Quantcast
Channel: Jakarta100bars - Nightlife & Party Guide - Best Bars & Nightclubs
Viewing all 882 articles
Browse latest View live

Best (Girl-Friendly) Hotels Near Hanoi Nightlife

$
0
0
A strategic location to stay near Hanoi nightlife is around the Saint Joseph Cathedral. It is very central, near from all the tourist sites, 200 meters from the airport bus shuttle, 1 kilometers from the train station, and walking distance from 70% of the night spots of the capital.

I was staying in a mid-range family-owned guest house called Hanoi Old Quarter Homestay. The value for money was great (35$ for a large, modern room with double bed), but it is a small property so you don't get a lot of privacy.

The following are also highly recommended (but not girl-friendly - check below):

5-Star and Luxury 
Apricot Hotel: New property in a renovated colonial building, rated 9/10 on Agoda, just in front of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. On its basement, there is a posh gentlemen's club called Playboy Establishment. Price: Starting $120/night on HotelsCombined.

4-Star
The Chi: A boutique hotel with 42 rooms offering great value for money. You can get a double room for only $60 on Booking.com.

3- Star and 2- Star
Church Legend Hotel has small but clean rooms for less than 25$, just behind St Joseph Cathedral.

Budget (under 10$)
There are plenty of backpacker hostels in Hanoi. A few are particularly recommended for party people such as:
Hanoi Backpacker Party Hostel

In both of these, there is a bar in the lobby with cheap beers and a lot of travelers.

Girl-Friendly hotels
You should know that many hotels in Hanoi (or in Vietnam in general) are not girl-friendly or guest friendly. This means that they will not accept if you bring a female guest in the middle of the night if she was not part of the initial booking (and especially if she is Vietnamese).

For instance, among 5-star hotels, the Pan Pacific is not girl-friendly (but the Intercontinental and the Sheraton are OK).

If you can't afford these, I recommend you to choose the A25 budget hotel chain. There are at least 5 of them in Hanoi's city center, and not only they are girl-friendly, they even allow guests to book a room by the hour (short time).

Here is my selection of the best ones:

Near from Ha Tien street (heart of Hanoi's nightlife), rated 7.5/10, $32 for a double room.

100 meters from the Old Quarter, rated 7.6, $33 for a double room. Fast Wifi.

Cheaper property (25$ per night) but at least 10 minutes by taxi from the action.

In between the West Lake and the Old Quarter, rated 8.5/10 and with price of only $26 for a double room.

For all properties, the price for renting a room short time is VND180,000 for 2 hours. More information on their

Hotels with Massage/Spa ++
Some hotels in Hanoi have an in-house massage parlor where extra services are provided. A second advantage with these is that they are naturally girl-friendly.

Fortuna Hotel ($160 per night) is the most reputed with its naughty karaoke (Boss) and its spa (De Palace).

Oasis HotelBaoson Hotel and Hanoi Hotel are cheaper (around $80 per night) and each of them has a spa with happy ending services.

If your budget is really tight, you can go to Windy Hotel ($40 per night).

NOTE: If you book using one of the links above, I will receive a small commission from Agoda. It does not affect the price you pay and it helps me run Jakarta100bars.

Masters Sports Bar (Bellagio - Mega Kuningan)

$
0
0
Masters Sports Bar and Restaurant is located on the ground floor of Bellagio Mall in Mega Kuningan. The place looks unassuming from the outside and you may have already walked past without noticing it. Should you decide to step inside, you'll be surprised to find a spacious 350m2 area with a long wooden bar, a 50-seat dining area, 2 professional electronic dart boards and 5 full-size tournament pool tables. Unlike the trendy venues nearby like Loewy or Basque, Masters has a much more laid-back atmosphere, perfect if you are looking for a quiet place to chill after work. Later in the evening, it gets a bit more loud and busy, especially on Friday and Saturday as they have a live band.

It is one of the few dedicated sports bars in Jakarta and it features at least 8 different TVs, including two massive HD projector screens near the entrance. It must be among the largest ones I've seen anywhere in Asia. If there is any live sports event in the world, you are pretty sure you can watch it in Masters: Football, Rugby, AFL, Racing, NBA, NFL, MLB, etc. They may also change their schedule to make sure you can watch special events like the Superbowl, the Olympics or the Fifa World Cup. Some screens also have music videos from an eclectic playlist of over 600 titles (pop, rock, Top 40, etc).

One of the particularities of Masters Sports Bar is that it is owned by a group of Jakarta expats who each have their own day jobs. I've met a few of them and it was refreshing to see how passionate they are. They come from different backgrounds and nationalities (Swedish, Indonesian, Malaysian, Nepalese, Denmark and Irish), but they share the same goal: Having the most friendly and comfortable bar for them to meet, drink and watching sports. The result is that Masters feels particularly homey and that a lot of their customers are regulars (sometimes with their families).

The crowd is quite diverse, but I would say there are about 50% expats and 50% Indonesians, most of whom are over 30 years old.

One of the best reasons to visit Masters is to play billiard. There is one table near the entrance and four more in the back. For casual players, you can use them for free as long as you make a purchase. Some competitive players train there as well, including several teams that participate in the Jakarta Pool League. There are seats all around the pool tables so it is nice to just watch (better) people play as well. Masters arranges pool events & tournaments on a regular basis, you can find more information about this on their very busy Facebook page (see below).

Regarding the food, they serve all the traditional pub fare for a reasonable price considering the area.

Light meals, soups, sandwiches, salads and snacks cost about Rp50,000 to Rp80,000 (Nachos, Wings, Spring Rolls, Wedges, etc...). Thai and Indonesian food cost between Rp50,000 and Rp100,000. Pizzas and Western main courses cost between Rp70,000 to Rp150,000. Their imported steaks (from US and Australia) are a bit more expensive as usual in Indonesia (starting at Rp200,000).

They also have lunch specials on their pies, hotdogs and Indonesian food with a fixed price of Rp50,000++ from 11am to 3pm.

The beer is rather cheap, starting at Rp38,000 for a Prost 33cl. You can see below the whole beer menu with happy hour prices (HH = 4pm to 9pm):
Cocktails and hard liquor glasses are priced between Rp70,000 and Rp90,000 per unit while a bottle of Jack Daniels will cost you only Rp1,000,000.

Every Thursday evening is Ladies Night (from 5pm to 8pm) with a free flow house pours for girls.

Masters Sports Bar and Restaurant
Bellagio Shopping mall Unit 20-21
Jalan Lingkar Mega Kuningan Barat Kav E4 No. 3
East Setiabudi, South Jakarta

Phone number: +62 (0) 21 300 199949
Email: mastersjakarta@gmail.com

Instagram: Masters Jakarta Sports Bar
Facebook: Masters Jakarta or add Masters as a friend for an updated sports schedule.

Online Prostitution is Booming in Indonesia

$
0
0
With the current crackdown on red light districts and massage parlours everywhere in the country, for instance in Kalijodo in Jakarta or Dolly in Surabaya, online prostitution has been booming in Indonesia.

Surprisingly, sexual services are not necessarily advertised through specific adult sites. Many of these, like the famous Adult Friend Finder, are blocked by the government and only available if you download a VPN (see Best VPN for Indonesia to see how to do). Prostitutes, pimps and mafias use mainstream websites and apps instead like Facebook, Twitter, WeChat, BeeTalk, Instagram, Badoo or Tinder. If you are using any of these, you have probably noticed that there are more and more profiles of prostitutes, to the point that it can ruin the experience for "normal" users.

This is the case on WeChat. They have an interesting feature called "Look Around" that can be used to meet people near you. In Indonesia, it has been completely hijacked by organized online prostitution. As soon as you turn it on, you'll receive chat requests from various "spas" and "massage girls" offering to visit you in your room 24/7. You can barely see normal people anymore.

On the dating app Badoo, it has become very difficult to meet girls who are not looking for money, directly or indirectly. They rarely mention openly that they are prostitutes but they will often say in their profiles things like: "Butuh uang (need money)", "Tidak suka cowok pelit (I don't like stingy guy), "I like shopping", etc.
Typical "soft" prostitution profile on Badoo ("I like generous guys who can make me happy")
Some are more straight-forward and will write: "Open for BO (Booking Out) to your hotel for LT /ST (Long Time/Short Time).

In this case, it is likely that the person behind the profile is a pimp and not the actual girl. It's only after you agree to a transaction and pay a down payment (DP) that he will contact the girl, pick her up, and bring her to your place. In some cases, the girls have a hotel room or an apartment where they can meet customers. Kalibata City is famous for having many apartments used entirely for online prostitution. 

On Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, prostitutes can easily be found using some specific hashtags such as #bokingcewek#wanitabayaran, #cewekbispak and many more. Those looking for girls in a specific location will add a city name, for instance: #bispaksurabaya (bispak means "bisa pakai" = "can be used"). For any of these keywords, hundreds of girls profiles will show up.

They manage their fan pages in a professional way, teasing their fans with pictures and exclusive videos, posting screenshots of clients bank transfers, giving information about their whereabout and their availability.
A girl post the proof of bank transfer from a client and informs she has 2 slots available
Some will also do packages and promotions, just like any real, well-organized massage parlour, spa or bordello. On Twitter, Riri Manja 28 does a phone sex promotion for April for instance:
Phone sex promotion from a girl on twitter
Prostitutes and their pimps rely also on Whatsapp, Line and BlackBerry Messenger to communicate with clients and set up meeting locations and time. 

Recently, some bigger groups have emerged, managing several girls at once. For instance, the Silvi Group that operates on instagram has a network of girls in Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya and Palembang. Go Crot operates on twitter, managing dozens of girls in Surabaya.
Advertising for Silvi Group on Instagram
The Police has made very few arrests so far. It is probably impossible for them to stop this trend as both the demand and offer for prostitution is so high in Indonesia.

Considering this though, I wonder if it is a smart move for the Government to go ahead with its plan to close down all red-light districts by 2019. We see that the sex trade will just move from the streets to the virtual world.

Are the girls safer online? Wouldn't it better, as Ahok suggested, to legalize prostitution and to organize it in dedicated spaces? This could make the job easier for the Government and NGOs to protect sex workers from abuse/violence and to give them counseling and regular medical check-ups.

Udon Thani Nightlife - Best Nightclubs and Bars 2017

$
0
0
Udon Thani is located in the North of Thailand (Isaan Region), near the border with Laos. Even though it is the 4th most populous city in the country (150,000 people), it is very laid-back and provincial.

I was there for 5 days as a stopover before heading to Laos and I was not really expecting there would be any nightlife.

As it turns out, I was wrong. You can find bars and nightclubs that are open and busy every night, but for that you'll need to go outside of the tourist areas.

This short review will guide through the best venues I went to during my stay. If you think I forgot one, please leave me a note in the comment section below.

Best Hotels Near Udon Thani Nightlife
Hotels in Udon Thani are really cheap, even during high season. I was staying in the Centara, a 4-star property with a perfect location next to a large mall, and I was paying only 45$! You can click here to check the current price: Centara Hotel - Udon Thani.

If you want to be close from the red-light district, an excellent hotel is The Pannarai (4-star, 42$/night). You'll be only 20 meters from the first beer bars. A cheaper option nearby is the Prajaktra (20$/night).

You can check Agoda for more option, just remember to stay close from the Central Plaza Mall.

Nightlife Areas in Udon Thani
Party in Rhythm Club
The nightlife for foreigners in Udon Thani is very easy to find. Basically, you have two adjacent streets with a total of around 30 bars (some with ladies, some normal).

Note that the expats in Udon Thani are quite old on average and that they sleep early! You should go out before 10PM otherwise all bars will be empty. In fact many are already closed by midnight.

The first street you can try is Soi Samphan Thamit, just behind Central Plaza Mall. Most bars there are not very sophisticated and they only have the basics for you to enjoy a beer. A few bargirls will keep you company if you need. They aren't the prettiest girls you'll meet in Thailand but a few are cute.

The most popular places as of January 2017 were Sports Bar (the most crowded), Vikings Corner Bar, Zaaps, Tiffy, the Meeting Point, the Irish Clock (an Irish pub and hotel), Fun Bar (it had the prettiest girls) and Shadow. I also saw a bar/massage parlor with ladyboys. You can just go there directly, walk around for a few minutes and sit in the bar you like the most.

There is also a tiny beer bar complex called Day & Night, just next to the Pannarai Hotel.
The second street is Soi Prajak Sillapacom, at the end of Soi Samphan Thamit. The bars are a little bit nicer there, especially Sisters (but unfortunately it does not get so busy).

The main attraction in Prajak Sillapacom is a beer bar complex called Nutty Park, which is similar to Day and Night. You'll see quite a lot of old guys, especially in the restaurant/pub the Good Corner (it seems to be a hub for the expat community). You also have bar-girls/prostitutes but they are not too pushy.

Thai Nightclubs, Bars and Cafés
The bars mentioned above are just OK for a few beers (or to find a girl if that's your goal), but they are not really happening. By the time of your second day in Udon Thani you'll certainly be bored.

Thais nightclubs are a much better option. They have the advantage of staying open later (maximum 2AM) and to have a younger crowd (including some normal Thai girls).

My most recommended venues are the following:

Rhythm (in Napalai Hotel)
Rhythm was my favorite club even though it is located more than 4 kilometers from the city center (100-120THB with a tuk-tuk). It is made of one large room, quite modern, with a live stage where bands play Thai rock/pop. I went there on a Sunday and it was full, with many girls in their 20s. When the band is not playing, the DJs mix EDM songs.

Free entrance on weekdays (200THB on weekends if there is an event). Close at 2AM.

Full review: Rhythm Udon Thani or Facebook: Rhythm.

Phoenix
Phoenix is also a fun nightclub and it is walking distance from Central Plaza. It is the newest and hippest in the city, but smaller than Rhythm. They have great sound/lighting, an intimate atmosphere, an upmarket crowd and excellent rock bands. Some of the hottest girls I've seen in Udon Thani were customers of Phoenix (or prostitutes, I'm not 100% sure).

Free entrance every day of the week. Close at 2AM.

Full review: Phoenix Udon Thani or Facebook: Phoenix

Yellow Bird (in Charoen Hotel)
Located in Charoen Hotel, a 10-minute walk from Central Plaza. It is also a very popular nightclub but it is more old-style compared to the ones listed above. The bands will sometimes play Thai folk songs and the customers are over 30 years old. During breaks though, you'll get some loud EDM and sexy dancers. The best night is on Wednesday (ladies night).

Free entrance every day of the week. Close at 2AM.
Tawan Daeng
Tawan Daeng is an institution in Udon Thani. It is located 2 minutes from the tourist area of Soi Samphan Thamit (behind Central Plaza) and for this reason you'll see plenty of foreigners inside. They have live bands (playing folk/country songs from Isaan region) and also some more random shows (comedians, dancing, etc). You can go their early for dinner and try some Isaan food.

Website: Tawan Daeng Udon Thani

Kongsiam Café
This laid-back, cool café is located next to Phoenix Club. They have live music every night, with bands who sing in English or in Thai (mostly covers of famous songs). The design and set-up is really original. It is my most recommended venue for a date with a Thai girl.

Facebook: Kongsiam Udon Thani

Twenty Up (20UP)
20UP opened on January 10th, 2017 and it was already busy when I visited. It is a Thai-style beer garden with a whole bunch of sexy hostesses and live acoustic music. Young crowd. Open until 1AM.

It is just in front of Grand Naga Hotel & KTV where apparently you can can get a massage plus plus.

Facebook: 20UP Udon Thani

Bar'ista Brasserie
In front of UD Town Mall and the train station, this is a popular restaurant with an indoor and an outdoor area. It gets full almost every night with upper-class locals. They have Thai music, usually pop and mellow songs.

Facebook: Bar'ista Brasserie Udon Thani

Meeting Normal Thai Girls in Udon Thani
It is much easier to meet normal girls in Udon Thani compared with Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya or Chiang Mai.

The best way is to make a profile on online dating sites like ThaiFriendly or ThaiCupid. Both have thousands of girls who are eager to meet with foreigners. Ideally you can chat with them a few weeks before arriving in Thailand to build up the excitement. If you have a decent profile pic, you can get non-stop dates from morning to midnight.

Tinder works well also, but there are less profiles and most of the girls will not be interested to chat if you are not living in Udon Thani.

Meeting girls in nightclubs is also possible, especially in Phoenix, Yellow Bird and Rhythm. It will require more effort and a bit of luck though.

In the daytime, you can hang out and meet Thai girls either in UD Town shopping center (most recommended) or in Central Plaza Mall.

You can also read: Khon Kaen Nightlife.

Udon Nightlife Map

Tangerang Nightlife: Exploring BSD and Serpong

$
0
0
I've been living in Tangerang for over a month now and I've had a few occasions to visit the bars and nightclubs there.

This review will give you a short overview of the nightlife in Tangerang and more precisely in the new cities Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) and Gading Serpong.

Note: If you need a hotel, please check Serpong Hotel Deals and Tangerang Hotel Deals (I make a small commission on every booking but the price does not change for you and it helps me maintain Jakarta100bars).

Overview of Tangerang
Enigma Nightclub in Gading Serpong
Tangerang and South Tangerang are two separate suburban cities located about 20 kilometers from the center of Jakarta. You have probably been there without realizing it since the Jakarta airport (CGK) is actually in the northern part of Tangerang.

When I first arrived in Jakarta in 2004, Tangerang was a conservative, working-class area that was flirting with shariah law. Alcohol was prohibited even in hotels and the police was arresting women simply for walking in the street alone at night.

