GLBT Travelers - BKK update 2012?

Hey there, I have been to BKK many times but not for a few years. Is there any update in terms of clubs/bars/saunas?
IIRC, I pretty much have enjoyed a sauna in the afternoon (Babylon), then drinks and/or food at Telephone bar or the one across the soi from it (can't remember the name, but pretty much the same as Telephone), then DJ station.
Any updates or changes? It seems there aren't many changes in those in the last 10 years! :)
Staying in the fairly crappy (but cheap, US$19/night!) Ibis Sathorn, but close to everything so I'm happy.
Oh-also any gym recommendations? There is no gym at my hotel and I need to go a few times at least.
THanks for any ideas/advice!

Hey there, I have been to BKK many times but not for a few years. Is there any update in terms of clubs/bars/saunas?
IIRC, I pretty much have enjoyed a sauna in the afternoon (Babylon), then drinks and/or food at Telephone bar or the one across the soi from it (can't remember the name, but pretty much the same as Telephone), then DJ station.

Zero changes: Babylon, Telephone bar, Balcony Bar, DJ station, GOD, they are all still there.... :)

I'm looking at going to BKK for my 30th bday with some friends. One of them is a Hilton fan and wants to stay at Hiltons or Marriotts in BKK and in Phuket. We're getting separate rooms anyway b/c he wants a room to himself in BKK... would you recommend I stay at "American hotels" or in other gay/gay friendly hotels?

Having been to BKK I can say the local hotels are also great, as are the chains. Check TripAdvisor before you book and I'm sure you'll be pleased.

I'm looking at going to BKK for my 30th bday with some friends. One of them is a Hilton fan and wants to stay at Hiltons or Marriotts in BKK and in Phuket. We're getting separate rooms anyway b/c he wants a room to himself in BKK... would you recommend I stay at "American hotels" or in other gay/gay friendly hotels?

Separate rooms is a good idea. ;)

Basically all of Bangkok is gay-friendly, so there's no compelling need to stay in a gay hotel. The American and other international brands are fine. As you can see in the Luxury Hotels forum, you can get rooms at Luxury Hotels at very reasonable rates, so if you like nice hotels, you might consider that too.

I am planning a 2 month holiday in Thailand as we speak! 1 month in Bangkok and 1 month in Phuket.

There are so many hotel choices out there......I'm looking for something for less than $1000 per month with a kitchenette and swimming pool. Anyone have any suggestions? I stayed at Babylon for a week this past April which was ok but not an ideal place for a month!

Make certain you check that the place you book has no joiner fee if you think you might be bringing someone back to your room. For the more local hotels it's ok to simply ask "Do you charge a joiner fee?" Swiss Lodge, for example, doesn't charge a fee if you book a room for two people but does if you book a room for one.

Thanks for the advice about joiner fees!

I booked a hotel romm for just $975 for 29 nights at the Pinnacle Lumpinee. Got it through agoda.

Thanks for the advice about joiner fees!

I booked a hotel romm for just $975 for 29 nights at the Pinnacle Lumpinee. Got it through agoda.

Should be a nice stay, it's a decent place, though the rooms on higher floors are definitely nicer. (it's been 3 years since I stayed there, it might be different now)... but with that long of a stay, I'd be sure to get a room I liked when I check in.
One of the reasons I stopped staying there was I heard they started charging joiners fees. May not be true, just FYI. You'll enjoy the location and the breakfast was always OK too.
Have fun!

I'm looking at going to BKK for my 30th bday with some friends. One of them is a Hilton fan and wants to stay at Hiltons or Marriotts in BKK and in Phuket. We're getting separate rooms anyway b/c he wants a room to himself in BKK... would you recommend I stay at "American hotels" or in other gay/gay friendly hotels?

Conrad and Hilton in BKK are great properties - an easy and inexpensive taxi ride from Silom Rd. or Sathorn. Use the PR13CB discount code for a nice discount. No joiner fees as far as I know.

Hilton in Phuket is a nice property but far away from Patong - you will be in mercy of the tuk-tuk drivers for transportation between Karon and Patong, but íf 3-4 persons travelling together it is OK. There are nice properties in Patong too. You should check out The Nap Patong.

Don't stay at the Millennium Hilton - inconvenient location on the wrong side of the river.

Conrad and Hilton in BKK Use the PR13CB discount code for a nice discount.

Does this code require any sort of company/govt. ID required at check-in?

Don't stay at the Millennium Hilton - inconvenient location on the wrong side of the river.

this is an important hint with which I fully agree.
Make sure you stay close to Silom / Saladaeng in order to be in reach of the gay nightlife!
There are also nice small hotels and (gay) guest houses ("baan saladaeng") for low budget travellers

Should be a nice stay, it's a decent place, though the rooms on higher floors are definitely nicer. (it's been 3 years since I stayed there, it might be different now)... but with that long of a stay, I'd be sure to get a room I liked when I check in.
One of the reasons I stopped staying there was I heard they started charging joiners fees. May not be true, just FYI. You'll enjoy the location and the breakfast was always OK too.
Have fun!

Over the past year I've done a couple of long stays at the Pinnacle Lumpinee. Deluxe rooms (10th floor) for 3 weeks and over a month respectively.

It's one of my top picks in BKK 'cause for the price you get good location, and a room w/huge windows in a proper high rise, not a modified shophouse. wi-fi only works sometimes, but they finally got cable TV sorted when I last stayed in January.

Not sure about joiner fees cause I don't let any one sleep over. What if they snore?!?! :D

I stayed elsewhere on my BKK trip last month - I caught Accor's 50% off sale - But even if the Ibis Sathorn is 50% off I'd probably still pick the Pinnacle - I can't stand to be that far from transportation! :P

I stayed elsewhere on my BKK trip last month - I caught Accor's 50% off sale - But even if the Ibis Sathorn is 50% off I'd probably still pick the Pinnacle - I can't stand to be that far from transportation! :P
Funny you mention that, I stayed at Ibis Sathorn for US$19/night. For a week it was US$133+ tax! Kind of amazing. And excellent WiFi for free. I guess I'd have to recommend the Ibis if they have a 50% off sale. At the regular price (US$45) it's an easy call to choose the Pinnacle. Ibis is about 2 blocks further up the Soi (street) from the Pinnacle so a bit farther, but at half the price I'd choose Ibis.
I will say, though, that I had 1-2 small cockroaches per day at the Ibis last month--and my last stay at the Pinnacle, I had one of those HUGE Thai cockroaches crawl up my leg as I was peeing (!) at like 4AM. Now THAT is a way to wake up!