You’re planning your first trip to Thailand. You’ve heard exciting stories, crazy tales, urban legends, and completely opposite versions of the same reality.
You’re curious, a little unsure, but determined to set off on this adventure. And above all, you want to understand a few things before getting on the plane.

This is normal. More or less everyone always asks the same questions the first time:

  • Where to find easy companionship, special massages, discos, bars and adult Venues?

  • Which locations are best for those seeking night life and adult entertainment?

  • What do I need to know before leaving to avoid problems in the Land of Smiles?

  • In what area is it appropriate to book the hotel? And what does “guest friendly hotel” really mean?

  • Better to bring cash from home or withdraw locally? Where can I change into Thai Baht?

  • What is a tourist SIM, and where can you buy a Thai SIM card?

  • I’ve never been to Bangkok: what should I do in the capital?

  • Where are Nana and the other nightlife districts with available girls?

  • What are the best full-service massage centres and BJ bars in Bangkok, and where are they located?

  • How does meretriciousness work in Thailand?

  • How much do services and the company of girls and ladyboys cost on average?

If you’ve asked yourself at least half of these questions, you’re exactly in the right place.
And if you’re looking for a zen holiday made of meditation and birdwatching… you probably clicked on the wrong article. But feel free to stay; you might discover sides of Thailand you hadn’t considered.

This guide was created precisely to clear up the most common doubts and give you a solid foundation for your first holiday in Thailand, without stress, scams, or unpleasant surprises.
We’ll focus mainly on Bangkok, because in 99% of cases this is where you land when you arrive by plane. It is also the capital and home to around 25% of the country’s population, so you can find every kind of entertainment and situation there. That said, the basic guidelines are more or less the same throughout Thailand.

Get comfortable. Let’s start with the basics.

Recommended Locations

This is an easy one.
In Thailand, there are cities where finding adult entertainment and nightlife is easier than finding a good coffee.
The most popular destinations, some of them partly specialised precisely in this area, with specific zones frequented by occasional and professional workers, are:

  • Bangkok, the capital (Nana, Asok, Phrom Phong, Patpong)
  • Pattaya, the brothel city (Walking Street, Soi 6, LK Metro, Tree Town, Soi Buakhao, and much more)
  • Phuket, the largest island: beautiful sea, but it comes at a price (Patong, Rawai, Karon)
  • Hua Hin, a quiet seaside town: low-cost fun for those who aren’t too demanding (Soi Bintabaht, Poon Suk Road, Selakam Road, Soi 80, Soi 94 Wonderland)
  • Koh Samui, the island with dream beaches and landscapes: very expensive, and at the bottom of this list when it comes to adult entertainment (Chaweng e Lamai Beach)

They are two very different cities, but comparable when it comes to the abundance of nightlife and the chances of meeting beautiful available girls (naturally, at the right price).

In short, Bangkok is generally more expensive, but it offers an endless variety of situations for every taste and every budget. In any case, it is where you arrive and where you leave from, so it is always worth a visit.
Every time, you will find something new, something you had not seen before, and something you did not even think existed. Bangkok always surprises you, and if you are not careful, it devours you. But once you get to know it, you can no longer do without it.

Pattaya, on the other hand, is the ultimate “brothel city”.
It is smaller and has less than a tenth of Bangkok’s population, yet it has almost the same number of professionals and occasional workers who, in one way or another, practise the oldest profession in the world (always Thai-style, which often makes everything feel vaguely more natural, but that is another story).
On average, Pattaya is cheaper, both for hotels and for all services linked to “For Men” entertainment. From bars to gentlemen’s clubs and go-gos, everything costs a little less than in the capital, without the quality suffering too much.
And yes, Pattaya has the sea, but Pattaya’s sea is generally not very attractive. For that, you need to go to Koh Larn, the island just opposite. But if you want the company of a sweet young lady, you will need to bring her from the city, because there it is very, very difficult to find one.

