Call me woke but I take umbrage at the ladies being described in disparaging terms. Many of those shops offer good legitimate massages and the looks are neither here nor there. The cost of 200 thai and foot and 300 oil is the same when in Patong 2004. Call me woke but please think of that when giving a tip.

2 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

These massage ladys are looking for a young buck like you to sweep them off their feet..

Come on man dont be cheap...These women need gold and new houses ASAP..

Sir lets get cracking...

And let us know the wedding date...

Oh don't be sexist

10 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Call me woke but I take umbrage at the ladies being described in disparaging terms. Many of those shops offer good legitimate massages and the looks are neither here nor there. The cost of 200 thai and foot and 300 oil is the same when in Patong 2004. Call me woke but please think of that when giving a tip.

When are you going to Thailand?.

Your not there at the moment darl.

5 hours ago, potless said:

Im not convinced that he actually leaves Pattaya.

I am not convinced that it has visited Thailand in the last 20 or more years!

9 hours ago, BuffaloRider said:

Being lazy and getting by is the default operation mode of Thais today

Nonsense. That's just a gratuitous slur against Thai people.

2 hours ago, wil iam not said:

5 hours ago, simon43 said:

Since I never use the services of these ladies, and I no longer live in Thaiand for many years, I can't say that I've noticed...

This must be up for the stupidest post of the day

No, yours beat him.

8 hours ago, Palatus said:

Did you teleport thro some kind of time horizon event in the 5 hours between these two posts?

Nope! I no longer live in Thailand. I am currently transiting through Bangkok on my journey from Myanmar and back to my 'base' in Siem Reap :)

10 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

It's a tough business, a friend of mine owned one 15 years ago and it was a tough business then. I spoke to a friend of mine who owns a rather classy high-end massage shop in Bangkok recently, and he said it was becoming ridiculously difficult for him to find younger attractive women.

They simply have too many alternatives online with all the suckers around the world with cash in their pocket.

10 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

It's a tough business, a friend of mine owned one 15 years ago and it was a tough business then. I spoke to a friend of mine who owns a rather classy high-end massage shop in Bangkok recently, and he said it was becoming ridiculously difficult for him to find younger attractive women.

They simply have too many alternatives online with all the suckers around the world with cash in their pocket.

10 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

It's a tough business, a friend of mine owned one 15 years ago and it was a tough business then. I spoke to a friend of mine who owns a rather classy high-end massage shop in Bangkok recently, and he said it was becoming ridiculously difficult for him to find younger attractive women.

They simply have too many alternatives online with all the suckers around the world with cash in their pocket.

''They simply have too many alternatives online with all the suckers around the world with cash in their pocket who want to sleep with younger more attractive girls as opposed to the old, ugly and fat ones in the massage shops.''

7 hours ago, wil iam not said:

What rubbish are you posting. Staying in Soi 4, and ''Since I never use the services of these ladies, and I no longer live in Thaiand for many years, I can't say that I've noticed...''

There is an L in Thailand.

You're the one posting rubbish! I'm currently transiting through BKK on my way back from Yangon to Siem Reap. My plane to SR leaves on Sunday. I am notoriously 'stingy' and a cheap, 700 baht guest house on soi 4 is fine for me and close to shopping. I certainly would not waste my hard-earned income on any massage service - slim or fattie lady....

You don't have to be a sex tourist to temporarily stay on soi 4 ......

There is a saying in Thai (I would rather have a live snake in my garden than a dead Indian). Why? My wife of 22 years loves Indian food (she is Thai), our favourite restaurant is Indian, not Thai.

Indeed the math doesn't seem to be mathing in some cases.

Also in many of these massage shops, the ladies in the front are perpetually eating. It doesn't matter what time of the day you visit, they are eating. How and why do they eat so much? I know street food is cheap, but damn.

10 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Call me woke but I take umbrage at the ladies being described in disparaging terms. Many of those shops offer good legitimate massages and the looks are neither here nor there. The cost of 200 thai and foot and 300 oil is the same when in Patong 2004. Call me woke but please think of that when giving a tip.

I was giving a 50% tip back in 2004 as you note. I always took my GF and me for a 2 hour, so 400 each and paid 1200.

4 hours ago, simon43 said:

You're the one posting rubbish! I'm currently transiting through BKK on my way back from Yangon to Siem Reap. My plane to SR leaves on Sunday. I am notoriously 'stingy' and a cheap, 700 baht guest house on soi 4 is fine for me and close to shopping. I certainly would not waste my hard-earned income on any massage service - slim or fattie lady....

You don't have to be a sex tourist to temporarily stay on soi 4 ......

But you wouldn't be staying there but for history.

Given options, you'd be elsewhere.

I would waste Bt10k for a day of pampering in a 5* hotel spa.