Since then, things have smoothed a bit, though not everywhere. The most visible transformation is happening in the privately-owned new cities that have emerged in recent years. I'm sure you are already familiar with a few of them such as:

→ Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) owned by the Sinar Mas Group
→ Gading Serpong owned by Summarecon Agung Group
→ Lippo Karawaci owned partly by Lippo Group and Salim Group
→ Alam Sutra owned by the Argo Manunggal Group

These new cities are well-planned with modern roads, brand-new malls, offices towers, apartments, housing complexes, hotels, golf courses, hospitals and schools. They have attracted tens of thousands of middle and upper class Indonesian families as well as several large companies. Judging by the number of new construction sites in Tangerang, this trend is likely to continue over the next decades.

This new demographic has led to a new demand for entertainment venues, starting with restaurants, coffee shops, bars, nightclubs and spas.

Nightlife in Tangerang: Best Bars and Clubs
While the nightlife in the traditional neighborhoods of Tangerang is still limited, it is slowly starting to take off in BSD, Gading Serpong, Lippo Karawaci and Alam Sutra.

Almost all the places I'm writing about below didn't exist 5 years ago and I'm sure that in 5 years, there will be twice as many. Please do leave a comment below if you know about a new opening so I can check it out.

This is my ranking of the best clubs and bars in all Tangerang (starting with my favorites):

Enigma (Gading Serpong)
Enigma is just across the street from Summarecon Mall Serpong and it is the best nightlife option in Tangerang at the moment. You have a coffee shop on the ground floor, a club on the second and pool tables on the third. During the week, it is a popular hangout for students. On weekends, the club normally gets full and happening until 4am. Once or twice a month, they'll have famous DJs.

Its crowd is mixed, including some really young people and older executives/professionals. There are normal girls, but also some semi-prostitutes/freelancers. The entrance fee is Rp100,000 on weekends with 1 drink.

You can read my full review here: Enigma Gading Serpong

Clique (Gading Serpong)
Clique is close from Enigma and you can reach it by foot if you're not too lazy. It is also built on several floors with a lounge and an Italian restaurant. I only visited the lounge, on a Saturday night. There was no entrance fee , the drinks were cheap and the small dance floor was packed. It is more upper class than Enigma.

You can read my full review here: Clique Serpong

The Breeze (BSD)
The Docks German Restaurant inside The Breeze
The Breeze is a crossover between a public park and a lifestyle center. You'll find many restaurants there, including a few that serve alcohol. They are not party places but you can grab something to eat while having a few beers. Most have an open-air terrace with a view on a muddy lake. As it is new, it is still quiet and it probably hasn't reached its full potential yet.

The best venue is The Docks German Restaurant (previously known as Metro). It is the closest thing from an expat bar in Tangerang. They have good food, some games (darts, pool) and live music on Saturday. It is open until 2am on weekends.

The sports bar/microbrewery chain Brewerkz is the second best option. It is part of a Singaporean group that also owns a branch in Senayan City. It is similar with the Docks but with a more Asian touch (in the sense that it is a more modern/playful). They craft their own beer in Singapore and they import it in Indonesia. They have several pool tables as well.

If you need more options, you can also visit The Fool and Juan Coffee Bar.

Venesia (BSD)
Venesia is a one-stop entertainment center, the only one of its kind in Tangerang (to my knowledge). It features a hotel, a karaoke, a spa and a small lounge/club. It is quite expensive and not always crowded unless they have a special event. The crowd is older than elsewhere and consists mostly of guys accompanied by lady hostesses.

You can read my complete review here: The Venesia Hotel, Karaoke and Spa

Summarecon Mall Serpong (SMS)
Live music in The Barrels
There are a lot of restaurants within Summarecon Mall but the majority doesn't sell alcohol. Still, it can be a fun place to hang out on the weekends as it gets quite crowded and you'll often have a live band.

There are two recommended venues serving alcohol: The Barrels, a semi-open air café with various types of draft beer and some basic food, and the tiny but popular Poka Ribs, where you might meet a group of loyal expat customers (apparently because that's where they can buy the cheapest beer). 

Backyard Café (BSD - Teras Kota)
Backyard is a laid-back café in Teras Kota, just across the street from the Venesia Hotel mentioned above. It is a nice place to watch sports, listen to live music or just to hang out. A few of their waitresses are cute. They serve cheap food (Rp40,000-Rp60,000 for a main course) and alcohol (beer tower Rp325,000++).

Benton Junction (Karawaci - Lippo Village)
Waitresses/SPG from House of Bintang Spirit
This is a small colonial-style complex next to Supermall Karawaci with a few restaurants and coffee shops. It attracts many students from the nearby Pelita Harapan University (UPH), most of them Indonesian-Chinese. The only real bar is House of Bintang Spirit, a small café with an indoor area and a terrace that serves all types of beers, spirits and cocktails. You can also hang out in the 24-hour Dim Sum Inc and in Poka Ribs.

Not far from Benton Junction, the Hotel Aryaduta has a sports bar with live music called RJ's.

Aeon Mall (BSD)
Stopover Beer and Satay
I didn't find a proper bar in the Japanese-oriented Aeon Mall apart from Stopover Beer and Satay and Little Tokyo Bar.

Patong Nightlife (Phuket) - Best Bars and Nightclubs 2017

$
0
0
Phuket is one of the most renowned nightlife destinations in Thailand. It has a frenetic party scene, yet most of its bars and nightclubs are concentrated in the 1-km long street of Bangla (or Walking Street) in the beach town of Patong.

Nightlife in Patong is rather male-oriented with your typical a-gogo dancers, bar fines, freelance prostitutes, naughty massage parlors and ladyboys. It is a (paid) sex paradise that acts like a magnet for single males from all over the World. While Russians are the main nationality, you also have hordes of Northern Europeans (UK, Germany, Scandinavia), Asians, Australians, Americans, Indians and Arabs. There are also thousands of foreigners who retired in Phuket or started their own businesses (restaurants, bars, tours, etc).

But Patong also attracts "normal" tourists, including families, couples and backpackers. They come mostly for the beach, but you can see them walking on Bangla street at night. They are just curious and not particularly interested in the sex trade. They might have a few wild night outs during their stay though for the sake of being on holidays. They make Patong nightlife a lot less creepy than it could be and I thank them for that.

My most recent trip to Patong was in December 2016. During 3 nights straight, I went to every nightclubs and bars I could find until they were all closed. This review is a summary of my findings. Please leave a comment below if you need more information.

Best Hotels Near Patong Nightlife
Hookers don't seem to bother families in Patong
If you are in Patong for party, I advise you to stay within walking distance from Bangla Road. By doing so, you will avoid the tuk-tuk mafias (charging ridiculous prices even for a 100-meter ride) and even better, you will avoid the temptation of driving back home while drunk. It is also better to be surrounded by like-minded people and not families/couples.

HotelsCombined has created a great list of hotels located within a short distance from Bangla Road. Among them, the following are considered girl-friendly:

4-star and 5 star Hotels:
Sleep with Me (4-star): It is 200 meters from the nightlife and 100 meters from the mall JungCeylon. Price starting at 80$ on Agoda (check for better rates on HotelsCombined). Rated 8.5/10

Swisshotel Resort (4-star): This is where I was staying. It is in the same building as Hard Rock Café and Hooters Patong. The price was 75$ during high season but you can get a cheaper deal on hotelscombined.com. Rated 8.1/10.

Millenium Resort (5-star): The closest 5-star from Patong Beach. It is inside Jungceylon Mall. The first bars and clubs of Bangla street are just across the street. Prices starting at 85$ on Agoda (or compare on hotelscombined.com). Rated 8.3/10.

Kee Hotel is a family resort but it is connected to the infamous gogo bar strip of Soi Sea Dragon.

3-Star Hotels:
Yorkshire is a popular choice among regulars of Patong. It is both girl-friendly and a 200-m walk from nightclubs. Their basic room is comfortable and costs 50$ per night (compare prices now: HotelsCombined). Rated 8.2/10.

Summer Breeze is another favorite: 1-minute walk from the nightlife and quite cheap (less than 35$ per night if you book here). Rated 8.3/10.

Hostel/Backpacker (Not girl-friendly)
Just one floor above the nightclub Illuzion, there is a hostel called Kool Backpacker. They have dormitories for less than 10$ and all the guests there are party-people. Rated 8.1/10.

Note: Even the girl-friendly hotels in Patong may ask you for a "joiner" fee (around 300THB) if you bring someone who wasn't part of your initial booking.

Meeting Girls in Phuket/Patong
You shouldn't be too naive about the kind of girls you'll meet in Patong. As it turns out, even Western girls may end up being eastern European prostitutes.

If you are OK with paying for sex, then you won't need to make a lot of effort to be happy (but you should know that prices are higher than in Bangkok or Pattaya).

If you are not into prostitution, your best chance is to connect to popular dating websites like Thai Cupid or Thai Friendly. You can create an account a few weeks before arriving to make sure you already have some contacts on your first day.

Forget about Tinder. It is 20% lady boys, 30% prostitutes, 30% average looking, 10% Russian girls who don't reply messages.

Nightlife Areas in Patong
map phuket nightlife patong
Patong - Bangla Street Nightlife Map

90% of Patong nightlife is within Bangla and the adjacent small streets (called Soi).

Bangla Street Nightlife
Forbidden to non-authorized cars and motorbikes, it is lined up with cheap restaurants, bars, huge nightclub complexes and strip clubs. You can also find ATMs, money changers, convenience stores, banks, souvenir shops, fast foods and pharmacies.

Touts and girls will approach you ever few meters with various offers. Most often, they'll try to sell you a ping pong show or an all-you-can-drink promotion. For the latter, the touts are often foreigners.

Adjacent Streets (Soi) from East to West:
→ Soi Vegas: The two dirtiest bars in Patong are on this street (Belvedere and Money City). You can also find some local food.
→  Soi Tiger (or Soi Crocodile): Thai food and a ladyboy cabaret bar (Cocktail and Dreams).
→  Soi Viking: You have a very crowded Scandinavian bar (Grabbarna Grus) and a massage parlor.
→  Soi Sea Dragon: The highest concentration of gogo bars (Suzie Wong I & II, Harem, Lover Club, Upstairs, Exotica, No. 1)
→  Soi Freedom (ex-Soi Eric): A fun and crowded street full of beer bars and prostitutes.
→  Soi Gonzo: Nothing special, the alley leads to the nightclub White Rooms

Elsewhere in Patong:
→ OTOP market's bars: This market is located about 100 meters across from the Swisshotel Resort (10 minutes walk from Bangla Street). There are bout 20 tiny beer bars which all seem to be foreign-owned (especially by Australians and Germans). They are very laid-back and popular with expat residents to watch sports. You can get beer from 60-70THB.
Fat Mama's Beer Bar in OTOP
→  Paradise Complex (Soi Paradise): This is where most of Patong's gay nightlife is located. In this area, a recommended hotel is the foreign-owned, gay-friendly Connect Guesthouse.

Best Nightclubs in Patong
Party in Illuzion Nightclub Phuket
I wrote a detailed review about it called 9 Best Nightclubs in Patong. If you don't have time to read it, below is a quick summary.

Nightclubs in Patong are almost all free except White Room (200THB entrance). They are easy to get into as there are no queues and no dress code. If you are a small group, you should consider purchasing a bottle of alcohol as it will give you access to a table (minimum price 3,500 THB/100$).

All the nightclubs below run the same open bar promo: All-you-can-drink for 800THB from 10pm to 1am (the recently-opened Ecstasy has a deal for 599THB until 3AM but it won't last long I guess).

DJs will usually alternate between commercial EDM (Electronic Dance Music), Hip-Hop, Rn'B and Top 40. The only places where I listened to more original playlists were in the VIP rooms of Illuzion and Seduction.

The most recommended nightclubs in Patong are the following:

→  Illuzion is my favorite party place in Patong. Ranked 93rd best nightclub in the world by DJ Mag, it is brand-new and modern, with a huge stage where sexy dancers, acrobats, DJs and singers perform all night long. You have less prostitutes than elsewhere and most of the customers are young Westerners. It closes at 4AM but a smaller VIP club with tech house music stays open until 6AM.

Seduction is a huge nightlife complex with a beer garden, a regular club, a VIP club (Blow), a hip-hop bottle club and a rooftop restaurant. The regular club normally gets full every night with a mixed crowd a bit younger and lower-class than Illuzion. The VIP club has great music but it is happening only for special events.

Tiger Nightclub is also a multi-story complex, perhaps the most famous on Bangla street due to its enormous tigers statues above the entrance. On the ground floor, there are dozens of cheap beer bars with each a staff of bargirls and gogo dancers. On the second floor, there is the largest disco in Patong. It looks weird but it can be fun, especially if you party from the podium. It attracts less Westerners and more Indians/Arabs/Asians. Almost all girls in Tiger are prostitutes.

→ Stars Phuket is a Russian strip club until 4AM, but after that it becomes one of two after-hour clubs in Patong. It is quite small (100 pax capacity), but you can also hang out in the next-door Pool Club. The music is hip hop and Rn'B.

Tai Pan is an old nightclub popular with long-term Phuket residents. It is just one low-ceiling room with plenty of tables and dancing poles. There is always a show on stage: Dancers, live bands, DJs. At least 90% of the girls are prostitutes.

Some other nightclubs you may be interested to try in Patong are White Room (similar to Seduction), Hollywood and Ecstasy. You can read a complete review about them here: 9 Best Nightclubs in Patong.

Best Gogo Bars and Erotic Clubs
Girlie bars are everywhere in Patong and they make take several forms:

→ The cheapest are the ubiquitous beer bars that can be found every 20 meters (and especially in Soi Freedom or Soi Tiger). They can accommodate around 15-20 customers with a staff of 10 bar girls. You can sit down only for drinking beer (from 70THB), or ask for a girl's company. In that case, you should buy her lady drinks (200-240THB each) on which she gets a commission. To bring the girl back home with you, you must compensate the bar owner with a "bar fine" (short term - 1,000THB, long Term 2,000 THB), and then pay money directly to the girl (short term - 2,000 THB, long term 3,000 THB). That's a lot of efforts and money to end up with a prostitute!
Dirty Angel in Soi Tiger
Gogo bars are larger and more expensive. They have a podium with girls dancing in lingerie/bikini/uniforms, topless or naked (depending on the bar). Customers can seat all around and enjoy the show. Like in beer bars, you may ask a girl to join you. The prices for ladies drinks and bar fine are 25% higher.

Most of the famous Patong gogo bars are located in Soi Sea Dragon. The group Suzie Wong manages at least four gogo bars there (Suzie Wong I & II, Harem, Exotica) and another one on Bangla (Rock Hard). They are the best ones (hottest girls, great atmosphere, good music, first drink for 99THB).

You can also try the new Upstairs Gogo Bar (nude and topless girls, first beer 99THB then 200THB), No1 A GogoDiablo A Gogo and Club Lover.
Suzie Wong's Gogo Bar (without the girls)
Erotic clubs or Ping Pong Shows. Those clubs are a trashier version of gogo bars. They usually have older, less attractive girls who will do some kind of sexual performances. Most often, it involves inserting something in their pussies.

Honestly, it is pretty gross. With my own two eyes, I've seen a girl removing an actual frog from her vagina (and it wasn't a small one) then trowing it on a customer. The staff looked depressed and tourists were rather uncomfortable. The bar is called Money Night and you'll be asked to buy a 900-THB beer to enter (I paid 300THB after negotiating).

Another sex joint is Belvedere Luxury Club (next to Money Night on Soi Vegas). This place also charges 900THB for a beer but I wasn't able to negotiate the price down. They told me that the reason they were so expensive was because they were the only place in Patong with live sex performance on stage. As I didn't want to pay, they only let me inside for a few minutes. All I saw was a half-empty room with a mix of Russian and Thai hookers.

Note: Many tourists get scammed in ping pong shows. They get inside because they are promised a 99THB beer, but they ignore that it only applies to the first drink. After that, they get charged between between 500THB and 1,000THB per drink.
Sensual milk bath in Belvedere Club
→  There are a few Russian strip joints in Patong. More luxurious than Thai ones, they also cost more and have a bad reputation for scamming customers. I tried Moulin Rouge where I paid 330THB for a beer. It was rather quiet with just 2 Russian girls dancing, one of whom was topless. You can also go to L'Amour Club and Stars.
Best Bars and Live Music Pubs
Live Music in Patong
The number of pubs with live music on Bangla street is impressive. The most famous ones are crowded every night and they have great bands (Thai or Filipino). They are cheaper than nightclubs (around 120THB for a beer) and they have a more diverse crowd (more women, more couples).

The only thing I don't like about them is that the songs played are pretty much always the same: Adele, Maroon 5, Lady Gaga, etc. After 3 nights out it gets boring.

The recommended venues are in this order: New York Bar (in front of Illuzion nightclub), Tao (belongs to Suzie Wong Group), Red Hot, Molly Malone's Irish Pub, Hard Rock Cafe (expensive), Rock City (classic rock), Heroes, Monsoon and Smiley. You can hear the bands from outside actually so just walk around and pick the one you like.

Best Bars on Bangla
Something that surprised me about Patong nightlife (compared to Bali nightlife for instance) is the lack of sophisticated bars. There are luxury beach clubs and lounges elsewhere on the island, but not many in Patong.

