Building your strategy

[Pulci Gorgon]

Numerous experienced members will assert that they embark on their trips without a deliberate strategy. However, the absence of a strategy itself becomes a strategy. These experienced BMs, who have encountered countless ladyboys, may not consciously dwell on it, but upon careful scrutiny of their posts, distinct patterns emerge. Each of them has individual preferences, habits, advice on what to engage in or steer clear of, and more. In essence, they exhibit a strategy, albeit an unconscious one.

I have perused accounts from novice sex tourists, especially on forums dedicated to European shemales. It struck me as incredible when I encountered such errors made by individuals who have journeyed to ladyboys destinations. Nevertheless, the reality remains. I also recall my errors during my initial trips. I recognize that my most regrettable blunders or the experiences that caused me the greatest discomfort were a result of allowing someone else's guidance to dictate my course without tailoring it to my preferences and/or circumstances.

I would sometimesbe approached by individuals who weren't exactly the most astute, lacking a clear sense of how to go about it, and they would share their post-trip failures with me. 
One of them was used to dating Latinas in hotels around European cities, using a local add website. As he tried it again in Phuket, he looked for ladyboys with a Brazilian look in Distintas. (Distintas is an add website mainly dedicated to South American shemales that  has enjoyed considerable success in Spain.) The guy complained about poor advices about Phuket while ladyboys were just waiting in Bangla Road to picked up by a sex pilgrim of his kind. 
Another one was staying in a hotel in a the jungle on Vietnamese island. He needed a good tip to find a ladyboy within 48 hours. I should have told him to fuck off but, as I was a good guy, I gave him a spot with possible freelancers 3 km away from his hotel. The guy never made the effort to push there and check.  

Building a strategy requires you to make efforts to do it. Be prepared to pay even if you want to look for cheap prices and be prepared to make more fforts if you look for cheaper prices. Don't believe a stunning ladyboy will go to your hotel and ring at you room door without looking for one. This doesn't exist, even in our dreams. 

[Pulci Gorgon]

What steps should you take?

A strategy is a blend of your resources (time, budget, personal capabilities), your desires, and the current situation on the ground. A thoughtfully devised strategy is what will lead to your utmost satisfaction during a trip to ladyboys countries. It's the blueprint that will enable you to achieve the pinnacle of contentment, optimize the use of your resources and budget, and honor your desires. One crucial aspect to bear in mind: having your own strategy is paramount as you are the sole arbiter of your preferences.
A forum like this serves as the optimal platform for acquiring information and comprehending the dynamics of the scene. You'll discover numerous posts that delve into explanations about the industry, pricing, customs, individual personalities, service quality, and a plethora of other topics. However, solely relying on a forum isn't enough; you should also explore various other websites disseminating insights about ladyboys. While some of these sites may subtly promote certain venues, you'll swiftly develop the ability to distinguish between impartial information and veiled advertisements. It's worth noting that I dedicate approximately three hours to online research for every one hour spent on the forum. I cannot vouch for the extent to which other members follow the same practice.

Allow me to illustrate a less successful approach. During my visit to the Philippines, I adhered closely to the recommendations put forth by Stealth007. Undoubtedly, Stealth007 possessed an unparalleled understanding of the Philippines, and it's likely that no one has surpassed his expertise to this day. Nevertheless, my experience there wasn't as fulfilling as anticipated. While I initially followed his advice and embarked on a promising journey, I found myself ill-equipped to handle unforeseen challenges that arose. In hindsight, I should have adopted a different course of action.

You will also observe that experienced members are sometimes reluctant to divulge all their insights. Please appreciate that they don't wish to be taken advantage of by mere observers or inactive participants who contribute little effort. Regrettably, some negative forum participants can exacerbate this issue. Therefore, exercise patience and take the initiative to craft your own path forward.

An well known member once shared his travel itinerary on another forum. He had meticulously outlined a Word document detailing dates, destinations, allocated time to look for night bars and contacts with ladyboys, visits to museums, and sightseeing. I attempted to emulate his approach, yet I personally lean towards accumulating information, steering clear of rigid schedules, and making daily decisions based on my priorities—whether it's looking for ladyboys or indulging in tourism.
It’s easy to build a simple strategy when going to Thailand for a first trip. Choose a destination where many people go and decide how to get there. My main difficulty during my first trip was summoning the courage to leave the airport despite the signs written in Thai characters that overwhelmed me with panic. Thankfully, I had jotted down a few notes on a scrap of paper and knew that my next step was to descend and catch a Bell bus going to Pattaya. I can only imagine the predicament of those who didn’t plan their first move and ended up overspending on a 130 km taxi ride.

