I might add another one. As a Sailor for 20+ years I felt it was important to "Not get drunk". Have a few, have some fun. However, when you loose your "situational awareness" you are opening yourself to making bad decisions both in the bar and out.
It's easy to be over served. Especially when you put the time change, dietary change to eating habits and excitement of the moment. Order a whiskey on the rocks. Sip at a slow pace.. No one is counting.
Great Tips not just for Thailand but can be useful for Philippine Bars as well. At one bar in Angeles Walking Street, the girl asked if she could drink milk which was fine by me she was happy and I was happy. One of the Mammasan out of three would send over a free drink not every time I was in the bar but was always welcome, more to spend on the girl if I were to have one later in the evening. A few times when a vendor would come into the bar selling candy or peanuts I would ask for a mixture for the girls to enjoy, this might also be why that one Mamasan would send the odd free drink over. Treat them with respect and they return that with respect for you.
As stated: I have personally experienced and noticed that tips are being shared amongst all the staff....which BTW I think is the right attitude. C'on guys....You fly to Thailand for fun: Share 1% of your fun with others too..it's the right thing to do...
Hey I have enjoyed most the mistakes I have made in a go go,'s😂 Great advice once again Trev. Just to add, when you walk in, take a moment to have a look around and decide if you really want to stay? You can usually judge the atmosphere very quickly. If not, walk out and try another place. I keep an eye on my tap and pay it periodically. I would much rather start a new one and be in far better control of my spending. As for the ladies, if you see one that catches your eye whilst dancing, try and signal to her or ask the server to talk to her. That way when she comes off the stage she will have a decent amount of time to have a drink with you before her next shift dancing. And totally âgée that what she drinks is up to her. Even if it is just orange juice at lady drink prices. I would much rather interact with a relatively sober person than one who may pass out at any second. There is another Pattaya blogger (no names mentioned) who goes on about this as if they are somehow ripping you off. I far prefer your take. Lastly if the same server has looked after me well in the evening, a lady drink for her never goes amis. They work hard and be great fun too if treated right.
Thanks, mate. I'm in Pattaya now, and while I'm not a newbie, I do look for good tips on how to improve my experience. Good to see things up and running again after Covid.
Good advice here. I personally took a book from the bar girls myself. I have small wrist bands (2 colors, 1 for me and 1 for them), and I move them from my right to left wrist to keep an accurate tally of drinks bought. The movement is subtle and if they ask, I tell them that's how I know where I'm at - they know your no newbie either. Many girls will do this system as well...
Very sound advice, my days of using AGG's for pick ups are past but this is very helpful. My comments on some subjects are:- Draft Beer, most places especially AGG's do not know what pipe cleaning is so often the draft beer is "rancid" plus the size of glass you get makes it no different cost wise to a bottle and then "glass cleaning" not just in AGG's leaves a lot to be desired. I am wary of the Mamosan advice but totally agree about the "sit down" scenario and the "ladydrink" advice along with the "bin check" and "tipping" as well as all your other points, great advice. Loved the overlay vids.*****
Good vid Trev , I’ve been going to Thailand over 20 years never had any dramas and I think the most important thing is to be just nice , keep your witts about you and don’t think you are better than them and there’s no better place on earth
Awesome video, mate. I get the beer bar and gentlemen club concepts, but the gogo's were a kittle bit of a mystery to me before. This really helped. Especially the suggestion of how to decline an unwanted person sitting with me.
I am going to add something to this vlog i believe its best practice not to run up a bill pay it as the rounds are delivered to the table like you will not be staying... it really is not a problem and it does keep you and them above board... L.A Rob
I took the first step and listened to you advice about working in Thailand and accepted a job doing cad cam dental design work remotely. I can do it anywhere in the world. Thanks for the motivation!
Some of the Go Go bars I've been to in Pattaya were too dark and noisy and couldn't here myself talk. I would often sit outside to give my ears a rest, then I realised a small gem, most of the girls would come out also and have a smoke and play with their phones. This way I also got to see them in proper light and could have a chat with them if they wanted to without yelling.
Some of the comments here🤣 look around you if youre in a western country...ffs youre in funtown with some of the sexiest girls in the world and yeah they wear makeup
I'm here in Angeles City Philippines, the "rules" apply to both places. Has been a long time since I been there, I sometimes wish I'd fallen for a Thai girl rather than a Pinay....c'est la vie.....in my next life I MUST remember that!!!
great video and so true - being clear on expectations with her is key as is keeping the mama-san on side and not speaking thai in the gogo bars and showing you are not a cheap skate which is important. Wear original clothes good quality/personal cleanliness/aftershave dont look like a tramp or buying pints on the happy hour otherwise they wont go anywhere near you . Never take videos or photos in gogo bars under any circumstances and you are likely to end up in the local accident and emergency after a good kicking and you will be banned from possibly your favourite bar
I try and pay every 4th drink. I was ripped a new one on my first trip, 7.5k bin in an hour. I can drink but that was something else. Never made that mistake again.
Thanks for the vid Mr. Trev as always awesome tips. I hope I can apply it on my second trip to Thailand. I'll be more wiser for the second time around.
Well said. Commenting as someone who has lived in TH for over 3 decades, and either owned businesses in or managed others in several tourist destinations in TH, I agree with everything he has said. His most important words of advice were just pay and walk away, always be polite, and stay sober. Like anything, know the rules and follow them. You are a guest in someone else’s country and you may think there are no rules because of what you are seeing all around you, but that is not the case.
Once in the Philippines I asked the Mommasan what HER bar fine was...she laughed, gave me a great big hug, and bought me a drink. She loved me. :) These girls are working, but you have to treat them with respect, and they will love you for it. You can have a great time in Pattaya, but don't get drunk and watch your money (only carry what you plan on spending that night). I was a wide-eyed young man the first time I was in Pattaya, and could not believe all the cat-calling--"Hey, sexy man...come sit with me!" :) Great channel, and great videos!
@@Jimmy911ism That isn’t what this is about. Imagine going to a house of ill repute and instead of picking one of the working girls, you approach the house mother and ask what SHE is doing. It is a compliment, saying that she is as desirable as any of the younger girls. That is why she laughed and hugged me…she took it for the compliment it was. 😎👍
@@Bsquared1972 ah! You were asking the bar fine for her. The old 'pretend you think the mother is the sister trick'. Kidding. The scene doesn't sound much fun - I'd rather pay a bar fine and take a girl to another bar, where there's no pressure on me to buy drinks at a fast rate.
good advice Trev. Helps getting tips from a person who has been there a long time. Keep up the great vloggs. I certainly miss Patts. I can't believe it is exactly 2 years since I have been there. Hopefully 2022 will be the comeback year and that bar owners can survive until the tourists get back.