If you are looking for a nicer setup, you can go to the Patong Beach Club, about 300 meters from Bangla Road. They have a more upmarket Russian and Asian clientele, plus a few expats. It does not get so crowded though unless they have an event. It is just above Wine Connection an expensive wine shop and restaurant part of a Singaporean chain.

I also liked the new restaurant/lounge Cocoon. The upper floor has a laid-back setting overlooking Walking Street with Russian dancers and foreign DJs mixing chill/deep house tunes.

If you are Scandinavian, and more particularly Swedish, you will probably end up in Grabbarna Grus. I have always seen it packed with young, somewhat chubby blond girls and guys.
Grabbarna Grus Swedish Bar
More Tips About Patong Nightlife
Best time to enjoy Patong nightlife
All the information you've just read mostly applies to the high season which runs from December to February (with a peak during the Christmas holidays and Chinese New Year). More tourists choose to visit the island during this period because the weather is always sunny, the sea is quiet and the water is clear blue.

The rest of the year, and particularly in July or August, you will have considerably less people visiting Phuket. In Patong, the occupancy during the low season may not even reach 50%.

While you will get cheaper deals on hotels, you can't expect that all bars and nightclubs will be crowded.

Travel Insurance
One foreigner dies every three days in Phuket. The most frequent causes of death are drunk driving, drowning and strangely, suicide. There are thousands of non-lethal accidents every month and the worst ones may end up costing you a lot of money (a medical evacuation from Phuket to Australia = 100,000$). Other common problems like dog bites, malaria, dengue fever, food poisoning, flu, etc... can be treated in Thailand but you will get charged a highly inflated tourist price.

Before or during your trip, you should subscribe to a comprehensive travel insurance online, for instance on World Nomads (recommended by Lonely Planet). It costs a few dollars per day and it can save you a lot of trouble if something happens to you.

If you have any additional questions about Patong (Phuket) nightlife, do not hesitate to leave a message below. I'm also interested to know about your favorite bars and nightclubs if I missed them.

Hanoi Nightlife Guide (2017) - Vietnam

$
0
0
I just spent two weeks in Hanoi and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the nightlife.

When I was living in Saigon, people kept telling me that Hanoi was a conservative town with unfriendly people, a curfew at midnight and a suffocating weather.

In fact, I found barely any differences between the two cities, and particularly at night. Saigon is in my Top 3 party destination in Southeast Asia, and Hanoi is not far behind (if not ex-aequo).

The hundreds of bars, clubs, lounges, spas and karaokes in Hanoi range from extremely basic (4 walls and a stool) to world-class sophisticated venues. You'll rarely pay an entrance fee for any nightclubs and the drinks are usually cheap, even in the more upmarket spots. Girls are everywhere, from young backpackers to crazy-hot Vietnamese dolls. Just open VietnamCupid or Tinder and you'll have so many matches you won't be able to follow up with half of them.

This review is the summary of my findings: The best bars, the best clubs, the best places to stay, and how to meet girls. If I forgot something important, please don't hesitate to leave a comment at the end of the post.

Nightlife Areas in Hanoi
To make things simple, I would say there are 3 major nightlife areas in Hanoi.

→ The Old Quarter is where most backpackers, tourists and Vietnamese students hang out. It is  cheap, cramped and messy.
→ The West Lake is where expats and trendy Vietnamese party. It is naturally more expensive and the crowd is older.
→ The Historical Center, from Hoàn Kiếm Lake down to Tran Hung Dao street, is a posh area, particularly around the Opera House. You'll find mostly bars and clubs targeting rich Vietnamese/tourists.

Please have a look at the Hanoi nightlife map at the end of this article to see the exact delimitation of these areas.

Old Quarter: Tourists and Young Vietnamese
Old Quarter nightlife
A dense, action-packed district with at least 200 nightlife spots, most often small bars selling cheap draught beer (Bia hơi - as low as VND4,000 or $0,17 per glass). It is popular with a young Vietnamese crowd (mostly students) and foreigners (backpackers, tourists). 95% of the venues close at 1AM (official curfew), but if you poke around you'll find hidden bars to party until at least 3AM (see "Late Night/After Hour Clubs" below for more details).

You can start your evening at the intersection of Tạ Hiện and Lương Ngọc Quyến streets, also called "Beer Corner". It reserved for pedestrians and from there you can just walk from one place to the other.

Many bars seem to have been inspired by a Communist ideology: Identical design, identical product, no name (only a number) and little attention paid to customer service. That said, getting drunk on those tiny stools is still a fun local experience. You'll noticed that a lot of people are breathing into balloons of laughing gas. Those are not illegal in Vietnam and they cost $1 or $2. They give a mild euphoria or a feeling of numbness for a few minutes. I have the impression that they make your hangover worse on the next day though.

On your pub crawl, you may include some more proper bars and clubs, for instance:

Bars:
Factory 47: A foreign-owned, hipster bar. Better music than elsewhere but also more expensive. Open from 10AM to 3AM.

RockStore: Same owner as above. Unlike its name would suggest, the DJs and live bands play rather eclectic styles of music, from reggae to pop. Western food.

Local, next to Beer Corner, it has a DJ playing Top 40/EDM and a dance floor (there is also a second branch here). Backpacker crowd. Prague Pub is very similar.

Dragonfly: Tiny bar with an outdoor and indoor area serving food, shisha, balloons and alcohol. They have a DJ and occasionally sexy dancers. Mainstream music.

Craft Beer Pub: A rustic pub serving craft beer and Western food. Popular with young and older foreigners. Live sports on screens.

Clubs:
1900 Le Theatre: My favorite club in the Old Quarter. Modern venue with live music (usually in Vietnamese) and DJs playing commercial EDM and Hip Hop. Mixed crowd. Recommended for meeting girls. Closes at 1AM.

Ball Bars: I counted at least 3 of them (Ball Bar 4, Ball Bar 6, Ball Bar 19). They are crowded with 90% young Vietnamese. EDM and commercial music. They normally stay open until 2AM or 3AM. Recommended for meeting Viet girls.

Hair Of the Dog, a small club with commercial music opened until around 2AM/3AM. Mixed crowd: 1st floor with locals, 2nd floor with foreigners. It gets started at midnight.

West Lake (or Tây Hồ District): Expats and Trendy Vietnamese
In this neighborhood, trendy and chic venues are spread out, principally on the east side of the Lake. The crowd is mostly made of expats and rich Vietnamese. To go there, I advise you to use Uber (only VND50,000 from downtown).

Some of the best venues are:

Bars:
Sidewalk: Hipster/artsy café with a outdoor garden. It features random live acts: Hip Hop, Latin, 80s, Reggae... Expat and local crowd.

Birdcage: Same owner as above but only opened on Fridays and Saturdays (until 5AM). Eclectic music from Drum & Bass to Jungle. LGBT-friendly.

Standing Bar: One of the hip bars in Hanoi at the moment. It is built on two floors with an outdoor area from where you can see the lake. They serve 16 types of craft beer, local and imported, for around VND80,000-90,000 per half-pint. You can also eat some tapas. Events include stand-up comedy and live music (sometimes brought by the team from the now-defunct ATK Cama).

Furbrew: Also a craft beer bar, owned by a Danish brewmaster, with an outdoor garden. Small beers (175ml) cost around VND45,000 and a pint (375ml) double this price. Closes at 11PM.

The Republic: Aussie-owned expat bar. Good for eating Western food and watching sports (NFL, AFL, football, rugby, etc). Popular hangout on Sundays. Lake view. Close early at midnight.

Unicorn: A dive bar that you could easily miss, but worth a try for their affordable cocktails. Perfect to start the evening.

The Kneipe: A laid back German bar with reasonable prices, decent pub fare and live music/DJ.

88 Lounge: A trendy wine lounge, managed (and partly owned?) by a French guy. It's a romantic location for a date. More expensive than average but you get happy hours from 4.30PM to 7.30PM. Check their Facebook for wine tasting and live Jazz events.

Clubs:
Savage: A new nightclub, bar and lounge in the West Lake area. It is owned an managed by 4 French based in Hong Kong. Popular with expats. Techno and non commercial electronic music. Closes very late. Expensive. Good cocktails. My favorite nightclub in Hanoi.

Hero: One of the most popular nightclubs in the city with a mixed crowd of Vietnamese and foreigners. Good setup on two floors. Reasonable prices. Pick up spot.

Hanoi Rock City: The main alternative event and art space in Hanoi, it features live bands, DJ performances, open-mic nights and exhibitions. Entrance is usually free but drinks pricier than elsewhere. Check their events on Facebook before heading there: HRC.

Historical City Center: Rich Vietnamese and Tourists

The Historical City Center (excluding Old Quarter) from the northern tip of Hoàn Kiếm Lake until Tran Hung Dao street is filled with upmarket restaurants, lounges, bars and nightclubs. Many are targeting Vietnamese, and more particularly the high-society (Hi-So). You may see some expats and tourists in some specific venues as well.

Below are some of the current hot-spots:

Bars:
Cosa Nostra: A classy, minimalist bar with concrete floors and walls. Comfortable leather sofas. 2 floors including a small terrace. Cheapest beer costs VND100,000. Closes at midnight.

Tadioto: Just next to Cosa Nostra, it is often considered one of the best bars in Hanoi (it was even featured in Time magazine). It is owned by a prominent Vietnamese-American artist who made it a hub for the chic bohemian crowd. A bit overrated in my opinion.

In front of Conifer Hotel, this elegant restaurant/lounge serves some of the best cocktails in the city. It is not too crowded so it is a fine choice to bring a date. VND290,000 for a signature cocktail (+ 20% tax and service!).

Clubs:
Camelia
Part of the Mélia Hotel in downtown Hanoi, it is perfect for having drinks with a group of friends. Eclectic music. Trendy design. Expensive. Chic Vietnamese and expat crowd over 40.

The Bank
A large, upmarket club with a New York vibe. Maybe the best pick-up spot to for Vietnamese girls in Hanoi (but beware the prostitutes). Recommended if you don't mind hearing commercial music.

The Breakfast Club: A new club attracting Vietnamese socialites. As I check their Facebook today, I see that they are closed temporarily due to landlord issues.

Elsewhere
Outside of these areas, there are many nightclubs, KTVs and beer clubs targeting Hanoi's middle to upper class. I've listed the most interesting on my Hanoi Nightlife map below.

Hanoi Nightlife Recommendations

Best "Vina House" Nightclubs with Sexy Dancers
Vina House, or Viet House, is a specialty of Vietnam which is just as remarkable as Banh Mi or Pho. It is a crossover between Pop Music and Techno with almost the same bassline on every track. Here is an example:
There are at least 15 Vina House nightclubs in downtown Hanoi, and I went to most of them. To be honest, it was a bit repetitive as they are not really different from one another.

Basically, they are all quite luxurious in appearance, with flashy lights, modern LED displays, high tables and a few VIP corners. Vietnamese come in groups, sometimes only guys, sometimes with girls who could be their girlfriends or hookers.

There is a DJ, often a sexy girl, who mixes Vina House, and a male MC who shouts at the crowd between songs. The sound is always deafening (bring earplugs). In most places, you also have sexy dancers wearing a different uniform every night. For me it's the best part. The larger clubs have live music, unfortunately singing very boring Vietnamese pop.

Dress code: Guys will be expected to wear shoes and long pants. For girls, high heels and skirts are recommended, but as a foreigner you'll manage to enter without.

Those clubs are not recommended for clubbers who are 1) alone 2) penniless. Even though the entrance is free, you'll be expected to buy a bottle of alcohol (between VND1,000,000 and VND2,000,000 for the cheapest ones) if you want to get a table. The choice of drinks by the glass or by the bottle is limited and pricey (a beer will cost from VND100,000 to VND200,000). Typically, Vietnamese will also add a shisha and a fruit platter to their table. They don't really need it but it's all about showing off how much money you can spend.

The service is particularly attentive because all waiters expect a tip. Even when you go to the toilet the janitor will do everything he can to get a few dongs, from turning on the faucet to giving you a back massage.

The best Vina House nightclub I've been to in Hanoi is called Fame. It is packed any day of the week and features some of the hottest dancers in Vietnam.

Max 3 is my second favorite and it is close from the Old Quarter. Playboy Establishment is also recommended, especially with foreigners.

You can also read the reviews I wrote for CivilizeInfinityF Club and Q Club. More clubs I haven't been too but that are interesting: New Square, Nest, Ibars and Airport Exclusive Club.

Best Viet-Style Beer Gardens and Beer Bars
Unlike the ones in Thailand that are often laid-back, beer gardens in Vietnam resemble nightclubs and usually have a DJ/loud music. The only difference is that they are cheaper, they serve food and they are partially in the open-air.

The New Spinx Beer Bar is one of the most impressive I've seen in the whole country. It has a massive entrance resembling a temple, a staff dressed up with Egyptian costumes and a huge stage featuring live music acts, DJs and sexy dancers. Beer costs from VND40,000 for a glass of Tiger up to VND120,000 for imported Belgian beers. Sparta is similar, but with a Greek/Roman theme.

Closer from the tourist area, the famous beer club chain Vuvuzela has opened a branch near the Cathedral and another one in the Old Quarter. They close early though and they didn't seem to be so crowded when I passed by.

Best Live Music
Live band in 1900
For the usual Top 40 covers, Rumors near West Lake is fun, not too expensive and popular with foreigners. Local cafés PolygonAy or Swing also feature cover bands (sometimes singing in Vietnamese) in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Closer from the Old Quarter, The Doors has the favors of young students. Their drinks are cheap and they have live bands from Tuesday to Sunday (open mic on Thursday). Walking distance, RockStore has more varied bands but a more random schedule (check their Facebook). Idem with Hanoi Rock City.

For more specific genres:
Hard-rock, Metal: Rec Room.
Blues, Jazz: Binh Minh Jazz Club
Latin music, salsa, bachata, kizomba: Beso Latino

Rooftops
At the time of writing, there are only a handful of rooftop bars in Hanoi. The existing ones are not really happening but still OK for a drink. The most famous is The Rooftop Hanoi on the 19th floor of Pacific Place (VND190,000 for a cocktail).

Gay Bars
Golden Cock is the official gay bar in Hanoi. Located next to Polite Pub (the oldest in Hanoi), its sign only says "GC".

Birdcage (see description above) is not specifically gay but it is open-minded and popular with the lesbian and gay crowd.

You can check the Facebook page of Hanoi Panic for special LGBT events.

Late Night/After Hours Clubs
Even though there is an official curfew at 1AM, there are many places where you can party until sunrise.

After 1AM, many clubbers will head to Hero which closes at 3AM. For a more underground experience, I also recommend Savage club, but be careful as they won't let anyone in after 2.30AM (the party lasts until 4AM). On weekends only, Birdcage is open until 5AM.

In the Old Quarter, several small clubs and bars stay open after 1AM  until late, behind closed doors (to keep the police away). Temple Bar is open until 3AM. Tom's Bar until 4AM-5AM. Ball Bar 4 and Long Play (LP) until at least 5AM. 

Hotels near Hanoi Nightife
You can read my article Best (Girl-Friendly) Hotels near Hanoi Nightclubs for more details about the best places to stay in the city.

If you don't have time to read it, here is a quick summary:

The best location is anywhere near the Saint Joseph Cathedral. It is walking distance from almost everything including the airport shuttle, the train station, the Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Opera and the Old Quarter. 80% of the bars and clubs listed in this review are also within 2 kilometers.

Some of the best accommodation in this area are
→ More than $100 per night: The 5-star Apricot Hotel (home of Playboy Club)
→ Between $50 and $100: The Chi
 Under $30: Church Legend Hotel
→ Backpacker: Chien Hostel and Hanoi Backpacker Hostel are famous for being party hostels.

Girl-Friendly hotels
Since many hotels in Hanoi are not girl-friendly (meaning they won't allow you to bring a girl to your rooms if she was not part of your initial booking), you may want to reserve a room in more open minded properties.

The chain A25 is reputed for offering short-time rooms (VND180,000 for 2 hours) and they have very reasonable prices (between $25 and $35) for overnight stay. There are several locations near the city center such as:

A25 Hotel – Luong Ngoc Quyen (walking distance from Ha Tien bars), A25 Hotel Phan Chu Trinh (Old Quarter), A25 Hotel - Mai Hac De (further but cheaper), A25 Hotel Phan Dinh Phung (near West Lake)

Hotels with Massage/Spa ++
What's even better than a girl-friendly hotel? A girl-friendly hotel that has an in-house spa ++. For instance:

→ Fortuna Hotel ($160 per night)
→ Oasis HotelBaoson Hotel and Hanoi Hotel (around $80 per night)
→ Windy Hotel ($40 per night).

NOTE: If you book using one of the links above, I will receive a small commission from Agoda. It does not affect the price you pay and it helps me run Jakarta100bars.

How to Meet Girls in Hanoi
Hanoi, just like Saigon, is one of the best cities in Southeast Asia to meet girls.

The first reason for that is that Vietnamese girls are keen to date foreigners, even when there is a 10-15 years age gap. They won't mind exchanging numbers or add you on Zalo (Vietnamese Whatsapp) after a short chit-chat. On the downside, many cannot speak any English and they are conservative (saving themselves for marriage). Don't expect to bring them to your hotel on the first night.

The second reason is that Hanoi seems to attract more female tourists than male ones (based on my observation). Unlike in Thailand, you won't see many hordes of single guys trying to bang anything that moves. The advantage of foreign girls is that they can be more easy to approach in clubs and more liberal-minded. On the downside, many are not as pretty as Vietnamese girls (in my opinion).

