GoGo Bars and Beer Bars

Prostitution in Thailand is illegal… so thankfully we have something called bar fines.

Bar fines are to compensate for two things – taking the girl out of her place of work, and the losses the boss is making due to you, the paying customer, leaving early. Anything paid to a girl after this is a private matter, and looked up on as nothing more than a cash gift.

On average, a bargirl earns just 3000 baht a month basic salary from her boss, then on top of that a percentage on all drinks bought for her by customers, usually 20baht from a 70-90baht drink - plus, of course, any cash gifts from customers. The girls will be given targets every month – how many drinks bought for them and how many bar fines.

If she does not meet these targets her wages will be deducted. If she consistently fails to meet her targets she may even lose her job. The girls are given two days off every month.

Any day missed other than this she will be fined. Most bars will have a policy where their girls are not permitted to ask a customer for a drink, but if she’s good company it’s only polite manners to do so (you stingy git!).

Unlike other popular Thai cities, like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, in Pattaya the bar fines are very cheap, usually 200 – 250baht. What you pay the girl afterwards is negotiable. 1000 baht is usually sufficient, but some will barter for more.

Some girls won’t ask for anything, and are just happy to be taken out of the bar and to stay in a nice hotel for the night. Never ask to go back to her place – all girls are strictly forbidden to take men to their rooms.

The bar fines in the gogo bars will cost you more, sometimes as much as 1000 baht, but the girls do tend to be a lot sexier in these places. The girls have numbers attached to their bikinis. If you see one that takes your eye, call over the mamasan and tell her the number, and say you’d like to buy that particular girl a drink.

She will then call the girl off the stage and she will come and chat with you. If you like her, and she’s willing, settle on a price for either short time or all night at your hotel, then call the mamasan back and pay the fine.

Some of the gogo bars can be quite dark and seedy, and some of the girls can be too full-on for some guy’s tastes, going straight for a trouser grope without any prior conversation.

Some have live sex shows, but it’s advisable to fight your voyeuristic tendencies and avoid these places, as the police sometimes make raids and will not hesitate to arrest everybody in the building.

List of Agogo Bars in Pattaya

Reader's comments:

Can a girl take you back to her room? Are you really that cheap that you can t afford a hotel room in Pattaya? Maybe she is bunked up with 6 other working girls in a very small room that they all call home. Maybe the property owner who she rents her place from doesn t allow visitors. Maybe... Well, who cares. You ve probably got a nice spacious room with modern amenities. Use it and just be cool. Added by: caveman    Report abuse

just came back from 1st trip to pattaya .came back $4500 in debt,planned to travel around thailand stayed a full month in pattaya .going again on x-mass day. heaven truly is a place on earth. just watch out for the jet skis. l scratched mine and had to get 2 grand wired over from uk. just one big scam Added by: scouser on tour    Report abuse

been pattaya several times, all i would say obey the rules and enjoy the good times ie pay bar fine and respect the girl as they do to you. Added by: billy bong    Report abuse

usually if they tell you cant go back to her room its because the boyfriend will be there if you ever meet the boyfriend she will tell you its her brother they all have degrees in lieing Added by: gal    Report abuse

iv been in pattaya 2 times and i just came back yesterday 29-10-2006,i met a girl in the ago go,she was a hostes not dancer,and we agreed that when she finish work she will come to my hotel for short time,so i went to my hotel at 4 oclock and waited her ,and she comed and stayed in my hotel room,in the morning i didnt tell her to leave and she stayed with me,we stayed all the day together shoping and she helped me for shoping in the evening we agreed that we see eachother again in the ago go,i told her that i will come and barfine her but not for boom boom,just go out and go to dancing and she agreed,so i taked her out and we really had good time,after we finished she asked me to come to her room,and we went there and we had a very long sex,from that day she barfined herself from her money and i spended the last 7 days in pattaya in her room sleep there eat there take shower there and she never asked me for money,and when the time comed for me to go home she started to cry,she wanted me to stay there with him and she was ready to take care of me,she gave me also gifts for me and a big letter hoping that i never forget her,anyway now i home and i dont know what is she doing now,she promised also that she will never go with costemers,i didnt ask her anything ,so im telling and im sure that not all the girls that working in ago go or beer bars are the same,some have very big hearts,maybe im wrong but that what happened with me maybe im lucky i dont know,but always be carefull not all the girls are the same,good luck; Added by: never mind    Report abuse

From Denmark I have been i BKK manny times and also stay there for 6 month 3 times .. my advice would be: if you respect thai girls and what they do you can have a happy time in thailand .. if you not respect they will look at you as an "farang" pay machine Added by: Poul    Report abuse

i agree there are no "rules" in pattaya. You have to play things by ear. 100o nightmare stories of drugging, police setup stings etc but 1million transactions that are hassle free. trust your instinct and if it doesnt feel right..leave it. Most troubles seem to originate from the ladyboy /gay circuit and tend to work in teams. If you do fall in love with bar/gogo lady there is only 1 sure way forward. LIVE IN PATTAYA!!! anything else will see her go with someone else before youve even checked in at don muang!!!!! But stay put and you see everything ( this will force her into making some serious decisions) happy hunting Added by: marti    Report abuse

I think it is definitely better not to take the girls back to the room even if she was willing to go. You never know, she could be drugging you and take all your money. Added by: Ron    Report abuse

it is not correct that the girls cannot take a man to their room,if she dont want to take you then maybe its because she hiding something or just the fact that she dont have a room or is staying with somebody...i have personally visit many girls room or even a house where she had a westerner to pay for..my 15 year of experince in thailand tells me that everything is possible in the land of smiles,smile back and a world will open for you...dont believe everything you hear,but be alert. Added by: brian.dk    Report abuse

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