Bar/Girl/Friend

Post by **niggle** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:08 am

There I was sat sitting and pondering...
There are not many hotels in Thailand that are not "girl friendly" (I have only come across one).
So when does a bar girl become a girlfriend and is 'acceptable' to the hotel ?
Any relationship starts on one day, so if you meet a girl, next day again and its obviously there may be more in it, is that girl then your girlfriend? after all she may be your future wife
Suppose you stay at a hotel a week or so, is the same girl refused entry on day 1 also refused entry on day 7?
Just thought it would be interesting to hear opinions and experiences on this.
Would be interesting to get the views of any hoteliers who operate a "no ladies from the town may be brought into the hotel' rule

Post by **johnnyk** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:17 am

Thais have a 6th sense about who 'work bar'.

Personally, I wouldn't stay at a place that didn't allow a GF or two. Pretentious places full of stuffy falangs wearing polyester leisure suits and white shoes aren't for me.

Post by **lomuamart** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:23 am

I've only ever come across it once here and that was at a BKK hotel. My g/f, now wife, was allowed to stay the night under sufferance because I'd booked the place in advance from the UK and informed them by fax that the g/f would be staying with me. Naturally she had her ID to confirm her name.
I don't think there are problems if you can show you're married. Twice last year, I stayed at The Dynasty Inn in BKK and they do have an open door policy, but the girls have to leave their ID cards at reception and don't get them back until you say it's OK. That's designed for your and your valuables' safety. I explained that my companion was my wife and again her changed ID with my surname bore that out. No problem.
I'm guessing here, but I imagine that a hotel that is not girl friendly wouldn't allow a woman to stay with you unless you proved she was your wife?

Post by **Tony_S** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:31 am

My friend stayed in the Ambassador on soi 11 BKK...he took a girl back 1st night (not bar girl) and had to register her name at reception. The next night he took a different girl (a friend of my date..again not from a bar) and they made him pay 600 baht !!! The funny thing was the girl was too shy to do anything and slept in her underwear lol

He never stays there anymore and I tell evryone to avoid the place. Most other hotels in that area are 'girl friendly'

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:13 pm

A couple of years ago me and Mrs.T (who is Thai) stayed in the 4 Wings hotel in Soi 22 (?) Sukhumvit BKK

We were there for a wedding reception of a pal of mine. We were also amongst some other farang couples.

The night after the wedding we went out for dinner, returning to the hotel around 10pm.

As we walked through the lobby to the lift, some over zealous heap of 5hite approached us and demanded that my wife show her I.D.

I of course knew what and why the idiot was asking. I explained quietly that we were married and had both checked in the day before and asked him to quietly go away.

The prick insisted on making a scene which Mrs.T did not like.

I then demanded to see the duty manager and also demanded an apology.

Said prick apologised to me - I told him that it was not ME that he should apologise to. He should apologise to my wife.

He clearly did not like doing this - after all - losing face and then apologising to a woman - deep 5hite - but reluctantly did so.

When we got to the room, Mrs. T asked why I had made such a fuss!

Anyway - it seems that a lot of these hotel flunkies are pre programmed to do this.

T.I.T.

Post by **crazy88** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:36 pm

I have come across this prejudice quite a few times when travelling with friends and also myself .Many places write off most Thai ladies with a farang as working or retired prostitutes .Some even charge a room supplement if you are staying with a Thai lady . Personally i find farangs worse than thais for making these assumptions and in any case what does it matter whether the lady works as a bar girl or an astronaut or a chartered accountant ? I take PEOPLE as I find them and never prejudge and find it a shame that many others do not .

Crazy 88

Post by **Wanderlust** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:42 pm

crazy88,
I think the main reason for hotels doing this, as has already been said, is that it is quite common for 'incidents' to occur - either theft or some argy bargy - so they are mainly doing it to protect the guest; the problem comes when the staff are too stupid or lazy to check or realise that it is a genuine couple or not. In some ways the hotels that have a blanket ban on 'guests' are probably a better place for genuine couples to stay, but as Terry has said the prejudice is still there among staff.

