[CPBoy]

Baht now is at it's lowest against all major currencies. Last I checked budget airlines fares are very reasonable (Tiger SGD160 BKK/SIN return without check in). So I think it's a great time to visit Bangkok now. Just avoid 2 Feb when they are suppose to have their elections and a week after that? To get things started I will do a short write up on Bangkok's infamous red-light a-go-go bar districts of Nana, Soi Cowboy and Patpong.

NOOBIE'S GUIDE to NANA RED LIGHT DISTRICT
As Bangkok's biggest red light district in terms of Pay For Play (P4P) options, the areas surrounding Nana Entertainment Plaza (NEP) is hard to compete against. NEP is where the heart of the districts activity is centered around.

Thai Free Lancers (FL) are up and down parts of Sukhumvit Soi 4 aka Soi Nana. So called Russian FLs (actually from former Soviet Central Asia republics) are further in the soi, across the road, at Rajah Hotel. Middle Eastern hookers near the entrance of Soi 3. African street walkers are on Sukhumvit 7/1, muscling out what was once a Thai FL/katoey stronghold. There are a lot of small beer bars and popular pubs all over the area and especially along Soi Nana to pick up ladies.

Ladyboy FLs are all over Nana district too. Though it's a safer bet to BAR FINE one from a ladyboy go go bar inside NEP for safety reasons. There are ladyboys working around Sukhumvit Road and on Soi 4, usually opposite at the Nana Hotel carpark, with the intent of robbing and cheating.

So there are many places to pick up FLs but bar fining a go-go girl from NEP is the path that most tourists follow. Because girls inside go-go bars are wearing bikinis so guys can have a better look at the ladies. Rainbow 4 for example has 2 dance stages and the stage on the left is the one where ladies dance topless. So when you go there ask for a seat by the left stage for a much better viewing pleasure though some guys I know get turn on by tudong minas; so switch seats if you are so inclined.

A-Go-Go Girl Pricing: To take a girl out of a bar you have to pay a 500 or 600 Baht bar fine first to the bar or club the girl works for. To save your some time and wasted Lady Drinks (LD), you can ask the mamasan or papasan when you sit down "which girl does SHORT TIME (ST) or LONG TIME (LT). The rate that you pay is totally separate and depends on ST or LT.

Also don't pay the girl's portion before you leave the bar but only after the deed is done in the hotel room. There are some punters that were asked to pay all the fees upfront. If the bar asks for this then politely and nicely tell them you will only pay the bar fine. If they insist, smile and say "mai bpen rai" and thank them for their time and WALK OUT. There are plenty of other fish in the sea. Other factors that will affect the asking price from bar girls. For example the way you look, your age and your ethnicity are some examples of those factors. Below is a ROUGH GUIDE...

Bar Fines (non-negotiable) - PAID to BAR
500THB - 600THB

Short Time Rates (negotiable) - PAID to GIRL/KATOEY
2000THB - 3500THB

Long Time Rates (negotiable) - PAID to GIRL/KATOEY
4000THB - 6000THB

Short Time (1 hour but negotiable) will cost you between 1500THB to 3500THB . In some instance if the girl knows she is attractive and quite popular she may stay firm on a 3500THB or more asking price. You'll also have to pay for a short time room which costs 300 Baht to rent for the hour. There are 2 short time rooms for rent upstairs NEP and just outside it's main entrance. Both charge the same rates. 1 hour is the norm but you can ask for 2 hours instead. No harm trying.

Make sure you buy your own condoms. The one's available at the short time hotels cost more and are industrial strength i.e. not Okamoto's which means it won't be comfortable. To save on having to rent a short time room you should stay in a hotel near Nana Plaza instead. It's much more practical. And cleaner too.

Long Time (Overnight) obviously cost more because you're taking them out of the bar the entire night. Otherwise they can earn more doing multiple short times with different customers. The asking rates range from 2500 THB up to 6000 THB. Again there are factors that will affect the price quoted, such as how much money she's made already for the night/month as well as how she's feeling. After all bar girls want a break as well since most work 6 days straight every week. Make sure both of you agree on the time that she is to leave. Although this sometimes does not guarantee a runner - "My friend forget her key to apartment". In a situation like this IMHO its better to let her go and get a good night's sleep.

Here's a tip, you can wait until the 2am closing time and ask the bar girl to stay with you for long time to save on the bar fine. Usually you take the bar girl back to your hotel for long time stay. Technically a bar girl cannot make side deals inside of her work place. So keep your secret deal just between the two of you.

You have to make sure the hotel you're staying in won't have an issue with you inviting a FL to your room. Because there are hotels that will charge a joiner fee if you invite Thai girls (FL or not) to a room.

Getting There
NEP is located near the entrance of Sukhumvit Soi 4, right across from the Nana Hotel. It's very easy to find particularly at night because it's crowded with hawker stands, tourists and ladyboy freelancers.

Closest train stations are Ploen Chit (BTS) and Nana (BTS). Both stations are about an equal distance walk to Soi 4.

If coming from Nana station remember to follow along Exit #2 from the station and it will lead up to Soi 4 on Sukhumvit road.

If coming from Ploen Chit BTS station follow along Exit #4.