Good advice for newbies and I hope they listen to you. Best point whether beer bars or a gogo make friends with the mamasan as she will always look after you if your an ok person. Regarding the girls memories , yes unbelievably, I was away from the Pattaya bar scene for 5 years when with ex, after splitting from her couldn’t believe the amount of girls that remembered my name Anyway great video as always, take care Trev and hope too see you at your bar in January .
Funny enough, I don't ever plan on going to Thailand but I know two guys who went and both got into trouble there. This episode helped me understand the sort of issues they could have gotten into. Lol. Cheers from New York!
Bonus point - Avoid barfining multiple girls from the same bar. I made this mistake a few years ago when picking up one, then a week later coming back and going with a different one. Despite it being a business, the girls are quite territorial and jealous and don't want others going near their customers. Like you say about the excellent memories, they will recognise you and generally if you come back, they will try to be with you again. Even though my first girl ignored me all night (which is why I went with another), she kicked off at the second when we left and almost got into a full blown fight. Plus it marks you out as a butterfly and they will gossip about you. It just isn't worth it. Stick to 1 girl per bar and if you want a different girl, don't return to that bar for a few months when your original girl will have inevitably moved on. Theres enough bars and bargirls in Pattaya that you could have a different one every night for the rest of your life and thats not factoring in the staff turnover. To tie in with this, avoid barfining girls from your favourite/regular bar or it could just be awkward. Want a girl, go to a bar where you aren't a regular.
Great video ... the only thing I would say is that I DID learn very simple Thai things like "yes please", "hello", "no thank you" and "can I have the bill please" and that was it ... most of the time, they were happy that I tried. There is no way I would try to have a conversation in Thai, because, like you said, it would end up with me looking like a complete pillock hahahaha
To give my American friends a scale to work with: 100 Baht = $3.00 300 Baht = $8.50 500 Baht = $14.00 1,000 Baht = $28.00 3,000 Baht = $85.00 5,000 Baht = $142.00
@@Buzzinpattaya so the 800-1000 baht amount you gave as a bar fine... only around $30 to take the girl out of the bar? Really? Do you have a video on bar fines? I've got a feeling it's crucial if you're after some action.
Excellent advice, especially the bit about the idiots who get up on the stage and start dancing thinking they are the first people to do it. Something that also makes me cringe are the guys who walk in and not buy a drink but walk around the stage examining what’s on offer before leaving. So disrespectful.
Great presentation. Since I have a lot of experience in Thai go-go bars, I will add a few things. 1. some mama-san really push you to pay the bar fine for the first girl you paid for a drink right away. Living Doll was best known for this and I avoided it, despite having very beautiful dancers. 2. some dancers come to you alone and demand that you pay for their drink. When you reject them, they become very primitive. 3. some dancers are extremely jealous of those dancers who I paid for a drink. She came over and literally interrogated me why I didn't pay for her drink as well. When I still didn't want to pay for her drink, she became very primitive. Some mama-san help the customer and surround the dancer. Some also support her in her behavior. 4. I paid a lot of drinks and bar fines for the dancer 4 times. But the next time I paid for another dancer's drink, but not her, she attacked me physically: punched me in the face and cried hysterically. Luckily, I knew a lot of other dancers who explained the situation to mama-san because the guards were already looking at me aggressively. Thai security guards love to beat up foreigners 5. some young westerners get very drunk on it in the go go club. I came to the club and having lived in Pattaya for a year I practically knew all the dancers and staff. When one of the dancers came to greet me from a drunk young man, the young man tried to physically attack me because he did not understand that she was not his fiancee. Fortunately, the fight was stopped by the staff. Even if you are a trained fighter, never get into a fight! According to Thai law, you get expelled from the country and for many years you are banned from entering even if you only defended yourself in a fight. 6. many dancers are very active in the club with you and act extremely horny. But when they come into the room, they completely change, they act tired, uninterested, all of a sudden it bothers them, ... they want me to get tired of her and send her home. In the beginning, when I was still naive, I went back to the club with such a dancer and complained to Mama-san. Mama-san replied that she knows the dancer very well and knows that she is ok, but I am not. When I asked for my money back or another girl to exchange, the guards came and I was very lucky that they didn't attack me. I never went to that club again. 7. when you pay the dancer for a drink, she usually introduces one or two more friends. She tells you they are her sisters, which they are not. If you are naive, you pay for their drink too, and the next time the waitress comes, all three want you to pay for their drink again. Many people are ashamed to say no. 8. gratuity. If you tip a dancer 100 baht on the first day, she will remember it and ask for the same or more the next time. I remember one time when a dancer came up to me in a club all horrified and said, "I don't know what I did wrong. My friend came 4 times in a row and always ended up tipping me 1000 baht. Today only 100". She was completely devastated. This applies to all Thais, the same thing happened to me at the hotel reception. I tipped 100 baht once and the receptionist wanted the same every next day. When I said that he should respect that I gave him once he said that I certainly think that he is as rich as I am, but he is very poor. 8. Of course, not all dancers are bad girls. Not at all. You just have to be careful to avoid the bad ones. In go go clubs I met very beautiful, sexy, really horny and very honest dancers. I am still in contact with some of them today through Facebook. Well, 10 years have passed since my 2-year stay in Pattaya. These girls and women come from farms. Some come with very clear goals and in ten years of working in a go go club build a big house for themselves, their children and their parents and, if they are lucky, marry a foreigner richly. Those who do not marry a foreigner take care of their business when they no longer work in the go go. I met a girl who worked in go-go as a dancer from the age of 18 until she was 38. She is a great woman and I learned a lot from her.
🤔….excellent advice! (as usual I might add). Certainly the two key principles that apply in a GoGo bar (and really this applies in pretty much any entertainment venue in Pattaya & similar areas)… 1) Always be polite & respectful to the girls and the staff; and 2) Always keep at the top of your mind, “This IS indeed a business”….really truly understanding this will enhance (not detract) from your ability to have a great time!