If you're financially comfortable and know you can afford travel, accommodation, and expensive ladyboys and bars, building a strategy might not seem necessary. I even know a member who seems impervious to budget constraints and probably spent money to visit Pattaya bars with a wingman and paid double for drinks. But if you're budget-conscious, consider that there might be a way to trim expenses to align with your financial means.
It's easy to save money on local transportation, accommodations, and dining in Thailand. The key is to steer clear of individuals who may insist on pricey long-distance taxis, upscale hotels, and gourmet restaurants.

[Pdoggg]

I'm not even sure where to begin so will just mention a few unrelated points.

Some planning ideas:

Find out what the bar scene is like in the city that you'll be visiting.

Find out which dating apps are most popular in the country you will be going to.

Find out what the street scene is like.

Find out what the massage scene is like.

Find out where ladyboys congregate such as morlams, all night beach volleyball etc.

See if you can find some other mongers to show you the ropes.

If you find a girl that you figure you'll want to see again then make sure to get her phone number or Line ID.  OTOH, if you doubt that you will want to see her again don't swap contact info as repeated texts from someone you don't want to see cn be annoying.

Depending on your budget and streetwise social skills figure out some ways that might work for you.

In Pattaya, the easiest but perhaps not the cheapest path is the bar scene.  If paying double means an extra 1000 baht then that might be a meaningless amount to some guys but quite significant to others.   

 

[Pulci Gorgon]

@Pdoggg : you anticipated my next few posts, but I would have probably said it differently. 

As above posted, a monger with pockets full of money and/or social skills doesn't really advises. He will use his skills and/or purchasing power to get what he wants to get. 

At the beginning, I used to look for the bar scene first, but I found out that was useless in my case since I prefered freelancers. So a monger who prefers freelancers (ladyboys not working for a business) better go straight to freelancers if this is possible. In Thailand, more particularly in Bangkok and Pattaya, many freelncers can be found around areas with bars, but also in malls and other places.  Bars may not be readily encountered in many other cities where ladyboys can be found easily. 

Before choosing, I would divide p4p active ladyboys in 2 categories : those working in businesses such as escort agencies, bars, massage places and others. A monger should expect a higher price when dealing with businesses. The second category is freelancers. They can be ladyboys working as bar girls but looking for customers  after their bar's closure, ladyboys who prefer to work alone, ladyboys who accept a date (and money) once in a while or all kind of non sex professional ladyboys. 
You will find all the above categories in Pattaya, but be prepared to act more subtly if you go to Si Sa Ket for any reason. I'm mainly thinking of this newby who complained of prices in a Bangkok bar. If he hasn't been to Thailand yet, he can look for freelancers in Soi 4 Nana, Soi 3, Sukhumvit but also use Thaifriendly and Wechat. He can go to Pattaya to find ladyboys of all kinds for first experiences. 

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See if you can find some other mongers to show you the ropes.

But be careful of these guys willing to be your wingman. Just because they are English doesn't make them more honest or more commendable than Asians. Parasites operate with hidden intentions, and be cautious of advisers. A proverb from my country states that those who advise are not the ones who pay. 
The one person who showed me ropes was a ladyboy. She showed me how to travel to remote provinces, find cheap hotels and bars. I also discovered how she took advantage of the situation and had decided to take corrective actions. 
Always remember that you must keep your situation under your control at any time and don't let either Thai or farangs use you to have their own fun. 

[Pulci Gorgon]

Dating websites and Apps in Thailand

I recently learned that paid dating websites aren't necessarily focused on facilitating genuine connections. Instead, their intention often seems to be to keep users feeling frustrated in order to entice them to purchase more services. With that in mind, let me briefly touch upon two well-known dating platforms:

Badoo: I hadn't used this app for years, but I gave it another try earlier this year after reading positive feedback from The-Sith about its quality. However, my experience left me disappointed. Rather than being able to explore interesting profiles, I was bombarded with various prompts to pay for additional features and to enhance my profile. Consequently, I opted to delete my new profile.
However, I remember having hooked up a lovely siren in Phuket using Badoo a few years before Covid.

