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Author: Andy Burrows

Well known for its sex tourism industry which has been thriving since US soldiers flocked here in the 1960s on their breaks from the Vietnam War, Pattaya is a notorious entertainment hub. Aside from the beach, most visitors are drawn here by the vibrant and raunchy nightlife, with many establishments catering to gay customers.

The gay nightlife is centred on the area known as Pattayaland, where the lanes are lined with go-go bars and pubs as well as a handful of nightclubs. Away from this area are yet more gay bars, massage parlous for men and cabaret shows, all of which are popular among gay travellers.

If you have just arrived, a good introduction to Pattaya gay nightlife is to take in one of the highly rated cabaret shows, with Alcazar and Tiffany's drawing the most customers. Everything you need to know about Pattaya The performers are all kathoey, or ladyboys, and for the most part are exceptionally beautiful. If you would rather get closer to a kathoey than watch them dance on stage, there are plenty of friendly bars with kathoey waitresses.

After the show, head for Pattayaland's Walking steet, one of the most famous go-go bar stretches. Soi 3 is devoted to gay entertainment and the bars here have plenty of cute boys working out front to entice you inside. The bars vary, but what they have in common is an army of staff waiting to converse with you (and more). Some of the bars have male dancers which you can take home with you at the end of the night, for a fee, of course.

The best way to find a bar you like is to sample a few until you get a taste of the Pattaya nightlife. Some places will encourage you to buy the boys drinks, while others are more relaxed and have pool tables and sports screens. There are also Thai males working freelance in the streets who you can invite to join you for a drink or at your hotel.

In essence, Pattaya's gay bars do not differ that much from the girlie bars. Customers are not obliged to do anything more than have a drink, but you will find some establishments more pushy than others. If you find a guy you like, it is standard etiquette to agree on a price before you leave the bar, should the guy agree to accompany you.

But Pattaya is not just for guys - lesbians can have a great time here too. Although there is a distinct lack of bars aimed at lesbians, there are plenty of friendly tom girls, or dee, in regular nightclubs and bars. Pattaya's go-go bars are also open to women and couples, so lesbians can enjoy watching women dancing in the same way as male customers, though they should expect to be in the minority. Online guide book Pattaya Many of the women in these bars work as prostitutes and are happy to service women as well as men.

Among the more popular Pattaya gay bar hangouts are Boyz Boyz Boyz on soi 3 Pattayaland, where the dance floor sees a mix of foreigners and Thai locals get up close and personal after the nightly boys show. Throb/Splash nightclub opposite the popular 'gay' hotel Le Café Royal also gets a good gay crowd and is a fun place to hit if you are looking for late-night moves and grooves. Also in Pattayaland, Panorama is a lively gay bar popular for its happy hour.

If you come to Pattaya looking for a long-term gay relationship, you may leave disappointed. Many of the young Thai guys and girls work in the industry for money only, and a high percentage are not even gay. If you just want to have a good time and party, Pattaya can satiate your needs. There is of course a seedy side to the resort and the bar scene here is not for everyone.