Paradise Spa massage

[Montree]

Did I understand you correct that the boys expect 1200 baht tip for just a hand job? I would expect them to do that for 600 and full on sex for 1200...

Yes, that's the explanation I was given of a "Hard tip" and it's price. That was from the guy at the desk. I don't know if you could negociate diectly with the boy for a different tip.

[Gaybutton]

Yes, that's the explanation I was given of a "Hard tip" and it's price.

That's not a tip. It's an add-on fee and should be advertised as such. It they are afraid customers either won't tip at all or will give only a paltry tip, that's the chance they take if calling if calling it a tip. I see no problem about suggesting tip amounts, but make it clear the amount is up to the customer. How much or how little I tip should be at my discretion, without someone else giving me unsolicited "advice".

Anything else is an add-on fee, or whatever you want to call it, but it is not a tip.

As long as I'm at it, I also dislike restaurant "service charge". What does that mean? You can order food, but if you expect a waiter to serve it to you, now you have to pay extra for that service? It's not a tip. It's not a charge for service. It's an add-on fee.

If you want it to be a tip, then let a tip be what it is supposed to be - money I give at my own discretion, for reasons also at my own discretion, at amounts at my own discretion.

[Jun]

A well respected contributor on another forum once reported visiting a BKK massage establishment where the minimum tip was at least 1000 (I forget the precise sum). Anyway, apparently the massage was good, but there was no extra service.

What I dislike about minimum tips is the obligation to pay even if the service is poor. Or if expected services are omitted.

I recall one instance where a massage was poor.
Then the lad declined a polite suggestion to undress.
So what is he offering to satisfy customers?
After about 50 minutes, without any prior stimulation, he asked if I wanted a HJ. I declined, as I assumed he would also be no good at that and I didn't want to be obliged to give a generous tip after a very poor massage.
This was at a massage shop that I rarely visit.

Now, as long as Paradise ensure a minimum service level to match the minimum tip, I suppose it's OK.

As for service charges, I dislike the principle. Why not just adjust the prices?
I'm more tolerant in cases where the restaurant clearly shows the 10% service charge on the front cover of the menu, so I see that before even starting. Putting it in the small print is more sneaky.

[Dodger]

How many gay men actually go to a "boy massage" for the massage? After reading some of the comments here I'm surprised at how many there are.

I'm ONLY drawn to the Art of the Erotic Massage - where skilled hands, lips, and smooth bodies with the "right touch" make the session as erotic and sensual as possible as only the Thais can do. If I wanted a REAL massage there are more professional parlors in Thailand than any other country in the world.

Two completely different skill sets depending on if you want a traditional Thai massage - or a erotic massage with a happy ending. For me it's customary to tip the same amount for an erotic massage as I would a standard short-time...the boys know this (they know everything), thus allowing the "tip" to do as intended - as that's "TO INSURE PROPER SERVICE".

I imagine if I were ever to have a traditional massage at a professional parlor I would tip 500 baht - but not sure because I've never been to one...

[Jun]

How many gay men actually go to a "boy massage" for the massage? After reading some of the comments here I'm surprised at how many there are.

I'm ONLY drawn to the Art of the Erotic Massage - where skilled hands, lips, and smooth bodies with the "right touch" make the session as erotic and sensual as possible as only the Thais can do

There are all sorts of expectations for a "massage".
I'm looking for a professional massage that's slightly erotic and finishing up as very erotic.

In Pattaya, in some of the places I get the impression that if I asked for a purely erotic massage, they would be finished in 15 minutes.
My first ever oil massage in Siem Reap set the right tone. The first stroke went the entire length of my leg, right to the top. It's rare that anyone gets the balance just right like that.

I get the impression that some people just go along for full anal sex, although probably more to places like Paradise & some of the places in Bangkok with minimum tips. I don't go to massage shops for that.

As for nationalities of masseurs, the three lads who have been good enough for a repeat appointment in 2024 were Thai, Lao and Vietnamese respectively. Thais don't have a monopoly on this.

I'm also slowly learning that massage technique matters more than the appearance of the masseur, within limits.
For a massage, I spend half of it face down, not looking at the masseur.
Whereas, if I off a boy to my room, I'm looking right at him for much of the date.