Best Pick Up Spots
The best bars and clubs to pick up girls in Hanoi are the following:

To hook up with foreign girls:
- Anywhere in Ha Tien street / Beer corner area (Local, Dragonfly, Tom's Bar, Prague, Temple)
- In backpacker bars (Chien Hostel and Hanoi Backpacker Party Hostel)

For both foreign and Vietnamese girls:
- 1900 Club
- The Bank
- Hero
- Camelia

For Vietnamese girls:
- Ball Bars
- The Doors
- Vina House nightclubs: Difficult unless you can speak Vietnamese. Most girls are either hostesses or accompanying guys.

Online Dating
Online dating is your best friend for hooking up in Hanoi as long as you use the appropriate websites/apps.

Tinder: Half the profiles are Vietnamese, half are foreign. It works well if you have nice pictures of yourself and if you are a good chatter (witty, funny and fast typer). Easy to get matches but a bit superficial. Girls residing in Hanoi may not be interested if you are only staying for a few days.

Vietnam Cupid: This is the best site for those looking for a more serious relationship with a Vietnamese girl. They have 500 to 1,000 girls online at anytime, most of whom are interested to meet a foreigner for marriage. I prefer it compared to Tinder because I can use it from my laptop and have more interesting conversations. It is also the best dating sites for those who are not living in Vietnam: Girls won't mind if you are living far away as long as you're serious.

Badoo and Skout: A mix between Vietnam Cupid and Tinder, but with less available girls and more prostitutes.

Zalo, WeChat and BeeTalk: These messaging apps have a "look around" feature allowing you to add girls who are located near from you. If you can speak Vietnamese, they are a goldmine. If not, it will be more difficult.

To maximize your chances, don't rely only one 1 app/site and don't hesitate to "cheat" by upgrading to premium membership. The cost is usually reasonable (25$ for a month in Vietnam Cupid) and it will give you the edge over the competition.

Hanoi Nightlife Map

15 Famous Naughty Massage Parlors in Hanoi

$
0
0
Following my review about the 25 Best Massage Parlors in Saigon (one of my most read articles last year), I've decided to write the equivalent for Hanoi.

I haven't visited any of the venues listed below for two reasons: 1) I'm not really into spas 2) Hanoi is one of the easiest cities in the world to meet girls, either in nightclubs (see my Hanoi Nightlife Guide), or online through VietnameseCupid for instance.

Therefore, all the content of this article was taken from the internet, mostly on Vietnamese forums that a friend helped me translate. We double-checked every piece of information, but if you find a mistake please leave a message in the comment section below.
Here are the 15 most famous "happy ending" massage parlors in Hanoi:

Windy VIP Massage (Windy Hotel)
Windy offers soapy massages with sexual services, some of them involving your body being recovered with yogurt and being licked from head to toe. It is open every day from 7.30AM to 9.30PM.

There are three branches but the most reputed is Windy I, which is located behind Windy Hotel (same owner). If you are looking for a girl-friendly accommodation in Hanoi, it is a fine option as it remains within reasonable distance from the tourist center (10 minutes).
Price:
VND400,000-500,000 for the massage, VND500,000 for the girl (BJ)
For threesome or foursome, you can pay VND100,000 extra + a tip to each girl.

Note about tips: These are the prices paid by Vietnamese guests. Girls will probably try to get a higher amount from you if you are a foreigner.

Addresses (3 branches as of 2017):
→ Windy I, Villa B9 Nguyen Thi Dinh, Hà Nội (4th Floor, behind Windy Hotel on 23 Thong Phong)
→ Windy II, 18 Ngõ 76 Duy Tân,  Hà Nội
→ Windy III, 265 Kim Nguu, Hà Nội

Emperor Men's Spa - TLT VIP Club
This spa seems to go by different names, either Emperor's Spa, Men's Spa PVT (Phan Văn Trị) or TLT VIP Club. Anyway, you can find it at 26 Phan Van Tri, about 3 kilometers from the Old Quarter. Many Vietnamese consider it is one of the best value massage parlors in Hanoi. No sex but blowjobs and HJ are performed. Open every day from 10AM to 12PM.

Prices:
Normal room: VND350,000 + VND300,000 tip
VIP Body Massage in Jacuzzi room: VND600,000 + VND500,000 tip
4 hand massage: Additional charge VND150,000 if you want a 4-hand massage.

Address:
24-26 Phan Văn Trị, Đống Đa, Hà Nội 
Phone number: 0422668855 
Email: tltvipclub@gmail.com

Facebook: TLT VIP Club
Website: TLT VIP Club

Also a branch in 118 Nguyen Khanh Toan which is called Men's Spa NKT (Phone number: 0422445599)

Blue Spa
Blue Spa is one of the nicest looking spas in Hanoi, yet its prices are reasonable compared to what you would pay in tourist hotels. The rooms are neat and clean, with a Japanese-inspired design and luxurious facilities.

You can expect to pay VND300,000 for the room (60 minutes) and VND500,000 to tip the girl (for HJ/BJ). If you prefer two girls, it will cost you VND500,000 for the room and VND1,000,000 to tip both. Open every day from 9AM to 1AM.

Address:
5/5 Nguyen Khanh Toan (next to Mai Spa)
Phone number: 043 35 33 888

Facebook: Blue Spa Massage Hanoi

Mai Spa
A massage parlor with about 20 girls, providing similar services as above. No sex available but torrid, naked, body to body massages that won't leave any part of your body untouched. Closest experience from a soapie massage in Hanoi.

Price:
VND400,000 for 90 minutes ; 500,000VND for 120 minutes, VND600,000 for a threesome.
Additional tip around VND500,000 to VND800,000 per girl depending on your requests.

Address:
47/5 Nguyễn Khánh Toàn
Phone number: 09 133 6 5555

Oasis Massage
Three unassuming massage parlors, one of which is across the infamous Fortuna Hotel. Popular with foreigners looking to be treated like kings.

The VIP massage is the most recommended service. Done in a room with a jacuzzi, you will be bathed and washed from head to toe by a young Vietnamese therapist. She will then massage you and then, depending on your tip, she will give you a happy ending (no sex). Some girls may also agree to a topless massage if you are generous.

Note: Oasis 1 Spa is located inside Oasis Hotel. It is a 3-star property with poor ratings (6/10 on Agoda), but it is girl-friendly and convenient as you can have your massage in your room. You can get one night for less than $60 on HotelsCombined.
Prices:
VIP Massage: VND600,000 for 90 minutes + tip (VND500,000 for HJ to VND1,000,000 for BJ)

Address:
Oasis 1, 19 Lang Ha,  Hà Nội (Phone number: +84 4 35143 888)
Oasis 2, 77 Cau Dat, Hà Nội (seems to be closed)
Oasis 3, 56 Nguyễn Khang, Hà Nội

Sakura Club
Sakura Spa is a popular massage parlor chain, even with foreigners (mainly Japanese and Koreans). It is pricier than average but the facilities are clean and comfortable. The VIP rooms feature AC, comfortable beds, showers and a jacuzzi. Sauna available. Open every day from 10AM to midnight

Prices:
Hand job and boob job: VND400,000 + VND500,000 tip
VIP Body Massage in Jacuzzi room with blowjob: VND600,000 + VND1,000,000 tip
You can also request two girls for a more naughty session.

Branch addresses:
→ 39 Vũ Thạnh, Đống Đa, Hà Nội (Phone number 04 38 51 45 14)
→ 217 Âu Cơ, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội (Phone number 04 37 18 31 06)
→ 6 Đội Nhân, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
→ 175 Quan Hoa, Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội (newest branch)

Facebook: Sakura Spa Hanoi
Book: +84 94 323 33 86
Fortuna (with Boss KTV)
4-star Fortuna Hotel is home to one of the most famous massage parlors "plus plus" in Hanoi, at least among foreigners. It is called "De Palace Spa" and in the same building you'll also find a karaoke called "Boss KTV".

Even though Fortuna is pricier than anywhere else, it is popular because it is within a safe and comfortable environment. Another reason is that girls are prettier than average and you can take them to your hotel room for a price between $150 and $200 all inclusive (yes i do mean sex). These prices are valid for both the spa and the karaoke.

De Palace Spa does not look as good as its name would suggest, but you'll forget about it once your head will be pressed into a pillow. The room costs about VND600,000 and you need to tip your therapist an extra VND500,000-1,000,000 for HJ or BJ.

BOSS KTV is expensive and mostly crowded with Asian guests. Renting a room with hostesses for 4 people + drinking + tips will cost you at least $600 for the evening (more if you are planning to sleep with one of your lady companions).

Note: Wealthy visitors of Hanoi may be interested to book a hotel room in Fortuna. Indeed, you are allowed to order a therapist from the spa or a hostess from the karaoke to meet you in your room directly. It is a discreet way to sleep with a prostitute, yet expensive (more than $150 for the sex + hotel room around $110 on Agoda). You can also try to book cheaper on HotelsCombined (I've seen prices as low as 72$ there - check here Fortuna Hotel Hanoi) and settles for a handjob only (about $75 in total).
Address:
6B Lang Ha, Hanoi
Phone number: +84 4 831 3333

Hanoi Hotel is famous for having both a KTV and a massage parlors. The KTV is called Hanoi Night Club and it can be considered a brothel. You can pick up prostitutes and take them out to your room for $100++ (short time) or $150++ (long time - overnight). It is similar to Boss Club in Fortuna Hotel).

The massage parlor is on the 1st floor. It has an entrance fee of around VND400,000 that allow you to use the facilities (steam room, jacuzzi) for free + a 45-minute massage.

You can sleep in Hanoi Hotel during your stay in the city. It has fair ratings (7,5/10 on Booking.com), it is within 10 minutes from the tourists sights, and the price is reasonable ($75/night).
Address:
8D Giang Vo, Hanoi
Phone number: +84 4 84 52270

Baoson International Hotel
Bao Son is a luxury hotel about 20 minutes from the historical center. Because of its casino, it receives many Chinese guests, particularly businessmen.

Their spa has good facilities including sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. Their massages are quite expensive though, from VND650,000 for 90 minutes to VND750,000 for 120 minutes. A tug job is possible for VND500,000 extra.

Apart from this, it is also a normal luxury hotel that you can book for your stay in Hanoi. Naturally, it is girl-friendly and you can request an in-room massage.
Address:
50 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Hanoi
Phone: + 84-4-3835 3536
Fax: + 84-4-3835 5678
Email: info@baosonhotels.com 

Moscow Sauna Club
Moscow Sauna Club is mainly popular because it allows you to enjoy a hot tub session with 1 or more girls of your choosing. For this reason, it is recommended to come with a few friends to make it really fun. The girls wear a bikini but you can fool around a bit as long as you don't get caught. Once you are done with your soaking, the massage is average but it ends happily.

It is located within a reasonable taxi ride from both West Lake and Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

Prices:
VND500,000 for normal session
VND600,000 for "sauna" session
VND400,000-600,000 for tip

Address:
11/11, F361 An Dương, Ho Tay, Hà Nội
Tel: 04 3829 1748
Website: Moscow Sauna Club Hanoi

Kingston
Located near from the Old Quarter, this spa is a bit run down and a bit of a tourist trap. If you are not interested to explore Hanoi's outer district, it is decent enough though. 

Address:
53B, Hang Chuoi

Prices:
90 minute massage: VND430,000
120 minute massage: VND600,000
If you want extra service (generally only handjob), you will need to give a tip to the girl between VND400,000 and VND800,000.

Geisha
This is a luxury spa plus plus, but it is quite far from the city center and I cannot confirm if it is still open or not. According to online field reports, it is similar to Men's Spa TLT. Massage alone is VND400,000 + tips from VND300,000 (HJ) to VND500,000 (nudity + BJ).

Address:
10/55 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng, Hanoi
Phone number: 08 68 225 228
Website: Geisha Hanoi

Taiwan Nightlife: 12 Best Nightclubs in Taipei (2017)

$
0
0
Taipei nightlife is considered by many expats as the one of the best in all Asia. It is a combination of the best things the region has to offer: Modern venues, reasonable prices, friendly people and approachable girls.

The number of nightclubs is limited though. Many are only open 3 nights a week on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Wednesdays are actually getting more and more quiet, even with lower entrance fees.

There are surprisingly few Westerners in Taipei and as a result you will get more attention from normal girls compared to Singapore or even Bangkok (not to the level of Jakarta though).

Where to Party in Taipei + Hotels
A particularity of Taipei's nightlife is that almost all the interesting bars and nightclubs are located in the central area, near the Taipei 101 Tower. Two nearby complexes have several clubs: ATT4FUN and NEO19. If you are lazy to read my article, you could actually just go there, enter one of these buildings and start partying in a random club immediately.

It is a good idea to choose a hotel near near the Taipei 101 Tower. Below is a selection of the best ones:

Luxury/5-star ($300/night): Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza or Grand Hyatt
4-star ($100/night): Pacific Business Hotel
3-star/2-star (under $100/night): Fu Hau Hotel
Dormitory/Backpacker: Work Inn 101

Even if you stay further from the city center, you have an efficient MRT system that can take you in the clubbing area quickly. Just make sure that you are within reach of Taipei City Hall MRT Station or Taipei 101 MRT Station (last train around midnight though so you'll need a cab on the way back).

Quick Tips on Taipei Nightlife
Smoking
At the time of writing, it is allowed for people to smoke inside clubs. I noticed tons of girls are smoking in Taipei, which is uncommon in Asia.

Dress code
Even though some clubs allow it, don't wear shorts and sandals. You will be immediately branded as a tourist. It will not help you with girls nor to socialize. Some venues like Wave will also give you a discounted entrance fee for wearing a collar shirt (or a one-piece skirt for women).

Prices
Mixed alcoholic drinks on average: 200 TWD, Cocktails 300 TWD, Entrance Fee between 500 TWD and 1000 TWD (with 1 or 2 free drinks). You can often get a free entry by showing up before midnight or 11pm. Most ladies nights are on Wednesdays.

Several nightclubs like Wave or Babe 18 have cheap all-you-can-drink entrance.

Bottles and tables
Many Taipei nightclubs will suck if you don't have your own table, particularly Myst, Elektro and Omni. You have a minimum charge system, meaning to get a table you must spend at least a certain amount of money.

The best venues will ask around 15,000 TWD for 10 people on weekends. If your budget is tight, you can go during the week instead and pay half of that.

If you drink a lot, bottles are really an economical way to spend the night. It is also a huge plus with girls since many are just dying to get invited to a table and drink for free.

Prostitution
Taipei nightlife is quite clean. Few prostitutes, few naughty places. Fortunately, most clubs have sexy dancers.

ID
Important - You should bring always bring an official photo ID with you, even if you look 45. Bouncers will ask you for it. Police ID checks also happen from time to time.

Drinking
Taiwanese, both girls and guys, get pretty wild inside clubs. They often drink until they pass out. It is not rare to see someone throw up because he couldn't make it to the toilets.

As a foreigner, you should behave if you want to avoid problems, particularly in the streets.

Recommended Weekly Schedule
If you are in Taipei on a particular day, these are my party recommendations:

Monday: Vogas
Tuesday: Bravo
Wednesday: Elektro
Thursday: Lava, Brass Monkey (it's a bar but you have a ladies night with a DJ)
Friday and Saturday: You can take your chances anywhere.
Sunday: Babe 18 or Lava

Recommended Bars and Lounges for pre-party drinking:
Marquee, Barcode, WOOTP

Expat Bars for Older Guys:
Carnegie, Brass Monkey

Best Nightclubs in Taipei:

Korner
Korner is the only club I know in the city that does not play EDM, Top 40 or Rn'B. As such, I feel it deserves to be on top of this personal list.

If you are an occasional clubber who wants to see beautiful people, spend money on bottles and listen to famous songs, you will not enjoy Korner (try instead Omni, Elektro, Myst or Room 18).

If you love hearing a good DJ who plays techno/minimal, then Korner is your place. It is similar to small clubs you would find in Europe, with a hipster design and an underground feel. The crowd is mixed with many expats, a few pretty girls and some Taiwanese guys as well. Most people come for dancing. I would guess that it's popular with LGBT.

Since Korner closes a little late, it can be considered Taipei's unofficial after club.

Contact:
B1, No. 200, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, Taiwan 116
Email: info@korner.com.tw

Facebook: Korner Nightclub Taiwan
Twitter: Korner Taipei

Opening Hours:
Wednesday and Thursday from 10pm to 2am
Friday and Saturday from 11.45pm to 5.30am

Entrance Fee:
From 100 TWD to 600 TWD depending on events. One drink included.

Elektro
Located in the ATT4FUN building, just in front of Taipei 101 Tower, Elektro is a huge and modern nightclub, one of the hottest in Taipei at the moment.

Previously called Sparks, it is often the first venue people will recommend for party in the city. The crowd is a mix of rich Taiwanese and expats, with plenty of sexy and open-minded girls. It is a place to show off so make sure you dress well and bring some cash.

Since the dancefloor is small and crowded, it is preferable to book a table and to fill it with drinks. You can expect to pay at least 10,000 TWD on weekends for a group of 10 people. If you are alone or you can't afford a table, expect to be squeezed and to wait a while to get your drinks at the bar.

The best time to go to Elektro is after 2am, so you can try a few other nightclubs before visiting it. The DJs will play commercial EDM and you'll have sexy dancers every 30 minutes.

