Possible To Enjoy A Quite Drink...

[houstonflyer]

Noobie here planning a trip to SE Asia.

For me, there is nothing more relaxing that sitting in a bar after a days trekking / exploring writing up travel notes

with a nice ice cold beer (or 10)

From listening to some travellers who been to Thailand, you would be led to believe that each bar in Thailand

is swarming with hookers. Is there some truth to this or is it only certain areas?

Your views please...

[SeanMoran]

You can buy a beer at the 711 store.

(from 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-23:59)

[Chaimai]

Be warned - every bar is swarming with hookers.

It is not a good or safe place to come to.

Stay in your room writing up travel reports and use the minibar..

[richardt1808]

depends on which part of whatever city you find yourself in.

You dont have to go to a bar to get a beer - there are plenty of great restaurants and cafe's to be found so I'm sure you will be able to pick something to your taste.

[kurnell]

I thought 'travellers' (I love that word, cos 'travellers' believe that if they stay at Khao San Rd, eat Pad Thai from a street stall and take the non air conditioned bus they are somehow not a tourist) didn't go to go-go bars. If not, then how can they say that bars are full of hookers?

[houstonflyer]

I thought 'travellers' (I love that word, cos 'travellers' believe that if they stay at Khao San Rd, eat Pad Thai from a street stall and take the non air conditioned bus they are somehow not a tourist) didn't go to go-go bars. If not, then how can they say that bars are full of hookers?

I know exactly what you're talking about. In all my experiences on the road. There are very few "travellers".

Most seem to follow the checklist approach.

City A done. City B done. City C done. Ancient Church Done. Visit to Famous Beach Done. Visit to Famous Museum - Done.

Austrailians are the worst offenders for this type of travel.

[smokie36]

Bring some condoms mate. No way can you avoid the charms of thai women here. Just enjoy the ride!

Just want to add. Yes you can avoid the bar girls but that will probably mean drinking in expat bars which is a much worse fate.

[thrilled]

You can go to so many bars,and you'll probably be the only person in it.Or you can find crowded ones also.Just check around,you'll find what your looking for.

[jackr]

From listening to some travellers who been to Thailand, you would be led to believe that each bar in Thailand

is swarming with hookers. Is there some truth to this or is it only certain areas?

Absolutely not true. Of course there are areas of any big city that fit that description, but those places also have standard bars and cafes. Take Kanchanaburi, for example; there are many chill-out bars along the road behind the river where you won't see them and can just kick-back swapping 'traveler' stories. Khao San Road has loads of terrace cafes, as does Patong in Phuket, Beach Road in Pattaya, and all over Hua Hin. There are also loads of Thai-centric bars with local bands and student places where naughty totty is not in evidence.

Do some research. Start here by scanning the pages of Thailand Wikitravel.

[Bedrockguesthouse]

I thought 'travellers' (I love that word, cos 'travellers' believe that if they stay at Khao San Rd, eat Pad Thai from a street stall and take the non air conditioned bus they are somehow not a tourist) didn't go to go-go bars. If not, then how can they say that bars are full of hookers?

I know exactly what you're talking about. In all my experiences on the road. There are very few "travellers".

Most seem to follow the checklist approach.

City A done. City B done. City C done. Ancient Church Done. Visit to Famous Beach Done. Visit to Famous Museum - Done.

Austrailians are the worst offenders for this type of travel.

Are you a Kiwi ???

[alant]

are there hookers here? should we start a thread, where to find maybe with * rating.

try the red lion, never seen any objectional characters there

[Jonathanpattaya]

You can have whatever you want here in the "Land of Smiles"

[oldthaihand]

Yes I enjoyed many "quiet drinks" while in LOS.

And it's far from true that every bar in Thailand has prostitutes. But it is certainly true that most of the bars that are popular with the average western male has prostitutes. And obviously, this is also why many, if not most, western males come to those bars and a major reason for them coming to Thailand.

I had a Taxi driver at Don Muang tell me he was hoping that I would want to go straight to Pattaya instead of somewhere in the city. He said it was something like 1 in 2 does just that. So don't tell me it's not true. And even if his numbers are off. Come on.

Go your own way a little to see the good stuff. Have fun!

[metisdead]

There are quite a few places where one can enjoy a quiet drink.

[britmaveric]

No hookers in thailand that I am aware of...

[witold]

"planning a trip to SE Asia."

Are you planning a trip to SE Asia, or are you planing a trip to Bangkok and Pattaya? 

With the exception of a handful of big cities in Thailand, you will not see even one hooker in most cities.  

[StreetCowboy]

Bangkok is a pretty safe and clean city, if you reckon it could be twinned with Dubai you won't go far wrong

SC

[tutsiwarrior]

there ain't no bars where I live in central Thailand but you can always get a cold beer at a food stall near the bus station...unhassled and you can spread out your writing materials on the table...no aircon, however, maybe a fan, then you can sneak glances at the cute serving girl in her little cut offs and consider yer next move...

[Kan Win]

Noobie here (houstonflyer) planning a trip to SE Asia.

For me, there is nothing more relaxing that sitting in a bar after a days trekking / exploring writing up travel notes

with a nice ice cold beer (or 10)

From listening to some travellers who been to Thailand, you would be led to believe that each bar in Thailand

is swarming with hookers. Is there some truth to this or is it only certain areas?

My view is "What has a bar got to do with you writing up travel notes with a nice ice cold beer (or 10)"

Look for a nice cafe, problem solved.

Sawdee

P.S. You did not mention where you will be trekking in Thailand.

[StreetCowboy]

8>< NESTED QUOTES DELETED ><8

My view is "What has a bar got to do with you writing up travel notes with a nice ice cold beer (or 10)"

Look for a nice cafe, problem solved.