This is a business!!! Excellent point!! Check the bin every time just to keep them honest. I always make friends with the mamason. In fact I am still facebook friends with several of them. It does pay to know people. As far as a tip, I always give it directly to the girl who has been serving me. They remember you. Buying them a drink from time to time is a good thing too. I have also bought drinks for the "Hello Girls" too. Bar fined a few hello girls and they were great too. But, it is still a business.
Hotel and flights are booked for songkran..lk empress here I come (literally)..and you know what..it’s vlogs like yours that’s bringing me back..cheersmate
Great advise Trev - my best advise is to make friends with the Mamasan buy her a drink, treat her nice, give her a tip - generally she'll look out for you
A lot of points Trev that brought back memories of my initiation into Pattaya 😁 But a very worthwhile one about the Mamasan and Security, going back quite a few year s I was a frequent visitor to FLB in Walking St, really enjoyed the live band and the company. Got on well with the Mamasan and Security by buying a few drinks and was always looked after.
Your tips are a valuable resource for me upcoming trip, thank you very much for taking the time to school us. Should you pay for the drinks as you get them or wait until the end? For those of us that are not big drinkers, how long should you wait before bringing up the subject of BF and ST?
My first drink in an agogo bar is always a draft beer. I do this incase I don't want to stay or nothing catches my eye. If I decide to stay I always tend to move onto bottles or spirits.
I like the videos but I also like the videos where you just sit and talk because I download the audio and listen to them at work. Good work, I remember watching during the pandemic. Lucky enough to get back there last month.
I hear your point, but me, I don't drink spirits, all I drink is beer. Every time I've gone into an agogo, I've never had a problem with girls coming up to me or finding some company. Maybe I'm just lucky. But great video and great points. I've been to Thailand 4 times now, heading back in March 2022.
Some more tips: Do not go to early in gogo bar if you want to make party. The girls need some time to "warm up" every day. Some girls are only working as dancers and never(or rarely) go with customers. So if you interested in bar fining a girl ask how much the bar fine is before spending many lady drinks to your favorite girl. Also ask early how much she wants for short time or long time. When entering an unknown gogo take some minutes to look for the available girls before you sit down and order a drink. If there is no girl in which you are interested just leave - there are a lot of gogo bars and the next one is normaly only a couple of meters away - so no need to spend time and money in such a gogo bar. Do not limit yourself to walking street. There are some really good gogo bars in the small Sois near walking street and also in the Soi LK metro. And don't be shy in a gogo bar ...
Not so sure about that, remember going early, the girls locking the door and me with my pants down playing who can suck the dick best, cost me a fortune BUT !
Great advice as usual👍 I always buy the Mamasan a drink, in some they will sit and have a couple if it’s quiet daytime. Always get the VIP treatment when busy and the girls treat me better. once went in a local agogo with a mate who is a bit nieve believes his wife is not like my and my mates blah blah. He fancied the head waitress. We clubbed up and slipped her a good few baht if she gave him some attention . She was all over him🤣 he kept insisting he was a sexy man and did not need to pay for it🤣 we were all mugs! Loving the channel must get back soon.
The thing about buying the mamasan a drink is, the next time you return, they will expect you to buy them drinks again. Same with the girl you are sitting with when she says, "This is my best friend, can you buy her a drink too"?
Great video Trevor! I remember the moment you decided you were moving to Thailand. Lol. I sure miss those days, and I am so proud of you for doing so well in all of your many endeavors there!
Great topic Trevor..would be helpful to do a video about do's and dont's and what to expect in a gents club if you could please. Thanks for the great content.
In Hawaii "Buy me drinky bars", as we locals would call it. (Korean, Japanese, Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese and Local mix).Very Diverse in Hawaii (Oahu). -Strip Bars in Hawaii run about $40US Lady drinks..(normal), Bottles service Depends$$ -Karaoke/Hostess Bars $20US ladys,$40US Doubles shots. -Other Bars sports/Karaoke Bars $10US or Top shelf gets ridiculous. And hearing you say $160-$180 THB, Under $5US for a Lady drink in Thailand, that's Music too my ears and Wallet.. lol And yes, the girls need too water down the drinks to survive this type of Business. It's Understandable. I enjoy you taking the time to educate us men for future heartbreaks and headaches in our future travels,, Appreciate it brother Mahalo!!
I went to a strip club in Vegas one year for my buddy's Stag, we were there most of the night. I dropped about $750 for the evening...but let me tell you...what a night...well worth it!
Great tips Trev for us never/and 1st timers going to agogo, how about touching on the other side of the coin in meeting Thai women, for dare I say it a relationship, etc......Peace mate....
When I was in the military in the PI we had a guy go to a bar. He got into an argument with a bar girl The argument got heated. She slapped him He slapped her back. He got beat down by 5 locals. Then the police dragged him to jail. The judge ordered him to pay $2000. The ship was leaving in 48hrs So we passed the hat
As a Marine, I have had to contribute to the hat fund often…lol. But that can happen anywhere really, including CONUS. Most of the time it was to help one of the guys that lost half his pay for 3 months or 6 months, we’d all kick in and cover his loss from the NJP.
This is so much fun watching your chanel, especially the topic about the "client's" expectations later in the hotel. I had a blast. Your witty comments are honest and on point. Would really love to spend some time with you in Pattaya and do some bar-hoppin. Hoping this or next year. Keep up the good work.
Draft beer in gogo bars is generally rancid at best. But its good to have a quick one to check out the talent, then upgrade to a decent beer if you decide to stay.
I used to work in Thailand and lived in Pattaya during 2000/2001, 2004/2005 and 2011 to 2015. So based on my experience this is a good video with lots of sound advice for the inexperienced. One thing to note is that nobody in their right mind goes into a go go bar to listen to the music!
Mate I’ve been friends with a few mamasans for a long time now and they are a great asset! We’d often go into their spots and order a feed in and keep the mammas fed!! And if there’s one certain way to keep a Thai female in your corner!! Feed em haha!! Quality point of law mate.
