Bangkok Bar Girls, Freelancers
& Escorts Oh My!
Shebas Go Go Bar in Soi Cowboy
To start off I would like to avoid any controversy by saying that all Thai bar girls, freelancers and escorts (men and lady boys included) working in Bangkok's 3 major red light districts are not forced into prostitution. They are free to leave whenever they wish. There, that's my legal disclaimer.
So why do some Thai women become bar girls, freelancers and escorts?
The average salary in Bangkok is 6000 Baht, about $175 U.S. dollars per month. That's 200 Baht a day. And these are salaries for working in small offices, hotels and departments stores. Outside of Bangkok such as in rural towns and villages in Isan, salary is much lower.
Thai bar girls and Thai ladies that work freelance can make a minimum of 1000 Baht in 1 hour with a customer. It's all about the money. Too bad many of them waste it on frivolous luxury items such as a Louis Vuitton hand bag or an iPhone. Unfortunately most waste them on drugs, gambling and abusive boyfriends who don't want to work. I always joke about becoming a financial adviser for ladies in the sex industry. I'd make a fortune.
I get asked all sorts of questions about Bangkok's bar girls, freelancers and escorts through emails so I decided it's about time I focus on this subject on this hub. I'll be working on one about lady boys (Thai transvestites) or kathoeys soon since that in itself is one big subject alone.
The majority of the Thai ladies working in the sex industry come from the northeast province of Isan. It's a very poor area where many of the ladies come from farming villages. They leave with what little they have and head towards the big city of Bangkok and the allure of making more money than their mother or father could save in years. It's a sacrifice you have to admire and respect since they do send money back home.
You can tell an Isan girl from other Thai ladies from different regions because Isan girls are usually shorter with darker skin, higher cheek bones and flat nose features. While ladies from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and within Bangkok are taller with fairer skin and features similar to the Chinese.
No matter what you like or who you like in Bangkok you have to know some certain information before you board that plane. Though Bangkok is relatively inexpensive when it comes to food, accommodations and oh yes sex; if you don't know what you are getting into you can end up paying more money than you should.
So here in this page you'll find out:
So why do some Thai women become bar girls, freelancers and escorts?
The average salary in Bangkok is 6000 Baht, about $175 U.S. dollars per month. That's 200 Baht a day. And these are salaries for working in small offices, hotels and departments stores. Outside of Bangkok such as in rural towns and villages in Isan, salary is much lower.
Thai bar girls and Thai ladies that work freelance can make a minimum of 1000 Baht in 1 hour with a customer. It's all about the money. Too bad many of them waste it on frivolous luxury items such as a Louis Vuitton hand bag or an iPhone. Unfortunately most waste them on drugs, gambling and abusive boyfriends who don't want to work. I always joke about becoming a financial adviser for ladies in the sex industry. I'd make a fortune.
I get asked all sorts of questions about Bangkok's bar girls, freelancers and escorts through emails so I decided it's about time I focus on this subject on this hub. I'll be working on one about lady boys (Thai transvestites) or kathoeys soon since that in itself is one big subject alone.
The majority of the Thai ladies working in the sex industry come from the northeast province of Isan. It's a very poor area where many of the ladies come from farming villages. They leave with what little they have and head towards the big city of Bangkok and the allure of making more money than their mother or father could save in years. It's a sacrifice you have to admire and respect since they do send money back home.
You can tell an Isan girl from other Thai ladies from different regions because Isan girls are usually shorter with darker skin, higher cheek bones and flat nose features. While ladies from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and within Bangkok are taller with fairer skin and features similar to the Chinese.
No matter what you like or who you like in Bangkok you have to know some certain information before you board that plane. Though Bangkok is relatively inexpensive when it comes to food, accommodations and oh yes sex; if you don't know what you are getting into you can end up paying more money than you should.
So here in this page you'll find out:
- How not to get cheated in a go go bar
- Should you pick up a Thai Freelancer?
- The most indispensable tool you'll need while mongering
- Should you look into Thai Escorts?
