I've heard reports that the new Government has decided to get tough on closing times. The police are shutting down the bars and even Thermae at 2am. Any confirmations of this?

Has anyone figured out an alternative after hours spot or plan? I'm sure someone will.

The closing time is definitely 2am now. This is really a shame since the bar scene doesn't start until about 8pm.

I have heard rumors that the whole thing is a bargaining ploy by the police to get more money from the clubs. The new government is trying to make a show of cracking down, too. There is also currently a move to rezone Pattaya to keep all of the prostitution in one area. This place is saturated with bars everywhere and so this rezoning thing isn't going to go very far.

LOL, so six hours of drinking/debauchery isn't enough for you??? Or do you just have trouble making up your mind when surrounded by Thai babes?

My hope is the whole 'closing time' issue will go away by my next visit in Oct. Lot's more action on the streets after 2am though as the girls have no where else to go.

F1

Back in March when I was in BKK, they closed the Therme at or around 2AM a couple nights and your right, people were just milling around uncertain what to do next. Me and my "friend" decided to sit at one of the push carts and have a beer and some food while watching the folks hook-up.

Harry

Frozin1, only six hours a day just isn't enough. I'm a true satyr. ;-)

Actually, I only had a problem with it when I wanted to hook up during the day or maybe late at night after some short-time sessions. You know what they say, time flies when you're having fun. The Eden Club in Bangkok is a good option, but I don't think they open until about 6pm (can anyone confirm this?) The Beergarden is a possible afternoon connection, but the prospects are limited and usually not that great.

Harold J, As you did, I hung out watching the Thermae crowd spill out onto the street one night, just to see what they'd do. Basically, everyone mills around the street for about 30mins and then the crowd slowly dissipates into the surrounding food vendor areas. An expat that I ran into there commented on how pushing the people out onto the street like that only created a more visible display of the freelance prostitution going on.

On my first night in Bangkok I met a real beauty who said she was going to the Thermae to find someone, as she did every night. The only reason I didn't go with her myself was that I was with a girl I just met. I checked out the Thermae three times, but I never saw anyone there even remotely attractive. In fact, most were down right scary.

Frenchie,

The Eden Club opens at 3 p.m. as of May 2001. Happy hours for a discount on the girls is between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.. I'm not 100% sure on the 6 p.m. cut-off for happy hours.

Cheers!

Since the recent (Sept, 2001) crackdown, most bars now close at 2:00 a.m. Even long time after hours establishments (Thermae, Nana Hotel Disco) are closing at 2:00. This may change if the present Interior Minister is removed, but as of mid November, 2001, 2:00 a.m. is the closing hour.

froggo