Sawdee

P.S. You did not mention where you will be trekking in Thailand.

Good point. Unlike Dubai, anywhere you see a table and four chairs by the side of the road, you'll probably be able to buy beer.

'Cafe' is too strong a word for most of them.

SC

[Birdman]

I thought 'travellers' (I love that word, cos 'travellers' believe that if they stay at Khao San Rd, eat Pad Thai from a street stall and take the non air conditioned bus they are somehow not a tourist) didn't go to go-go bars. If not, then how can they say that bars are full of hookers?

I know exactly what you're talking about. In all my experiences on the road. There are very few "travellers".

Most seem to follow the checklist approach.

City A done. City B done. City C done. Ancient Church Done. Visit to Famous Beach Done. Visit to Famous Museum - Done.

Austrailians are the worst offenders for this type of travel.

No, for some people travellers are backpackers and they hate backpackers. Why? Because they do what they want, are young and beautiful, don't care too much about regulations, have fun all the time with minimum budget and can have beautiful young women everywhere for free.

[britmaveric]

^then birdman wakes up from his dream.

[roamer]

I thought 'travellers' (I love that word, cos 'travellers' believe that if they stay at Khao San Rd, eat Pad Thai from a street stall and take the non air conditioned bus they are somehow not a tourist) didn't go to go-go bars. If not, then how can they say that bars are full of hookers?

I know exactly what you're talking about. In all my experiences on the road. There are very few "travellers".

Most seem to follow the checklist approach.

City A done. City B done. City C done. Ancient Church Done. Visit to Famous Beach Done. Visit to Famous Museum - Done.

Austrailians are the worst offenders for this type of travel.

No, for some people travellers are backpackers and they hate backpackers. Why? Because they do what they want, are young and beautiful, don't care too much about regulations, have fun all the time with minimum budget and can have beautiful young women everywhere for free.

Lord give me strength. Half the pussycats on the road these days are only there because of the existence of mobile phones and the internet. Prior to that they never would have strayed far from home. As it is they rarely seem to venture anywhere that:

1. Doesn't feature in Lonely Planet.

2. Involves using local transport and not a "VIP" bus.

3. Doesn't involve traveling in a loop so they can repeatedly meet up with the same people.

4. Don't stay or eat anywhere that don't show back to back movies.

I have absolutely nothing against backpackers, still pull one on myself when the mood takes me but they have a real ghetto mentality these days. And that certainly isn't traveling.

[Spee]

HoustonFlyer wrote:

"Your views please..."

- Go directly to Hua Lamphong, the main train station in Bangkok.

- Catch a Northern Line train with the eventual destination of Chiang Mai.

- Take 3 half-day or full-day stops along the way, say Lopburi, Phitsanulok and Uttaradit on the way north, and Lampang, Nakhon Sawan and Ayutthaya on the way south, with a day or two layover in Chiang Mai.

- You can have as many beers as you want on the train, at the station or in town without fear of hassle from "bar girls."

- You will get to try all different kinds of food, which will be fresh and available in plenty for modest prices.

- You will have plenty of time to take notes and pictures while waiting for the trains. Writing on the train might be a bit difficult.

- You will meet all kinds of different people on the trains, and many will be interested in striking up a conversation with you.

- You will see a huge amount of the country and meet a broad cross-section of people along the way.

Similar itineraries could be done for other parts of the country.

Anyone can go straight to Nana, chase the skirts for a week and depart with a somewhat skewed and jaded view of Thailand. Not everyone will venture out into the country and get a real taste of what the country and its people have to offer.

[Birdman]

Lord give me strength. Half the pussycats on the road these days are only there because of the existence of mobile phones and the internet. Prior to that they never would have strayed far from home. As it is they rarely seem to venture anywhere that:

1. Doesn't feature in Lonely Planet.

2. Involves using local transport and not a "VIP" bus.

3. Doesn't involve traveling in a loop so they can repeatedly meet up with the same people.

4. Don't stay or eat anywhere that don't show back to back movies.

I have absolutely nothing against backpackers, still pull one on myself when the mood takes me but they have a real ghetto mentality these days. And that certainly isn't traveling.

So what?? 30 years ago they would only travel to the next local swimming pool.

And others hitch-hike with their backpack through Tibet. Most are in between. But fore sure I would prefer an evening with them to an evening on a stone table with grumbling expats complaining about the locals only.

[PattayaParent]

"From listening to some travellers who been to Thailand, you would be led to believe that each bar in Thailand is swarming with hookers. Is there some truth to this or is it only certain areas?"

It's true, those bloody rugby players get everywhere but it's easy to solve, just ask the bar to put the footy on and they clear off pretty quick muttering under their breath about overpaid prima donna wooses.

[StreetCowboy]

"From listening to some travellers who been to Thailand, you would be led to believe that each bar in Thailand is swarming with hookers. Is there some truth to this or is it only certain areas?"

It's true, those bloody rugby players get everywhere but it's easy to solve, just ask the bar to put the footy on and they clear off pretty quick muttering under their breath about overpaid prima donna wooses.

At last! Helpful advice from someone that tells it like it is.

Bangkok is like Cardiff, with all the hookers, and ex-pat flankers, and bar props with their arms round the hookers...

SC

[StreetCowboy]

8>< NESTED QUOTES DELETED .><8

No, for some people travellers are backpackers and they hate backpackers. Why? Because they do what they want, are young and beautiful, don't care too much about regulations, have fun all the time with minimum budget and can have beautiful young women everywhere for free.

For the rest of us they're bloody gypsies

(sorry - the spell cheker won't let me put the word in without "bloody...")

Perhaps I should cross-post this to one of the racial profiling threads as well...

SC

[Cuban]

Beer

[thornybird]

"Possible To Enjoy A Quite Drink..."

Ear plugs.