Tinder : I had a different impression with Tinder. It only provided possible matches with women and excluded non-binary individuals. I had tried it in a ladyboy country quite a few years ago and had been disapointed. As I tried again in myhome country this year, local women depicted themselves as accomplished individuals leading seemingly perfect lives, yet still in search of love. The underlying intention here is quite transparent. If you're accustomed to using Tinder (or Badoo) in your country, it might serve you well. However, if not, I would suggest considering other options.

 

Thaifriendly : Thaifriendly is the website to use in Thailand. You will never see such a complete data base of users in Thailand, particularly ladyboys. You can select in your search criteria either men, girls or ladyboys (or girls and ladyboys). You can also filter your profile visibility for instance, you have the possibility to block (or allow) 5 kinds of profiles : males looking for females, males looking for males, females looking for males, females looking for females or ladyboys.
You can upgrade your account (from $9.99 / month for one year to $24.95 / month) to get more possibilities (see below). The main disavantage if you’re not a premium member is that you need to wait for 10 minutes after sending a message to post another one. However, ladyboys are used to it and know how to bypass the rule.
Mongers estimate that 90 % or more of the ladyboys registered in Pattaya or Bangkok are either bar girls, escort girls or freelancers. In Thai provinces, ladyboys working in bars in Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket are easy to find and meet during their holidays.
Thaifriendly has something more. Once you created your profile, you can upload the App in your smartphone and use it to hook up or be hooked up by ladyboys in teh city you’re visiting.

 

 

Thaiflirting : Thaiflirting is a website with just as many features as Thaifriendly. However, I've only managed to have sporadic contacts on this site. I think one can find more ladyboys looking for long term relationships. I get the sense that registered users get discouraged fairly quickly and don't return. In short, Thaiflirting is somewhat of a Thaifriendly competitor that hasn't succeeded and is barely getting by in its routine.

Wechat : some of you will be surprised that I mention Wechat as a dating App. It’s been very popular in Bangkok and it had been my best tool to date ladyboys the last time I visited Pattaya. Needless to visit a bar and feed the owner with all kind of royalties. I would just sit in a restaurant and select my evening partner using my « radar » in Wechat. It’s easy to proceed (in Android, turn the location function on, they in Wechat, select « discovery » then « people nearby ». If you do it in Pattaya, you will see mainly ladyboys. It’s also very easy to locate ladyboys in malls in Bangkok.
Last but not least, if you try in HCMC, you won’t locate girls as you might believe but their pimps.

I didn't post about paid dating websites dedicated to Asian countries or to ladyboys although a few of them might be interesting. If any member of this board wants to add something on such a a website, please feel free to post. 
 

I also omitted a few more websites dedicated to dates in other Asian countries. I will post about them later. 

[Pulci Gorgon]

Messengers.

 

Let’s deal with messengers first. You can download all of these messaging apps from Google Play or the Apple Store.

 

  

Line developed by Softronic Corporation in Japan, is a prominent messenger. Over the years, they have created other apps around Line, but the core functionality remains the messenger. The key takeaway is that Line stands as the most popular choice among ladyboys. Previously, it seems that Thaifriendly moderation used to censor Line IDs posted in members' profiles. However, ladyboys often share their Line IDs during initial contact to circumvent the 10-minute rule.

 

WeChat is a widely recognized Chinese messenger. In China, it functions both as a messenger and a social network. However, what's particularly interesting for us is that WeChat serves as both a messenger and a search engine for finding people nearby (as mentioned in the above post).

 

WhatsApp is another messenger occasionally used by ladyboys. The primary distinction between WhatsApp and Line lies in the fact that your WhatsApp ID is linked to your phone number, whereas your Line ID functions as a username that you personally create. WhatsApp is also commonly used by Pinoy ladyboys.

 

When crafting your profile on TF or setting up your Line account, it's recommended not to employ the same name as you use on LBR, and ideally, avoid using the same name on both Line and TF platforms.

 

 

Viber is another messenger used by Pinoy ladyboys.

 

 

A few more dating sites

 

Pinalove is a the sister website of Thaifriendly used by Pinoy people. Before Covid19, the website was full of ladyboys and I just needed to log in to start getting contacts. It seems to be more quiet since the pandemic.

