Bar Reports

[Gaybutton]

I presume the boy drink is intended to include some compensation for the boy.

I am going back several years, so things may be different now. The question came up at the time. I asked the boys then how much they get when a customer buys a drink for them. The answer was always the same in every bar - 20 baht. How much, if anything, they get now - I have no idea. Maybe some of you who patronize the bars can find out and let us know. Ask the boys, not the bar.

Even if the boy does get some sort of compensation if a customer buys him a drink, that does not alter my opinion that some of these bars are vastly overcharging for their drinks in the first place.

[Jun]

I thought the lads at Funny Boys used to get 30 baht and the same if they took the customer to Panorama. In the latter case, the drink price was definitely the same for customers or boys. Obviously that was almost 10 years ago now. Allowing for 10 years compound wage growth in the 5-6% ballpark, I would estimate 30 baht then is equivalent to near 50 baht now.
I shall ask, next time.

You can't walk far in Pattaya without going past girly bars. Having started to pay attention, I see 65 baht often advertised for beer.
These bars with cheap beer and scantily clad ladies are far busier than the Boyztown bars, with 120 baht drinks and clothed waiters, often mature. No wonder Jomtien is taking over.

Presumably the lady drink also costs more, but I've not yet seen that on the advertising signs.

Incidentally, I have been told that customer drinks in Dreamboys are 150 baht. So some downward adjustment to partially compensate for the host bar clothing.

[Jun]

The centre and lower part of the main Jomtien street was chronically noisy last night. Not just loud, but there was a cacophony of noise as several bars cranked up the volume. The worst I have experienced there.

I guess all we can do is tell them why we are leaving and hope that enough bar managers see sense to rectify the situation.

Jomtien remains my favourite bar area, but I begin to see why some customers might go to Sunee to escape the noise.

[BKKDreamer]

I was also at the Jomtien Complex with 2 falang friends.
We were at the Jewel bar and at a certain point the cacophony of noise became unbearable and so we left.
It was like a sound war - where each bar increased their volume to try to drown out the neighboring bar - until it became completely unbearable.
We walked out of the Complex over to both the Bamboo bar and the new Zoomer bar - where it was much more quiet - but we did not like the prospects there.
So, we walked the outer perimeter of the Complex to the Poseidon entrance and we had some drinks at the Coqtale bar - where it was quieter and more pleasant and far enough from the awful loud noise.

[Gaybutton]

If Jomtien Complex is getting to be like that, I hope the bars are not creating their own doomsday by self-destruct. Seems like it may be a good idea to look for other things to do at night besides going to the bars all the time.

Are these bar owners and managers really that clueless? They don't realize they're driving away customers - and that's at a time when they need all the customers they can get?

If anyone can bear the noise, if you get a chance to ask an owner or manager why they are doing this, I'd be interested in their answer. I just hope some of you staying in the complex hotels won't have to be looking for other accommodations because of this nonsense.

[Jun]

I just hope some of you staying in the complex hotels won't have to be looking for other accommodations because of this nonsense.

I don't think many here would risk staying that close to the bars. Staying elsewhere is also another way of voting with our feet and wallets.
I tried a short stay at The Zing a few years ago, which was OK as I requested and got a room on the side away from the bars. I'm currently staying much much further out of earshot of any bars, as I don't want to risk it.

With current bar behaviour, even the Agate would need good soundproofing, as one of the newer bars between that and The Venue had the volume turned up to 11. Staying even closer to the bars is out of the question for me.

[SP55]

Another piece of old Sunee plaza obliterated. The former Forrest house bar, which was taken over by the boss of Niceboys and was planned to be a new bar, instead has turned into a laundry machine place. What a sad fate of Forrest house bar which used to be such a nice place in the past.

[Jun]

Forest House in its current guise.

[Asia Traveler]

Staying even closer to the bars is out of the question for me.

Any recommendations for hotels near the complex that will be quiet? I am trying out Zing and Poseidon for the first time in January and February. Agate I have found it hard to get a quiet room and that was few years ago. The Venue said their rooms are sound proof but not sure. Never tried them.

[Gaybutton]

The Venue said their rooms are sound proof but not sure. Never tried them.

Friends who have stayed at The Venue tell me if you can get a room at the back, facing away from the complex, the rooms are quiet.
You might try East Suites. That's on the other side of the complex, where it should be much quieter.

I have a feeling that no matter which hotel within the complex you choose, getting a room that will be quiet will be a matter of sheer luck. I believe, no matter what anyone says, if you are staying in a complex hotel, you need to be prepared to accept at least a little bit of noise.

Of course, no law says you have to stay in the complex at all. There are plenty of nearby hotels along the beach and on Dongtan Beach, all within walking distance of Jomtien Complex.