Is It Worth Finding A Thai Holiday Girlfriend?

This was my 12th time in Thailand over the last decade.

Yes, I know, it sounds a little crazy, but Thailand’s just got this pull on me.

I am one of those guys that travelled there once and then it was game over, I needed more.

It’s like the Land of Smiles for a reason, and I couldn’t resist coming back again and again.

There’s something about the place that gets under your skin, you know?

Why I Love Thailand

Everyone is different and likes Thailand for all different reasons, I admit, I love Thailand because of the ladies and the night life.

Over the years, I’ve watched a lot of guys fall for bargirls. And I mean, a lot.

It almost seems like a rite of passage for some of them.

But not me. I thought I was immune to all of that. I thought I had it all figured out. You know, the whole “I’m not falling for it” thing.

The Bargirl Rules I Thought Would Protect Me

I told myself that I was different. I wasn’t like the others. I knew exactly how the game was played. I had seen it all before, and I wasn’t fooled.

I mean, come on, I was a realist. A cynic, really.

So there was no way I’d ever fall for a bargirl. I had made up my mind about it long ago. It just wasn’t going to happen.

I had a few rules, Things that I knew would keep me from ever getting involved with a bargirl. Simple stuff. Like, never, ever take one to the islands!

I told myself I wasn’t the type to get wrapped up in the whole fantasy. And another one: never, ever spend more than six nights with the same girl.

I kept telling myself it was all about the experience—the place, the adventures. It was never about just one girl, right?

I looked at guys who got too close to a bargirl, who got lost in the whole thing, and I’d shake my head. I felt kind of smug, honestly.

Like, look at these guys falling for that nonsense.

I was above all of that. I was too smart, too cynical to fall for any of it. I had it all figured out.

But, of course, I’m sure you can see where this is going…

The First Encounter with Sun, The Bargirl

The first time I met her, I had no idea that it would end up being anything more than just a one-off experience.

It was memorable, sure, but no way was I thinking it was the beginning of some long-distance love story. No way.

My buddy and I had just arrived in Bangkok, feeling like complete rookies because it had been a while.

And trust me, we’d been here more than a few times before, but this time, it was different.

Bangkok’s chaos hit us like a train—it’s just nonstop madness.

We needed to find our bearings and fast.

So, we made a beeline for our usual spot in Soi Cowboy.

It had been a year since we’d last been here, and honestly, things had changed.

Prices were higher, the quality of people lower, and the tourists had became darker.

A lot of the people we used to know weren’t around anymore, and the place felt a bit different.

But after a little while, some familiar faces started popping up, and, well, what do you know? They were quick to grab us for a round of drinks! It’s like they’d been waiting for us, ready to rinse us dry!

Next thing I know, I’m being waved over to a chair right next to the stage.

Now, I’m just sitting there, trying to take it all in, when out of nowhere, this girl—who, let’s be real, was probably about a foot shorter than I am—grabs my ears like they were the most interesting thing in the room and starts doing something… well, let’s just say she got a little too friendly! And that, my friends, is how I first met Sun.

A Night to Remember (Sort Of)

She was very fun to be around, very hyperactive, touchy and clearly was very good at her job.

We spent about an hour of her rinsing me for lady drinks, chatting and having a whole lot of fun.

The rest of the night after that? Yeah, it’s kind of a blur.

One minute I’m sitting there trying to process what is happening and why im feeling this way, and the next, I’m on the street with her, trying to make it to the hotel.

But there’s a little hiccup—Sun had gone a bit too hard on the drinks, and so did I

So, there I am, looking like a total mess, trying (and failing) to keep my dignity while trying to walk with this girl back to the hotel.

Not exactly the most graceful moment of my life, but hey, I did what I had to do.

The Morning After The Night On Soi Cowboy

We finally made it back to the hotel, but we were both worse for wear, I think I nodded off as soon as my head hit the pillow.

After the night I had with Sun, I definitely got a very interesting wake-up call the next morning.

I’m not going to lie—it wasn’t exactly what I expected, but in a strange way, it was kind of fun.

I thought that was hit, had a fun night together, she leaves and maybe ill see her again if im ever around Soi Cowboy, that’s how it normally goes.

However, the moment I thought I was going to get some peace and quiet, the questions started rolling in.

First, she asked, “We go up to pool?” And then, without missing a beat, “You barfine me tonight?”

Realising She Wants To Stay With Me

In that instant, my brain screamed, “Oh no, this one’s a clinger!” It was like a lightbulb moment.

I realized, I’d somehow found myself in the company of someone who wasn’t just here for a one off.

I am not used to this, im not used to any sort of commitment, and I certainly was not in Thailand to spend my whole time with a girl I had just met.

I am there to play the field, have fun and go home, like I had done many times before. simple life.

So, to get out of the situation without making things too awkward, my friend and I cooked up a little story.

That is when he finally arose and kicked out his barfine.

