A review of our 'competitors'. Other websites covering the nightlife.

Most come and go, but some websites have been around for awhile, giving updates on what is going on in the Bangkok nightlife scene. We do not necessarily want to chase you away form our pages, but the following might be of interest to visitors of Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy.

First we would like to summarize our own standing :
BangkokBarGirls info gives reviews about the bars at Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy. Furthermore we regularly write articles related to the nightlife and life in Bangkok.
We operate anonymously. Bar owners do not know us, and we do not have conversations with them. As such, we do not offer a lot of 'insider' information, though we do pick up a lot of things just by being observant. The information we give of the bars is our own opinion, not influenced by friendships with bar owners or managers, or by any financial arrangements. As such we consider ourselves objective. That said, we do have our personal idiosyncrasies. For example, we do object against high prices, so any bar that increases its price levels, will get a bad press on our site, regardless of the overall quality of what is on offer in that particular bar. We do offer reviews of most of the bars (maybe we are the only one doing it so elaborate). Admittedly, we do not visit all bars frequently, otherwise we would end up a destitute alcoholic.

In our view the best opinion and information about Nana Plaza, Soi Cowboy and Pattaya is provided by the AsiaBugle Newsletter. The author(s) give bar reviews (they do seem to visit the places themselves) and write about current developments. They seem to have insider information, but don't scare away from giving their own views and criticisms. As far as we know, you can not access their reviews directly on the web, but need to subscribe to the Asiabugle Ezine newsletter by giving your email address.
The newsletters are somewhat infrequent. At best they appear once or twice a month, but sometimes nothing is forthcoming for a month or two.

NanaPlaza.com used to be the place to go for updated info regarding Nana Plaza. By his own admission, the webmaster does not update his website anymore. Luckily for the site, it remains listed on top for anyone searching 'Nana Plaza' on Google. The entry page gives however a link to its related Message Board (or forum). Though a far cry from its heyday a few years ago, you can still find recent information and discussion topics here. Not only the nightlife is covered, but also general topics, such as health issues, relationships, computer issues, etc. You will not find any nude pictures on this site (nor on any of the other sites mentioned in this review).

A somewhat better site to visit is StickmanWeekly.com , on offshoot of a longer existing website StickmanBangkok.com . The site offers a weekly column. The main author always gives an introductory essay about live in Bangkok, often about relational issues with Thai women. The author quite obviously is ambivalent about his stay in Bangkok, and this is reflected in the topics onsite. Occasionally the topics go quite topic, with reviews of travel trips upcountry and abroad and the like.
However, after the main article, the weekly column offers always some interesting titbids of information about the nightlife scene. What we like, is that the author also rants a bit about increasing price levels. The site is very popular, since many years, although the main articles have become a bit repetitive and occasionally tedious (that means, we often skip them altogether). There are also way to many advertisements on the site.
Unfortunately, we find the author getting more and more biased during 2009. Some bars are often mentioned, and get favorable reviews (contrary to our personal assessments). A strange episode occurred when Tilac was chosen as the most favored bar by the author, and then a few weeks later (without any good reason) described the bar as being in a slow decline, and a good bar turning into 'crap'.
Sadly, there is possibly a relation between positive (or at least neutral) reviews and advertising on the site.

DaveTheRaveBangkok.com is written by the bar manager of Angel Witch in Bangkok. As such it offers of course another perspective. For example, prices at bars are compared to prices at nightlife venues in London, with the conclusion that things are overly cheap here. The author however forgets to mention that any showgirls in London will earn probably twentyfold what the dancing girls in Bangkok earn (for dancing that is). The site is interesting to visit from time to time, but Dave the Rave does not offer any opinionated reviews or well written articles. Only tidbits of information are given. Obviously there are some allegiances between certain bars at Nana Plaza. As such the author does give positive information about certain bars,while blatantly never writing about other bars. Luckily, the author does not fall into the trap of overly promoting the bar he works in.
If your main worry is finding the closing times at Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy, this is the place to go. Dave the Rave gives updated information about this.

More Articles :

• Which bars to avoid in 2010?
• Which bars to go to in 2010?
• Expensive Drinks at Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy : Update
• The Rise of Soi Cowboy
• Thugs and the Entrance to the Bars
• What about the Show Girls at Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy
• Where to see the Shows?
• A review of the competition : Other Websites covering the Nightlife in Bangkok
• Common Rip Offs and Minor Dangers
• Happy Hours at Soi Cowboy
• About Lady Boys (Katoeys)
• More : The Return of the Lady Boys (Katoeys)
• Sukhumvit : Museum of Horrors
• Sukhumvit : Street Prostitution
• Cost of living in Thailand
• Is there a need for Nudity (and where can you see the girls?)
• About getting some Water, and about the Noise Levels in the Bars
• The Invasion of the Arabs and Indians along Sukhumvit Road
• Our preferred Bars at Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy
• The Japanese and the Bars
• Rapid and slow Turnover Bars - What is that?
• Stephen Leather : The Private Dancer, the ultimate Novel about the Bar Scene
• Escort Services in Bangkok and Thailand
• List of Escort Services (websites)

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