1 hour ago, SGD said:

But you wouldn't be staying there but for history.

Given options, you'd be elsewhere.

I would waste Bt10k for a day of pampering in a 5* hotel spa.

Your a rich man to spend that and good on you for achieving that

1 hour ago, SGD said:

...

I would waste Bt10k for a day of pampering in a 5* hotel spa.

I can afford that (I earn about $3.5k - $4k/month from teaching+pension). But for me, that is squandering and wasting money. Been there, done that. My priorities are different now.

How many pairs of shoes do you have? How many pairs of trousers/jeans? How many shirts? I have 1 pair of shoes, 2 shirts and 2 pairs of trousers. That's all I need. I used to own 3 houses, 3 cars etc. I have no interest in having that now (and I haven't had that 'urge' for 15 years...)

Good luck to the massage ladies in their work. But I won't be a customer :)

7 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I can afford that (I earn about $3.5k - $4k/month from teaching+pension). But for me, that is squandering and wasting money. Been there, done that. My priorities are different now.

How many pairs of shoes do you have? How many pairs of trousers/jeans? How many shirts? I have 1 pair of shoes, 2 shirts and 2 pairs of trousers. That's all I need. I used to own 3 houses, 3 cars etc. I have no interest in having that now (and I haven't had that 'urge' for 15 years...)

Good luck to the massage ladies in their work. But I won't be a customer :)

Why did you downgrade your possessions ?? You achieved to get what everyone wants. Houses and cars. Why minimalism? Thai would dream to have 3 houses and 3 cars. They dont want to possess less

5 minutes ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Why did you downgrade your possessions ?? You achieved to get what everyone wants. Houses and cars. Why minimalism? Thai would dream to have 3 houses and 3 cars. They dont want to possess less

Hopefully at some point you realise that those materialistic things aren't that important. They also anchor you down which isn't great

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

Hopefully at some point you realise that those materialistic things aren't that important

But everyone wants them. Especially Thais they want stuff. If you walk here its for poor people. They want cars

3 hours ago, Maxbkkcm said:

But everyone wants them. Especially Thais they want stuff. If you walk here its for poor people. They want cars

A lot of what you say is true, not only for Thai women, but for women in the UK, USA etc. They want material possessions, to 'show off' to their friends and neighbours. I was slow to realise (3 marriages and divorces), that my wives didn't actually love me, but loved my money ( was once a $millionaire, thanks to some mobile phone apps that I developed 25 years ago), and what it could do for their 'standing' in the neighbourhood.

As for walking, I have bronchiectasis lung disease - not terminal but incurable and that requires me to walk km every day to keep my lungs clear :) I guess Thai women hate it when they see me eschew a car or motorbike or BTS and instead walk in the hot sun lol!

I gave up on material possessions when I realised that (for me), they didn't bring happiness. I have a good laptop and that's all I need for my online teaching and entertainment. I do splash out on my ham radio gear, but sometimes that gets me into trouble (arrested twice in Laos lol!).

I love to travel and see new cultures, people, even local street scenes. That's difficult when you're tied down with a wife, house that you own, 'bricks and motor' job etc.

Anyway, this is nothing to do with massage shops - just answering your question :)

11 hours ago, simon43 said:

You're the one posting rubbish! I'm currently transiting through BKK on my way back from Yangon to Siem Reap. My plane to SR leaves on Sunday. I am notoriously 'stingy' and a cheap, 700 baht guest house on soi 4 is fine for me and close to shopping. I certainly would not waste my hard-earned income on any massage service - slim or fattie lady....

You don't have to be a sex tourist to temporarily stay on soi 4 ......

I do apologise then Mr Simon. I misunderstood what you posted.

Is 43 your age or IQ?....

No, no no, it's 1st April, just fooling with you. Have a good trip.

16 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Many are plainly outfronts for money laundering I may say perhaps ? Because obviously even those teens who like milf's do not seem to patron these establishments.

Eh no lol. There is nothing that needs laundering in Thailand to begin with. The issue is that almost all businesses and land are owned by a minority which results in businesses being able to run that should go bankrupt, no competition or need to improve and out right monopolies in entire areas.

Aside from the fact each massage girl barely earns 5K can't bother the owners ass, he still collects his 5K on all girls each and pays off a building. The owners receive 50% on the massages (or more if it is bad owners).

Last but not least plenty of people who not realize that even they make 50-60K a month running a bar or massage joint or whatever, they in fact work with their wives 6-7 days a week in their business, so it looks all cool and big but in reality most earn barely half a dollar per hour.

Starting a business in Thailand is more like buying a taxi license to do a job. 95% only the property owners earn real money.

Money laundering !!

See loads on samui with about 15-20 women sitting around inside and out looking at phones . Never have customers and building been renovated to cost of 20-40 million bht by looks of it .

