I always head to Kanchanaburi when I visit Thailand. It's relaxing and laid back, plus, it's cheap and there's lots to see and do during the day.

...but there's not much nightlife. Fortunately, since I've spent so much time there, I can tell you where to go. To start with, you wo't find many farangs in these places, and you won't find much English, so be patient.

There's a nightclub on the main street called "Apache Saloon" which has nothing to do with the American Old West, despite the look. You won't find working girls here, but there is a good show with some sexy girls lip-syncing to Thai disco music. Warm up here, and then go across the street to the hostess bar (across the small street, not the main street). You can't miss it, since there are always 2 or 3 girls outside trying to get customers to go inside. Usually the only one who speaks English here is the resident lady-boy, so make it clear that you like women. Anyway, it's pretty relaxed, and the ladies take turns singing. It will cost 1500 including the barfine for long time. Unusual for Thailand - they make you pay the whole thing before you leave the bar, so giving the girl money in the morning is not necessary. The girls here are average, but firendly.

Next, there is a Karaoke bar across the street from the bus station. I am not sure if all the girls will go with you, but it doesn't hurt to ask. I'm not sure of prices here.

Finally, if you take the road up towards the bridge (The Bridge on the River Kwai) you will come across yet another Western-themed bar. This one specializes in folk music and dancing. Middle class Thai men come here and sit with the hostesses and dance with them - it's kind of strange. There are a few working girls here, but again, some will not go with you at all. Chances are, the right girls will come over to you when they see you are farang. Average girls again, and 500 baht barfine and 1000 baht for the girl (this may be negotiable).

So, not much for nightlife, but if you are stopping here for a few days, this may give you something to do at night.

What about the Paradise massage next to the River Kwai hotel?

So long between posts... but...

North of the cemetary, along Th. Mae Nam Khwae, there are plenty of new beerbars that have sprung up over the alst 2 years. However, there isn't much in the way of quality here, and English isn't widely spoken amongst these girls. Who are they? Why do they come to Kanchanaburi to work in a beerbar? Were they not good enough for the beerbars of BKK/PTY/etc.? You get the picture.

The good thing is that the girls seem "fresh", and are not hardened or mercenary at all. The bad thing is taht the guesthouses in the area do not like it when you bring these girls back to your room - remember, these are "normal" tourists staying there. I find it useful to find discreet rooms - i.e., where you don't have to walk past the main reception to get in. Sam's River Raft Resort has rooms located across the street, for example.

As for the massage - all of the ones that I've seen are traditional.

I'm in Kanchanaburi now. There is a quite active scene here with 15-20 small beer bars along the main road with all the tourist guesthouses. The quality isn't great but there are a few stunners and prices are low and attitudes are good. It seems that some of the girls who come here just can't cut it in BKK, while some others are just looking for a lower key place - not as intimidating for a small town girl.

I was in Kanchanburi about two years ago and was told most people there are actually Burmese.

What kind of prices are you finding, for the girls and the accommodations?

It's been maybe 5 years since I visited Kanchanaburi. I have some friends who go up that way now and then, and they have given me some updates.

In the north part of town, on the street where a lot of the guesthouses are, a lot of beer bars have sprung up on the other side of the street. 500 bar fine, with 1000 for ST, but usually the girls end up staying LT just because they don't want the hassle of going back to their shared (and crappy) room. The problem is that if you are staying at a guesthouse, the proprietors (and guests) might hassle the girls when they come back to your room.

My beloved Apache Saloon has closed. Maybe there is a new bar there now? I don't doubt that some of the girls are Burmese, but the ones I met spoke Thai, so maybe it depends on where you go.

All in all, I guess that not many mongers make their way up there, and that the nightlife may be incompatible with the typical tourist that visits this place.