Does it look sus walking into a Thai massage parlour for neck/back massage?

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Serious_Badger_4145@reddit

Be aware of what thai massage is. it's like yoga. they stretch out your body and it can hurt if you're not expecting it. Why dont you look on somewhere like fresha or treatwell so you know its somewhere legit

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AdministrativeLaugh2@reddit

You’ve not lived until you’ve had a tiny Thai lady pull your arms in places they shouldn’t go and stand on your back as they do so. Glorious

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

I think it's like an oil/aromatherapy style thing

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Serious_Badger_4145@reddit

It isn't. Traditional Thai massage is a very specific type of massage. If you book a 'Thai massage' instead of an aromatherapy massage you should be prepared to get a Thai massage which can maybe be compared to yoga in some ways

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ChelseaMourning@reddit

It’s like yoga meets physio. You’ll be held in positions that are probably uncomfortable and you’ll learn exactly how all your muscles are connected.

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

Cool, sounds good

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monkeyshoulder22@reddit

They'll do oil massage as well which isn't as sore as the traditional one.

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Serious_Badger_4145@reddit

Yeah they do other kinds its more to just be aware what a regular Thai massage involves. I always see people complaining it wasnt relaxing 😂😂

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Antique_Committee268@reddit

Opening times is the main indicator of a dodgy place Vs a nice one. If they are open late into the night/early am avoid, if they shut 8/9pm it's likely decent! I go to one as a women and it's a lovely place

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jlt33333@reddit

Go to a spa if you're that bothered

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KevinPhillips-Bong@reddit

I misread that and went to a Spar. Needless to say, I'm banned for life.

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michellefiver@reddit

Off topic but someone I know once lost a small snap-bag of white powder in a Spar in Manchester and realised that's where he had lost it. He had the brass balls to go in there and ask for it back. And they gave him it.

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WeakSnow9457@reddit

For how much more expensive Spar is I think thats the least they can do

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spoo4brains@reddit

Most spa massages are for relaxation, not for anything useful.

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

Spenny though, this is £25 for half an hour

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ahktarniamut@reddit

OP I don’t think anyone will be looking at you going inside . We all busy with our own lives . Unless you wear long dark trenchcoat , sunglasses 😎 and bowler when going there , then we might look at you

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GoodTato@reddit

How many people are going to be paying specific attention to you for the 3-4 seconds it takes to enter the building?

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Riquende@reddit

I've seen comedy shows, it's the exact moment your mum/boss/local vicar walks round the corner

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Objective_Mousse7216@reddit

Nigel? Nigel is that you, what have you been doing Nigel? Isn't that a Thai massage parlour Nigel?

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ahktarniamut@reddit

Nigel will get his happy ending in crypto

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GreekVicar@reddit

If it's the vicar you'd meet him on his way out

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TelephoneOrnery1394@reddit

In my circle, I would be more likely to see them inside the waiting room

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GoodTato@reddit

Ahhhh true, better pack a disguise

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

This is how you end up in a classic farce comedy about being stuck in a Thai massage parlor with your mum, boss, and vicar, all wearing disguises.

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

Exactly

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gxb20@reddit

Im pretty sure calvin harris got caught going into one lol

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Psychological-Bag272@reddit

As a Thai person living here in the UK, people really need to get over this stereotype. If you go to Thailand and choose to spend your time in one of the most touristy, dodgy areas of the country, then come back and assume every Thai massage place here offers a 'happy ending,' I genuinely don’t understand the logic.

Many Thai massage therapists I know have had to put disclaimers on their websites stating that they do not offer sensual or sexual services, and that it’s offensive to ask, because they get harassed so often.

If someone automatically assumes a Thai massage means anything beyond exactly what it says, that says far more about them and the kind of holidays they choose to have.

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l8yters@reddit

Ive never been to Thailand. My perception of those places is based on there being one that does do happy endings in every town ion England these days.

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Psychological-Bag272@reddit

I'd disagree completely and I know a lot more Thai people in England than probably anyone in this thread. Your perception is based on what you've heard which can either be people stereotyping these places without having any first hand knowledge...unless you are saying you are a regular visitor to dodgy massage places that offers happy endings.

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l8yters@reddit

Im saying i know enough about the various places (whether Thai or not) in and around Manchester to know what goes on. Im also knowledgeable enough to also know that there are legit Thai massage places around too. But the point i was making is simply that that perception doesn't come from nowhere.