Another good tip (avoiding the bar fine extended lol), give your number to the girls u like, if they have nobody at the end they will ring / message u ;) lol
@@kohchangtai7820 its not extra hassle its just extra, several times I have given numbers out to girls in the past, more often than not I would BF but sometimes I would be still shopping late and seeing nothing I fancy then the phone would ring asking if I am alone and if can come over, its a win win.... ;) UP 2 U lol
Top tip Alert!! When in the Ago go never ever make small talk with the lady who just plonks herself next to you and asks for drinks….Just say “no thank you” or ignore her….she will soon get the hint your not interested and will move on…….You have the power to pick the lady you like so don’t let the lady pick you otherwise it won’t end well…I’ve experienced it myself 555. Take your time and look about, if you like the look of a lady observe her for 30 minutes to see what she does! If she is flitting around various tables with a lady drink on each you should avoid…..If a lady takes your fancy and she hasn’t displayed the above traits, call her over, buy her a drink and if you enjoy each other’s company then progress………..
@@selvmortsydd been to Thailand lots of times mate! Just trying to help people avoid the mistakes I made by sharing my experiences…and save them some money….555
thank you for the valuable information. Just what I needed. Also, really nice presentation. One question on drinks. Since I usually don''t drink alcohol I was wondering how that would be perceived. Does that also mark you as a cheap charlie? And regarding lady drinks: What would be a reasonable amount to spend if you don't want to be rinsed but also don't want to come off as too cheap?
When you get the bill don’t pay with a 1,000 baht note or if you do make sure you tell the girl ‘this is a 1000 baht note’. This is especially important if your bill is say 75 baht. So many times I’ve seen blokes get screwed, they get 25 baht back and claim they gave them 1000 baht note, but change for a 100. You can’t prove it, you’ll get mad, make a scene, then get dragged out by the security goons.
Good advice mate 👍 first time I went in agogo 5 years ago I was invited to go with 5 girls from Kilkenny bar to one in LK, they looked after me, it was fun. When I went out by myself in walking street for first time I was like a magnet with no idea what was going on, I got rinced in nearly every place I went in 😬😂. I learnt from experience 😂
Great advice, I would add one thing, before you go out, bathe, use deodorant and cologne, most of the girls don't care if you're fat and/or ugly, but if you stink the price tends to go up. Yes, I do speak, read and write Thai and lived in Pattaya for many years, many girls told me this in various bars.
As someone who's been going to Thailand for years.... this advice is quite sound. I'd say there are big differences between the likes of Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket though when it comes to lady drink pressure.... It's one of the reasons I'm not a huge fan of Phuket agogo's. Love Pattaya though
So many guys get confused. Just never build a tab. Always pay up one drink at a time. If you don’t do that I guarantee you will have a problem someday. You HAVE to pay. If you argue you’re in trouble.
I was in Sattajip as a GI (and it was my last year in the service) at the R &R base. Innocent times compared with today. Pattaya was where the officers went, actually. So thanks for the view of a place I couldn't afford back then.
I might add another one. As a Sailor for 20+ years I felt it was important to "Not get drunk". Have a few, have some fun. However, when you loose your "situational awareness" you are opening yourself to making bad decisions both in the bar and out.
Fair one mate
"Situational awareness": A well defined and very appropriate term I've learned describing the tipping point of "having drank to much" (or not)...👏👏
It's easy to be over served. Especially when you put the time change, dietary change to eating habits and excitement of the moment. Order a whiskey on the rocks. Sip at a slow pace.. No one is counting.
I Agree! All my Dumb decisions involve alcohol.
Or being robbed blind.
0:19 I’ll be in Pattaya during February 2024. Hope to meet you, my friend. Thanks for all the priceless advice!
Nice one mate thank you and look forward to meeting you
I bought a drink to the mamasan once at Skyfall, she ended up buying us drinks afterwards! So yes great advice!
Nice one
Great Tips not just for Thailand but can be useful for Philippine Bars as well. At one bar in Angeles Walking Street, the girl asked if she could drink milk which was fine by me she was happy and I was happy. One of the Mammasan out of three would send over a free drink not every time I was in the bar but was always welcome, more to spend on the girl if I were to have one later in the evening. A few times when a vendor would come into the bar selling candy or peanuts I would ask for a mixture for the girls to enjoy, this might also be why that one Mamasan would send the odd free drink over. Treat them with respect and they return that with respect for you.
Nice share mate thank you
As stated: I have personally experienced and noticed that tips are being shared amongst all the staff....which BTW I think is the right attitude.
C'on guys....You fly to Thailand for fun: Share 1% of your fun with others too..it's the right thing to do...
Gotcha
Great show as usual Trevor, a lot of information in this one and you're right about playing the long game, well worth the effort.
cheers mate
Hey I have enjoyed most the mistakes I have made in a go go,'s😂
Great advice once again Trev. Just to add, when you walk in, take a moment to have a look around and decide if you really want to stay? You can usually judge the atmosphere very quickly. If not, walk out and try another place.
I keep an eye on my tap and pay it periodically. I would much rather start a new one and be in far better control of my spending.
As for the ladies, if you see one that catches your eye whilst dancing, try and signal to her or ask the server to talk to her. That way when she comes off the stage she will have a decent amount of time to have a drink with you before her next shift dancing.
And totally âgée that what she drinks is up to her. Even if it is just orange juice at lady drink prices. I would much rather interact with a relatively sober person than one who may pass out at any second. There is another Pattaya blogger (no names mentioned) who goes on about this as if they are somehow ripping you off. I far prefer your take.
Lastly if the same server has looked after me well in the evening, a lady drink for her never goes amis. They work hard and be great fun too if treated right.
Great shout mate
Good way of looking at it....I'm somewhat the same, especially if the girls are actually fun
Thanks, mate. I'm in Pattaya now, and while I'm not a newbie, I do look for good tips on how to improve my experience. Good to see things up and running again after Covid.
Have a great time mate, all the best
Good advice here. I personally took a book from the bar girls myself. I have small wrist bands (2 colors, 1 for me and 1 for them), and I move them from my right to left wrist to keep an accurate tally of drinks bought. The movement is subtle and if they ask, I tell them that's how I know where I'm at - they know your no newbie either. Many girls will do this system as well...
Fair play mate
Very sound advice, my days of using AGG's for pick ups are past but this is very helpful. My comments on some subjects are:- Draft Beer, most places especially AGG's do not know what pipe cleaning is so often the draft beer is "rancid" plus the size of glass you get makes it no different cost wise to a bottle and then "glass cleaning" not just in AGG's leaves a lot to be desired.
I am wary of the Mamosan advice but totally agree about the "sit down" scenario and the "ladydrink" advice along with the "bin check" and "tipping" as well as all your other points, great advice.
