Patpong, Bangkok

first - the taxis. dont get into a taxi in Thailand without first ensuring that the driver is prepared to put his meter on. Then ensure that he agrees to take you where you want to go. then get into the taxi. otherwise - you are in for a lot of arguing to get him to take you where you want to go. ifs it not metered - expect to be ripped off. once th taxi starts moving - check the meter to make sure it is on - we had one guy fail to turn it on. when i picked it 5 minutes later - he tried to pretend it was broken and wanted to "negotiate" a price. it was only when I began to open the door to get out of the taxi that he miraculously managed to "fix" the meter.

second.. stick to your destination. they all want to take you somewhere else - so they can get a kickback. ie. we wanted to go to patpong road - he took us to so dark nightclub in a back alley. it was only when we refused to get out of the taxt (dark alley at night.. 5-7 thais hanging around near nightclub entrance) that he took us to patpong road.

he also tried to have us believe that we needed to pay 700 baht each entry to this nightclub - entry is free

Unique Suggestions: ok.. so we got to patpong rod - many many touts on the street trying to get us to go into their nightclub.

first - we avoided those nightclubs with solid looking closed doors - I want to be able to get out as easily as I go into a place.

second - on 2 occasions - guys grabbed my arm to try and drag me into a club. it was only when I shrugged them off very energetically that they back off. dont go there unless you are prepared to be grabbed and resist.

3rd. guys follow you - when you enter a place - they try to get in front of you so they can pretend they have brought you in - and qualify for a kickback from the club - me...I dont like being used.

4. drinks are high priced - but there is no cover fee. we bought a drink each. we didnt want any more drinks - and had to be very firm - they backed off. be assertive or be ripped off.

Fun Alternatives: the ping pong show is worth seeing.. once. not much else on offer. allow an hour - the worthwhile bits are a few minutes long - interspersed with a lot of boring swaying - cant qualify as dancing.

see the darts and other interesting acts as well.

make sure you have correct change for taxis. very hard to get correct change back if you tender a higher denomination bill

thailand is a beautiful and friendly place - expect for the taxi drivers - they let the country down!

HAVING VISITED PATPONG NIGHT MARKET SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND MOST OF THE TIME ENJOYED AND GOT SOME BARGAINS.I WAS DISSAPOINTED JULY 2007 WITH THE MARKET TRADERS STARTING PRICES HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT A WATCH, BELT,T SHIRT ETC SHOULD BE SELLING FOR THERE STARTING PRICES WERE TO HIGH AND VERY DIFFICULT TO BARGAIN DOWN TO A FAIR PRICE.

Unique Suggestions: ONLY NEGOTIATE FOR AN ITEM WHEN YOU REALY WANT TO BUY IT. THIS WILL SAVE YOU A LOT OF WASTED TIME

Fun Alternatives: IF YOU ARE IN BANGKOK AT THE WEEKEND MO CHIT WEEKEND MARKET IS THE BEST MARKET I HAVE SEEN IN THAILAND MUCH BETTER PRICES ALL THE LOCALS SHOP THERE.

Patpong is a strange place . I remember it being lively in the early 80's but now it is just for tourists and shoppers. For those on a sex trip I recommend care if you go to one of the upstairs bars.
If you are buying stuff check out the prices elsewhere, Pattaya, Chiang Mai will be cheaper.

Fun Alternatives: way too many markets to mention . (the weekend market has been spoilt with the arrival of the skytrain and metro).
for sex travellers try the areas off Sukhumvit

Well Patpong didn't change much over the years, just as sleezy as ever..but worth a visit..Why not sit in a Go Go bar and have a beer...It is only double the price of a beer down the street!! lol...But at least you can say you were there..

Unique Suggestions: Actually..i bought a really nice pair of shoes here..the nicest ones i bought on the whole trip..

we were told by some who've been to bangkok, that we have to see the famous shows in patpong..otherwise, if we've never been to patpong, we've never been to bangkok...so off we went...we were a bit "HUH?!" when we entered the patpong road..as you walked thru it, you could already see the bikini-clad ladies dancing around the pole..but heck, we wanted to see the "real" show..we were approached by a man, and guided us to a bar upstairs..as we entered, the show was ongoing..the man left and asked for 20Baht, we paid.then a group of bikini-clad girls scampered to our table and started putting their glasses..and i started to doubt that we would be made to pay...and i had to raise my voice and vehemently told them to get the glasses out of the table..we had to buy a coke for each of us, (well it's a must that u order a drink) that costs 100baht. to sum it all up, we were made to pay 500baht each and that was after a heated "NO, NO MONEY" .we stayed for about 5minutes, we got scared that if we stayed longer, we'll be robbed off with our money....

Unique Suggestions: if you have to go to patpong, just walk through it....unless you want to spend your money on some senseless show

Fun Alternatives: better enjoy the nightlife at suanluum night bazaar..there's a show held there and there are lots of food stalls, the food is cheap...we paid 40baht for rice with pork already...

Dont buy anything at Patpong Market, its a good experience but the traders know you are tourists and over charge for everything !! Go the the MBK centre oppositie Siam skytrain stop which has all the same stuff on 7 floors for half the price ! Apprently this is where the locals go for their "designer" stuff !!!!

Unique Suggestions: Just keep walking !! Look but dont express an interest they follow you !! And if you ask for a cab and the bloke walks off to get the driver...just hail another one ! We waited ages but no one came !!

Fun Alternatives: Take the Sky train to siam, the MBK centre is over the road, there are 7 floors of market at fixed prices, and there is also a food hall, its busy at times and open till 10 every night, but if you dont like to haggle this is the place to go !

well ppl ... the ppl selling things in patpong are overcharging u!!!! especially to eurpoeans!!!!.
my friend brought the same t-shirt for 220 thai baht and i got it for only 99baht in chatucha.!!!!!!!!
i believe that even in MBK they are selling cheaper than patpong.
juz remember that for a pcs of t-shirt outside is selling for only abt 100 to 170 thai baht. don get cheated by them. if they don give you that kind of price try somthing like `buy 2 pcs for 240 thai baht.`
for metal watches don buy from them if the price is higher than 590 thai baht.
jeans
example a copy desiel jean
don get it if price above 550 THAI BAHT.

Everybody talks about Patpong Nightlife -- the shopping and the go-go bars.

I didn't go there this time round because the last time I was there, it was enough for me.

My last trip there a few years back made me quite upset.

I found the stall holders there very brusque and pushy -- don't even look at their wares if you're not interested in buying. Also there are many touts along the Patpong strip that will entice you to go into their bars. Most of these feature bar-top dancing with some of the dancers looking barely into their teens.

Unique Suggestions: If you do have to come by here, be careful to be prepared for what you see.

And I don't think it's a place for children to be at.

Fun Alternatives: If you have to walk at a night bazaar, I suggest the Suan Lam Night Bazaar at Lumphini Park (pronunced as "loom-pee-nee").