Contact:
ATT 4 FUN, Taipei, Taiwan, 110
Phone number: +886 27737 9887


Opening Hours:
Wednesday and Thursday from 10pm to 3.30am
Friday and Saturday from 10pm to 4.30am

Entrance fee:
700 TWD with 2 free drinks on weekends
Ladies night on Wednesday. Free for girls.

Room 18
This club was renovated in 2014 and it is the best one in the Neo 19 building. It is not as crowded as Myst or Elektro so it can be a good alternative to ATT4FUN if you are looking for a more laid-back club.

You have a main room with a very impressive design where most people party. The DJs play EDM and commercial songs there. You also have a more quiet lounge and a rooftop.

Contact:
Songshou Road No22, Xinyi District, Taipei 110
Phone number: +88 6 958 1111 88

Facebook: Room 18 Taipei
Website: http://www.room18.com.tw

Opening Hours:
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10.30pm to 4.30am

Entrance Fee:
700 TWD with 2 free drinks. Ladies night every Wednesday (Free entry for ladies and free drinks before midnight).

Myst
Located inside ATT4FUN, it is one of the most famous nightclubs in Taiwan. So famous that it was actually featured in the movie Lucy with Scarlett Johansson. It is expensive, yet it manages to be completely packed on weekends. Wednesdays (ladies night) is a busy night as well (you can get in for free before 11pm). 

Crowded with foreigners, Myst has 3 rooms: The main one has the largest dancefloor in Taipei and DJs who play EDM, Top 40, House music. The second one is more intimate with mostly sofas and a bar. They have hip hop, Rn'B and old school music. Expat tend to prefer that one. The third one is a VIP room.

If you are more than 7-8 people, order a bottle to avoid being squeezed on the dancefloor. You'll also save money. Minimum table spending on Wednesdays is 6,000 TWD (10 people) and on weekends 15,000 TWD (10 people).

A few times during the nights, you will see amazingly sexy dancers perform on the podium. It might be the closest thing to gogo dancing in Taipei. They even have male dancers.

Contact:
9F, No. 12, Song Shou Road, Taipei, Taiwan 110
Phone number: 09 83 803 388
Email: info@omni-taipei.com

Website: Myst Taipei

Opening Hours:
Wednesday from 10pm to 4am
Friday and Saturday from 10pm to 4.30am

Email: kevin@club-myst.com
Phone number: +88 6 958914 777

Entrance Fee:
Wednesdays: 600 TWD for men and free for ladies. Girls get free cocktails before 12pm.
Weekends: 700-1000 TWD (with two drink included).
Alcoholic drinks from 250 TWD.

Omni
Omni is a very impressive nightclub with an award-winning design (360° LCD panel circling the club, plenty of lasers and fog, etc), an amazing sound system and a list of already several famous guest DJs (Hardwell, Skrillex, Dash Berlin, etc...).

It is a money-making business though, and money comes from tables/bottle service. If you are just a dude by yourself ordering whisky-coke at the bar, you won't feel very special and comfortable. I'd recommend Omni if you are coming with friends and don't mind spending a few hundred US dollars for the night. Bottles at 150US$. When you order champagne, sexy sailor girls will bring it to you with firecrackers.

Music is almost always EDM/trance/house. For DJs, their reference is the DJ Mag Top 100. They have some hip hops nights too. Many foreigners and foreign-friendly girls. 

Contact:
106, Taiwan, Taipei City, Da’an District, Section 4, Zhongxiao E Rd, 201
Phone number: 09 83 803 388
Email: info@omni-taipei.com

Website: Omni Taipei

Opening Hours:
Wednesday from 10.30pm to 4.30am
Friday and Saturday from 10.30pm to 4.30am

Entrance Fee:
800 TWD (on average)

Halo
This nightclub in ATT4FUN is free and more easy-going than nearby Myst or Elektro. I'd recommend it if you are alone as you don't really need to book a table to enjoy it. Also, you have a nice balcony with a great view on the Taipei 101 Tower where it's easy to meet other people.

The music is not really my thing though as they play mostly Rn'B and Top 40 hits. It's not so busy on Wednesdays.

Contact:
8th Floor, ATT4FUN, Taiwan 110
Phone number: 02 7737 9908

Facebook: Halo Taipei
Website: http://www.halo-taipei.com.tw

Opening Hours:
Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10pm

Entrance Fee:
Normally free except for special events. Drinks inside around 300 TWD for cocktail.

The Beat
In the location of the Roxy bar, The Beat was opened in mid-2016 and it is specializing in hip-hop, Rn'B, old school and retro music. They also have house and latin themed nights. It's already popular. Many girls looking to meet foreigners. Prices are cheap.

Contact:
Fuxing S Rd, 27, B2, Taipei, Taiwan 106
Phone number: +88 6 925 177477

Facebook: The Beat Nightclub Taipei

Opening Hours:
Friday and Saturday from 10pm to 4am

Entrance Fee:
300 TWD after 11pm (200 TWD before) with 1 free drink.

Best All-You-Can Drink Nightclubs in Taipei

Taipei has several nightclubs where you can drink for free all night when you pay an entrance fee. It is only valid for some of the drinks and you should be careful not to lose your glass. The crowd in such places is generally younger and not so sophisticated. In terms of value, it is excellent if you are a heavy drinker.

Babe 18
Located in Neo19 complex, Babe 18 is a club popular among younger Taiwanese, mostly because of its all-you-can-drink concept. Many foreigners on a budget go there as well. It is quite messy and not really stylish. You'll probably see a few people pass out during the night. If all you want is to get crazy drunk and dance, it's not a bad place. The best night is on Sunday as other clubs are closed. Music is hip hop and Rn'B.

Contact:
Songshou Road No22, Xinyi District, Taipei 110
Phone number: +88 6 930 78 5018

Facebook: Taipei Babe 18

Opening Hours:
From Wednesday to Sunday from 10pm to 4am

Entrance Fee:

Wednesday:
Ladies: Free before 11.30pm, 300 TWD after
Guys: 400 TWD before 11.30pm, 600 TWD after

Thursday:
Ladies: Free before midnight, 200 TWD after
Guys: 600 TWD all night

Friday and Saturday:
Ladies: 400 TWD
Guys: 700 TWD

Sunday:
Ladies: Free before 11.30pm, 250 TWD after
Men 550 TWD (200 TWD discount for Taiwanese students before 11.30pm)

Vogas
Vogas is one of the hottest nightclubs for young, rich Taiwanese. It is busy every night, including on Mondays. One of their best features is their sexy shows (by both girls and guys). Many sexy girls but most don't seem to be into foreigners. 

Contact:
B1, Songde Road, 171, Xinyi District, 
Phone number: +88 69 09 600 123

Facebook: Vogas Taipei

Opening Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 10pm to 4am

Entrance Fee:
800 TWD for men and 500 TWD for women

Bravo
Bravo is another venue with an all-you-can-drink offer. It is mostly crowded with students, almost all of which are Taiwanese. The main reason to visit is that it is the busiest club in Taipei on Tuesdays (ladies' night). Sexy dancers and gogo boys.

Contact:
No. 217, Section 3, Nanjing E Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan 104
Phone number: 0938-128-188

Opening Hours:
Tuesday from 10.30pm to 4am
Friday and Saturday from 10.30pm to 4am

Entrance Fee:
Tuesdays: 600 TWD for men and 200 TWD for women with free flow alcohol
Weekends: 800 TWD for men and 500 TWD for women

Wave
Self-proclaimed the best open bar in Taipei, Wave is one of the nightclubs located ATT4FUN (next to Myst). It isn't that crowded and happening, but if you are hoping to get drunk with a small budget, this is the place. Mostly a Taiwanese male crowd.

The music is EDM and house. Sometimes hip hop. Sexy dancers.

Contact:
No. 12, Songshou Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Phone number: 0911 439 897

Facebook: Wave Club Taipei

Opening Hours:
From Tuesday to Sunday from 10pm to 4am

Entrance fee:
The entrance fee allows you to a free selection of drinks. They offer a discount if you come before 11pm. The trick is that you have to be inside the club at that time, which can be difficult considering the queues.

Every day before 11pm: Free for ladies, 400-500 TWD for men
Weekdays after 11pm: 700 TWD for men and 400 TWD for women
Friday and Saturday after 11pm: 800 TWD for men and 500 TWD for women
You can get a small discount on Saturdays if you dress up (collar shirts for men and one piece dress for women)

Lava
Lava is an upmarket version of Babe 18, but with much less foreigners. They have commercial music. Sexy dancer competition on Saturdays.

Contact:
B1, Songshou Road No22, Xinyi, Taipei 110, Taiwan
Phone number: +88 6 922 500 420

Website: Lava Taiwan Nightlife
Facebook: Lava Nightclub Taipei

Opening Hours:
Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10.30pm to 4am
Friday and Saturday from 10.30pm to 4.30am

Entrance fee:
During the week, all you can drink for 700 TWD for guys and 400 TWD for girls (100 TWD discount on Sundays)

During the weekend, 700 TWD for 1 drink, 1000 TWD for 3 drinks

Box
Previously called Wax, Box has a terrible reputation for being low-class, yet it is quite popular. It is a small, foreigner-friendly nightclub, especially to the young ones studying in the nearby National Taiwan University. It's not very sophisticated but still decent in terms of design and facilities. The crowd gets drunk quickly and by the end of the night, the club turns into a total mess.

I would only recommend if you are in your early 20s and on a strict budget. Music is Top 40 and Rn'B. Single guys may find opportunities for one-night-stands.

Contact:
67 Roosevelt Road, Sec. 2, Taipei, Taiwan 106
Phone number: 02 3365 30 41

Facebook: Box Taipei

Opening Hours:
Wednesday from 10.30pm to 4am
Friday and Saturday from 10.30pm to 5am

Entrance Fee:
The normal fee is 700 TWD for guys and 500 TWD for girls. If you come before 11pm, you will get a 200 TWD discount. They have other promos for students and foreigners so bring your ID and student cards. Ladies night on Wednesday.

Photo Tribute: Taiwanese Sexy Dancers:
Taiwanese sexy dancers are one of the best part of Taipei nightlife. Let me convince you with a few more pictures:

How to Master Online Dating in Asia - 10 Great Tips

$
0
0
As a single guy who travels quite a lot (partly to write my Nightlife Guides), I have had plenty of opportunities to explore the online dating scene in Southeast Asia.

Online dating is probably the best way to meet girls in the region. Even an average-looking guy with limited social skills can manage to date pretty girls here as long as he knows how to play the game.

In the following article, I will give you 10 practical tips on how to master online dating in Asia. These recommendations are easy to implement, almost effortless, and yet they can make the difference between success and failure.

Most are based on my personal experiences, some were inspired by friends' stories and the rest is just common sense. You should also read my article Best Countries for Online Dating in Asia for more great tips on how to meet Asian girls.

If you feel I forgot to mention something important, please don't hesitate to leave a message in the comment section below.


→ Know the right dating websites and apps in Asia
You cannot be successful online if you don't use the right dating websites and apps. Some of them can be popular in a country, but terrible in another one. Badoo, for instance, is OK in the Philippines and Vietnam, but not in Malaysia or in Singapore (where OK Cupid works better).

It also depends on who you are and what you are looking for. Each website/app will usually target a specific demographic.

- Are you a young guy backpacking around Southeast Asia and looking for hook-ups? Use Tinder
- Are you a man living abroad looking for a serious Asian girlfriend? Use Asia Dating
- Are you a young expat looking for an upper-class girlfriend? Use Paktor

I give more details about this in my guide: Online Dating in Asia - Best Apps and Websites to Meet Girls (2017).
AsiaDating works well with older men looking for relationships  
→ Make sure you have some great but consensual pics
Your pictures are the most important part of your online profile. Having no pictures or just a few blurry ones is a recipe for disaster. Only desperate girls, ladyboys or prostitutes might be interested in an empty profile.

Upload at least 5 or 6 recent photos of you in a positive environment. Ideally, 4 pics of you alone (traveling, outdoor, at a restaurant, etc - something that could spark a conversation) and 2 pics with family or friends. Make sure that you are smiling and that you don't look creepy. Looking at your photos, a girl must think: "I want to be with that man".

Photos to avoid: Selfies in general and particularly in the bathroom, nude torsos, gym pics, elephant riding, baby tiger cuddling, pictures of you next to your motorbike or your car (or even worse, next to a car that does not belong to you).

I understand that some guys don't like to put a picture of their face for privacy reasons (because they are already in a relationship, scared to be seen by colleagues, etc). If you are in this situation, then the solution is to use non-traditional dating websites/apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Beetalk, WeChat, etc. I talk about all these in Best Apps to Meet Girls in Asia (2017).

→ Spend time writing a bio for your profile
Make the effort to write at least one paragraph with those key elements:  Who you are - What do you like (mention 2 or 3 sports, hobbies, TV shows, singers, books or movies) - What is attractive about you (you cook, you read, you travel, you play an instrument, etc) - What kind of girl you are looking for (and for what kind of relationship).

Avoid self-deprecating ("I'm just an average guy", etc), bragging ("You won't find a better guy"), complaining about your previous relationships, negativity ("I don't like ...).

Don't talk about money ("I own...") unless you want to attract all the worst gold diggers.

An easy and cheap way to create a bio is to use Fiverr. On this website, there are hundreds of girls and guys who can help you write it for just $5. Just search for "dating" or "tinder" and you'll see plenty of interesting offers.

→ Adapt your profile and conversations to Asian culture
While being sarcastic or ironic is common in Europe, it might not always be well interpreted in Asia. Only use it cautiously with girls who are westernized.

In general, I would say that Asian girls don't really care if your bio is funny, witty or original. Instead, they will prefer someone who can make them feel comfortable. This means someone who is not judgemental, not weird, not blunt, and not acting like a playboy.

→ Invest in a sim card
In Asia, you can normally buy a sim card with 1 month of mobile data for less than $10. Being always connected allows you to reply as soon as a girl messages you or matches with you.

You need to be aware that the prettiest girls receive hundreds of messages every week and that they never reply to all of them.

Why they'll reply to some guys and not to other ones is often a question of timing. As we say in France, "you have to hit the iron while it's hot". If you initiate a conversation right after you've been matched, at a time when she still remembers your profile, then she is most likely to answer.  If you need 2 hours to do so, then she'll probably find someone else to talk to in the meantime.

→ Use multiple apps and websites
Most guys I know make the mistake of using only 1 dating app or website. Typically, they will set up strict filters (age, mensuration, distance, etc), then as they only get a few matches, they slowly remove the filters to increase their success rate.

But the truth is they are actually lowering their standards when they could just use other dating sites and apps.

→ Spend some money (if you can afford it)
When you arrive in a new location, don't hesitate to spend a little money to boost your profile or to upgrade your membership. The idea is to get the largest number of quality matches possible, and then to select the best ones for chatting.

→ Use the pipeline strategy (for tourists or travelers)
Tourists and travelers who arrive in a new city must generally face the same question from girls: "Do you actually live here?". If you say that no, you are only in town for a couple days, you can expect the chat to end almost immediately.

Some guys use the pipelining strategy to prevent this issue. They anticipate their trips weeks or days in advance, developing online relationships with a few girls they like. They slowly build excitement (often with bullshit), until they finally arrive in Asia.

This technique can really help you skip steps but it takes time and preparation. It is particularly effective with websites belonging to the Cupid Media network (AsianDatingThaiCupidVietnamCupid, etc). Girls on these sites are looking for foreigners and they generally don't mind chatting with someone who is far away.
→ Be efficient and decisive
Being efficient means having high-quality dates with great girls without spending hours or days online chasing them.

In general, after 15 minutes of chatting, you should be able to ask a girl's Whatsapp, Line or WeChat number. This will allow you to either make a phone call or better, a video call.

A video call is an excellent way to make things move forward.

First, it allows you to make sure that the person you are talking to is not fake, not lying about her age, not a ladyboy, and not using photoshopped pics. Within seconds, you will know if this is a girl you want to meet or not.

Second, it builds intimacy. By hearing your voice and seeing you in real, it will be easier for a girl to trust you and to accept a physical encounter. Seize the opportunity and just ask her out directly before ending the call.

Note: Take a video call as seriously as a real date. Make sure you look fresh, with at least a t-shirt on, and tidy up your place.

→ Stay in a strategic location
You should always stay in a hip, central area with plenty of cafés and bars around where you can invite your dates. You can read my Asia Nightlife Guide to help you with that as I always include a selection of the best hotels near the nightlife.

Do you have online dating tips as well? Please don't hesitate to share them in the comment section below!

15 Best Dating Apps and Websites to Meet Asian Girls (2017)

$
0
0
The key to successfully meeting girls in Asia is to master the right dating apps and websites.

The first step for that is to familiarize yourself with the different options available and to understand the strengths/weaknesses of each.

It is also important to know the specificities of each Asian country. Some apps or websites can be popular in Thailand but completely useless in the Philippines and vice versa. 

There are 6 different types of online tools that you can use for meeting new girls in Asia:

Location-based apps on mobile only
An app that lets you find girls around you (for instance Tinder or Paktor).

Dating/Matchmaking websites on desktop only
A website that connects you with selected profiles living in a certain area (for instance AsianDatingThaiCupidVietnamCupidFilipinoCupid, etc).

Dating websites on desktop with a corresponding mobile app
A service with both an app and a website (for instance ThaiFriendlyPinaLove, Badoo, Skout, OK Cupid)

Messaging apps
An app primarily used for communicating with friends, but with a "look around" feature that allows you to meet new people (for instance WeChat or BeeTalk)

Social media
A social network that can be used for meeting girls if you know how to play it right (for instance Instagram, Facebook or Bigo Live).