- How much to pay for services
- Where you should stay
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A must read for first time visitors to Bangkok's Red Light Districts
Okay for all you newbies out there who've finally made the decision to cross that precipice of sex, booze and sin. Here are some crucial information that will save you money. Remember, go go bars are like colleges and universities. These are places of business that want to suck as much money out of your wallet as they can. And they can be quite ruthless about it. Especially when they know you are fresh meat.
After you ask a bar girl to sit with you the first thing she does is check out your financial background by asking a simple question:
Bar Girl: "Where you come from?"
Translation: If you are from Japan, UK, Australia, USA or from any country with a high currency exchange rate then you've got money and can afford to pay more. But if you give them the impression you've been to their go go bar before they won't try and cheat you.
Bar Girl: "How many time you come here before?"
You: "This is my first time." WRONG ANSWER
What you should say is, "I came here many times last month but I go to many go go bars in Bangkok all the time". Don't worry, with so many people from all over the world walking through their doors they won't remember you. If a bar girl knows it's your first time in a go go bar they will increase their prices by half or double. (See rate charts below). There are many other variations of this question such as "How many time you come to Thailand?".
My point is to give the impression that you've been to Thailand frequently even if it's not true. Hell, I tell all my friends to bullshit their way to cheaper rates. Why not? After all they do the same to you. But armed with the information below you'll have a better fighting chance by knowing how much you should actually be paying.
Final tip. Try and visit go go bars with a friend. If you are alone at least two bar girls will try to pressure you to buy them drinks. It's a high sales tactic used by copy machine salesman and it works. I've seen so many single fresh meat give in.
Also try and relax. Don't be shy. I've seen too many newbies look uptight and nervous. It's another tell tale sign you are in unfamiliar territory and the bar girls can sniff you out.
After you ask a bar girl to sit with you the first thing she does is check out your financial background by asking a simple question:
Bar Girl: "Where you come from?"
Translation: If you are from Japan, UK, Australia, USA or from any country with a high currency exchange rate then you've got money and can afford to pay more. But if you give them the impression you've been to their go go bar before they won't try and cheat you.
Bar Girl: "How many time you come here before?"
You: "This is my first time." WRONG ANSWER
What you should say is, "I came here many times last month but I go to many go go bars in Bangkok all the time". Don't worry, with so many people from all over the world walking through their doors they won't remember you. If a bar girl knows it's your first time in a go go bar they will increase their prices by half or double. (See rate charts below). There are many other variations of this question such as "How many time you come to Thailand?".
My point is to give the impression that you've been to Thailand frequently even if it's not true. Hell, I tell all my friends to bullshit their way to cheaper rates. Why not? After all they do the same to you. But armed with the information below you'll have a better fighting chance by knowing how much you should actually be paying.
Final tip. Try and visit go go bars with a friend. If you are alone at least two bar girls will try to pressure you to buy them drinks. It's a high sales tactic used by copy machine salesman and it works. I've seen so many single fresh meat give in.
Also try and relax. Don't be shy. I've seen too many newbies look uptight and nervous. It's another tell tale sign you are in unfamiliar territory and the bar girls can sniff you out.
No pictures inside of go go bars - From Flickr: Photo by Amr Ramadan
Rates for Bar Girls
Time
Rates
Bar Fine
Shots
Short Time (1 Hour)
1500 Baht - 2000 Baht
500 Baht - 600 Baht
1
Long Time (Overnight)
2500 Baht - 5000 Baht
500 Baht - 600 Baht
2 (Usually)
Bangkok Bar Girls
Bangkok's go go bar girls are the grunt infantry of the sex industry. You'll find dozens of them shuffling and gyrating inside the go go bars at Patpong, Nana Entertainment Plaza and Soi Cowboy.
Inside these establishments you'll see older ladies (and sometimes men, mostly gay men) wearing colorful blazers. They are the generals on the field. They are there to help you choose a lady. They are very helpful and it's good to acquaint yourself with them. But of course they want you to spend your money. However, they will help you out as much as possible so you'd come back and spend even more money.