Loved the overlay vids.*****
Nice one mate
Good vid Trev , I’ve been going to Thailand over 20 years never had any dramas and I think the most important thing is to be just nice , keep your witts about you and don’t think you are better than them and there’s no better place on earth
Thanks for sharing mate
Awesome video, mate. I get the beer bar and gentlemen club concepts, but the gogo's were a kittle bit of a mystery to me before. This really helped. Especially the suggestion of how to decline an unwanted person sitting with me.
Thanks mate
Best way I found as a manager of bars with drunks dancing on the stage, you want to dance? You have to ring the bell, works everytime 😁😁😁
Haha nice tactic
Costly dance lol
Awesome once very helpful for when i plan my trip✌️✌️✌️
Welcome mate
It’s absolutely brilliant you provide this information. You probably have saved millions of dollars over all your blogs.
Thank you so much for such kind words much appreciated
Good job again, Tre. Certainly a young man’s survival guide. A very important message for all.
Haha cheers mate
in my limited experience, Mamasan is definitely worth getting to know.
Really great advice. 🙂
Never hurts to have her as a friend
I am going to add something to this vlog i believe its best practice not to run up a bill pay it as the rounds are delivered to the table like you will not be staying... it really is not a problem and it does keep you and them above board... L.A Rob
Good shout mate
I took the first step and listened to you advice about working in Thailand and accepted a job doing cad cam dental design work remotely. I can do it anywhere in the world. Thanks for the motivation!
Fantastic
Perfect tips! 100% agree. I have seen people get in big trouble just for refusing to pay a 100 Baht beer
Thanks mate
I have personally walked in and out of several bars without buying anything until I was happy with the one I finally chose.
Exactly talk with your feet
Some of the Go Go bars I've been to in Pattaya were too dark and noisy and couldn't here myself talk. I would often sit outside to give my ears a rest, then I realised a small gem, most of the girls would come out also and have a smoke and play with their phones. This way I also got to see them in proper light and could have a chat with them if they wanted to without yelling.
Yeah I know what ya mean
@@DaUloi Yes as the girls though attractive do wear a tonne of makeup which is evident when out in the light :-)
@@DaUloi ladies like the war paint
@@nsmith3143 as long as they are women and not undercover men.
Some of the comments here🤣 look around you if youre in a western country...ffs youre in funtown with some of the sexiest girls in the world and yeah they wear makeup
I'm here in Angeles City Philippines, the "rules" apply to both places. Has been a long time since I been there, I sometimes wish I'd fallen for a Thai girl rather than a Pinay....c'est la vie.....in my next life I MUST remember that!!!
Cheers
great video and so true - being clear on expectations with her is key as is keeping the mama-san on side and not speaking thai in the gogo bars and showing you are not a cheap skate which is important. Wear original clothes good quality/personal cleanliness/aftershave dont look like a tramp or buying pints on the happy hour otherwise they wont go anywhere near you . Never take videos or photos in gogo bars under any circumstances and you are likely to end up in the local accident and emergency after a good kicking and you will be banned from possibly your favourite bar
well said mate
good information and tips. theres always a newb somewhere versus a pro.
Indeed
Trevor...You are are simply a classic 👌 ! WELL DONE with ALL your valuable contributions via several forums the past few years 🤪
Cheers mate much appreciated
You can also pay the bin every couple of drinks so that there is no dispute
Wise mate
I try and pay every 4th drink. I was ripped a new one on my first trip, 7.5k bin in an hour. I can drink but that was something else. Never made that mistake again.
I pay one drink at a time. I don’t want ANY chance of a bar tab misunderstanding.
Great advice for not only the newbies but the old hats too. 👍👍
Thanks mate
Thanks for the vid Mr. Trev as always awesome tips. I hope I can apply it on my second trip to Thailand. I'll be more wiser for the second time around.
Cheers mate
Many thanks for your videos, this will help me immensely when traveling to Thailand.
Welcome mate
Well said.
Commenting as someone who has lived in TH for over 3 decades, and either owned businesses in or managed others in several tourist destinations in TH, I agree with everything he has said. His most important words of advice were just pay and walk away, always be polite, and stay sober.
Like anything, know the rules and follow them. You are a guest in someone else’s country and you may think there are no rules because of what you are seeing all around you, but that is not the case.
Thank you and thank you for sharing your experience
Once in the Philippines I asked the Mommasan what HER bar fine was...she laughed, gave me a great big hug, and bought me a drink. She loved me. :) These girls are working, but you have to treat them with respect, and they will love you for it. You can have a great time in Pattaya, but don't get drunk and watch your money (only carry what you plan on spending that night). I was a wide-eyed young man the first time I was in Pattaya, and could not believe all the cat-calling--"Hey, sexy man...come sit with me!" :) Great channel, and great videos!
Nice one
What's the problem with asking how much the bar fine is? Is it disrespectful?
@@Jimmy911ism That isn’t what this is about. Imagine going to a house of ill repute and instead of picking one of the working girls, you approach the house mother and ask what SHE is doing. It is a compliment, saying that she is as desirable as any of the younger girls. That is why she laughed and hugged me…she took it for the compliment it was. 😎👍
@@Bsquared1972 ah! You were asking the bar fine for her. The old 'pretend you think the mother is the sister trick'. Kidding.
The scene doesn't sound much fun - I'd rather pay a bar fine and take a girl to another bar, where there's no pressure on me to buy drinks at a fast rate.
Great tips and advise... thanks for taking time to make this video.
very welcome mate thank you
good advice Trev. Helps getting tips from a person who has been there a long time. Keep up the great vloggs. I certainly miss Patts. I can't believe it is exactly 2 years since I have been there. Hopefully 2022 will be the comeback year and that bar owners can survive until the tourists get back.
Thank you
Good advice for newbies and I hope they listen to you.
Best point whether beer bars or a gogo make friends with the mamasan as she will always look after you if your an ok person.
Regarding the girls memories , yes unbelievably, I was away from the Pattaya bar scene for 5 years when with ex, after splitting from her couldn’t believe the amount of girls that remembered my name
Anyway great video as always, take care Trev and hope too see you at your bar in January .
Thanks mate and yeah they have incredible memories
Nice insight ,I have been to Thailand many times and have truly never been in agogo bar and from what you are saying I never will...lol
Definitely worth going in one time just to have a look yourself but just be ahead of the game
Funny enough, I don't ever plan on going to Thailand but I know two guys who went and both got into trouble there. This episode helped me understand the sort of issues they could have gotten into. Lol. Cheers from New York!