Things to know before arriving in Thailand

A few simple guidelines can make your first trip to the Land of Smiles much more pleasant and carefree:

Travels documents

  • To enter Thailand, you need a passport with at least six months of remaining validity.
    With a European passport (and passports from many other authorised countries), you can stay in the country for tourist visits of up to 60 days, extendable on request for another 30 days, for a total of 90 days without needing to apply for a visa.
    In addition to your passport, you will need the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), a document to be completed online in the three days before your arrival in Thailand.
    (If you intend to stay for more than three months, it is probably not your first time in the Land of Smiles and you already know how things work. But when in doubt, you can contact the embassy to find out which visa is best suited to your needs.)
  • Your passport is also required for hotel or apartment registration, buying a Thai SIM card, exchanging money, and renting a vehicle (motorbike, scooter, etc.).
  • Carry a photocopy of your passport with you (the pages with your personal details) when you go out. You can keep it in your pocket and leave the original safely at your hotel or apartment, because the risk of losing it during a wild night out is real, and it can become a serious problem.
    By law, you should have your passport with you. A copy has no legal value, of course, but the police usually do not ask tourists for their passports. So if you behave properly and do not commit any offences, you should not need it. Still, if someone happens to ask for it, it is always better than nothing.

Things you must not do

  • Thai people are generally hospitable and easy-going, but they are also very proud and touchy, so do not act like an idiot. If you have a problem, stay calm and remember your manners. Someone will help you if you need it.
  • Do not raise your voice, even if you think you are right, and avoid arguing with a Thai person.
    Remember: they are hospitable and friendly, but between you and one of their compatriots, they will never be on your side.
  • Avoid public tantrums, whatever the problem or reason, talk about it with the person concerned without making a spectacle of yourself. No one likes to make a spectacle of themselves in public, least of all Thais, and in any case it does nothing to solve the problem, if anything it makes it worse.
  • Respect the rules, even if they seem strange to you. You are a welcome guest as long as you behave properly.
    (If a Thai person smokes where it is forbidden, rides a motorbike without a helmet, or if a Thai girl uses an e-cigarette bought illegally from a street stall, that does not mean you can do the same without risking different consequences.)

Defend yourself from the shenanigans

  • Bangkok and Pattaya, like Thailand’s main cities and tourist destinations in general, are usually very safe. Nobody is likely to try to pickpocket you if you walk alone at night, and if you forget your phone on a bar table, someone from the staff will probably run after you to give it back.
    That does not mean nobody will try to “rip you off” or round up the price on a taxi fare, a bar drink bill, a barfine, a short time with a go-go worker, and so on.
    In particular entertainment venues such as go-go bars, and in all those places where the menu includes “lady drinks” to offer the girls, keep your eyes open. No paranoia, just be aware that they often try to inflate the bill with a few “ghost drinks” (especially when there are many drinks involved, both yours and the ones you offer).
    If it happens, you can point it out. If it is obvious and provable that someone has been clever with the bill, you will probably sort it out without problems. If they refuse to listen, do not push it too much. Often, you are mistaken or more drunk than you think. And if by chance you are right but they do not admit it, then they are right anyway. Generally there are no problems, but it can happen. When in doubt, ask for the prices first, remind the taxi driver to turn on the meter, read the go-go bar menus before ordering, and keep an eye on the bill when you are drinking in a bar.
    There are many small precautions that become natural over time. You just need to get used to them.
  • Avoid agreeing to and paying for long time with a girl you do not know.
    Often, long time ends earlier than expected with some excuse from the girl you have taken to your room. If that happens, there is nothing you can do about it. Let her go without arguing too much (which is always better than getting a bottle smashed over your head when you go out the following night, right?^^).
  • When you want to make a deal with a worker you do not know, agree on short time first. Then, if you like her and she does not mind, turning it into long time will not be a problem.
    In some cases, with the right conditions and a bit of luck, she might even be the one who wants to stay in your bed until morning, turning it into a Long Short Time After Midnight, with no extra costs.
  • If you take a taxi or tuk-tuk to go to a massage centre or other borderline venues, give the driver the address or name of a nearby hotel.
    If possible, never say where you are really going, because in that case he will probably try to suggest an alternative, telling you that the place is closed and that he knows a better one (where he will later get a commission for bringing in a customer).
    It does not always happen, but it is a more common practice than you might think.

