World of Suzi Wong was based on this neighborhood.

And that was about the last time that someone got reasonably priced service in the Wanchai area! Actually, you can get action in the Philippino discos (Big Apples, Strawberry's etc), but definately a YMMV source, and very iffy quality (I picked up one girl there only to discover when we got out into the light that she was about 50 years old! Don't want to be aged-biased, but not my cup of tea...). Other "alternative" in the Wanchai area is the gogo bars- almost all Thai girls, drinks are US$15+, take out fee around US$500.

Lance

A buddy of mine goes to HK several times a year on business and actually lived there for about four years in the early 90's. He knows the town well and still has friends who live there.

About the best price in the go go bars is 2,500 HK, which is roughly $300US but you typically have to buy a drink for the gal which is another $50 US. I enjoyed with my buddy at Club Hawaii which is near the Old China Hand (same side of the street a few doors down). The girls are all thai and look pretty damn good. This was in Feb 2001.

Now, for the latest bulletin. My buddy just got back yesterday and we met for drinks here in SF to discuss his trip. Evidently, the hottest new bar is La Bamba and it is filled with Thai freelancers. I've done the Neptune which is full of Filipino gals looking for action and my buddy knows that place well also. He said La Bamba puts Neptune to shame - it is clear that all the girls are looking for action and the price is a little lower than the go-go bars. My buddy took a girl back to the former Regent, now the intercontinental for 1,500HK (a little under $200 US).

"The world of Suzi Wong" made Lockhart St. and Wanchai
famous. Lockhart St. still has some of the olden days stuff, however
it is not the same as it was in the late '70s early '80s. LanKwai Fong
(sp ?) is where there are some bars. With the end of Colonial rule,
thousands of british sailors,cops,army,bureaucrats left the city - So
did the clientele for English speaking companionship. This is not to
say that it does not exist, it does, but is fast fading. If you speak
the language, you can venture anywhere, go to Mongkok for a quickie,
even go across the border.

As you walk the Lockhart St. area you'll find some of these GoGo
places, where the drinks are in the 70HKD range, and if you buy her
one, its over 200HKD. By all means drink,talk but never offer to
buy. The barfine or take-out fee can be in 2000-3000HKD, I heard it
going up to 5000HKD in the dot-com-venture-capital days.

DONTS: Here are some of the things a traveller should avoid.

1. Keep a running tab, or hand over your CC.

2. Some clubs, the hostesses are just that - hostesses: You pay for2. Some clubs, the hostesses are just that - hostesses: You pay for
them coming and sitting with you chit-chating. You pay by clock, and
you pay a lot.

3. If the hostess agrees to come with you, find out what is her
company worth.

4. If the club/Karioke place does not make you feel at ease, do not
stick around.

5. If you are staying at a 5star hotel, and if you do find someone to
take for either a shorttime/longtime, and if she is overtly madeup and
dressed, don't pay the take out barfine only to be dissappointed at
your hotel.

Finally do avoid Club Bboss and a few others. these places are really
hugh, and really expensive. Don't ask me since really loaded business
men go there to showoff their wealth to friends,clients etc.


JUNKETS: It is always a good idea to know what's happening in your
industry with respect to conferences,workshops,exhibitions. For HKG, a
place to start is the HongKong Trade Development Council sponsored
events http://www.hktdcfairs.com/ See if you can finesse a paid trip,
or represent your company in an event if you are a
multi-national. Another valuable source is
http://www.tdctrade.com/exh-con/

Corrections to my previous post: "LanKwai Fong
(sp ?) is where there are some bars" what I meant to type -- "LanKwai Fong
(sp ?) is where there are some bar hostesses"

My buddy that goes to HK often just got back again with stories about La Bamba. They HK boys are now referring to it as "the U.N." due to the numerous nationalities available (thai, lao, vietnamese, etc.). It sounds like HK has allowed alot of freelancers into the country over the last year or so. This is bringing the cost of a chick down significantly. You can get a freelancer out of La Bamba for $1,000 HK (about $125 US). Reportedly, it is very similar to AB or CC in TJ, you pull in and every chick in there is available. I can't wait to test it out in person.

Haven't been to La Bamba for a couple of years, so I'll have to check it out next time I'm in town... My one problem about these Wanchai discos is that it is so !&#% dark inside. I remember picking up a Philippino freelancer once, only to discover to my horror that she was like 50 years old when I got outside!

Friendly

La Bamba is now old and ugly or just plain ugly. Broken bottle fights likely.

i agree on la bamba. have visited on a couple of trips since my post above. was great at first but better spots now. earlier this year Laguna, Strawberry, and Neptune II had good talent. price is still 1,000HK. i think some of the freelancers are even hanging in Lan Kwai Fong now. i've pulled most of my girls from Club Hawaii in wanchai, 2,500HK if you pull after 1am or so.

update to yesterday's message. spoke with my HK connection. La Bamba is history. guess it shutdown, then reopened under another name and isn't the same. Neptune II is the top ranked freelancer place at this point.

Last month while driving past Neptune I found not a soul outside - Is it history ??

not sure on neptune I. have been there before but not recently. think neptune II is the better spot at this point. during my visit to hk in december, i spent some time in neptune II. some nice looking columbian gals were there along with numerous asian nationality gals. i stuck with club hawaii for my girls, despite the higher pricing. you know where they work (not freelancers) and they have all thai girls. be careful with the drinks for the girls there, not a good place to spend too much time/$$, just get your girl there and then hit the clubs. not the cheapest alternative but it is a great time. place that was new to me was called "Klong Bar", nice change from laguna and strawberry.

p.s. i did see La Bamba, still the name of the place but no one in there.