We told Sun that we had a friend named “Ricky” over on Soi 22 and that we were planning to visit him.

I told her, “Hey, I’ll come by the bar later, okay?” I wasn’t too worried since I’d already paid the barfine, and it was only the second night.

The Unexpected Return To Bargirl Sun

Honestly, I figured if I didn’t show up again that evening, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Without sounding like a totally douche bag, I have told many girls I will come back to see them and never did, so I did not really plan on going back.

But you know how it goes.

Just when you think you’ve escaped, you find yourself back in the thick of things.

Once again, we ended up in Nana Plaza, bouncing from bar to bar.

But, like I said, it was only our second night in town, and when you’re trying to adjust to a new place, it’s tough to really let your guard down and relax.

So what do we do? We end up back at our safe spot—our favorite bar in Soi Cowboy, the one where Sun works.

Sun’s Smile Changes Everything

You can always count on it to be the place where you can just zone out and forget about the rest of the world for a while.

But that was the problem, I had been with a girl from our safe spot, so it wasn’t exactly our safe spot anymore.

We walked in and there she was—waiting for me, already changed and looking like she had been waiting forever.

As soon as I walked in, she flashed that big, bright smile of hers.

it could melt even the coldest of hearts.

I knew at that point that I felt something towards her, I just wasn’t exactly sure what it was.

We started talking right away, laughing, joking, just like we had known each other for ages.

You know that feeling when you just get along with someone, like when you meet a new friend and they are easy to click with? It was like that.

Breaking My Own Thai Girl Rules

Her energy was infectious, and before I knew it, I found myself thinking, “Oh, what the heck.“

I normally try to avoid spending more time with girls I meet, but I had already paid the barfine, right? Might as well spend another night with her.

It wasn’t like I was planning to get super serious or anything.

I wasn’t about to take her to the islands or anything wild like that.

This was just another night. Nothing more, nothing less.

But by the third night, things took a turn.

I got hit with a fever, and let me tell you, I felt awful, I could barely move.

The kind of sick where you just want to curl up in bed and do absolutely nothing.

But to my surprise, Nurse Sun was there, right by my side, taking care of me.

This Thai Girl Seemed Different From The Rest

She ran to the pharmacy and 7-Eleven like it was nothing, bringing me medicine and anything else I needed.

Honestly, I didn’t expect it, but she was taking better care of me than I could have imagined.

The next day, I woke up feeling groggy but much better, only to find her already awake, lying beside me with a smile on her face.

She was laughing, teasing me about how cute I looked when I was sleeping. But honestly, I didn’t even hear her.

All I could do was stare at her.

I had a feeling this would be my last day with her, and I couldn’t shake the bittersweet feeling that I felt.

I really enjoyed spending time with her, even if I was sick, so deep down inside, I kind of wanted it to carry on.

She had been a breath of fresh air in this chaotic place.

The funniest, most confident, and free-spirited woman I’d ever met.

Saying goodbye to her wasn’t going to be easy.

Just when I thought I was totally stuck, my friend came through with a lifeline.

Breaking All My Rules

He was planning to take his own girl from the bar down to the islands—Koh Samui, to be exact—and he offered to lend me the money to fly Sun out there too. I couldn’t believe it.

Suddenly, the impossible felt possible.

I thought I was going to be saying goodbye to this woman and carry on my trip, and now I am thinking about taking her on vacation.

I quickly worked out a plan with Sun, and just like that, it was on! In just a few minutes, I went from feeling like I was in over my head to being absolutely pumped.

But wait… there was a catch. I was breaking all my own rules.

I was actually going to take her to the islands! And on top of that, I was about to spend more than six nights with her.

Becoming the Mongering Guy I Laughed At

I was about to turn into one of these guys that I would laugh at for catching feelings in Thailand, one of those men that I look down on.

This was exactly what I said I wouldn’t do.

But in that moment, I told myself, “It’ll be fine, right?”

The islands were a total dream come true.

But here’s the thing: it was even better because it was real.

Everything just clicked.

We spent our days lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun, or chilling on the beach.

Unforgettable Moments I Will Always Remember With Her

As the sun set, and I mean sun as in the big orange thing in the sky, not the Thai girl, we’d head to our favorite bar by the shore, It was like something out of a movie.

And when we’d head back to the room? Well, let’s just say… unbelievable doesn’t even begin to cover it

There was this wave of pure happiness that washed over me.

Everything felt perfect—like I was exactly where I needed to be.

There were so many small moments with Sun that still bring a smile to my face whenever I think back on them.

Nothing huge, just little things that made the whole experience so memorable.

Dancing in the Rain

Like the time she danced around the pool, completely carefree, while a tropical thunderstorm poured down around us—just twirling and laughing as the rain came down in sheets.

Really, if I’ve ever been happier, I’m struggling to think of a time that compares.