Selling drinks is just a fraction of how go go bars make money. And the drink prices are inflated be it alcoholic or non-alcoholic.
Obviously the bulk of the go go bars income comes from customers who pay a 'bar fine'. Bar fines are typically 500 Baht to 600 Baht depending on the establishment. It is non-negotiable and must be paid in order for you and your bar girl in hand can step out of the door for either short time or long time.
For short time, if your hotel is not within walking distance of where you bar fined her, she will take you to a short time hotel nearby. In Nana Entertainment Plaza for instance, there are two short time hotels located on the 3rd floor. Renting a room with a shower will set you back 300 Baht for one hour.
If the hotel you are staying in is within walking distance she can go back to your room. Caution, make sure you know your hotel has a guest friendly policy or else you'll end up paying a 500 Baht joiner fee. Some non guest friendly hotels even have the audacity to charge 1000 Baht!
Now one of the questions I get asked the most is "Do I need a condom?" followed by "Can I perform oral on a Thai bar girl?"
Hey, I didn't make these questions up. I've been answering them. Repetitively. YES, you need to wear a condom. NO do not under any circumstances perform oral sex on a bar girl.
Yes, bar girls do get tested for sexually transmitted diseases often. They have to be certified disease free before they can work. It makes sense because one whiff of a diseased bar girl infecting a customer with an unwanted souvenir and the go go bar owner will most likely have to shut down due to a soiled reputation. News does spread quickly in Bangkok's red light districts.
But honestly, why anyone would want to perform oral sex on a bar girl is beyond me. It'll be like dipping a french fry in a 20 year old unwashed communal ketchup tray, shared with inmates from a third world prison.
The #1 question of all is, and this is an exact quote "How many shots do I get?"
The answer is:
Short time: Once. Yes, you get an hour. But if you finish in 1 minute, she leaves. Sorry minute man I don't make the rules. You can ask her for one more time. But it will cost you an extra 1000 Baht - 1500 Baht.
Long time: Twice. Twice usually that is. Talk to the bar girl to make sure. You might get less, you might get more. Depends on the amount you pay her or how much she likes you.
To reiterate always wear a condom. And please refrain from performing oral on a bar girl.
Pros
Inside these establishments you'll see older ladies (and sometimes men, mostly gay men) wearing colorful blazers. They are the generals on the field. They are there to help you choose a lady. They are very helpful and it's good to acquaint yourself with them. But of course they want you to spend your money. However, they will help you out as much as possible so you'd come back and spend even more money.
Selling drinks is just a fraction of how go go bars make money. And the drink prices are inflated be it alcoholic or non-alcoholic.
Obviously the bulk of the go go bars income comes from customers who pay a 'bar fine'. Bar fines are typically 500 Baht to 600 Baht depending on the establishment. It is non-negotiable and must be paid in order for you and your bar girl in hand can step out of the door for either short time or long time.
For short time, if your hotel is not within walking distance of where you bar fined her, she will take you to a short time hotel nearby. In Nana Entertainment Plaza for instance, there are two short time hotels located on the 3rd floor. Renting a room with a shower will set you back 300 Baht for one hour.
If the hotel you are staying in is within walking distance she can go back to your room. Caution, make sure you know your hotel has a guest friendly policy or else you'll end up paying a 500 Baht joiner fee. Some non guest friendly hotels even have the audacity to charge 1000 Baht!
Now one of the questions I get asked the most is "Do I need a condom?" followed by "Can I perform oral on a Thai bar girl?"
Hey, I didn't make these questions up. I've been answering them. Repetitively. YES, you need to wear a condom. NO do not under any circumstances perform oral sex on a bar girl.
Yes, bar girls do get tested for sexually transmitted diseases often. They have to be certified disease free before they can work. It makes sense because one whiff of a diseased bar girl infecting a customer with an unwanted souvenir and the go go bar owner will most likely have to shut down due to a soiled reputation. News does spread quickly in Bangkok's red light districts.