Welcome mate
Your friends probably got too drunk and thought they were being ripped off, I see that a lot. I've never had an issue
Thanks for explaining tipping! That's the biggest question I had.
Welcome mate
Excellent tips and information. Can’t wait to go back and see all the changes…..the good ones and the bad ones 5555
555
Bonus point - Avoid barfining multiple girls from the same bar. I made this mistake a few years ago when picking up one, then a week later coming back and going with a different one.
Despite it being a business, the girls are quite territorial and jealous and don't want others going near their customers. Like you say about the excellent memories, they will recognise you and generally if you come back, they will try to be with you again. Even though my first girl ignored me all night (which is why I went with another), she kicked off at the second when we left and almost got into a full blown fight.
Plus it marks you out as a butterfly and they will gossip about you. It just isn't worth it. Stick to 1 girl per bar and if you want a different girl, don't return to that bar for a few months when your original girl will have inevitably moved on.
Theres enough bars and bargirls in Pattaya that you could have a different one every night for the rest of your life and thats not factoring in the staff turnover.
To tie in with this, avoid barfining girls from your favourite/regular bar or it could just be awkward. Want a girl, go to a bar where you aren't a regular.
indeed they do mate
What if you barfine them both at the same time?
Great video ... the only thing I would say is that I DID learn very simple Thai things like "yes please", "hello", "no thank you" and "can I have the bill please" and that was it ... most of the time, they were happy that I tried. There is no way I would try to have a conversation in Thai, because, like you said, it would end up with me looking like a complete pillock hahahaha
Nice one
Some great tips for everybody. Thanks
Cheers mate
I’m very grateful for this video because I’m planning on visiting for the first time very soon. A lot of good information and thank you
very welcome mate
Great video and overview. Though you have a casual approach to commentary, I think all your content is really well organized. good stuff!
Cheers mate
To give my American friends a scale to work with:
100 Baht = $3.00
300 Baht = $8.50
500 Baht = $14.00
1,000 Baht = $28.00
3,000 Baht = $85.00
5,000 Baht = $142.00
Thanks for that
@@Buzzinpattaya so the 800-1000 baht amount you gave as a bar fine... only around $30 to take the girl out of the bar? Really?
Do you have a video on bar fines? I've got a feeling it's crucial if you're after some action.
I took a girl out of a bar for 300 baht. But that's just to the bar, you gotta pay them for sex on top
Excellent advice, especially the bit about the idiots who get up on the stage and start dancing thinking they are the first people to do it.
Something that also makes me cringe are the guys who walk in and not buy a drink but walk around the stage examining what’s on offer before leaving.
So disrespectful.
Good shout on that mate
Where I'm at the Korean punters are famous for doing that!
Great presentation. Since I have a lot of experience in Thai go-go bars, I will add a few things.
1. some mama-san really push you to pay the bar fine for the first girl you paid for a drink right away. Living Doll was best known for this and I avoided it, despite having very beautiful dancers.
2. some dancers come to you alone and demand that you pay for their drink. When you reject them, they become very primitive.
3. some dancers are extremely jealous of those dancers who I paid for a drink. She came over and literally interrogated me why I didn't pay for her drink as well. When I still didn't want to pay for her drink, she became very primitive. Some mama-san help the customer and surround the dancer. Some also support her in her behavior.
4. I paid a lot of drinks and bar fines for the dancer 4 times. But the next time I paid for another dancer's drink, but not her, she attacked me physically: punched me in the face and cried hysterically. Luckily, I knew a lot of other dancers who explained the situation to mama-san because the guards were already looking at me aggressively. Thai security guards love to beat up foreigners
5. some young westerners get very drunk on it in the go go club. I came to the club and having lived in Pattaya for a year I practically knew all the dancers and staff. When one of the dancers came to greet me from a drunk young man, the young man tried to physically attack me because he did not understand that she was not his fiancee. Fortunately, the fight was stopped by the staff. Even if you are a trained fighter, never get into a fight! According to Thai law, you get expelled from the country and for many years you are banned from entering even if you only defended yourself in a fight.
6. many dancers are very active in the club with you and act extremely horny. But when they come into the room, they completely change, they act tired, uninterested, all of a sudden it bothers them, ... they want me to get tired of her and send her home. In the beginning, when I was still naive, I went back to the club with such a dancer and complained to Mama-san. Mama-san replied that she knows the dancer very well and knows that she is ok, but I am not. When I asked for my money back or another girl to exchange, the guards came and I was very lucky that they didn't attack me. I never went to that club again.
7. when you pay the dancer for a drink, she usually introduces one or two more friends. She tells you they are her sisters, which they are not. If you are naive, you pay for their drink too, and the next time the waitress comes, all three want you to pay for their drink again. Many people are ashamed to say no.
8. gratuity. If you tip a dancer 100 baht on the first day, she will remember it and ask for the same or more the next time. I remember one time when a dancer came up to me in a club all horrified and said, "I don't know what I did wrong. My friend came 4 times in a row and always ended up tipping me 1000 baht. Today only 100". She was completely devastated. This applies to all Thais, the same thing happened to me at the hotel reception. I tipped 100 baht once and the receptionist wanted the same every next day. When I said that he should respect that I gave him once he said that I certainly think that he is as rich as I am, but he is very poor.
8. Of course, not all dancers are bad girls. Not at all. You just have to be careful to avoid the bad ones. In go go clubs I met very beautiful, sexy, really horny and very honest dancers. I am still in contact with some of them today through Facebook. Well, 10 years have passed since my 2-year stay in Pattaya. These girls and women come from farms. Some come with very clear goals and in ten years of working in a go go club build a big house for themselves, their children and their parents and, if they are lucky, marry a foreigner richly. Those who do not marry a foreigner take care of their business when they no longer work in the go go. I met a girl who worked in go-go as a dancer from the age of 18 until she was 38. She is a great woman and I learned a lot from her.
Thanks for sharing mate
🤔….excellent advice! (as usual I might add). Certainly the two key principles that apply in a GoGo bar (and really this applies in pretty much any entertainment venue in Pattaya & similar areas)…
1) Always be polite & respectful to the girls and the staff; and
2) Always keep at the top of your mind, “This IS indeed a business”….really truly understanding this will enhance (not detract) from your ability to have a great time!
Thanks for sharing!
