few good informational links on gay Thailand:

http://www.dreadedned.com/source/main/thailand.htm

http://www.pattayagay.com/

http://www.gaybutton.com/

http://www.dragoncastle.net/

http://www.thaiguys.org/

 

 

>Dreaded Ned's gay Thailand site is extensive. I don't have

>the link, but if you go to google.com, just type in "gay

>Thailand" and you will be amazed!

[Guest DavidofNYC]

Thailan, what an amazing place! If you like Asina men, you will love Thailand. Men aside, it is one of the most fascinating places I have ever been. I felt like I was in a different world, and I was! The culture is fascinating, the scenery spectacular. I highly recommend it!

[Matt_Vancouver]

I would be happy to show anyone who wants, their way around bangkok, and to some degree Phuket. Will be there in late feb with a good friend of mine: )

but willing to go anytime: )

matt(thai excursions)

[Guest pshaw]

I forgot to mention one other link. The Cruising for Sex site's message board on Thailand is quite active and has lots of lowdown, dirty info as well as some good tips re: hotels, restaurants, etc. posted by many local expats:

 

http://web.cruisingforsex.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?&category=3

[Guest tonsilz]

I agree with those who said you don't need a tour company to navigate your way around Thailand, HOWEVER, I still recommend Tours to Paradise. I have traveled with them twice, seven years apart and they have only gotten better over the years. The first time there were 11 people on the trip, this last time only 6. I wanted to use some freq flyer miles to upgrade to business class. Sam searched for available flights for me that would allow the upgrade. It meant I had to arrive a day before the rest of the group, no problem, I was met at the airport by Mr. V and Mr Lee. I was delayed for 4 hours in Tokyo so instead of arriving at 11:30 PM I arrived at 3:30 AM but they were still there bright eyed and waiting to escort me to the hotel.

 

I also wanted to visit Phuket which wasn't on the itinerary instead of Chaing Mai, no problem, Sam made the arangements no questions asked and no additional cost beyond the additional airfare. Again I was met at the airport and returned to Phuket airport to when it was time to meet back up with the rest of the group.

 

T2P arranges some "touristy" thing almost every day but it is generally only for 2-3 hours and if you want to do something else, no problem. I went during Songkron this last time and it was 90 degrees when I arrived at 3:30 am and only got hotter during the day. When we visited the temples and the Grand Palace, we bypassed all the long lines and avoided long waits in the hot sun and high humidity. We were seated in the front row at the Alkazar Cabaret and had the best seats for every event we attended. I guess the bottom line is. . . even though you don't need a tour group, when you get the kind of service Tours to Paradise offers at such a reasonable price, why make more work for yourself? Sam's folks allow you to focus all your energies on enjoying Thailand, not worrying about lines, tickets or travel arrangements.

[+ Axiom2001]

>I agree with those who said you don't need a tour company to

>navigate your way around Thailand, HOWEVER, I still

>recommend Tours to Paradise. I have traveled with them

>twice, seven years apart and they have only gotten better

>over the years. The first time there were 11 people on the

>trip, this last time only 6. I wanted to use some freq flyer

>miles to upgrade to business class. Sam searched for

>available flights for me that would allow the upgrade. It

>meant I had to arrive a day before the rest of the group, no

>problem, I was met at the airport by Mr. V and Mr Lee. I was

>delayed for 4 hours in Tokyo so instead of arriving at 11:30

>PM I arrived at 3:30 AM but they were still there bright

>eyed and waiting to escort me to the hotel.

>

>I also wanted to visit Phuket which wasn't on the itinerary

>instead of Chaing Mai, no problem, Sam made the arangements

>no questions asked and no additional cost beyond the

>additional airfare. Again I was met at the airport and

>returned to Phuket airport to when it was time to meet back

>up with the rest of the group.

>

>T2P arranges some "touristy" thing almost every day but it

>is generally only for 2-3 hours and if you want to do

>something else, no problem. I went during Songkron this last

>time and it was 90 degrees when I arrived at 3:30 am and

>only got hotter during the day. When we visited the temples

>and the Grand Palace, we bypassed all the long lines and

>avoided long waits in the hot sun and high humidity. We were

>seated in the front row at the Alkazar Cabaret and had the

>best seats for every event we attended. I guess the bottom

>line is. . . even though you don't need a tour group, when

>you get the kind of service Tours to Paradise offers at such

>a reasonable price, why make more work for yourself? Sam's

>folks allow you to focus all your energies on enjoying

>Thailand, not worrying about lines, tickets or travel

>arrangements.

 

Applause to you!! I wrote two responses to this question back in January, I think, but you summed it well. As a participant on one trip with T2P-- I ditto everything that you related in your response. One or two men decided to venture out on their own, and with Sam and Mr. Lee, and V's help, the trip for these two or three men was further enhanced. I do not want to have to do all of the pre-planning myself. If you can get a travel agent who can do and do it extremely well for you, why bother with the unnecessary hassels! Thanks again, man, for your reassuring anyone who plans to travel to T.land with or without group.