But honestly, why anyone would want to perform oral sex on a bar girl is beyond me. It'll be like dipping a french fry in a 20 year old unwashed communal ketchup tray, shared with inmates from a third world prison.
The #1 question of all is, and this is an exact quote "How many shots do I get?"
The answer is:
Short time: Once. Yes, you get an hour. But if you finish in 1 minute, she leaves. Sorry minute man I don't make the rules. You can ask her for one more time. But it will cost you an extra 1000 Baht - 1500 Baht.
Long time: Twice. Twice usually that is. Talk to the bar girl to make sure. You might get less, you might get more. Depends on the amount you pay her or how much she likes you.
To reiterate always wear a condom. And please refrain from performing oral on a bar girl.
Pros
- Thai bar girls are checked for sexually transmitted diseases. Of course you should still practice safe sex.
- You don't have to worry about a bar girl being under aged.
- You have to pay a 500 Baht or 600 Baht bar fine.
- You will most likely have to pay for a few drinks that will total a few hundred Baht extra.
- Constant pressure to buy drinks and bar fine a bar girl or two. This is especially true for first time visitors. They can smell you, believe me. If they see you are a frequent customer you won't receive such tactics.
'Baby, lets hit the buffet before we head back to my room.' - From Flicker: By nogoodreason
Thai Freelance Rates
Time
Rates
Bar Fine
Shots
Short Time (1 Hour)
1000 Baht - 1500 Baht
None
1
Long Time (Overnight)
2500 Baht - 4000 Baht
None
2 (Usually)
Thai Freelancers
If Thai bar girls are the grunt infantry in the sex industry than Thai Freelancers are the mercenaries. They work on their own or within a group or I what I like to call a sorority. The reason why they prefer to walk the streets instead of a go go bar stage is because they don't like to dance... just kidding. The real reason is bar girls have to pay a fine if they miss a day of work or are late.
Another possibility is that they are underage. Age of consent is 18 and many Thai women look younger than their actual age. You can ask for her Thai I.D. to check for yourself to make sure. But Thai calender year is different than most western calender. Here's how to find out. As of writing, the Thai Calender year is 2552. Western calender it's 2009. Thai calender is 543 years before A.D. so 2552-543= 2009. Yes you will get in trouble with the law for underage sex so be careful.
Majority of Thai freelancers walk the streets along Sukhumvit Soi 4 and the numbers dwindle all the way down to Soi Cowboy. You'll also find a bunch of freelance girls inside Thermae Coffee Shop, between Sukhumvit Soi 13 and 15.
You'll find the most freelancers gathering around the Nana Hotel's parking lot. Usually a dozen of them starting around 8pm and even more when NEP closes at 1am - 2am. That's because all the bar girls who want to make extra money will double as freelancers after they leave NEP. Up all along the bars of Sukhumvit Soi 4 you'll find others lining the street as well. Also on Sukhumvit Soi 5 just right outside the Starbucks is also another pick up spot. You'll even find a few African women too if you're into that near Soi 5
It's not that strange. Non-Thai sex workers have been in Bangkok for awhile. Right inside of the coffee shop of the Rajah Hotel (located on Sukhumvit Soi 4, behind Nana Hotel) are a group of Ukrainian and Russian women. You will usually find them there after 11pm. They charge exhorbitant rates because the laws of supply and demand apply as you don't find too many Russians in the sex industry in Thailand.
There are also lady boys wandering around, standing in certain locations as well. Sometimes they are easier to spot because they are usually in groups. Again, I'll be making a hub soon about lady boys so stay tuned.
You have a choice of taking a Thai Freelancer to a short time hotel or your own hotel. Your lady will know of the nearest short time hotel where you picked her up and it'll cost you 300 Baht for an hour. Alternatively if you're staying in a hotel nearby within walking distance you can take her there instead. However you should make sure you're staying in a guest friendly hotel.