Where to stay and why to choose a guest friendly hotel

Bangkok

  • When it comes to nightlife, the best area to book a hotel in Bangkok is without a doubt Nana.
    In addition to the Nana Plaza go-go bar complex on Soi 4, you will find every other kind of bar and ven    ue for all tastes up to Soi 11. It is the perfect area for staying out until morning with friends and new acquaintances, or simply for having a beer before returning to your hotel in sweet company.
    In the Nana district, there are dozens of guest-friendly hotels, from budget options to luxury properties. That said, the best choice is often somewhere in the middle, in hotels with good value for money such as Maison Hotel overlooking Soi 4, or Dynasty Grande, Citrus Suites, and ParkRoyal Suites, all located on the side street of Soi 6, practically halfway between the BTS and Nana Plaza, both reachable in five minutes on foot.
  • A good alternative for a guestfriendly hotel is the adjacent Asok (Asoke) district, where you can find the famous Soi Cowboy with its bars, and the Penny Black, which after midnight moves upstairs and becomes a nightclub; but there are also Full Service and Nuru massages such as Aya massage e Kokoro, or real brothels such as the Secret Kiss. Incidentally, the distance between Nana and Asok stations is only 700 meters, less than a 10-minute walk, convenient even at night when the BTS is closed. No hotels can be found here, but some are really nice, such as the Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel or the Grande Centre Point Hotel Terminal 21 located right above the mall, and for those who really want the top there is also the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.
  • Another interesting area is the Phrom Phong district, which begins where Asoke’s ends and continues along sukhumvit in the side streets. The central point of the district is again the BTS station of the same name, to which two shopping malls on either side are directly connected. The district is also home to a green park and some of Sukhumvit’s best and most emblazoned hotels, such as the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park the SKYVIEW and the Carlton. Here the nightlife is more subdued and there is less activity after midnight than in Nana, but during the day there are dozens and dozens of massage parlors, from Nuru to “Teen Massage” and a multitude of other “For Men” services, such as Pump Stations (bj bars if we want to call them that) 7 Heaven e Vovo, among the best you can find in town.

Here you can find the dedicated article with details of all the Streets (Soi in Thai) and guest friendly hotels strategically located for each neighborhood: Where to Stay in Bangkok – Hotels and Venues between Nana, Asok and Phrom Phong

Pattaya

  • Beach Road is, as the name suggests, the road that runs along Pattaya Beach.
    This three-kilometre-long street starts from Naklua and goes all the way to Walking Street. In practice, it is the border between the sea and the part of the city that can be considered the beating heart of Pattaya’s nightlife and brothel scene (both broadly speaking and literally).
    Beach Road is home to countless businesses, including restaurants and hotels, but also shops of all kinds and the night bazaar. The famous Soi 6 also opens onto Beach Road on one side.
    In practice, it is one of the roads where songthaews run continuously day and night (those pick-up trucks with a covered rear seating area that serve as public transport along the city’s main routes).
    In addition to this, at night it fills up with girls (and ladyboys) looking for customers, especially on the beach side. Some may find them interesting, although considering the city’s overall offer, they are fairly negligible.
  • Walking Street is the continuation of Beach Road and, from evening until morning, it closes to traffic and becomes a pedestrian street. The road has several hotels, but above all it is home to some of the best venues in the city, including go-go bars and nightclubs.
  • Soi Buakhao is a more inland street and very lively at night, with some of the most interesting side streets branching off from it.
    In practice, it is a good area to stay in, and in the nearby side streets there are excellent, good-quality hotels at reasonable prices, close to the nightlife and not far from everything else.
  • LK Metro / Tree Town, are two adjacent areas.
    The first is an L-shaped street hosting dozens of go-go bars. The second is shaped like a squared horseshoe, with both ends starting from Soi Buakhao.
    Along the entire street, on both sides, there are dozens of open-air bars.
  • Soi 6 is located in the northern part of Beach Road and is perhaps one of the best-known streets among fans of “cheerful ladies”. It is a complete madness of bars lined up one after another, without interruption, for about 350 metres. Hundreds of girls looking for customers, and rooms upstairs.
    No need to add much more to understand why Soi 6 has become so popular among tourists who love pretty girls.

