I have been going to thailand for some time now but never know what is the going rate for the bar boys. Its that awful question you never want to ask but dont want to be thought of as a cheapskate but also dont want to be taken for a mug so does anybody know what the rate is???

thanks

James

James, don't worry about offending anyone.  Those who would be offended by your post aren't worthy of consideration anyway ... so ignore them.  There are a couple of noteworthy examples in the topics surrounding yours.



You will however get some replies to your question which start off like this:  " ... oh my god, not THAT topic again ... !"  The minute you read that (or a facsimilie thereof), ignore it as well.



To business:  there is no set "rate" (except the bar off fee, which IS set, but that's above & beyond the "tip" that you'll pay directly to the Thai guy you take away.  That will be between him and yourself.



For a few hours (i.e. 'short time'):  1000 ~ 1500 baht would be thought very nice and fairly generous.  The amount in between would vary acording to your pleasure in the experience.



Overnight :  1500 ~ 2000 baht would be in the ball park.  An "extra" hundred is always welcome for the taxi afterwards.



You will have to make a specific offer or you'll just get "up to you" as a comeback to asking him what he'd like. The easiest tack would be to offer him something in between the figures above.  I doubt you'll get a sour look.



These figures will be disputed I'm sure ... and I defer to professional offers ... but I do believe they are in the range which would make the guy happy.



Offing guys from "specialist" bars like Tawan I've heard are more expensive than the above figures.  Someone else might be able to confirm that.



Cheers  ...

Edited by: Smiles2 at: 25/11/05 3:34 pm

I would like to add to that, what is the going rate for a massage with all the extras at a place like Albury or Hero in Bangkok?  1000, 1200, 1500?  

I have this friend who did off a guy in Pattaya from Abomb.  His tip for service of a few hours was 1500.

I think for a massage in Bangkok you should tip

1200-1500.  The last time I had a massage at Hero

I tipped 1200 and the boy was very satisfied.

I always tip the minimum at the massage places because I enjoy the close and erotic contact but I don't allow any sex.

jjb,



I think Smiles suggestions are right in the ballpark.



Sometimes it's difficult to determine if a boy is truly satisfied or not due to the fact that most will produce a smile regardless if they're happy or not.  They also commonly apply the practice of not wanting to offend another person regardless of the circumstances...it's just the Thai way.  This was all "Greek" to many of us new visitors to the Kingdom, and still seems to confuse some people...usually the ex-pats who've been living there for the past 100 years for some strange reason.



Tip within the range that Smiles suggested and you can be assured that the smile is real and he will look forward to seeing you again.



mai pen rai



 

Mr. Smiles2 is about right with his figures and with his assessment that they are a "fairly generous" - you can pay B700 to B1000 for short time and there'll rarely be drama.



At the risk of going off-topic (and you'll be critised for doing that here too), some issues are:



1. Whether you agreee on the tip before offing - in which case you're pretty much commited to it whatever the quality of the service, or if (as I do) you just hand it over at the end - in which case you can leave it open to yourself to adjust the amount appropriately.



2. The extent to which you agree, before offing, what services will be provided. I find it's essential to be completely explicit in this respect - otherwise you may just be offered a hand job - and well, what's the point of that?



Really, most offs are great fun for comparatively little money. The real "Art of the Off" (someone should write a user's manuel for this) is:



3. How to deal (after the act) with what you consider to be agressive and/or extravagant (e.g. two or three times the going rate) demands for money coupled with threats that his father/brother is a policeman/thug. The answer is to never lose your cool, stay charming and smile and if that fails call the hotel security and watch your back the next day.



4. Dealing with non-performers. These are best cut short with a few hundred baht offered "for taxi".



It all goes back to off-selection, and I recently read Gaybutton's essay on the point - in short: look for someone interested, animated, showing enthusiasm.

demands for money coupled with threats that his father/brother is a policeman/thug. The answer is to never lose your cool, stay charming and smile and if that fails call the hotel security and watch your back the next day.



Must admit never had any boy tell me his brother.father was a policeman,if so i would have invited his bro along too.

I love wrestling a man in uniform.

I just returned from a 30 day holiday in Pattaya. About 10 days into my trip I saw my Thai God in one of the gogo bars but, as usual, I hesitated and the boy walked out with another farang. I didn't see him again for another 10 days.He was very popular.  When I did see him again I immediately bought him a drink and had him sit with me. His English was poor even though he was a rare, born and raised Pattayan but my Thai had improved enough that we were able to have a resonable conversation.



I  explained that I found him unbelievably attractive and I would like to off him for either a shorttime or long...up to him. I told him that I didn't "do the back door thing" as I  didn't like it myself. And, although, I would like to taste his body completely, it was strictly up to him if he wished to do likewise.



Back at my apartment he was all I could have dreamed of. Slow and romantic in undressing and foreplay. A lot of lips to face nuzzling and finally the gentle cuddling that drive me crazy. It was important to him that we got off together...something I hadn't found in a Thai boy before. After we showered together, had a drink, watched a little TV until he indicated that he should leave.



No money had yet been discussed  but he asked, in a gentle urgent way,  if I would off him tomorrow. I said absolutely and he gave me one of the most rewarding kisses I have ever enjoyed.



Then I gave him Bt1200 with 100 for taxi. This was followed by another series of kisses.



When I arrived at opening the next evening, the mamasan greeted me with, "I see you've reserved the boy again." I didn't know this could be done but agreed. I made sure I reserved him for the rest of my stay.



The tip seem to be well recieved and on the last evening I gave him an extra 5000 which resulted in an extended replay of all the previous evenings.



If need be the wonderful, vivid memories could last the rest of my life if I were unable to return to paradise.

Edited by: Doug at: 25/11/05 7:49 pm

Wow Doug...  It seems there is more than one way to skin a holiday in Thailand....



I could not imagine offing the same guy twice.  But it goes to show that we all can go to the same places but look for different results



I am happy you had a good time on your holiday   

Thanks Doug for your input as regards the romantic side of things - following my more business-like approach.



Yes, "reserving" a guy is a useful tool - it saves you rushing to get to the bar by opening time, for fear that he'll be offed already if you're late. But unless you're well know to the guy and the mamasan, you'll need to back the reservation up with an advance bar fine to ensure no hiccups.



Also useful, if you meet the right guy too late in the night for your energy levels, is to off him for the following day - you pay your bar fine there and then but arrange with the mamasan what time the following day that he is to present himself at your hotel.

You tourists spoiling it for us expats



Short time can be had at 500 Baht from bars in the Sunee area.



Overnight can be had at 1000 Baht also.



Don't think you are offending the boys. Ask them what they will accept. Then ask them what they will be prepared to do for that. If you think its expensive, negotiate with them. You'll be surprized, if they like you and want to join you they may well come down in price. I have a farang friend who lives here on a tight budget and he never pays more then 300 Baht for a short time and 700 baht for overnight.  

I don't know about the rest of the people on the board but I think there is a differece in visitors and guys living in Thailand.  



If I were a gogo boy, and I went with a visitor from the USA, I know the going tip rate my friends get.  And I know the going tip rate for guys living here.



If after all the slap and tickle was over and all Mr. Visitor from the USA or the EU wants to tip me is 500 bath I would not be too happy.



Now if Mr. Retired Randy took me back to his flat and I see he is a penny pincher to the max then I will be happy to get out of there with 500 baht tip before he starts the sob story...  hehehehe

Not only the tip to give him, but also the way u treat him is very important too.



For u consideration.