Post by **crazy88** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:49 pm

Well done T

That,s pretty much how I handle those situations .My neighbour with the beard handles them a little differently .Some idiot farang made inappropriate comments to my partner and before i could diplomatically make my point he was wearing every drink on the table and a couple of plastic chairs !

Crazy 88

Post by **niggle** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:50 pm

Presumably these pricks would also ask if a western man and woman are married !!
Always best to check discreetly with reception first or book a doublle room and tell them your friend is joining you later I guess

Post by **Lung Per** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:15 pm

Tony_S wrote:My friend stayed in the Ambassador on soi 11 BKK...he took a girl back 1st night (not bar girl) and had to register her name at reception. The next night he took a different girl (a friend of my date..again not from a bar) and they made him pay 600 baht !!! The funny thing was the girl was too shy to do anything and slept in her underwear lol

He never stays there anymore and I tell evryone to avoid the place. Most other hotels in that area are 'girl friendly'

The Ambassador Hotel on Soi 11 in BKK is my favorite. It is conveniently located, close to a Skytrain station, and with Nana's Place within walking distance. If I know in advance that I will have someone with me, I pass that information when booking and I never have a problem. If you arrive alone and subsequently bring a girl to your room, the concierge will take her ID for safekeeping for the duration of her visit. When the girl leaves, the concierge calls the room to check that everything is OK before returning the ID to her. I pay a charge of THB 200 for that service, and I tip generously. IMO this is an excellent service for the safety and security of the guest. By the way, the 6th floor was recently beautifully redecorated. All rooms on that floor have new furniture and new bathrooms. Non-smokers only.

Post by **crazy88** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:43 pm

Wanderlust

I fully understand your point and the reasons for hotels maintaining certain restrictions .It is the implementation of such policies by staff that are "programmed" rather than trained that causes offense on occasion .If a single man checks in alone and several hours later falls out of a taxi at reception with a giggling lady trussed up like a christmas turkey sporting more gaudy makeup than the entire sioux nation with a half empty bottle of sangsom in her handbag then I guess the assumption that she may be a bar girl is understandable .Approaching the subject of hotel policy in a discreet and respectful manner is all that is required .Something that some are not capable of it would appear .There again I have stayed in decent hotels where getting a sandwich with no butter or tomatoes appears to be beyond the capabilities of 25 waiters and 40 kitchen staff .

Crazy 88

Post by **niggle** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:09 pm

Anyway, back to the OP
When does a bargirl become a girlfriend - (when you stop paying her ?) never stop getting the hand in the wallet for woman married or not!

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:18 pm

In my experience, I've never had a problem when you turn up at the hotel reception and check-in with your Asian partner, suitcase in hand after getting out of you car or taxi. I've never been asked if we're married and we normally use my partners ID as it's usually easier to hand than my passport. The problems must arise when you check-in alone and then come back with a 'guest' later.

Post by **Dawebo** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:31 pm

the only place in Thailand where I have experienced a problem was at the Dusit here in Hua Hin. It was about 7 or 8 years ago that I stayed there. They would not allow a guest under any circumstances even if we offered to leave their ID card at reception. This was very embarrasing when one evening I did take a girl (not from bar) back, especially as it was a long drive out of town to get there, and then she was refused entry. Suffice to say, I've never stayed there since.

Post by **Big Boy** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:51 am

STEVE G wrote:In my experience, I've never had a problem when you turn up at the hotel reception and check-in with your Asian partner, suitcase in hand after getting out of you car or taxi. I've never been asked if we're married and we normally use my partners ID as it's usually easier to hand than my passport. The problems must arise when you check-in alone and then come back with a 'guest' later.

My experience as well. So long as your lady checks in with you - never a problem.

Having said that, I had exactly the same experience as Terry at the Mountain View Hotel in Pattaya. I dealt with the problem in exactly the same way as Terry.