There are other interesting routes and areas, but the most well-known and iconic ones you can take as reference are these.

Here you will find a list of guest friendly hotels conveniently located to interesting areas of Pattaya.

Why should I choose a guest friendly hotel?

A guest-friendly hotel is a property that does not charge extra if you bring a guest to your room.
Given the context, when we say “guest” we usually mean a girl, but it also applies to ladyboys (some hotels do not look too kindly on them, as they are often considered more problematic than their female colleagues, although sometimes the opposite is true).
The reason why the guest is coming to your room is obvious. These are, after all, areas where hundreds of prostitutes and serial freelancers work day and night, so it is common practice in guest-friendly hotels and nobody is shocked.
For this reason, it is advisable (and almost always mandatory) for the guest to leave an ID document at reception. When she leaves, unless you decide to walk her out personally, reception will call your room to check that everything is okay before returning her document, which makes the whole thing much safer.
Privacy is still guaranteed, because the document is used by the hotel as a safeguard in case of problems, but the guest is not officially registered in any meaningful way. Once she leaves, it is as if she had never been there (which makes no difference for single men, but for a “husband on the run” or someone travelling for work, it may matter).

Is it better to bring cash and change it or to withdraw from an ATM in Thailand?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions, but the answer is simple: bring the cash you think you will need, excluding hotels and shop purchases, and exchange it into the local currency (THB, Thai baht).
There is no standard amount for the ideal holiday. Everyone has different needs and budgets. But for an average traveller (neither poor nor rich), a good reference table could be this:

  • 200 – 250 Euro per day for 7 days
  • 150 – 200 Euro per day for 15 days
  • 100 – 150 Euro per day for 30 days
  • If you stay in Thailand for more than a month, it is assumed that this is not your first time, so what am I telling you^^

The difference in daily budget comes from the fact that “dead time” increases proportionally as the number of days goes up.
In simple terms, on a one-week holiday you only think about having fun and doing as much as possible, making the most of the limited time available. If you stay for a month, however, you will also allow yourself some rest days, quieter and less expensive ones.
(Leaving money aside, personally I would not be able to keep up the same pace of one-week madness for 30 days anyway.)

As for exchanging money, you can do it directly at Bangkok airport, at the SuperRich kiosk located on the basement level (B1), near the Airport Rail Link.
Changing money at the nearby competing exchange counters certainly will not ruin your holiday, but they generally have slightly higher commissions.
There are many other money exchange offices around the city, but if it is your first time in Bangkok, exchanging money at the airport on arrival remains the easiest option. In the end, the difference on the total amount is really quite small.

Withdrawing cash from an ATM is a valid backup option if you run out of cash and do not want to (or cannot) go back to your hotel to get more.
However, it is never convenient, because every withdrawal comes with a fixed fee of 250 THB (around 6 euros), regardless of the amount withdrawn, plus any fees charged by your own card, of course.

If you want to learn more about this topic, here is the dedicated article “ATM Withdrawals in Thailand by Credit Card: Practical Tips“

Buying a Thai SIM card

You might think that a SIM card with a Thai number is not really necessary, and you would partly be right.
In Thailand’s major cities, it is easy to connect to the Wi-Fi networks of restaurants, bars, and public places. Hotel connections are also generally very good and, above all, free.
On the other hand, if you do not have an always-active connection, it will be much more complicated to find your way around with Maps, call a taxi with Bolt, give directions to a motorbike taxi, send messages, or more simply use Line (the Asian version of WhatsApp), which has some limitations if you do not have a Thai phone number.
Not to mention other useful services, such as instant translation of signs, notices, labels, and other things written in Thai.