[Dodger]

I'm looking for a professional massage that's slightly erotic and finishing up as very erotic.

That's how the boys (and girls) are trained when they first enter the erotic massage business. thus the reason 99.9% of all erotic massages follow this pattern.

I had a front row seat once upstairs at Relax as Gui the owner and another experienced boy taught a new boy how to massage which was both interesting and hilarious at the same time. A lot of the instruction centered on the importance of moving slowly around the sensitive spots, especially during the first half hour as to not bring the customer to climax too quickly. The boy who was laying on the bed as the dummy actually got an erection which caused everyone to laugh.

A bit of trivia: If you go to Relax now, the music that they play upstairs which puts you on cloud 9 was a gift from me to Gui many years ago. It's called "The Light Touch" and was recorded in Japan by an American composer/meditation master.

I found that if you return to the same boy(s) so he can learn your preferences the experience gets even better which only makes sense. To me the perfect erotic massage is centered almost totally on sexual foreplay - which less than 20% of the boys working in these shops seem to master IMO.

I became obsessed with the erotic massage from the first time my feet hit the sois of Thailand (can you tell) - enjoyed a session (sometimes 2 hours) routinely every other day during my 3 month holidays as a tourist spanning 20 years. A rough estimate is that I've enjoyed roughly 1,800 massages to date at a cost...hold on to your hat...of roughly 2.7 million baht...

[Montree]

I found that if you return to the same boy(s) so he can learn your preferences the experience gets even better which only makes sense.

I always reckon that the second time with a new boy is the best. He knows what you like and it hasn't had time to become routine.

I've now reached that point with one of the boys at The Paradise Spa so perhaps it's time to try a new boy.

By-the-way there is a massage place called just "Relax" a short walk from "relax@me" but it's not gay.

[Jun]

[quote=Dodger post_id=115857 user_id=107]
I had a front row seat once upstairs at Relax as Gui the owner and another experienced boy taught a new boy how to massage which was both interesting and hilarious at the same time. A lot of the instruction centered on the importance of moving slowly around the sensitive spots, especially during the first half hour as to not bring the customer to climax too quickly. The boy who was laying on the bed as the dummy actually got an erection which caused everyone to laugh[/quote]

That sounds like high quality entertainment!
When was this ?
My last masseur certainly didn't follow that regime. I remember the place being quite good over 10 years ago.

I was wondering if it was just me that doesn't like Relax, or if I just get unlucky on very rare visits.
However the google maps review score for Relax@Me is just 1.6.
Somjit gets 4.6.
Paradise Spa gets 3.6

[Montree]

I was wondering if it was just me that doesn't like Relax, or if I just get unlucky on very rare visits.
However the google maps review score for Relax@Me is just 1.6.
Somjit gets 4.6.
Paradise Spa gets 3.6

My experience would be rather different:
No.1 The Paradise Spa. Expensive but the rooms are great and my most recent boy was excellent (twice).
No.2 relax@me. I have good memories of this place but have not seen anyone who appealed recently.
No.3 Somjit. Was there just over a week ago and it was not good.
No.4 Helios. A bit unfair to comment as it's some time since my last visit. I stopped going as the macho guys could be a bit rough and "big". I like to finish feeling at least as good if not better than when it started not hardly able to walk.

[Dodger]

I was wondering if it was just me that doesn't like Relax, or if I just get unlucky on very rare visit

I'm sorry to hear that.

I know Relax was struggling before and after covid with most of the popular boys gone...and I haven't stopped by to gab with Gui in ages

Just find a place (and a boy) that suits your needs and enjoy. (things change) As mentioned before, I always found it best to return to the same boy(s) once they know where your buttons are at.

The main thing that's changed over the past 10 years is the "quality" of the working boys which has declined significantly. As we've all discussed many times...the days where the Dream Boys were in abundance are over. This applies to the bars as well as the massage parlors.

This, coupled with the insurgence of more immigrant sex workers has also contributed to this decline. And in good Thai fashion, when a business is making less money they just start charging more.

I'm glad I was able to enjoy the splendor of the massage parlors when they were in their hay day - the same as the boy bars, but just glad I got out when the gettin was good.