This is a business!!! Excellent point!! Check the bin every time just to keep them honest. I always make friends with the mamason. In fact I am still facebook friends with several of them. It does pay to know people. As far as a tip, I always give it directly to the girl who has been serving me. They remember you. Buying them a drink from time to time is a good thing too. I have also bought drinks for the "Hello Girls" too. Bar fined a few hello girls and they were great too. But, it is still a business.
well said mate
really great insights, mate; greatly appreciated. Thank you very very much ... :-)
My pleasure!
You are legend and a saviour!
Am just me mate
Hotel and flights are booked for songkran..lk empress here I come (literally)..and you know what..it’s vlogs like yours that’s bringing me back..cheersmate
Enjoy mate
One of the best breakfast buffets in my opinion. They change the main dishes daily.
Excellent video and you are so correct with everything, been there done it and got the tee shirt, for newbies this is an excellent video Trev.
Thanks mate
Great advise Trev - my best advise is to make friends with the Mamasan buy her a drink, treat her nice, give her a tip - generally she'll look out for you
Thanks mate and yeah keep the boss onside
Really like your videos and insights. Keep them coming!
Thank you mate much appreciated
Good information 👍🏻
Thank you
A lot of points Trev that brought back memories of my initiation into Pattaya 😁
But a very worthwhile one about the Mamasan and Security, going back quite a few year s I was a frequent visitor to FLB in Walking St, really enjoyed the live band and the company. Got on well with the Mamasan and Security by buying a few drinks and was always looked after.
Thanks mate
what a great video. Going early next year, want to sus out the bar life a bit, this is invaluable
Have fun!
Your tips are a valuable resource for me upcoming trip, thank you very much for taking the time to school us. Should you pay for the drinks as you get them or wait until the end? For those of us that are not big drinkers, how long should you wait before bringing up the subject of BF and ST?
Thanks mate and pay as you wish
allright so summing up 90% common sense 10% decency .. and you good ;)
Thank you
Unfortunately common sense is not as common as it used to be ha ha 😎
@@TitoTimTravels can't argue with that :)
My first drink in an agogo bar is always a draft beer. I do this incase I don't want to stay or nothing catches my eye. If I decide to stay I always tend to move onto bottles or spirits.
Nice shout mate
I like the videos but I also like the videos where you just sit and talk because I download the audio and listen to them at work. Good work, I remember watching during the pandemic. Lucky enough to get back there last month.
Cheers mate
I know a lot of this but I have no problem with a refresher course. I also forgot or learn a few things/👍
cheers mate
I hear your point, but me, I don't drink spirits, all I drink is beer. Every time I've gone into an agogo, I've never had a problem with girls coming up to me or finding some company. Maybe I'm just lucky. But great video and great points. I've been to Thailand 4 times now, heading back in March 2022.
Same. I only drink spirits when I’m home our in my hotel, I try to not get drunk while out especially when I’m looking for company.
@@telluhwatboy Smart move!
Cheers mate and welcome back
Good Tips thanks for the Honest Video :)
Any time!
I'm an oldie living here. Lot's of great advice Trevor.
Cheers mate
Thanks for the tips Trev, never having been to Patts this will help keep me out of trouble and able to enjoy to the max
Always welcome.mate
Fantastic advice Trevor.
Thank you
Very educational.... Thanks mate
Glad you enjoyed it
Some more tips:
Do not go to early in gogo bar if you want to make party. The girls need some time to "warm up" every day.
Some girls are only working as dancers and never(or rarely) go with customers. So if you interested in bar fining a girl ask how much the bar fine is before spending many lady drinks to your favorite girl.
Also ask early how much she wants for short time or long time.
When entering an unknown gogo take some minutes to look for the available girls before you sit down and order a drink.
If there is no girl in which you are interested just leave - there are a lot of gogo bars and the next one is normaly only a couple of meters away - so no need to spend time and money in such a gogo bar.
Do not limit yourself to walking street. There are some really good gogo bars in the small Sois near walking street and also in the Soi LK metro.
And don't be shy in a gogo bar ...
Great shout mate thank you
Not so sure about that, remember going early, the girls locking the door and me with my pants down playing who can suck the dick best, cost me a fortune BUT !
And always play hard to get , l always do ! 🤣😂😄
Why can’t you be shy in a gogo car 😦
thanks for the info it will be a great help when I come there to enjoy
Welcome
Everything you've mentioned is spot on. I've experienced it or seen it. Listen to Trevor everyone. Word to the wise.
Thanks mate
Great advice as usual👍 I always buy the Mamasan a drink, in some they will sit and have a couple if it’s quiet daytime. Always get the VIP treatment when busy and the girls treat me better. once went in a local agogo with a mate who is a bit nieve believes his wife is not like my and my mates blah blah. He fancied the head waitress. We clubbed up and slipped her a good few baht if she gave him some attention . She was all over him🤣 he kept insisting he was a sexy man and did not need to pay for it🤣 we were all mugs! Loving the channel must get back soon.
Mamasans are always good to have as friends
Always buy mamasan a drink. I usually stay in the same place for the evening so being on good terms with mamasan makes it a good night.
100%
The thing about buying the mamasan a drink is, the next time you return, they will expect you to buy them drinks again. Same with the girl you are sitting with when she says, "This is my best friend, can you buy her a drink too"?
Great video Trevor! I remember the moment you decided you were moving to Thailand. Lol. I sure miss those days, and I am so proud of you for doing so well in all of your many endeavors there!
Thanks! 😃
Great topic Trevor..would be helpful to do a video about do's and dont's and what to expect in a gents club if you could please. Thanks for the great content.
For sure mate
In Hawaii "Buy me drinky bars", as we locals would call it. (Korean, Japanese, Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese and Local mix).Very Diverse in Hawaii (Oahu).
-Strip Bars in Hawaii run about $40US Lady drinks..(normal), Bottles service Depends$$
-Karaoke/Hostess Bars $20US ladys,$40US Doubles shots.
-Other Bars sports/Karaoke Bars $10US or Top shelf gets ridiculous.
And hearing you say $160-$180 THB, Under $5US for a Lady drink in Thailand, that's Music too my ears and Wallet.. lol
And yes, the girls need too water down the drinks to survive this type of Business. It's Understandable.
I enjoy you taking the time to educate us men for future heartbreaks and headaches in our future travels,, Appreciate it brother Mahalo!!
Thanks for sharing
Holy crap....$40 for one lady drink? Damn! Spend an evening there and you're cleaned out!