The easiest solution for a tourist is to buy a Tourist SIM directly at the airport, right after exchanging your cash into baht.
At the various sales counters, prices are always displayed and fairly clear. Choose the one you need based on the length of your stay, and for the equivalent of around 1 euro per day (or a little more), you get a SIM card with a Thai number, unlimited 5G internet, and unlimited calls to all national numbers.
Alternatively, you can choose an eSIM (if your smartphone is compatible), but you should know that eSIMs often do not cost less than a Tourist SIM, and you will not be assigned a Thai phone number.
There are other options, but for a first hassle-free holiday, they are not even worth considering.

Want to learn more about it? Read the dedicated article“SIM in Thailand: which one to choose, prices and where to buy it”

Things to see if you have never been to Bangkok

Bangkok is a huge metropolis with endless possibilities. It is chaotic and active at all hours of the day and night, but also surprisingly easy for tourists to experience.
The beauty of the capital lies precisely in its contrasts: modernity and tradition, spirituality and extreme nightlife, ancient temples, miniature shrines at the entrance of adult venues, street-food carts and enormous shopping malls, clusters of bars facing the street and classy rooftops, markets hidden in alleyways created by a maze of skyscrapers or set along railway tracks, and many other things you will not see anywhere else.

Even if your main goal is fun between beers and shady places, massages and nighttime Thai girls, when you are not short on days, it is worth dedicating some of your time to other activities.

Iconic temples

Most of them are located in the historic centre and can easily be visited in half a day.

  • Wat Phra Kaew – Temple of the Emerald Buddha
    Located inside the Grand Palace Bangkok, it is the holiest temple in the country. It houses the famous Buddha in green jasper (often called emerald), revered by Thais.

  • Wat Pho – Temple of the Reclining Buddha
    Famous for its 46-meter-long reclining Buddha statue. It is also one of the most important historical centers for the study of traditional Thai massage.

  • Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
    It stands on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Its central prang, about 70 metres high, is one of the city’s symbols and is spectacular at sunset.

  • Wat Saket (Golden Mount)
    Built on an artificial hill. After climbing about 344 steps, you can enjoy a panoramic view over historic Bangkok.

  • Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha)
    It houses the largest solid-gold statue in the world (over 5 tonnes). It is located in the Chinatown area.

  • Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple)
    An elegant temple built with white Italian marble, and a refined example of modern Thai architecture.

  • Wat Ratchanatdaram – Loha Prasat (Metal Castle)
    A unique structure with black spires, located near Wat Saket. Very atmospheric and less crowded.

Remember that in temples you must take off your shoes before entering, and it is better to visit them early in the morning to avoid the crowds and excessive heat.

Night and day markets

Ideal for eating well, spending little, and soaking up the local atmosphere:

  • Asiatique The Riverfront – A large evening market on the Chao Phraya River, elegant and well organised. It combines shopping, restaurants, street food, and venues with live music. Perfect for an evening stroll before moving on to the nightlife.

  • Chinatown Night Market – Located along Yaowarat Road, it is famous for its legendary street food.
    Stalls, small restaurants, neon signs, and an authentic atmosphere. Excellent for eating late and experiencing a more traditional side of Bangkok.

  • Talad Rot Fai Ratchada – A very popular night market, with rows of colourful stalls, open-air bars, and street food.
    Perfect for having a drink, eating, and socialising before heading to the hot districts.

  • Chatuchack Weekend Market – The largest market in Thailand, best visited on the weekend.
    Over 15,000 stalls selling clothing, souvenirs, electronics, street food, and curious objects. Ideal for anyone who loves low-cost shopping.

  • Pratunam Market – One of Bangkok’s most chaotic and authentic markets, specialised in wholesale clothing at very low prices. It is located near Platinum Fashion Mall and is perfect for anyone looking for bargains, especially during the day.

