Chapter Three: Thai Body Massage—A Comprehensive Look Behind the Bathhouse Experience

The Chinese term 'Thai bath' was coined by visitors coming to Thailand for nightlife. Once here, you almost never see those Chinese words outside a venue. Some entrances instead have Chinese signs saying 'large bathroom.' English signs use various names, including Massage and Entertainment. English speakers generally call this industry, in which Thai women massage customers using their bodies, 'body massage.' Some street touts and taxi drivers shorten massage to 'masa.'

In Thailand, these bathhouses are concentrated in Bangkok. Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket have some too, but either there are too few or the service and women's attractiveness are far below Bangkok's. So if you want to try a Thai bathhouse, I generally recommend Bangkok rather than other areas. Within Bangkok, most are concentrated in Huai Khwang. There are scattered venues elsewhere, but some are inconvenient to reach, while others are isolated establishments that aren't worth a special trip.

The service consists of bathing, massage and a happy ending. In earlier days, besides washing customers in a bathtub, women also used inflatable mattresses. Those services require more skill, however, and most Bangkok bathhouses have stopped offering them over the years. If that's what you want, try a Japanese-style massage venue instead. Those have grown increasingly popular as traditional bathhouses have declined; Maria and Black Caviar are about the only bathhouses still particularly busy. Massage itself isn't the main point. Even if the woman massages you briefly, it's usually just a token effort. For a good massage, go to a legitimate massage establishment. As for the final part, you know what that means, so I won't elaborate.

The Basic Procedure and Costs

The price for the woman you choose. Each venue and tier has different prices, from a little over 1 thousand baht to as much as 4W baht, where W denotes ten thousand. During the pandemic, Black Caviar even raised its highest tier to 10w baht for a month—really fleecing customers.

A tip for the manager. Some managers ask for one, but it's your choice. This isn't a required charge; you may give it or decline.

Drinks for you and the woman. The price depends on what you order and the venue's pricing level.

A tip for the woman. Give whatever you feel appropriate based on the service and how satisfied you are.

Thai bathhouses have lost some of their prominence in recent years, and their numbers keep falling. Prices aren't especially transparent, and some managers habitually overcharge customers who don't know the going rates. Consequently, bathhouses are no longer many visitors' first choice. With inflatable-mattress services disappearing and massage often negligible, the experience now mostly consists of bathing and sex. Some women in a hurry may shorten the whole visit to about half an hour. These shortcomings have contributed to the industry's gradual decline.

Thai bathhouses are the easiest entry point into Thailand's erotic entertainment, so I call them the beginner class. You don't need extensive language skills: if you can tell the manager which woman you want, understand the price and know the basic procedure, you can try it. Of course, better communication with the manager and woman can make the experience more enjoyable. The biggest challenge isn't language but choosing someone. How well you can judge personality from appearances depends on your own judgment.

Can You Arrange to Meet Bathhouse Women Outside?

If you visit regularly and get to know someone, does an hour at a time start to feel short? Have you considered inviting her shopping, to a film or a meal, or having her stay overnight like women working in go-go bars? This article covers my own experience.

First, about arranging to leave together: understand that, in Thailand, where money can solve almost anything, plenty becomes possible if you're willing to hand over those banknotes bearing the king. Second, leaving with a bathhouse woman must be agreed with her, so the first condition is getting to know her a little. Ideally, choose her a few times at the venue, or add her on WeChat afterward and chat, so she remembers you.

I usually suggest arranging a private meeting and having her request leave from the venue. At Maria, for example, a woman priced at 12000 baht receives only 6000 baht herself. The venue takes a large share, so it's better to agree with her, have her take leave and pay her separately.

How Much Should You Pay for a Private Meeting?

It varies by person. Take a woman at Maria priced at 6100 baht: she receives 3000 baht per customer and may see around 3 to 4 customers daily. Allowing for tips and the penalty for missing work, a suitable overnight price is 1W baht, meaning ten thousand. Naturally, negotiate according to her tier. If she normally costs 1w2 baht—twelve thousand in that notation—be prepared for a steep quote. Her looks are part of the price; to some extent, you get what you pay for.

Once you've agreed on the nightly price, you can discuss whatever you'd like to do: shopping, meals, films, bowling or spending the day having sex at the hotel. It depends on what you ask of her. Once you know each other better, you can also ask her to take a few more days off and travel outside Bangkok with you.

For women who agree to take leave and spend time with you, it means a reliable income—there's no guarantee of customers at the venue—while you cover food, drinks and accommodation, and may buy gifts too. Unless you're unreasonable, they'll generally agree to such an easy way to earn.

Spending time with a familiar Thai woman can be pleasant, but this is certainly not the cheapest approach. Some start asking for expensive gifts such as phones or gold jewelry once they know you a little. Before doing this, think about whether you can afford it. If she makes excessive demands, keep yourself in check rather than becoming a sucker.

Still, although visiting a Thai bathhouse is straightforward, enjoying your time at a Thai bathhouse can require a few small skills. Below, I'll describe situations you may encounter and how I've handled them from personal experience.