There are pros and cons when it comes to taking a Thai freelancer back to your room. I'll start with the cons since it's more important:
Cons
One tool that you should always have with you is a GSM capable camera mobile phone with a local Thai SIM card. Why? There are so many freelancers in Bangkok and you're going to want phone numbers. And trust me you're not going to remember all of their names especially when nicknames such as Nut, Donut, Nan and so on and so are shared amongst the ladies. So it's a good idea to attach a photo of them to their phone numbers.
And personally when I'm in a rush I can't chat with a lady. So what I do is ask for her number and take a pic and call here when I'm free.
Some might say it's not a good idea to share your phone number with any lady working in the sex industry. Because they'll call you when they can't find a customer. I say so what. Who says you have to pick up?
Another possibility is that they are underage. Age of consent is 18 and many Thai women look younger than their actual age. You can ask for her Thai I.D. to check for yourself to make sure. But Thai calender year is different than most western calender. Here's how to find out. As of writing, the Thai Calender year is 2552. Western calender it's 2009. Thai calender is 543 years before A.D. so 2552-543= 2009. Yes you will get in trouble with the law for underage sex so be careful.
Majority of Thai freelancers walk the streets along Sukhumvit Soi 4 and the numbers dwindle all the way down to Soi Cowboy. You'll also find a bunch of freelance girls inside Thermae Coffee Shop, between Sukhumvit Soi 13 and 15.
You'll find the most freelancers gathering around the Nana Hotel's parking lot. Usually a dozen of them starting around 8pm and even more when NEP closes at 1am - 2am. That's because all the bar girls who want to make extra money will double as freelancers after they leave NEP. Up all along the bars of Sukhumvit Soi 4 you'll find others lining the street as well. Also on Sukhumvit Soi 5 just right outside the Starbucks is also another pick up spot. You'll even find a few African women too if you're into that near Soi 5
It's not that strange. Non-Thai sex workers have been in Bangkok for awhile. Right inside of the coffee shop of the Rajah Hotel (located on Sukhumvit Soi 4, behind Nana Hotel) are a group of Ukrainian and Russian women. You will usually find them there after 11pm. They charge exhorbitant rates because the laws of supply and demand apply as you don't find too many Russians in the sex industry in Thailand.
There are also lady boys wandering around, standing in certain locations as well. Sometimes they are easier to spot because they are usually in groups. Again, I'll be making a hub soon about lady boys so stay tuned.
You have a choice of taking a Thai Freelancer to a short time hotel or your own hotel. Your lady will know of the nearest short time hotel where you picked her up and it'll cost you 300 Baht for an hour. Alternatively if you're staying in a hotel nearby within walking distance you can take her there instead. However you should make sure you're staying in a guest friendly hotel.
There are pros and cons when it comes to taking a Thai freelancer back to your room. I'll start with the cons since it's more important:
Cons
- You will not know if your companion has been checked for sexually transmitted diseases.
- There's more of a personal security risk. She could drug you and rob you of anything that's not nailed down. This may not happen if the hotel you are staying in requires sex workers to leave their I.D. cards with security. But still, be careful.
- Possibility of underage girls.
- You don't have to pay a bar fine so you'll save 500 Baht - 600 Baht.
- You don't have to pay for bar drinks which will save you another few hundred Baht.
- Drinking alcohol on the streets is legal (except religious observances). So you can buy a beer for cheap at a 7-Eleven and stand around and check out the local talent absolutely free.
One tool that you should always have with you is a GSM capable camera mobile phone with a local Thai SIM card. Why? There are so many freelancers in Bangkok and you're going to want phone numbers. And trust me you're not going to remember all of their names especially when nicknames such as Nut, Donut, Nan and so on and so are shared amongst the ladies. So it's a good idea to attach a photo of them to their phone numbers.
And personally when I'm in a rush I can't chat with a lady. So what I do is ask for her number and take a pic and call here when I'm free.