 

Vietnamcupid is another sister website of Thaifriendly. Vietnamese ladyboys seem to ignore it since I had found only 3 old ladyboy profiles in the website.

 

DateinAsia used to be a great website for dating, especially before Pinalove was created. In the 2000’s male users started complaining that ladyboys were posing as girls. However, ladyboys had to choose between declaring either as males or as females. I noticed the number of ladyboys had significantly decreased. However, DIA might be a solution in countries other than Thailandor the Philippines. Oyoy.com is the sister website of DateinAsia.

 

Pornwebsites : Thai ladyboys porn websites used to provide their models contacts. Then they restricted the possibility to paying members. Be aware that ladyboys often change their Line account so datas become rapidly out of date.

 

TS-dating is a website that encompasses ladyboys from countries all over the world. In my attempts to utilize it in Asia , I noticed that ladyboys were either boastfull or posing as «international escorts» they asked for prices of a supposed international market with higher prices. I discovered that those messaging in correct English just used Google translate. So, I preferred to used Google translate (an App you should have in your phone too) to search the local market.

 

[Dan Miller]

Mighty interesting posts @Pulci Gorgon, especially for newbies a big help.

Some personal opinions about Messengers: In Asia, Line can't be missed. The same goes for WhatsApp in Europe. The others like WeChat (just leave that for the Chinese) and Viber (for me basically obsolete) I don't use. Be aware that a lot of people also use Facebook Messenger or Instagram as Messenger-medium.

When it comes to dating websites, I've used Tinder and TF in the past. Without a doubt, these were the best if you ask me. Badoo keeps sending unwanted emails, so stopped that quite quick. I lost my interest in TF when they started to hide popular accounts, to lewer you into upgrading you account. In the end I also quit using Tinder, since there are so many girls available in bars and on the streets that I don't see the necessity for online 'support'.

But I realise it can also be an 'age' thing. The older I get, the more I dislike the use of online applications for mongering. Nothing beats meeting a girl IRL outthere and hook up spontaneously. But I assume younger guys don't have the patience, or simply choose the 'easy' way. Because one can't deny it's very convenient having a girl knocking on you door within minutes when using online apps.

[Pulci Gorgon]

15 hours ago, Dan Miller said:

Mighty interesting posts @Pulci Gorgon, especially for newbies a big help.

Some personal opinions about Messengers: In Asia, Line can't be missed. The same goes for WhatsApp in Europe. The others like WeChat (just leave that for the Chinese) and Viber (for me basically obsolete) I don't use. Be aware that a lot of people also use Facebook Messenger or Instagram as Messenger-medium.

When it comes to dating websites, I've used Tinder and TF in the past. Without a doubt, these were the best if you ask me. Badoo keeps sending unwanted emails, so stopped that quite quick. I lost my interest in TF when they started to hide popular accounts, to lewer you into upgrading you account. In the end I also quit using Tinder, since there are so many girls available in bars and on the streets that I don't see the necessity for online 'support'.

But I realise it can also be an 'age' thing. The older I get, the more I dislike the use of online applications for mongering. Nothing beats meeting a girl IRL outthere and hook up spontaneously. But I assume younger guys don't have the patience, or simply choose the 'easy' way. Because one can't deny it's very convenient having a girl knocking on you door within minutes when using online apps.

I concur with your perspective, although not completely. Badoo and Tinder appear to be overly commercialized platforms, and they might not fully cater to those of us seeking connections with ladyboys.
Line predominantly thrives in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and Indonesia. While I haven't used it outside Thailand, I've noticed that it's the favored application among Thai ladyboys.
I also share the sentiment about Viber's slightly dated nature. I uninstalled it from my smartphone years ago as I no longer needed it with Pinoy ladyboys. I was almost ready to take the same step with Wechat when a ladyboy I met in Cambodia (That would be a long story) advised me to "play Wechat." That's how I stumbled upon the "people nearby" feature.
Tonight, I found more than 100 messengers in Google play. Not all of them are used by ladyboys but I couldn’t ou didn’t want to mention all of them.

You PMed me why it’s so easy for you to find ladyboys in Bangkok bars but I created this topic for those who hope there might be other solutions. However, I suggest you try to hook up a ladyboy with Wechat and another one using Thaifriendly App when you have time during your next trip. They can be very usefulle when bars must remain closed. It can be an opportunity for you find a gem.