  • There are also many small markets dedicated almost entirely to street food, such as the one outside MBK Center or the one under On Nut BTS station.
    But there are others offering different products besides food, such as the small SW1 night market, practically facing Sukhumvit Road in an open area next to Soi 12, between Asok and Nana BTS stations.

Rooftop bar

Breathtaking views in VIP-style settings on the rooftops of luxury hotels:

Shopping malls

In a metropolis like Bangkok, huge shopping malls are impossible to miss. You will find dozens of them, each with its own particular character.

These are the most popular:

  • Siam Paragon
    An icon of luxury shopping in Bangkok.
    This elegant glass-and-steel building houses high-fashion boutiques, technology stores, luxury cars, and designer furniture. Inside, you will also find the famous SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, a huge aquarium, as well as a multiplex cinema, the Kinokuniya bookstore, and numerous gourmet restaurants.
    It is a meeting point for the local elite.

  • MBK Center (Ma Boon Khrong Center)
    A paradise for budget shopping and one of the favourites among tourists.
    Across seven floors, it hosts hundreds of shops with affordable prices: electronics, smartphones, video games, clothing, jewellery, and souvenirs. Many consider it the modern, air-conditioned version of Chatuchak Market.
    Inside, there is also DON DON DONKI, an iconic Japanese supermarket selling only Japanese products: food, liquor, accessories, snacks, everyday items, basically anything, as long as it is made in Japan.

  • CentralWorld
    With over 550,000 square metres, it is one of the largest shopping malls in the world.
    Modern and youthful, it features stores from top international brands, a multiplex cinema, countless cafés and restaurants, and even an ice-skating rink.
    Excellent for spending an afternoon in the cool air.

  • EmQuartier
    Elegant and frequented by a refined crowd, it is located next to Phrom Phong BTS station and is one of the most modern malls in the city. It hosts numerous shops with a strong focus on luxury, but on the upper floors you will also find much more affordable options.

  • Terminal 21
    A themed shopping mall where each floor represents a different city (Rome, London, Paris, Tokyo).
    Located next to Asok BTS station, it combines international brands, high-level restaurants, and a large, very popular food court with very affordable prices.

Nana Plaza and the other red light district: Where they are located and how they work

Thailand is one of the ideal destinations for single travellers of all ages.
Here, it is quite easy to meet girls who offer their company and other pleasant things in exchange for a “cash gift”, just as it is common to find massage centres and similar venues where “full service” is included on the menu.
In Bangkok, there are several areas dedicated almost exclusively to adult entertainment, where most of the go-go bars are concentrated (If you do not know what we are talking about, I recommend reading “Anatomy of a Go-Go Bar” to learn more.)

  • Nana Plaza
    It is probably the most famous adult entertainment complex in Bangkok.
    It is spread over three floors and consists of dozens of go-go bars, each with its own style and type of girls.
    Here you will find hundreds of girls, but there are also go-go bars dedicated exclusively to ladyboys. And if you just want to relax, there is the Beer Garden in the centre of the square.

  • Soi Nana (Soi 4) It is the street where Nana Plaza is located, and it is home to several bars, live-music venues, and street-food carts along the road. Here you will find hundreds of bar girls, freelancers, and ladyboys, all night long, for every taste, until morning.

  • Soi Cowboy, is a fairly short street, but packed with bars featuring girls and ladyboys.
    It seems less chaotic than Nana Plaza, but it is just as well known. For many, it is less suitable when looking for company for short time, and not particularly recommended for beginner travellers, as some venues tend to take advantage of the inexperience of the many casual customers passing through.
    That said, it is one of the city’s most iconic streets, and with a bit of caution, it can be interesting to visit.

  • Patpong, is basically an area that combines a night market with a few hot venues.
    Less clearly defined than the others, it is concentrated around a couple of streets and can work for an evening mixing shopping, street food, and adult entertainment. It is a historic prostitution area in Bangkok, but a bit out of the way and out of fashion, with many venues that are now more vintage than genuinely attractive. Not recommended for beginners.