Some might say it's not a good idea to share your phone number with any lady working in the sex industry. Because they'll call you when they can't find a customer. I say so what. Who says you have to pick up?
Thai Escorts
Sorry, you're not going to find any links to Thai escort websites. It's for a good reason. I don't recommend any of them. Personally I've never had to call on their services and I like to get out and visually inspect. But if you come across a Thai escort website you'll come across overpriced rates for services you can get for a fraction of the price compared to getting your ass over to a go go bar. And pictures on the websites are all fake, taken from other websites. So you're never going to get what you ordered to your doorsteps.
Get this, most of the girls you get to your doorsteps are most likely from go go bars or massage parlors.
Here are sample rates from a Thai Escort website:
Most Thai escort websites charge around the same rate and that's just way too much. If you look at the rates above for bar girls and freelancers you'll see it's a big difference.
Don't be anti-social. Get out, walk around and explore. Read How to get around Bangkok's Red Light Districts and you'll find out how easy it is to visit the red light districts.
Get this, most of the girls you get to your doorsteps are most likely from go go bars or massage parlors.
Here are sample rates from a Thai Escort website:
- 2 Hours - 5000 Baht
- Overnight - 10,000 Baht
Most Thai escort websites charge around the same rate and that's just way too much. If you look at the rates above for bar girls and freelancers you'll see it's a big difference.
Don't be anti-social. Get out, walk around and explore. Read How to get around Bangkok's Red Light Districts and you'll find out how easy it is to visit the red light districts.
Final and Most Important Tip of All
DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH A THAI BAR GIRL, FREELANCER OR ESCORT!
"What's a farang?", if you are reading this then most likely it's you, the foreigner. Thai women working in the sex industry are beautiful. Some are engaging and endearing. But most are out for the money in your foreign bank account.
That's a video I found on youtube. I don't know if that particular story is true. However, I have heard of other true stories first hand.
If you're coming to Bangkok to look for your future wife at a go go bar then you are seriously delusional. True, there are some instances where a man falls in love with a bar girl and lives on happily ever after. But those stories of happy endings are far and few in between.
Many Thai sex workers have Thai boyfriends. Some are even policemen who like to fish for guys like you with an open heart and wallet. So beware.
There are too many unknowns and uncertainties about bar girls that you will never fully understand. You have to live or visit Thailand numerous times in order to understand. Just visualize yourself as an ATM machine with hair and legs and that's what you really are.
So don't, whatever you do fall in love. However, bar girls and freelancers are good company. They love to joke and have fun. You can even have a 'girlfriend experience' by bar fining them for a holiday weekend in Phuket. But when you get home you have to cut the cord and draw the line and realize that the foundation of a Thai bar girl relationship is based on money, not love.
You still have to treat them with a certain degree of respect. And in return you'll receive the same respect.
"What's a farang?", if you are reading this then most likely it's you, the foreigner. Thai women working in the sex industry are beautiful. Some are engaging and endearing. But most are out for the money in your foreign bank account.
That's a video I found on youtube. I don't know if that particular story is true. However, I have heard of other true stories first hand.
If you're coming to Bangkok to look for your future wife at a go go bar then you are seriously delusional. True, there are some instances where a man falls in love with a bar girl and lives on happily ever after. But those stories of happy endings are far and few in between.
Many Thai sex workers have Thai boyfriends. Some are even policemen who like to fish for guys like you with an open heart and wallet. So beware.
There are too many unknowns and uncertainties about bar girls that you will never fully understand. You have to live or visit Thailand numerous times in order to understand. Just visualize yourself as an ATM machine with hair and legs and that's what you really are.
So don't, whatever you do fall in love. However, bar girls and freelancers are good company. They love to joke and have fun. You can even have a 'girlfriend experience' by bar fining them for a holiday weekend in Phuket. But when you get home you have to cut the cord and draw the line and realize that the foundation of a Thai bar girl relationship is based on money, not love.
You still have to treat them with a certain degree of respect. And in return you'll receive the same respect.