Niche websites or apps
These cater to a specific group of people, for instance Muslims (Muslima), gays (Grindr), men interested in ladyboys (MyLadyBoyDate), swingers (AdultFriendFinder), sugar daddies and sugar babies (SeekingArrangement.com), etc.

In the following review, I will rank the best dating apps and websites in Asia. I tried each one in every country during my travels (while writing my Asia Nightlife Guides).

I will start with the ones that work well everywhere, and then give you a few more that are specific to some countries.

Apps/websites that work well in most countries
These apps and website below are generally popular in every Asian country. In Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, they are the only one that you can use.

Tinder
Tinder is the most widely-used dating app in Asia, especially among educated women and foreign girls. Most of its features are free, but you may want to pay a little extra to get more matches or to change your location.

Personally, I'm not a big fan. The problem with Tinder in Asia is easy to understand. It is an app that was originally designed for Americans to hook up: You match, you exchange a few jokes, you set up a date. It was supposed to be fast and efficient.

In Asia, since hooking up and one-night stands are not widely accepted (the most common profile sentence is "If you are looking for hook-up swipe left), things move much slower. You need to spend more time chatting and based on my experience, it often leads to nothing. After a few messages exchanged, she or you will get bored, and then you forget about her because you've got 10 new matches.

Pros:
- Mostly free
- Very popular among English-speaking and upper-class girls
- Great for meeting Western girls
- Fun and easy to use
- Ideal for good-looking guys between 18-40

Cons:
- Lots of competition from other guys
- Hard to keep a long and meaningful conversation
- You need to be able to type fast on a mobile phone
- Tourists are often labeled as "not serious" and ignored
- A lot of girls will match with you yet they won't reply your messages
- Superficial: Being good-looking is the number one factor of success (a nicely written profile is number 2)

Asia Dating
Click to Try AsiaDating for Free
The AsianDating website is part of the Cupid network and as such, it benefits from a huge database of girls in every country. On average, it has over 2,000 women online at any time, especially girls living in the Philippines, in Indonesia, in Thailand, and in Vietnam. They are openly looking for a foreign husband or boyfriend.

It is pretty much the opposite of Tinder. Many users are still corresponding through emails, sometimes for weeks before deciding to meet. Girls won't mind if you are still in your home country as long as you have a plan to visit them in Southeast Asia.

As with most websites, the registration is free but you will need to pay extra to access better features.

Pros:
AsianDating is clearly marketed as a dating website for Asian girls looking to meet foreigners
- Great for guys who are not yet in Asia and with older guys
- Allows for deeper conversations and connections
- Matchmaking features to help you find specific types of girls

Cons:
- The free version is limited so you need to upgrade to the premium one rather quickly

If you are interested in girls from one specific Asian country only, then it is better to subscribe to:
→ ThaiCupid for Thai girls
→ VietnamCupid for Vietnamese girls
→ IndonesianCupid for Indonesian girls
→ FilipinoCupid for Filipinas

Paktor
A profile on Paktor app
Paktor is a dating app originally from Singapore. It is very similar to Tinder, with a few cool additional features (for instance, you can hide your profile from your Facebook friends or you can send digital gifts).

It is the most popular app among young "Chinese" from Southeast Asia: Indo-Chinese, Malaysian-Chinese, Singaporean-Chinese, etc.

Pros:
- Young upper-class girls (Hi-So)
- Very user-friendly and fun to use
- Ideal for guys between 18 and 25
- Many active profiles

Cons:
- You can't do much without being a member ($20/month)
- Many girls seem to be looking for guys from the same ethnicity/background

Skout and Badoo
Skout and Badoo are dating websites that also have their own location-based apps. They are quite similar in terms of popularity and crowd. They are particularly big in Indonesia, in Vietnam and in the Philippines, where they are used by middle-class women and men. Among them, many will be unable to speak English. On Badoo especially, I've noticed that there is a significant number of prostitutes (or at least girls who are looking for a sponsor).

Both Skout and Badoo are free but you will be limited if you don't buy at least a few credits or a membership.

Pros:
- Mostly free
- Very popular, there are always hundreds of girls online
- You can match with a girl on the mobile app, then chat with her from your laptop

Cons:
- As it is free, lot of other guys are using it and you'll probably need to pay extra money to stand out from the crowd
- Many prostitutes and fake profiles

Instagram
Instagram is an awesome way to meet girls online, but it is also the one that requires the most efforts. To be successful on this social network, obviously, you need an interesting account with pictures that demonstrate you have an awesome life (lots of travel, dining, hotels, parties and friends pictures). I would say you also need to have at least 500 followers.

Once you've reach this level, you can start following the accounts of girls you like, then comment on their pictures, until they finally notice you. Once you're allowed to chat with them, just exchange WhatsApp numbers.

Pros:
- Completely free
- Millions of Asian girls use Instagram every day including local celebrities and socialites
- It allows you to approach girls who are not using dating sites

Cons:
- Time-consuming

WeChat and BeeTalk
WeChat, Line and BeeTalk are messaging apps, respectively from China and Korea, with a "look around" feature.

This feature allows its users to search and talk to strangers who are located within a short distance from them.

Pros:
- 100% free
- Many girls online, especially in large cities
- WeChat and Beetalk are not really considered "dating apps" so u can use them without arousing suspicions (if you are already in a relationship)

Cons:
- Few girls will reply to you or accept your chat requests
- English is rarely spoken
- 90% of prostitutes and ladyboys on WeChat

Apps/websites for specific countries:
Some apps and websites only work in specific countries. In particular, you have each of the websites from the Cupid Network (IndonesianCupid, VietnamCupid, etc).

For more country-related advice, please read my article 10 Best Countries for Meeting Asian Girls Online.

Indonesia
IndonesianCupid has between 500 and 1,000 Indonesian girls online at anytime. It is a local version of AsianDating, meaning it is more suitable for older guys who prefer traditional dating sites (see above).

Vietnam
VietnamCupid has around 1,000 to 1,500 Vietnamese girls online at anytime. It is the Vietnamese version of AsianDating.

Philippines
FilipinoCupid is the most successful website of the Cupid group and it is the absolute best for meeting pretty Filipinas. There are between 3,000 and 6,000 women online at anytime, much more than its closest competitor PinaLove.

Thailand

The two best dating websites for meeting Thai girls are ThaiCupid (around 3,000 women online) and ThaiFriendly (up to 3,500).

Malaysia
MalaysianCupid is not that popular yet but you can still create an account and see if there are any girls you like. You can also try OKCupid.com.

Singapore
SingaporeLoveLinks is dedicated to the Singaporean market. OKCupid, Tinder and Paktor are much better though in terms of audience.

10 Best Countries in Asia to Meet Girls Online (2017)

$
0
0
Many Asian girls won't admit it but they are primarily looking for foreigners when using online dating apps and websites (if they weren't, why would they write their profiles in English?).

As a European or as an American, this means you will get much interest from girls and all that will translate into an incredible number of dating opportunities. If you have 1 or 2 matches per day on Tinder in your home country, you can expect to get at least 20 or 30 per day upon landing in Asia.

All guys have a different reaction to their newfound success. Some will go on a banging spree to compensate for years of sex drought. Others will become insanely picky, rejecting girls they would have dreamed of dating just a few months back. What is certain is that all of them feel much happier with this situation.

Each country in Asia has its own challenges though. First of all, you need to know what are the best dating websites/apps in the region. You can read my guide Best Dating Apps and Websites in Asia to help you with that.

Second, you need to know the characteristics of each countries: What are the girls like? How easy is it to date them? Do they accept an important age gap? Are they conservative or open-minded? What are the best cities for online dating? Etc.

The objective of this article is to answer those questions. If you still have some interrogations after reading it, please just leave a comment below and I'll do my best to help you with them.

These are the 10 best (easiest) countries in Asia to meet girls online:

1) Indonesia
It is simple to understand why Indonesia is the best country in Asia to meet girls. It has a population of 260 million people, among which an estimated 10 million are single girls from the middle class aged between 18 and 40. Considering there are less than 10,000 single male expats living in the country, that's about 1,000 single girls per foreigner.

In a city like Jakarta, you could probably spend your entire days dating and meeting girls, and yet you would still have to pass on great opportunities due to a lack of time.

Note that the situation in Bali is different than in the rest of the country. The number of foreigners is much higher and therefore the competition is more tense.

Pros
- Indonesian girls are exotic, fun, friendly, open-minded and easy-going.
- An age gap of up to 15 years between a man and a woman is common and accepted.
- Very high ratio of available girls / foreigner
- Contrary to stereotypes, Indonesian girls are not particularly conservative, especially in the main cities (Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali)
- Bahasa Indonesia, the local language, is easy to learn

Cons
- Some girls can be a bit overly religious. I also noticed there is an increasing number of girls wearing a veil which I don't find very attractive.
- Lack of tourist activities in the main cities, huge traffic jams.
- Higher cost of living (accommodation, food, alcohol) compared to Vietnam/Thailand
- Very few foreign girls online (except in Bali)

Best Cities/Provinces:
JakartaSurabayaBatamBaliYogyakarta

Best Dating Apps
Tinder, IndonesianCupid, Badoo, Skout, Beetalk, WeChat, Paktor


2) Philippines
The Philippines is basically a copy of Indonesia with a Spanish/American influence and Catholicism instead of Islam as the major religion.

The country attracts more foreigners, especially Asians (Koreans, Japanese), yet it is still a great destination for single guys.

Pros
- Some of the hottest girls in Asia (some with Latin and Western features)
- Easy to get plenty of matches and dates
- English widely spoken

Cons
- Many conservative girls (Catholic)
- Most large cities are boring
- Slow internet
- American way of life = Obesity is developing rapidly and at least 20% of girls are overweight

Best Cities/Provinces
ManilaCebu

Best Dating Apps
Tinder, FilipinoCupidPinaLove, Badoo, Skout

3) Vietnam
Vietnam has the reputation of having the most beautiful girls in Asia, but also the most conservative (I confirm both). While it is relatively easy to get a date with a local girl, you may struggle if you want to kiss her or sleep with her. They will politely tell you that they are keeping themselves for marriage, or at least for a serious relationship.

For this reason, Vietnam is not the best country for those looking for easy one-night stands. Instead, I would recommend it to guys who are searching for a serious girlfriend or a potential wife.

Pros
- The most beautiful girls in Asia: Slim, fair skin, feminine, classy (but often surgically-enhanced with fake boobs, fake nose, etc)
- An age gap of up to 20 years between a man and a woman is acceptable
- Easy to get at least a date in coffee shops, dessert houses, etc.
- A lot of interesting things to do for tourists in Hanoi or Saigon
- A higher education level compared to Indonesia, Thailand or the Philippines

Cons
- Conservative girls who often live with their parents until marriage
- English skills sometimes poor (and Vietnamese is hard to learn)
- Character is not as easy-going and fun as Filipinas or Indonesian girls.

Best Cities/Provinces
SaigonHanoi, Danang, Nha Trang

Best Dating Apps
Tinder, VietnamCupid, Badoo, Zalo, Beetalk

4) Singapore
Most likely, you won't meet a Singaporean girl in Singapore. However, you'll find it relatively easy to match with European, American, Australian, Indonesian or Filipino girls.

Pros
- Lots of girls from various nationalities and backgrounds
- Many highly-educated and independent women
- An enjoyable, yet expensive city

Cons
- Dining and drinking out is pricey
- Not that many good looking girls
- High competition among foreigners

Best City

Best Dating Apps
Tinder, Paktor, SingaporeLoveLinks, OKCupid

5) Thailand

Many foreigners assume that Thailand is great for meeting girls, but in reality the country is a disappointment.

As an expat or permanent resident, you will get plenty of opportunities with lower to middle-class girls. Rich girls may be harder to get, especially online.

As a tourist though, you will not be an interesting candidate except for older girls, prostitutes and ladyboys.

Pros
- Convenient and interesting country for foreigners and tourists (even larger cities)
- Open-minded, fun and hot girls
- Decent english skills

Cons
- High number of prostitutes and ladyboys
- A lot of competition among foreigners

Best Cities/Provinces:
BangkokChiang Mai, Isaan Province (Udon Thani). Avoid Pattaya and Phuket.

Best Dating Apps
Tinder, ThaiCupidThaiFriendly, Badoo, Skout

6) Taiwan
Sexy Taiwanese model Jennifer
For geopolitical reasons, the country has a positive view of foreigners, especially Americans and Europeans. As a result, girls are generally easy to approach and they make fantastic girlfriends.

Pros
- A lot of very educated, English-speaking, independent girls
- Rather low competition from other foreigners
- Great country for an expatriation

Cons
- 70% of the girls look like nerds/bookworms
- The most popular apps/websites are in Chinese

Best Cities/Provinces:
Taipei, Kaohsiung

Best Dating Apps
Tinder, Paktor, Skout, I-Part (in Chinese)

7) Cambodia
Hot Cambodian model Sunisa Kim
A few years ago when I first visited Cambodia, more than half the girls on dating sites were prostitutes, ladyboys or girls trying to find a way out of poverty. Things are much better today, as the middle class is slowly growing in size.

Pros
- Friendly, fun and genuine girls
- Low competition from other foreigners (usually older guys with limited financial means)

Cons
- Still quite many prostitutes and ladyboys online
- The number of middle class girls is still limited

Best Cities/Provinces:
Phnom Penh, Siem Reap

Best Dating Apps
Tinder, Badoo, Skout, AsianDating, Beetalk

8) Malaysia
Malaysia is an interesting country for guys who can't decide if they want to date Chinese, Indian, Malay, Indonesian, Filipino or Western girls. Another advantage is that Malaysian girls are often educated and they have decent salaries.

However, I've noticed that there is only a small number of girls on datings sites and apps. Also, on average I don't find them particularly attractive.

Pros
- Girls from different nationalities and ethnicities

Cons
- Not a large choice available on dating sites
- Many conservative and religious girls
- Some girls will not date guys outside of their ethnicity

Best Cities/Provinces:
Kuala Lumpur

Best Dating Apps
Tinder, Paktor, OKCupid, MalaysianCupid, Badoo

9) Myanmar
Burmese Model Khin Coco
Burmese girls are not very active yet on dating sites and apps, but the country is popular with female tourists. For this reason, it is relatively easy to meet Western girls over there, especially in Yangon and Mandalay.

Pros
- Many desperate Western girls
- Some interesting cities to visit

Cons
- Few Burmese girls online
- Poor internet

Best Cities/Provinces:
Yangon, Mandalay

Best Dating App
Tinder

10) Laos
Laotian model Eileen Khaosanga
Lao girls can be quite pretty, but you won't find many on dating sites. Even worse, it is officially forbidden for foreigners to date Lao girls.

Pros
- Some pretty girls
- Many female tourists and backpackers

Cons
- Conservative country

Best Cities/Provinces:
VientianeLuang PrabangVang Vieng

Best Dating App
Tinder

Note
I've not tried online dating in a few additional Asian countries like South Korea, Hong Kong and China, which is why they are not in this list. My plan is to visit them before the end of 2017 so I will update this review by then.

9 Best Things to Do at Night in Jakarta

$
0
0
I recently wrote about the best things to do in Jakarta. In the following review, I will be more specific and focus on night-time activities.

A cliché used to describe Jakarta is that of "a city that never sleeps." While this could apply to any major capitals in the world, I think it is particularly accurate here. There is always some kind of life in Jakarta, whatever the time and whatever the location.

It is quite logical considering the city has one of the highest population densities in the world. Another reason is that there are a lot of Indonesians working long shifts or night shifts, especially small business owners and independent workers. As long as money can be made, they won't close shop or go home. This is why you can always get food, cigarettes or a taxi ride at any time of the night.

For the traveler, the advantage of this situation is that there are a lot of things to do at night. Even better, if you go out after 9pm, you'll also enjoy less traffic, cooler temperatures and less pollution. 

The following list will give you some ideas on how to spend time after the sun sets in Jakarta. If you feel I forgot something, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below the article.

Street Food
Photo: Jonathan Perugia
Night-time is the best moment to go around and try some delicious Indonesian street food. Many of the small stalls on the sidewalk are actually only allowed to operate in the evening (to avoid disturbing pedestrians during the day).

My personal favorite location for street food in Jakarta is Jalan Mangga Besar, a red-light area busy with an eclectic mix of people. It's a great place to try some authentic Chinese food or some more unusual specialties like cobra and monkey.

If this is too far or too weird for you, Jalan Sabang and Jalan Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta are a good alternative. You'll also find many 24/7 restaurants in the area.

Rooftop Drinks
Photo: Sandrine VB
Jakarta is the 9th city with the most skyscrapers in the world and it is at night that the view is the most spectacular. The darkness hides all the city's flaws: The potholes, the dirt, the dust and the rust disappear, replaced by millions of colorful lights.

The best rooftops to enjoy the view of the skyline are Cloud or Skye. I give more recommendations in my review Top 10 Rooftop Bars in Jakarta as well. I also enjoy watching the city from the Burgundy Bar in Grand Hyatt even though it is not a rooftop.

Live Music, Theater and Concerts
Photo: Aura Kasih and Atika Dora
There are several great venues for listening to live music in Jakarta. Two of the most famous are B.A.T.S in Shangri-La and CJ's in Mulia. Both have a Western band playing Top 40 and pop/rock hits. They may not suit everyone's taste though as they attract a lot of working girls. Paulaner Brauhaus in Kempinski, Hard Rock Cafe in Pacific Place or Eastern Promise in Kemang are three more family-friendly options. I also like to visit the speakeasy Prohibition in Senayan Arcadia (make sure to check their secret live jazz room).