They seemingly charge 2000 up for various services. If they tell tax man they have 20-40 people a day paying 2000 up for massage or whatever , then that's a lot of money per year they can clear to wash . How can anyone verify how busy the places are unless they sat watching it constantly and they just need make up fake receipts for business purposes.

6 minutes ago, ronster said:

Money laundering !!

See loads on samui with about 15-20 women sitting around inside and out looking at phones . Never have customers and building been renovated to cost of 20-40 million bht by looks of it .

They seemingly charge 2000 up for various services. If they tell tax man they have 20-40 people a day paying 2000 up for massage or whatever , then that's a lot of money per year they can clear to wash . How can anyone verify how busy the places are unless they sat watching it constantly and they just need make up fake receipts for business purposes.

You have no clue how business works here. Simpletons would conclude this.

7 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

You have no clue how business works here. Simpletons would conclude this.

Gift us your superior knowledge why people would pay 40 million bht upwards to own a empty massage shop employing 20 staff who do nothing daily then . 🙄

The one's that have the money to stay open for a bit to get known or in busy area do well but in general in corners they die. I have seen their books for a few of them and they make pretty good money even without the shady stuff. Even those 100 baht per hour ones on soi buakhao have their rush hours that make it worthwhile. The upkeep and staff recruitment(young and good looking) is pretty difficult so i doubt laundering is the primary incentive.

39 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

I do apologise then Mr Simon. I misunderstood what you posted.

Is 43 your age or IQ?....

No, no no, it's 1st April, just fooling with you. Have a good trip.

But also, given the choice of a 1,500 baht 'nice' room on a quiet, clean street, or a 700 baht 'ok' room on soi 4, I would also choose the latter. Why? It's not about the money - it's about people-watching :)

( was just sitting at a breakfast place on soi 4, watching events as I ate my breakfast:

• The broom and brush seller shouting out 'mai quat, mai quat'

• The buxom ladyboy in a lurid, too-short miniskirt casually scratching his (her/its?) fat buttocks as they slowly walked past

• The begger with bare feet black from dirt

• The obese American retiree men who should really be in the gym

and so on and so on. A thousand simple memories that will stay in my mind until the day I die :)

I haven't had an IQ test for a long time, but previous tests indicated an IQ of about 145. I was rather good at designing rocket and satellite sub-systems (mostly the radio comms sector) in my previous career.

double-post!

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Hopefully at some point you realise that those materialistic things aren't that important. They also anchor you down which isn't great

Fair comment- we all know there re no pockets in a shroud- and often the more assets you have the more issues you have as well maintaining them, insuring etc etc

27 minutes ago, simon43 said:

But also, given the choice of a 1,500 baht 'nice' room on a quiet, clean street, or a 700 baht 'ok' room on soi 4, I would also choose the latter. Why? It's not about the money - it's about people-watching :)

( was just sitting at a breakfast place on soi 4, watching events as I ate my breakfast:

• The broom and brush seller shouting out 'mai quat, mai quat'

• The buxom ladyboy in a lurid, too-short miniskirt casually scratching his (her/its?) fat buttocks as they slowly walked past

• The begger with bare feet black from dirt

• The obese American retiree men who should really be in the gym

and so on and so on. A thousand simple memories that will stay in my mind until the day I die :)

I haven't had an IQ test for a long time, but previous tests indicated an IQ of about 145. I was rather good at designing rocket and satellite sub-systems (mostly the radio comms sector) in my previous career.

Oh, do you not ''celebrate'' April Fool's Day where you live, I DID say it was a joke. Sorry if you misread or mis-interpreted what I meant.

Did you help the Apollo guys to get there and back? And it is very fortunate that the Artemis doesn't run on Diesel. 555 (that means ha ha ha in Thai)

Whatever, good luck and hope that their Gods, whoever they worship, gives them a safe & sound journey.

Has anyone checked on where Mr Kubrick is now.........oh yeh, dead and buried, so who will make the TV movies?

On 3/30/2026 at 10:43 AM, georgegeorgia said:

When I was in Pattaya I would walk past numerous massage shops with normally large middle aged to very mature age ladies sitting outside

...

I often wonder are they tax fronts , because I can't see how they turn a profit?

Massage places, whether traditional Thai massage or the happy ending ones are about the cheapest operations one can open and keep running. There are no real equipment/fixtures to buy, no inventory, low overhead, and the labor are only paid if they have customers.

I think they exist to bring in rent on what would otherwise be another vacant building.

On 3/31/2026 at 5:23 AM, blaze master said:

As if you dont have the statistics on this. You slipping GG.

b4 covid massage shops in Pratunam BK were thriving at night ,with a good variety of nice looking girls and a few chumpy ones, sign of the times i guess.