Where to Find the Best Full-Service Massage Centres and BJ Bars in Bangkok

In Bangkok, you can find every kind of “special massage”, from the classic happy ending to full service.
Basically, erotic massage centres fall into the categories of so-called teen massage, soapy massage, and nuru massage. To understand the difference between the various types, you can read the article “Anatomy of a Massage Centre with Happy Ending”. These shops are found throughout the so-called Sukhumvit area, but most of them are concentrated in the Phrom Phong and Asok districts, mainly along a handful of streets:

  • Sukhumvit 33 Alley (Soi 33) is the massage street par excellence, with literally dozens of places for every taste and every budget. Many also offer a good nuru massage worthy of the name. In some places, the massage is little more than a pretext for full service, but in general, it is difficult to leave unsatisfied from a shop located on that street or in its side alleys.
  • Sukhumvit 22 Alley (Soi 22) It is slightly less convenient to reach on foot, but it hosts many inexpensive “teen massage” shops offering a good service.
  • Soi 24 e Soi 26 they are very close to each other and also close to Phrom Phong BTS station, so they are easy to reach. On these two streets, there are several very good full-service massage shops, as well as a couple of venues that do not even list massage on the menu, but are excellent for short time at reasonable prices.
  • Soi 20 e Soi 18 They are probably the furthest to reach on foot, as they are located roughly halfway between Asok BTS and Phrom Phong BTS. However, there are several massage shops with interesting prices. Not the very best, but if you are in the area, they are worth trying.
  • Another area worth reaching either with a walk or by taxi is the one formed by the branches of Soi 23 and Soi 31, still in the Asok (Phrom Phong area), but farther away from Sukhumvit Road. It is home to some of the best nuru massage shops, but also a few cheaper options.
  • As for the Nana district, the best options are probably in Soi 10, in the small parallel lane where the infamous ladyboy venue Check Inn Bar is located.
    But do not worry: in the two massage shops next door, there are only girls born female, with no surprises.

If, on the other hand, you want to know the best places to enjoy a blowjob in total relaxation (and in some cases something more), there is a dedicated and in-depth article on the subject for Bangkok: “BJ Bars and Where to Find Them.”

How does meretriciousness work in Thailand?

Technically, it is illegal and unregulated; in practice, it is widely tolerated.
Although the final goal and the services are more or less the same as in any other country, in Thailand there is generally a different approach to the oldest profession in the world.
In fact, as we have just seen, a large part of the services takes place in massage centres and similar venues, or in dedicated businesses specialised exclusively in the oral side of sex, with a very high level of privacy and safety for both the workers and the clients.

The other classic forms of prostitution in the Land of Smiles mainly revolve around bars, nightclubs, live-music venues, and so on.
This makes the approach feel more natural, even though you know that most of the women there are looking for a client. They often do their job while having fun with friends or with the various customers. In fact, they are under no obligation to go to a hotel if someone asks them to. In many cases, they are satisfied with their fixed earnings and the money they make from drinks, which is technically their main job (as well as their “official” one, if they are employed by a specific venue).
The same applies to go-go bars, where the girls are paid to dance in bikinis and entertain customers (at least in theory, then anything can happen), and they receive a percentage of the lady drinks they get.
But even in this case, although the venue acts as an intermediary and collects the barfine, it is up to the girls to accept or refuse any proposal.
Of course, it goes without saying that not all of them are Victoria’s Secret models, and if they want to earn more, they will almost always accept. But in some cases, they will have no problem telling you no if they do not like you.

Then there are the “street girls”, but they represent only a small part of the total.
Many of them are not Thai, which is why they cannot work regularly in the various venues and are not exactly well regarded by their Thai-made rivals and competitors.