For cheaper drinks and a younger atmosphere, you can try any branches of Beer Garden.

In Menteng, Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) is an art complex popular with Indonesians. There are daily cultural performances (concerts, theater, movies, etc).

Clubbing and Karaoke
Normal clubs (meaning those that don't have a majority of prostitutes) are usually busy on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night. You can read about my favorites here: Best Nightclubs in Jakarta.

The other days of the week, only the more naughty places are crowded. Apart from BATS and CJs mentioned above, you can try the famous one-stop entertainment centers like Malioboro, Alexis, King Cross, Emporium or Golden Crown. The bar Club 36 is also always very lively. North Jakarta is also where several 24h karaokes can be found.

Cinemas
Jakarta has excellent and modern cinemas that cost about half what you would pay in Europe. The CGV-Blitz chain has movies until 10pm during the week and until midnight on weekends.


Massage and Spas
Some massage parlors and spas close rather late in Jakarta (and I'm not talking about the naughty ones), especially those located in 5-star hotels: Bimasena (Dharmawangsa Hotel) and Willow Stream (Fairmont) close at 11pm, the spa at the Ritz-Carlton Mega Kuningan is open until 12am.


Shopping
Photo: Pasar Bary by Art535
All the high-end shopping malls close at 10pm in Jakarta but there are some more traditional markets (pasar) that stay open 24 hours, for instance the fish market of Angke Muara and the flower markets of Cikini and Rawa Belong. Closer from the city center, you also have Pasar Senen and Pasar Mampang Prapatan.

Exercise
Photo: Jeremy Tobing
Running/cycling at night or very early in the morning is very common among fitness enthusiasts in Jakarta. It is a way to avoid the heat, the traffic and the pollution. Popular running spots include the Monas, the Senayan Stadium and Ragunan Zoo.

A good way to meet Indonesians is to join a running club. Indorunners run every Thursday starting 7.30pm from FX Mall in Senayan. On the same day, you can also join the Nike Run Club.

Amazingly, there are also some 24h gyms in Jakarta such as Rai Fitness in Senopati, Clark Hatch in Sari Pan Pacific Hotel (which I heard is a gay hangout) and Club Olympus in Grand Hyatt.

Night Tourism
Photo: Bunderan HI by Inguna
Many tourist sights in Jakarta can still be visited at night. Taman Fatahillah, the Monas, Ancol or the Kota Intan Bridge remain crowded until very late. They attract middle-class Indonesians, especially tourists, and all kind of street vendors. During Ramadhan, you can also visit the Istiqlal mosque all-night long.

Young Indonesians also like to hang out in some public areas like the Taman Suropati and Taman Menteng parks or around the Bunderan HI fountain.

Hotel Mercure Simatupang (Jakarta) - Hotel Review

$
0
0
In March 2017, I stayed for a long weekend in Mercure Simatupang in Cilandak (South Jakarta). The hotel is part of the Mercure brand, an international collection of midscale properties managed by the French group Accor.

TB Simatupang Road is considered the second business district in Jakarta after the Golden triangle (Sudirman - Gatot Subroto - Rasuna Said). It is growing fast, attracting large corporations from the Oil & Gas sector in particular. At the moment there are about 10 skyscrapers and probably just as many being constructed. It is not surprising that the largest station of the upcoming MRT project will be located in Lebak Bulus, just 500 meters from Mercure Simatupang. Works are still in progress and they can cause some traffic jams.

Naturally, the hotel caters mostly to a business crowd, including some long staying guests. It is conveniently located right on TB Simatupang Road, and also right on the Jakarta Outer Ring Road which connects the airport to Bekasi through South Jakarta.

On weekends, leisure guests take over. They enjoy the proximity to famous malls like CITOS (1,5 kilometers), Pondok Indah (5 kilometers) or Gandaria (9 kilometers). It is also relatively easy to visit other popular neighborhood in Jakarta: Kemang is 7 kilometers away and Blok M, 9 kilometers. Finally, Mercure is sandwiched between two golf courses, Propcon Cilandak (2 kilometers) and Pondok Indah Padang (5 kilometers). 

Nightlife near Mercure Simatupang
One of the strong points of Mercure Simatupang compared with its competitors is that there is a rooftop bar on its 19th floor.

Called Karumba Rooftop Rum Bar, it is a colorful venue with a Carribean theme, just next to the swimming pool. It does not get packed so it is nice for drinks from sunset to late evening. Rum cocktails are their specialties (Pina Colada, Cuba Libre, Punch, etc ≈ IDR100,000-120,000++ each). They have a DJ on Saturday and live music 3 nights per week (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday).
Later in the evening, you can move to CITOS mall (10 minutes by taxi). There are a few open-air cafés and, more importantly, Jenja Nightclub which I ranked number one in Jakarta in 2017.

Service and Welcome
As usual in Indonesia, the service in Mercure is professional and extremely friendly. To be honest, though, I didn't encounter any specific issues so my interactions with the staff were limited to polite greetings.

The check-in only took a few minutes and you get a complimentary drink voucher to use in one of the F&B outlets. In the room, a member of the housekeeping team will leave a welcome note on the bed with a number to call should you need anything.

During my stay, I met several times with the French GM. She is very active in the hotel and she is easy to talk to. Don't hesitate to ask her about the things to do nearby if you get the chance to see her.

Rooms
The hotel has 231 rooms designed in a modern style with a wooden floor and contemporary furniture. The only Indonesian touch is the drawing of daily life in Jakarta just above the bed. The rest corresponds to what you would expect from a 4-star hotel: A comfortable king-size bed, a flat-screen TV, a mini-fridge, quiet AC, fast WIFI, excellent soundproofing and a working desk. The only thing that I was missing was a bathtub.

Between the bedroom and the shower, there is a transparent glass wall that you can, fortunately, cover with a curtain in case you are sharing the room with a colleague.

There are 4 rooms categories with prices ranging from 85$ to 150$ per night: Standard, Superior, Privilege and One-Bedroom Suites. Apart from the difference in size, the latter have a small kitchen which can be very useful for long-stay guests.

Breakfast
The buffet breakfast is served in the Graffiti restaurant on the ground floor from 6AM to 10AM. As a French, I was happy to eat plenty of pastries like croissants, pains au chocolat and danishes. You also have a generous choice of Indonesian and Asian food, an egg station, toasts and jams, baguettes, pancakes, fruits, cereals, muesli, yogurts, cheese, etc.

Facilities

Massage:
There is no spa in Mercure but you can get a 60-minute in-room massage for only IDR195,000.

Restaurant:
Apart from Karumba Rooftop mentioned above, there is a coffee shop and a restaurant (Graffiti) on the ground floor.

Graffiti is a standard hotel restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere and affordable prices. Its international menu includes many of the world's favorite foods (pasta, pizza, steaks, soups, salads) and a wide selection of Indonesian dishes.

Gym
It is quite small but enough to keep you in shape. There is no treadmill so if you need to run I recommend to go to Ragunan Zoo instead (15 minutes by cab).

Swimming Pool
It is narrow as well, but it has the advantage of being next to Karumba bar. It is more for soaking than swimming.

Hotel Mercure Simatupang
Jalan RA Kartini No 18
12440, Lebak Bulus, Cilandak, South Jakarta
Phone number: +62-21 75999 777
Fax number: +62-21 75999 798
Email : H6680-RE@accor.com

Website: Mercure Hotel Simatupang - Jakarta
Instagram: Mercure Simatupang
Facebook: Mercure Simatupang Hotel

Karumba Rooftop Rum Bar - South Jakarta

$
0
0
While I was staying in Mercure Simatupang, I had the opportunity to try their rooftop rum bar, Karumba.

Located on the 19th floor of the hotel, it is a Carribean-themed venue with a more than 180° view of Jakarta's skyline. In particular, you can face the Central Business District and, in the late afternoon, the sunset.

It is a simple bar, semi-open, with a relaxing atmosphere. Everything is made to help you forget the daily stress of living in Jakarta: Laid-back music, smiling waiters and waitresses, colorful furniture and posters, and even a small swimming pool...

Based on my observations, it seems to be popular with Indonesian women. Many will come in large groups to celebrate birthdays, baby showers, weddings or "Arisan" (social gatherings).

The menu is international, with a zest of Latin American and Caribbean influence. While you have all the typical classics (pasta, pizza, salads, nasi goreng, etc), the favorites are more exotic specialties such as nachos, chimichangas, quesadillas, enchiladas or Jamaican skewers. On average, a meal in Karumba will cost you between IDR90,000++ and IDR130,000++.

The drink list is dominated by rum-based cocktails: El Presidente, Pina Colada, Cuba Libre or Mai Tai (from IDR95,000++ to IDR130,000++). If you come with a small group (or if you are a strong drinker), you can also order a full jug of punch (IDR400,000++). Local beers (Bintang) start at IDR60,000++.

There are live bands or DJs on most nights at 9PM (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday). I invite you to check the updated schedule on their Facebook page: Karumba Rooftop Rum Bar.

In any case, it rarely gets very crowded unless during special events. It isn't a party spot but instead, a place to chill and to hang out with friends. I would recommend especially for after-work drinks with colleagues or for a romantic date with your girlfriend.

As a woman, you may also want to try one of their new "Arisan" promotions:

→ IDR750,000++ (or IDR500,000++ without non-alcoholic pitcher) for Free Flow Sangria / Long Island / Beer with 2 complimentary sharing plates and a IDR150,000 meal voucher.

→ IDR125,000 for a set menu with 1 appetizer or dessert, 1 main course, 1 welcome drink.

Opening Hours:
Every day from noon to 1AM (or 2AM on weekends)

Mercure Jakarta Simatupang hotel
Jalan R.A. Kartini No. 18, Lebak Bulus, Cilandak, South Jakarta
Phone number: +62 21 75 999 777
Email: H6680-SM4@accor.com

Website: Karumba Rooftop Rum Bar - Jakarta or Karumba Jakarta
Facebook: Karumba Jakarta

Hooters (Jakarta)

$
0
0
When I first heard that Hooters was coming to Jakarta, my first thought was that it would make a perfect target for the FPI or any other religious groups. I was skeptical that it would actually open, and if it did, I remember saying to friends that I would not feel safe visiting it.

It turns out I was wrong. The first Hooters in Indonesia official opened in Jakarta last Friday (March 24th), and I went there yesterday (March 28th).

For those who don't know, Hooters is a cultural icon in America. It is a chain of sports' bars/restaurants where all the waitresses are pretty girls in sexy outfits. They tend to flirt a bit with customers as a way to encourage repeat visits.

The exact location is in Kemang, just in front of Eastern Promise. The entrance is rather discreet, especially with the Hooters sign being plugged off at the moment (is it on purpose?).

Design and Atmosphere
It must be the tiniest Hooters branch I've ever visited. It is a 30-meter-long, L-shaped room with around 100 seats, including 5-6 dining booths on the side. It looks clean and bright like typical fast food restaurants are. Anything inside - the girls, the furniture, the signs, the posters - is either orange or white. Finally, a huge screen on a wall and plenty of flat-screen TVs are here to remind you that Hooters is also for watching sports.

Food and Drinks
I came to Hooters after dinner so I only had a few Bintangs. At almost IDR90,000 net for the cheapest beer bottle and over IDR160,000 for a cocktail, the prices are pretty steep and fall in the "tourist trap" category. Even a rooftop like Skye is cheaper.

The food consists mostly of popular American food: Burgers, steaks, sandwiches, sliders, wings, nachos, fish & chips, etc. Expect to pay at least IDR100,000 for appetizers and IDR200,000 for a main course.

Indonesian Hooters Girls
Ok now for the best part, the Hooters Girls. They are of course the main attraction here and the only reason guys will accept paying such high prices for junk food.

In a Hooters in the US, the waitresses generally have generous breasts and their uniform will reveal as much cleavage as possible. Nothing like that in Indonesia.

First, it seems the managers in Indonesia have chosen to select only "petite" girls who are rather short and slim.

Second, the Indonesian girls wear a high neck T-shirt instead of a low-cut one, meaning there isn't much skin to see in that area. It's just a few centimeters of fabric and yet it makes a big difference as you can see below:
Hooters Girl in the US
Hooters Girl in Indonesia
On the positive side, the short pants are exactly the same in Indonesia as in any other Hooters branches worldwide.

I don't know what it says about me, but I knew two of the waitresses in Hooters on that night. Both are students in their early 20s with outgoing personalities. Having dated several expats, they can speak great English and they are fun to talk to. They are the kind of girls you would meet in X2, Dragonfly or Immigrant on a Saturday night. 

My guess is that all the other girls have a similar profile. There were also two Filipinas working there.

Crowd and Atmosphere
The music in Hooters is quite loud, and especially late in the evening. It is more like a club than a restaurant. The songs are all commercial party hits, nothing original.

Every 15 minutes, the girls will perform a staff dance like in this video:
The girls in Hooters move much better than in the strip clubs from North Jakarta and I imagine they are actually enjoying their work. Is it worth paying almost IDR100,000 for a Bintang? I'll let you the judge of that.

What surprised me is that there were almost no foreigners in Hooters. Most guests were Indonesians, including at least 25% of women (a few of them were even wearing a hijab).

Overall
I think Hooters is mostly overrated. It is interesting to visit if you've never been to one before, but don't expect too much out of it. Basically, it is an expensive sports' bar with cute girls who try to make you spend more money than you should. The guys who fall for that are the same guys who waste money on karaoke girls.

Even though it is far from being evil, I also believe there is a strong chance that it will be closed down in the near future by religious fanatics (or just locals trying to extort money).

Hooters Restaurant and Sports Bar (Jakarta)
Jalan Kemang Raya No.5
Jakarta, Indonesia
Phone number: +62 (0) 21 71794 701
Email: sherry@hootersjakarta.com

Facebook: Hooters Jakarta

A Hooters should also open in Bali in October/November this year. I find it interesting that the management chose to penetrate the Indonesian market through Jakarta first rather than Bali.

Opening Hours:
Everyday from 11AM to 1AM (or 2AM on weekends)

Graffiti Restaurant (Hotel Mercure TB Simatupang)

$
0
0
Graffiti Bistro is a restaurant and café located on the ground floor of the Mercure Simatupang Hotel. Opened all day from breakfast to dinner, it serves both International and Indonesian food.

It has a playful design, with an industrial theme. Some of the walls have giant watches and clocks attached to them, while the others are painted with colorful graffitis. There is also a collection of around 50 framed photographs. The restaurant space is quite large, with at least 80 seats and a small outdoor area.

During day time, large bay windows provide ample natural lighting, making it a relaxing space for hanging out or for meeting friends. It is not sophisticated or trendy, and it is even relatively quiet, but I enjoyed it a lot for working on my laptop during long afternoons. I also had a few breakfast and dinners there when I stayed in the hotel in March 2017.

The breakfast I had was a buffet, part of the room reservation. It is on par with what you could expect from a 4-star hotel. There is a large choice of Asian and European food, including some delicious pastries that remind you that the Mercure is managed by a French group. Portions are generous, the ingredients are fresh, and overall the taste is excellent.

The lunch and dinner menu features a mix of classic dishes from all over the world: Imported Steaks (Wagyu Beef), Pasta, Pizza, Indian Favorites, Burgers, Sandwiches, Cordon Bleu, etc. You can read their full menu on their website here: Graffiti Restaurant Mercure Simatupang.

Since I was just arriving from a 3-month trip outside of Indonesia, I was actually craving for Indonesian food. For this reason, I tried their local specialties only: The Bebek Graffiti (Grilled Duck), the Sop Buntut (Oxtail Soup) and the Tongseng Kambing (Lamb Stew). The cooking was perfect for all and the size of the plates more than enough. The price is a bit expensive though, especially when the tax and service charge are added. You should expect to spend at least Rp200,000 for a meal with a non-alcoholic drink.

Overall: While most clients in Graffiti seemed to be hotel guests, I think it is an interesting option for outsiders as well. In particular, if you work in TB Simatupang, you can stop by for a lunch with colleagues or, for a dinner while waiting for the traffic jams to ease.

After eating, I recommend you to check their rooftop Karumba on the 19th floor.

Opening Hours:
Every day from 5.30AM to 11PM.

Graffiti Restaurant and Café
Hotel Mercure Simatupang
Jalan R. A. Kartini No. 18, Lebak Bulus, Cilandak, South Jakarta
Phone number: +62 (0) 21 75 999 777
Email: h6680@accor.com

4 Best Ways to Learn Indonesian Online for Free

$
0
0
Learning Indonesian online has never been so easy. There are so many websites, apps and videos available for free that the real problem is to identify the right one for you.

Before choosing, you should ask yourself a few questions:

How serious are you about learning Indonesian?
Do you want to become fluent or do you only want to learn the basics?

Do you want free lessons or are you ready to pay for a subscription?
The advantage of paying sites is that you'll usually get a complete program that you can follow every day. By investing money, you will feel more motivated as well.

Without paying, you'll need to stick to trial offers with a limited number of free lessons. That's fine for a beginner, but it can be annoying as you make progress.

Do you prefer learning through an app or a website?
If you don't have too much time to spare, using a mobile app is a convenient way to learn. You can practice for a few minutes from everywhere, for instance while commuting.