The Reality of Goodbyes With A Holiday Girlfriend

On the second-to-last night in Samui, I remember her falling asleep beside me while we were watching a movie.

She had curled up on the bed, completely out of it, and I just watched her for a moment.

This time, this whole trip, had been so perfect.

But the thing that hit me hardest was that it was almost over.

I had never planned for my trip to go this way, I never planned on having feelings for anyone, that’s just not me.

But even though I had been to Thailand many times before, and had a lot of fun, this was still my best trip, because of Sun.

The Final Days in Bangkok

I pushed the sadness aside, though.

I reminded myself that I still had time with her. We weren’t done yet. We had a few more days left to make the most of it.

So, we flew back to Bangkok, and I knew we had two more nights there before everything wrapped up.

If I’d caught a flight to London right after that, I think I’d still be picking up the pieces of my heart now! But back in Bangkok, the reality of the situation hit me.

My cash was running low, and Sun knew it.

Without missing a beat, she disappeared for a while, telling me she needed to head back to the bar to make some money since I didn’t have enough to cover things anymore.

The Business Side of A Holiday Girlfriend

This is all just work to her at the end of the day, and if she wasn’t getting money from me then she would have to work.

I couldn’t really blame her, but it still stung.

Thankfully, my friend came through for me again, along with a few other buddies back home who pitched in.

I have money by the way, but I did not bring my card because I did not want to go over the top with spending.

I took as much as I thought I would need in Thailand.

Turns out I did not really consider that I might meet someone and end up going to Koh Samui with them.

The Last Night Together

So, I thought I was good again—thought I had enough to ride out the last couple of days.

That however was before I made the mistake of walking into the bar where she worked.

In no time, they’d managed to drain whatever I had left.

Me acting stupid thinking im leaving soon so ill treat girls to lady drinks, not realizing I was low on borrowed funds.

By the time the last night rolled around, it wasn’t anything like I had imagined.

There was no big grand finale, no fancy send-off.

I had no money left at all. Sun and I just stayed in the room, flipping through channels on Thai TV, and that was about it.

No Regrets

I felt a bit bad that I could not thank her for the time like I wanted to, I wanted to at least spoil her a bit more.

I had originally planned to give her this incredible final night—something special, you know? But after the bar bills, the phone I bought her, and the perfume (don’t even get me started on that!), there was no way I could make that happen.

It was like a reality check, and I had to face it.

Since I’d left my credit card at home, I had no access to any more money, which meant my options were pretty much zero.

If I had brought my credit card with me, I honestly have no idea how much more I would’ve ended up spending.

Would it have been 50,000 baht? Maybe even 100,000 baht? I could’ve easily ended up floating on cloud nine, completely head over heels, and at the same time, deeply in debt.

The Girlfriend Experience (GFE) Is For Me

That said, I’m not bitter about any of it. Not at all.

I had an absolutely amazing time. I paid for what I got, and every penny was worth it.

I probably got way more out of it than I could’ve realistically afforded, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Not in my wildest thoughts would I ever think that I would spend my whole Thailand trip with one girl I met.

I am happy go lucky type of person, never really wanted to settle down, never even crossed my mind.

Maybe im maturing? Better late than never I guess.

Why the Girlfriend Experience Was Worth It

The whole “Girlfriend Experience”? It was incredible.

I’d want to have that experience every time I go to Thailand now! It was full of pure joy, unforgettable moments, and a level of connection that I hadn’t expected.

I don’t think I’ll ever go back to doing the whole bar hopping thing and meeting different people every night.

Yeah its fun, but nowhere near as fun as having a holiday girlfriend, that’s my opinion anyway.

It wasn’t just about the fun—it was something deeper, something I’ll always carry with me.

**Keeping in Touch**

I think once you get that in your head, that its nothing more than a holiday girlfriend, then you will be fine and have fun.

Of course, you get back home, and it’s like a punch in the gut when you see all the miserable faces around you.

People always have something to say—trying to bring you down, passing judgment. But, that’s on them.

Looking Forward to the Next Trip

As far as I’m concerned, I don’t regret a single moment.

It’s all about the GFE, and the kind of experience you can’t find just anywhere.

We’re still in touch, and honestly, every time she calls me, it genuinely brightens my day.

There’s just something about hearing her voice that makes everything feel a little bit better.

Im not naive, and she knows that as well, that’s probably why she doesn’t try to get me to send money or anything.

I know nothing can come from us, but keeping in contact with each other is something im happy we have done.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that next time I’m in Thailand, Sun will be around so I can pick up right where we left off and continue the GFE with her!

Bangkok Will Always Be There

But hey, if she’s not around, that’s cool too.

Bangkok is my oyster! I know there are plenty of other people out there, and I’m sure I’ll have an equally great experience with someone else.

It doesn’t feel like it right now, but I’m pretty sure the next time I head back, I’ll find another unforgettable GFE to dive into.

You never know what’s around the corner!