 

I would like to add a few more tips when using Thaifriendly and Line.
As above mentionned, I recommend not to employ the same name as in forums. (I also recommend to filter who can see your profil. Our world of mongers has strange people (especially in a place one of us calls PY) and it’s better to protect your anonymity.
It’s recommended not to target a ladyboy or a couple of ladyboys. Its a common mistake of newbies to look for a porn performer they found exciting in a video then, they waste time to find her. Most of the times the ladyboy is 5 to 10 years older, is no longer in p4p or no longer attractive.
It’s also better to avoid contacting a ladyboy when you’re at home in your farangsland before departing. Ladyboys have a strange perception of time and distance but not only. They are harassed by daydreamers or mongers who will never meet them. Bars are full of ladyboys typing on Line instead of taking care of their customers. Last but not least, some ladyboys will ask you to send them money when chatting with you and the whole discussion will turn an argument. So keep your contacts to use them during your trip.

 

Social networks

Instagram : I never received any response to contact requests sent to ladyboys. However, I sometimes used instagram to find photos.

Facebook : I closed my Facebook accounts twice when I heard what they do with our datas, but I opened a new profile before covid. After contacting a lady and asking if she is a ladyboy, I was banned from Facebook. I couldn’t create a new profile despite I had cleared all my cookies and used a VPN. When Facebook contacted my to create a new profile, I declined.

Twitter : meanwhile I had created a profile in Twitter and I used it. Twitter can replace Thaifriendly in countries where there is no such dating website. In every page after the profile header, Twitter (or X now) proposes «who to follow». When I’m looking for ladyboys in a country, I’m proposed another 3 ladyboys, then again and again till a list is exhausted. Then I can be proposed GG’s profiles, ladyboys profiles that I was already proposed or ladyboys profiles in other countries.

Weibo : I'm still looking for th ekey to create a profile. Everything made in China was designed to be complex for foreigners. 

 

Finding other information is like a war : the end justifies the means. In many places, I sometimes found information in travellers’ blogs «we found a ladyboy on the beach and had fun watching him trying to seduce my boyfriend …), but also websites like expedia (this hotel is a brothel, this is where ladyboys prostitutes working in the neighbourhood go with their clients) or whatever type of website mentioning ladyboys. If you’re lucky, you will find webpages like this one : Thailandredcat.  About half of the information was out of date when I used it before covid but it’s very helpful to find ladyboys where most of the mongers daren’t look for them.

[Pulci Gorgon]

In conclusion, building a strategy turns out to be quite straightforward as long as you are following the guidelines. It's about identifying the checkboxes to fill in: businesses (bars, escort agencies, massage shops), dating sites, location for street action and and any other opportunities. You need to have a clear direction in mind. While certain opportunities may signal quality to some mongers, they can be perceived as indications of higher prices and potential scams by others. Don't be fooled by locations or practices that you should have foreseen before arriving there.

Reading the forum is a part of the job but you should also spend time looking for other information in other websites as indicated in my above post. It’s easier to decide after you optimized your information. So many mongers are used to declare they always go to the same bars in Pattaya but they turn out to be completely overwhelmed when it comes to finding something better elsewhere or stopping going around in circles.

During what some of us see as a "golden age," there were budget-friendly bars and ladyboys spread across Bangkok and Pattaya, so mongers didn't really need to plan a strategy. But the differences in living standards between Thailand and Farangslanss have narrowed significantly, making ladyboys less attractive. This led many bars and ladyboys to reevaluate their prices and practices, causing some mongers to quit, which then impacted the ladyboys business (notwithstanding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic).
Those who think ahead and plan their strategy can adapt to new situations, while those who stick to their old ways might get lost. Don't be fooled by people offering unsuitable advice; just find a way to follow your own path.

If you think that bars are generally costly, you look for ladyboys in Thaifriendly or street freelancers, but above all, youcan also mix your time between bars ladyboys in the street or in dating website. You are likely to meet the same ladyboys doing multiple jobs or business. Moreover, you can go to places where finding ladyboys is not so easy but also less expensive than in Bangkok. After a couple of trips you will perhaps go ladyboys hunting to Thai provinces and why not to other Asin countries where there is no bar or no maasage shop or even no tolerance for street prostitution. You will then add more green spots to this map.