Websites are better if you can sit in front of your computer for at least 30 minutes straight, several times per week. The ones I tried have a rich content, requiring focus and sustained efforts, but they are recommended if you intend to become fluent.

Do you learn better through reading texts and written exercises or through listening and talking?
The learning process of each individual is different. Personally, I need to write things down to memorize them. I would never make progress by just listening to a podcast for instance. If you are unsure about his, maybe you can try a few methods and judge for yourself which one is the most effective.

4 free ways to learn Indonesian online
Based on the questions above, you should be able to identify what is the best way for you to learn Indonesian online. The particularities of each are described below:

Free apps (with premium features)
On both Android and iPhone, you will find plenty of free applications that are quite similar from one another.

They tend to ignore grammar to focus on helping you learn vocabulary lists. In general, the first lessons are free, but you must pay to have access to everything.

Honestly, I don't think you can reach a fluent level in Indonesian only by using these. They can complement proper online courses or help you learn words, but at a certain point, you might need to upgrade to a proper learning method.

Still, for busy expats or travelers who can't dedicate too much time to learning Indonesian, they will do the trick. Since Bahasa Indonesia does not have a very complex grammar, just learning words will prove useful in your daily interactions with Indonesians.

Note that all the free apps listed below have both a trial mode and a paying mode. Without paying, you can only access a certain number of lessons.

→ Babbel (Itunes and Android)
25 free lessons (1 in each category including grammar). It is perfect for beginners, less for the others. Each exercise lasts about 5 minutes. To make you memorize words, Babbel combines listening, writing, reading and playing. It is quite fun and it does not require a lot of efforts.

For access to the 300+ exercises (including grammar), you must subscribe. 12$ per a month, 24$ for 3 months. If you don't subscribe immediately, they will send you a promo offer within a few days with up to 50% discount.

If you are considering paying for an app, Babbel is probably the best one on the market.

→ Mondly (Itunes and Android)
It is similar to Babbel with a focus on learning words. Typically, an exercise starts with a dialogue, followed by exercises that help you memorize a few key words and sentences.

Price: IDR69,000IDR ($5) for 1 month or IDR300,000 ($22) for 12 months with access to 600 lessons.

→ Fun Easy Learn (Android)
The beginner level is accessible for free and it contains a lot of interesting words by categories. Some mistakes in the translations and some irrelevant words.

To unlock levels and disable ads completely, you need to pay a one-time fee of $18.

→ Learn Indonesian Like a Native (Android)
This app is free and makes money with ads. It contains several errors and some formal expressions that, unlike the name of the app would suggest, are not actually spoken by natives. Its content is also quite limited, but I guess it's enough for tourists who plan on visiting the country and need some travel-related vocabulary.

→ Learn Indonesian Fast with LingoLinks.biz (Android)
This is an interesting and innovative app for those who have trouble learning the traditional way. Lingo Links help you memorize words by creating short stories and inserting the pronunciation of the Indonesian word inside it. For instance, to learn "Terima kasih" (Thank you), you should imagine that, while riding a taxi, you damaged a seat. As you left, the driver said: "Thank you for tearing my car seat" (which sounds like "Terima Kasih").

The free version contains only about 100 phrases and words. To get access to 300 more, you have to pay $5.

Free websites (with or without premium features)
You can download a few apps to help you learn Indonesian vocabulary and to practice your oral skills, but I think you can only make real progress with proper websites.

The reason for that is that they allow for more complex and longer lessons. It is a method similar to what you would do in a classroom with a teacher and a guidebook. You start with a dialog, then learn specific words related to that dialog, and you finally you do grammar exercises. Lessons after lessons, the difficulty increases, and the path should ultimately lead you to fluency.

Below are the best websites for learning Indonesian. Some of them are 100% free while other (unfortunately the best ones) require a subscription to access some of their content.

→ IndonesianPod101
This website, recommended by the New York Times, the BBC and Newsweek, is part of a larger group offering several other language methods (Spanish, French, etc). It is very complete and certainly the best for those who want to reach a fluent level in Indonesian.

There are so many resources on IndonesianPod101 that it can be confusing at first. You have videos, podcasts, texts, games (flashcards), wordlists, a dedicated app (Iphone and Android), a grammar bank, etc. You can even ask for a private teacher tutorial if you need (and if you are a member).

The best way to start is to click on "Learning Path", then to choose your level (Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced) and the theme you want to work on (travel, daily life, etc). In total, there are 500+ lessons.

Contrary to an app like Babbel, IndonesianPod requires more efforts and commitment. I would say you should spend at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week, to see some results.

Upgrading to paying version?
Even without paying, you have access to a wealth of free resources on IndonesiaPod101. You can also use their free 7-day trial (without a credit card needed).

If you want to be serious about learning Indonesian though, it is probably useful to get a membership.

For just $4 per month, you get access to ALL their lessons.
For $10 per month, you get access to an additional 2000 word-lists, all the grammar points, HD video lessons, the full app, voice recording tools, etc.
For $23 per month, you get access to a teacher for 1-on-1 guidance.

Each subscription comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.

→ LearningIndonesian.com
This website is the second best for learning Indonesian. It is much more simple compared to IndonesianPod101: 32 basic audio lessons in its free version, and 72 for paying members only.

When you register for free, you will receive by email a valuable learning guide to be used as a support for the online podcast. It is very useful for beginners and by the time you're done, you should be able to speak decent conversational Indonesian.

The paying version is quite expensive ($149) but you can take advantage of the 30-day no-question money back guarantee. During that time, you can do at least 20 free lessons and then decide if it's worth to continue paying or not.

→ BahasaKita and Learn Indonesian by MyLanguage.org
These two websites are the best I could find that are completely FREE. Of course, the quality cannot be compared to IndonesianPod101 or LearningIndonesian.com (no exercises, no audio or video, a limited number of lessons, few vocabulary lists), but they will do the trick for those who want to learn Indonesian without spending any money.

Note that BahasaKita also offers some paid tutoring via Skype.

Free Youtube channels and podcasts
There are numerous YouTube channels dedicated to learning Indonesian online.

The best one actually belongs to IndonesianPod101. Their videos are short, varied and with a clear sound.
I also like some channels that are run by Indonesian amateurs. Yahya Zakaria has around 25 videos that are fun to watch and useful for those who want to work on their pronunciation.
Ina Carolina is also a great teacher, but her lessons are a bit complicated. I only recommend them for advanced learners, especially those who need a better understanding of Indonesian grammar.
Online Teacher/Skype Tutors/Penpals
Finally, another great way to learn Indonesian online is to find locals with whom you can talk. It is the fastest and least boring way to becoming fluent.

You can easily meet Indonesian girls or guys who will be willing to have conversations with you by phone or WhatsApp. My advice would be to create a profile on dating sites and apps like IndonesianCupid, Badoo, Tinder. Just say that you are looking for someone to practice Indonesian. You will have no problem getting plenty of answers.

If you want real teachers, you can also try online tutoring services such as Preply, Verbling or Italki.

Those sites help you connect with native teachers, with prices starting at $4 for a 1-hour session.

How I Learned to Speak Indonesian in 1 Month

$
0
0
I'm not a genius and I'm not particularly gifted for learning languages. Before Indonesia, I lived 2 years in Italy and 2 years in Brazil, and yet I can barely speak any Italian or Portuguese.

Indonesian, or Bahasa Indonesia as it is called here, is different. It is by far the easiest language in the world.

There are no tenses, no declension, no tones. There is nothing tricky about the spelling, nothing complex about the grammar, and you always pronounce the words the same way.

You don't even have regional differences: It is spoken identically in Sumatra, in Papua, in Java or in Bali.

I arrived in Jakarta in November 2012. After one week, I had learned enough words to get by in all the most common situations: Greetings, introductions, ordering food, buying groceries, asking for directions, expressing basic feelings, etc.

After 1 month, I was able to have a normal conversation with any Indonesians.

My new skill has proven extraordinary useful - either at work, to make friends or for dating girls. It is a great addition to my CV also.

I think it is one of the best things about living in Indonesia. If you motivate yourself, you can easily learn its language, the 6th most spoken in the world, in a record 4 weeks.

All it cost me was a small phrasebook I bought in the streets (10$) and a one-month subscription to the Babbel App (12$). Overall, I spent as much time learning Indonesian as I spent watching 2 seasons of The Walking Dead.

In this article, I will tell you how you can do it as well. If you have suggestions, please just leave me a message at the end of the article.

1st step: I got motivated
If you've read this article until here, I guess you are already somewhat motivated. You realize that speaking Indonesian would benefit you, but maybe you are still hesitating because you imagine it requires years of work and practice.

This is not true.

As I mentioned before, learning Indonesian does not require tremendous sacrifices. All you need is to study 30 minutes every day for a month.

With a mobile app like Babbel, you can practice from everywhere: While queuing at the store, while in traffic, while in the toilet, etc.

As long as you stay focused, you will get results fast, within weeks.

The fact that Indonesian was easy to learn was actually one of the reasons I moved to Jakarta. I didn't want to live in a country where I could not communicate with 90% of the population.

Expats living in China, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, Vietnam or the Middle East don't have this opportunity. They take private lessons for a year and they still struggle to talk to a local for 5 minutes.

Once you realize how lucky you are, it's time to move on to step 2.

2nd step: I listed and memorized the 250 most useful Indonesian words

Time spent: 6 minutes per day = 3 hours

Learning words by heart is not the most fun part of the process, but it is necessary. The positive thing is that there aren't that many essential words needed to speak Bahasa. I made a list of them that you can read here: 250 Most Useful Indonesian Words.

What you can do is print the list and read it out loud once or twice a day during a month. Since all these words are very common, you can use a few of them in your daily life: Any encounter with an Indonesian should become an opportunity to practice.

When I ride in a taxi, I always sit in the passenger seat, next to the driver, and I start a conversation. Just simple things: What is your name? Do you have children? Are you from Jakarta? etc. You can play at the same time with Babbel so he can give you a few tips on your pronunciation. It's a great way to profit from traffic jams, thus turning an inconvenience into advantage.

3rd step: I downloaded Babbel and practiced every day

Total time I spent on Babbel: 20 minutes per day X 30 days = 10 hours

A great way to start learning Indonesian is to use Babbel. They have both an app and a website with more than 300 exercises. It will help you with vocabulary, basic grammar and pronunciation.

It has several advantages:
- You don't need to carry a book and you don't need to write down anything.
- As long as you have your phone with you, you can practice from anywhere, for as long as you want.
- Most exercices are short (less than 5 minutes)
- You have 23 free exercices and then you can subscribe for a month for 12$ (or 7$ with 6-month plan). Much cheaper than any book.

Because Babbel is fun to use and never boring, it was my main tool for learning Indonesian.

If you feel more comfortable with more traditional methods (online classes, tutoring), you can read my recommendations in the article 4 Best (Free) Ways to Learn Indonesian Online.


4th step: I learned the basic pronunciation

Time spent:  60 minutes.

The Indonesian pronunciation is pretty straight-forward. Letters are almost always pronounced the same way (except "e" that can sometimes be pronounced like "cut" and sometimes like like "fate").

You can read this page: How to Pronounce Indonesian? for a detailed explanation on how to pronounce each vowel, each consonant and each diphthong.

One of the important things to be aware of is that the final "K" is silent, for instance in "tidak" (pronounced "tida'"). The "R"s are rolled but, if you can't do it properly, you'll still be understood.

Apart from that, there aren't many difficulties. Bahasa Indonesia does not have tones like in Vietnamese, Chinese or Thai, so you don't need to be worried about saying the wrong word unintentionally.

To learn the alphabet, I thought that video was useful:
With the Babbel app, every word you learn will be repeated a few times so it is also an excellent way to improve your pronunciation.

5th step: I understood the basic grammar rules

Time spent: 8 hours

I said earlier that Indonesian grammar was easy. It was a bit of an exaggeration.

There are actually some rather complex rules but, luckily, you don't need them to reach a conversational level.

I wrote a dedicated blog post about this topic called: 10 Basic Indonesian Grammar Rules You Should Know.

It should be enough for your first month of learning.

If you want to deepen your knowledge, there are a few online resources to help you. The excellent website IndonesianPod101 has a huge grammar section with 100+ articles. It is a paying site but you can get a free 30-day trial for $1.

6th step: I practiced with my friends, girlfriend and anyone else available

Time spent: 10 hours

There are no reasons to learn a language if you are not using it, right?

Talking to a local girlfriend is the fastest way to make progress. When I began learning Indonesian, I asked mine to communicate only in Indonesian. She played along, even when sending texts on WhatsApp. It was a bit annoying at first, yet after a week I could understand almost everything she was saying.

If you don't have a girlfriend, maybe you could try chatting with a few girls on dating sites? I wrote a list of popular online dating apps and websites in Indonesia that you can check. If you write a profile saying that you are looking for someone to practice your Bahasa, especially on a website like IndonesianCupid, you will get plenty of positive answers.

As I mentioned before, don't hesitate to speak with any Indonesians you meet: Colleagues, friends, taxi drivers, maids, street food sellers, etc. They will feel proud knowing that a foreigner is interested in learning their language and they will be happy to help.

7th step: After my first month, I continued
After my first month of learning Indonesian, I had reached a decent conversational level, but I was still unable to read the newspaper or to understand Indonesian TV. Following a meeting in Indonesian was also still difficult.

Since I was planning to spend several years in the country, it made sense to continue learning.

I did that using the IndonesiaPod101 method. They have over 100 audio lessons for intermediate and advanced learners, organized in an easy-to-follow learning path.

I only did about 30 of them while using their $1 30-day trial.

You can also try LearningIndonesian.com. This is a great website, whose resources are often used by teachers. It is a bit expensive ($149 fee) BUT there is a 60-day money back guarantee (no questions asked).

Conclusion: Start today
Indonesia will become the fourth largest economy on the planet by 2045. If you are a young professional planning to spend part of your career in Southeast Asia, learning Indonesian is one of the best decisions you can make. 

On a more personal level, being able to communicate with any Indonesians will enrich your stay considerably. You will be able to travel as far as Papua and still be able to have a discussion with anyone.

Now, you can ask yourself: Are all those benefits worth 30 minutes of your time, every day, for one month?

If yes, don't procrastinate. Just start today. Start Now.

6 Best Bars in Cilandak - TB Simatupang - Lebak Bulus

$
0
0
In recent years, the area of Cilandak/TB Simatupang/Lebak Bulus (South Jakarta) has seen tremendous development, with skyscrapers sprouting like mushrooms in what is now considered Jakarta's second business district. This trend will likely continue as the largest MRT station in Jakarta is currently being built in Lebak Bulus.

Some major multinational companies have relocated there, especially those from the oil and gas sector. They are drawn mainly by the cheaper prices and by the strategic location between the airport and Bekasi. It is also convenient for expats due to the proximity of most international schools.

As a result of all these, the nightlife in Cilandak/TB Simatupang/Lebak Bulus has improved. You have enough interesting venues to save yourself a trip to SCBD when you are in the mood for partying.

Below are my 6 most recommended venues to go to in this area (it is interesting to note that 4 of them didn't exist 3 years ago):

Jenja Nightclub
The opening of Jenja in 2016 in the mall Cilandak Town Square (CITOS) was a game changer. It made the whole neighborhood much trendier, and suddenly it attracted clubbers from all over the city.

It is a lounge-bar-club, popular with expats and upper-class Indonesians, especially because of the quality of its DJ line-up. On most nights, the music will be non-commercial techno/electronic music. They have an international guest DJ almost weekly (recently: Kollektiv Turmstrass or Dominik Eulberg that I had listed in my 2016 DJ Wishlist). Opened from Wednesday to Saturday from 10PM until 4AM.

Full review here: Jenja Jakarta

Karumba Rooftop Rum Bar
Located on the 19th floor of Mercure Simatupang hotel, Karumba is a relaxed rooftop with a live band or a DJ five nights per week. It is not a wild party place, but I enjoy it to sip a few cocktails at sunset time.

Full review here: Karumba Rooftop Rum Bar
View from Karumba Rooftop (Jalan TB Simatupang)
No Name Bar
Located in Poins Square Mall in Lebak Bulus, this small bar used to called Camden (until it moved to Gandaria). It is a rather cheap venue to drink alcohol, therefore attracting mostly young students. One beer jug costs IDR225,000. You can check their Instagram or Facebook page for more information about their live music schedule.

Imbiss Stube German Bar and Restaurant
Imbiss Stube is the sister restaurant of Die Stube (Kemang). Located inside CITOS mall, it is a great place for eating affordable German food, drink beer and watch sports. The crowd is a mix of Indonesian/Expat. Draught local beer for Rp50,000.

Ra Stube in Ra Residence (TB Simatupang) is also part of the same group but it is rather quiet and not really happening.

Second Home is another possible option for drinking and hanging out in CITOS mall.

Satu Lagi
Satu Lagi is the hotel bar of the Kristal Hotel, about 15 minutes from CITOS. It is one of the oldest pubs in Jakarta and many of its guests are regulars from the oil & gas industry.

Read my review here: Satu Lagi

Mad Dogs
A veteran of South Jakarta nightlife, Mad Dogs is an expat pub with an older crowd of long-time residents.

Read my review here: Mad Dogs Bar Jakarta

If none of these options is fine with you, you can try bars in Pondok Indah Mall (PIM 3 and Street Gallery for casual drinks), Gandaria (Camden Bar, Halfway Bar - for students), Kemang (for clubbing and eating Western food) or Blok M (of hostess bars and Japanese karaokes).
Viewing all 882 articles
Browse latest View live