I went to a strip club in Vegas one year for my buddy's Stag, we were there most of the night. I dropped about $750 for the evening...but let me tell you...what a night...well worth it!
Great tips Trev for us never/and 1st timers going to agogo, how about touching on the other side of the coin in meeting Thai women, for dare I say it a relationship, etc......Peace mate....
Will do cheers mate
When I was in the military in the PI
we had a guy go to a bar.
He got into an argument with a bar girl
The argument got heated. She slapped him
He slapped her back. He got beat down by
5 locals. Then the police dragged him to jail.
The judge ordered him to pay $2000.
The ship was leaving in 48hrs
So we passed the hat
As a Marine, I have had to contribute to the hat fund often…lol. But that can happen anywhere really, including CONUS. Most of the time it was to help one of the guys that lost half his pay for 3 months or 6 months, we’d all kick in and cover his loss from the NJP.
Yep and none of that surprises me mate as it is just as you said
Hi brother as a first timer coming over once the bars are up and running this is great advice I really appreciate it
Always welcome mate
This is so much fun watching your chanel, especially the topic about the "client's" expectations later in the hotel. I had a blast. Your witty comments are honest and on point. Would really love to spend some time with you in Pattaya and do some bar-hoppin. Hoping this or next year. Keep up the good work.
Cheers mate and sure when ya here let's do it
Draft beer in gogo bars is generally rancid at best. But its good to have a quick one to check out the talent, then upgrade to a decent beer if you decide to stay.
Gotcha
Very Cagey pokerphil 😂🤣😆
I used to work in Thailand and lived in Pattaya during 2000/2001, 2004/2005 and 2011 to 2015. So based on my experience this is a good video with lots of sound advice for the inexperienced. One thing to note is that nobody in their right mind goes into a go go bar to listen to the music!
Thank you very much for sharing
You could skip the gogo bars and pick up a girl on the streets I would think? Right?
@@brianmck7363 You could but most people don't recommend it.
Bang on trev keep it coming
Do my best mate
Great info as always. Thanks you very much for sharing your great wisdom my friend.
Glad you enjoyed it
Hey Trevor, great video as usual, good points for newbies because I seen a lot of newbies get in trouble. Keep up the good work.
Thanks mate
Mate I’ve been friends with a few mamasans for a long time now and they are a great asset! We’d often go into their spots and order a feed in and keep the mammas fed!! And if there’s one certain way to keep a Thai female in your corner!! Feed em haha!!
Quality point of law mate.
hahaha true mate and yes Mamasans are BOSS!
Another good tip (avoiding the bar fine extended lol), give your number to the girls u like, if they have nobody at the end they will ring / message u ;) lol
Lol
@@kohchangtai7820 its not extra hassle its just extra, several times I have given numbers out to girls in the past, more often than not I would BF but sometimes I would be still shopping late and seeing nothing I fancy then the phone would ring asking if I am alone and if can come over, its a win win.... ;) UP 2 U lol
DONT fall in love with a girl in the first agogo bar you ever walk into. I did on my first night in Thailand in 2004 and I'm still here.
LOL that's some holiday
@@Buzzinpattaya mate, I even married a bird I meet down 6. I did Patts to the fullest.
😂😂
approaching the bar to by a drink is definitely a hit and run hotspot for the girls and trust me the hustle is quite impressive
Indeed mate
Looking good Trev. Thanks for the advice. Always welcome to a newby
Cheers mate
Top tip Alert!! When in the Ago go never ever make small talk with the lady who just plonks herself next to you and asks for drinks….Just say “no thank you” or ignore her….she will soon get the hint your not interested and will move on…….You have the power to pick the lady you like so don’t let the lady pick you otherwise it won’t end well…I’ve experienced it myself 555. Take your time and look about, if you like the look of a lady observe her for 30 minutes to see what she does! If she is flitting around various tables with a lady drink on each you should avoid…..If a lady takes your fancy and she hasn’t displayed the above traits, call her over, buy her a drink and if you enjoy each other’s company then progress………..
Fair points
@@selvmortsydd been to Thailand lots of times mate! Just trying to help people avoid the mistakes I made by sharing my experiences…and save them some money….555
Best advice so far Ashley.
thank you for the valuable information. Just what I needed. Also, really nice presentation. One question on drinks. Since I usually don''t drink alcohol I was wondering how that would be perceived. Does that also mark you as a cheap charlie? And regarding lady drinks: What would be a reasonable amount to spend if you don't want to be rinsed but also don't want to come off as too cheap?
Thanks mate and you can drink whatever you want
When you get the bill don’t pay with a 1,000 baht note or if you do make sure you tell the girl ‘this is a 1000 baht note’. This is especially important if your bill is say 75 baht. So many times I’ve seen blokes get screwed, they get 25 baht back and claim they gave them 1000 baht note, but change for a 100. You can’t prove it, you’ll get mad, make a scene, then get dragged out by the security goons.
Yes good advice
My bill is usually close to 1000 or more anyway 🤣
Good advice mate 👍 first time I went in agogo 5 years ago I was invited to go with 5 girls from Kilkenny bar to one in LK, they looked after me, it was fun. When I went out by myself in walking street for first time I was like a magnet with no idea what was going on, I got rinced in nearly every place I went in 😬😂. I learnt from experience 😂
Ouch mate
Nice video. Thanks for being empathetic....to the girls and bar.
Thanks mate
Great advice, I would add one thing, before you go out, bathe, use deodorant and cologne, most of the girls don't care if you're fat and/or ugly, but if you stink the price tends to go up. Yes, I do speak, read and write Thai and lived in Pattaya for many years, many girls told me this in various bars.
Well said
As someone who's been going to Thailand for years.... this advice is quite sound. I'd say there are big differences between the likes of Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket though when it comes to lady drink pressure.... It's one of the reasons I'm not a huge fan of Phuket agogo's. Love Pattaya though
Cheers mate
So many guys get confused. Just never build a tab. Always pay up one drink at a time. If you don’t do that I guarantee you will have a problem someday. You HAVE to pay. If you argue you’re in trouble.
Just check it as ya go as well
I was in Sattajip as a GI (and it was my last year in the service) at the R &R base. Innocent times compared with today. Pattaya was where the officers went, actually. So thanks for the view of a place I couldn't afford back then.
Wow thanks for sharing your experience with us mate much appreciated