Basically, the procedure is as follows

  • Girls working in a bar or go-go bar – You offer her a couple of drinks. If you like her, you tell her what you would like to do. If she accepts, she tells you how much she wants to receive in return. If you reach an agreement, you pay the barfine to the venue and she comes with you to do what you have agreed to do, either at your hotel or elsewhere. She will then receive her fee for her services according to what you agreed.

  • Full-service massage shops, BJ bars, and similar venues – You show up at the shop, choose the service you want, and pick the operator you prefer among those available (you may see them on a tablet, or live, lined up beauty-pageant style). You pay the price of the chosen service and then go with the girl to the room where everything will take place. Her fee is handled by the venue. You can leave a tip if she was good, but that is entirely your choice.
  • Freelance girls – You usually find them in nightclubs, live-music venues, some bars that stay open until late, or in more or less shady places that officially do not exist, but work perfectly well once everyone else has pulled down the shutters. They may be casual earners, go-go girls after closing time, or bar girls who move elsewhere after work, hoping to recover from a poor-earning night. For this category, there are usually two different approaches.
    The first is more direct: you exchange a few words with the girl, offer her a drink if she is empty-handed, ask her if she wants to come to your room, and then she will tell you how much her company costs. If it works for both of you, you go off to copulate at the hotel. The second is more natural and less professional. It can happen that you spend the night drinking and dancing with a girl who is having fun and enjoys your company, and then you move to the hotel with her without even talking about money.
    In these cases, however natural and pleasant the night may have seemed, the best thing to do is still to leave her a suitable “gift” before she leaves, even if she does not ask for anything.
    This avoids misunderstandings and strange requests later on. And if you happen to want to see her again and repeat the encounter, she will be happy to accept the invitation, because she knows you are not stingy.
    (The important thing is always to remember that you met her in a place where “good girls” do not go out for the evening.)
  • Street girls – The fastest and simplest approach of all. You see one, ask how much she wants, negotiate if it seems too much, and if she accepts, you take her with you to the hotel. You do what you have to do, then you pay her. Easy.
  • Agency girls, non-professional earners, and online freelancers – In this case, the approach is not very different from any other country. You find the ads online, on specialised websites or apps like Thai Friendly or Tinder, where a large part of the profiles belong to women or ladyboys looking for clients.
    The negotiation takes place in chat, and if you reach an agreement, the worker will come to your accommodation for the service and payment.This is something that makes little sense in a country like Thailand, especially when you are on holiday in the right areas, where as soon as you go outside you are surrounded by crowds of girls offering “boom boom” for money.
    But apparently, shy mongers exist too… No judgement, that is just my personal opinion.     ).

Rates for the services and company of girls and ladyboys

Prices can vary depending on several factors, such as the area, the time of day, the type of venue, how attractive she is and how pleasant she finds you, your negotiation skills, and other variables.
A realistic average price range would be as follows:

  • Lady Drink: 150–250 Baht

  • Bar Fine: 500–1.200 Baht

  • Short Time: 1.000–3000 Baht

  • Long Time: 3000–6.000 Baht

  • Teen Massage Full Service 60 Min: 1800–2800 Baht
  • Nuru Massage Full Service 90 Min: 3500–5000 Baht
  • BJ: 800–1500 Baht

As already mentioned, this is not an exact science. It is more of a guideline to give you a rough idea of the rates.
You may notice a big price difference for the same type of service. It depends on all the variables involved. But, for example, if a freelance “Sciatthai” asks you for 4,000 baht for short time, you should know that it is too much, and you should negotiate, or refuse if she does not accept less.

If you want to be prepared and avoid getting ripped off, or if you want to avoid looking like a beggar by negotiating over an offer that is already good, you can find a more detailed guide here: “The Prices of Pay Sex in Asia.”

So, if you have made it this far, you will have started to understand that Thailand is a magical country for single travellers looking for company and adventure. With the right advice and without pointless prejudices, you can have a memorable holiday: you eat well, spend reasonably, move around easily, and if you are looking for company, you will have no problem finding it (even more than you might imagine).

Use this guide as your starting point; the rest will come naturally.

Happy Traveling!