Also i don't use those places but i don't consider them dodgy or immoral or anything like that. What consenting adults do with each other isn't m,y business.

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BrowsingnDaydreaming@reddit

I guess one of the main problems is that a lot of these workers aren’t necessarily consenting.

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specialdelivery88@reddit

I don’t know. I’d love a proper massage but they always just pull me off and charge me a tenner more

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

!answer

Thanks for answering, and apologies if I caused any offence. This is reassuring and I will book a session.

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Laff_like_a_Giraff@reddit

Only if people see you walking in rubbing your hands together with a semi on

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Bifanarama@reddit

I'm more of a claret man, thankfully.

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Gary_BBGames@reddit

Full erection though, not suss.

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JoeDaStudd@reddit

Honestly it depends on the massage parlour and area.\ Some are going to be cover for sex work however a a lot aren't.

Have a look at the reviews and the clientele.\ If there are limited reviews all by men and sound coded then it's probably on the dodgy end. So Google the busy name and see if it shows up on any sex work websites.\ On the other hand if there are lots of reviews and it includes women then it's likely just a normal massage place.

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121daysofsodom@reddit

To counter that, I've seen a fair few massage places that offer extra services because my friend told me, and all the Google reviews are from women complimenting the services, talking about traditional Thai techniques, visiting with their mothers etc. It's hard to tell what's legit or not. I have a suspicion they're all legit but offer extras to pay the bills.

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JoeDaStudd@reddit

It's likely someone renting a room in a legitimate business and offering extras rather than the whole place.

There is a multistorey building a few towns over with each floor offering spa and hair type services with each floor being rented out separately with the larger floors sublet.\ From what I heard the top floor had/has a woman subletting with extra services.

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

Thanks, I did this - definitely fits the normal category.

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ElusiveQuant@reddit

Bud 0_o Its Traditional Thai massage that DOES NOT involve yankign your crank 0_o. but sounds like you should see a physio not a masseuse.

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Charlie_Yu@reddit

I mean you should do it if it helps you. Rather now than when it goes bad enough that you’d actually need a GP.

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chiltr0n@reddit

The funny thing about my back is that it’s located on my cock

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curedbacon@reddit

Yeah we're all gonna point and laugh at you when you leave mate

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

Thought so.

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FallowfieldPark@reddit

I’m Thai myself, people will think what they will. You will probably never see those people ever again, the ones you walk past that you think will have a something on their mind as they see you walking out of a Thai massage place.

Heck, even it crosses my mind, but as an adult I also think “oh he’s prob had a good massage” and nothing more.

Just go and get a good rub and go on about your day

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

🙏

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Cheese_roller@reddit

I have a terrible neck due to being knocked off a motorcycle then run over by the person tailgating.
Have tried everything (including having the vertebrae cauterised back in October) and swear by the Neck Saviour. Would recommend getting one for daily pain relief.

Unless you just wanted to be pulled to pieces by a brass then crack on with the massage parlour and ignore me.

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Forsaken1741@reddit

I went to lots of massage places when I was on holiday in Thailand and I never got offered an "happy ending" 🤷‍♂️

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

Yeah I've had massages myself in Thailand. Some places over here do have a reputation though, I just have no clue as to spot the genuine ones.

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Obvious-Water569@reddit

Depends if you do it wearing a fake nose and moustache.

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Radiant_Fondant_4097@reddit

I think you wildly overestimate how much the average person cares about what you get up to during the day man.

Just go and get your massage.

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Funky_monkey2026@reddit

Find an ITEC qualified massage therapist. Similar rates but a much better massage. Told them I wanted a proper massage and the woman they gave me just put her elbows in bones instead.

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prankishink@reddit

I assume the people that go in high st massage shops in towns/cities are looking for happy endings and other people go to spa type places for their massages

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ukbot-nicolabot@reddit

OP marked this as the best answer, given by /u/Psychological-Bag272.

As a Thai person living here in the UK, people really need to get over this stereotype. If you go to Thailand and choose to spend your time in one of the most touristy, dodgy areas of the country, then come back and assume every Thai massage place here offers a 'happy ending,' I genuinely don’t understand the logic.

Many Thai massage therapists I know have had to put disclaimers on their websites stating that they do not offer sensual or sexual services, and that it’s offensive to ask, because they get harassed so often.

If someone automatically assumes a Thai massage means anything beyond exactly what it says, that says far more about them and the kind of holidays they choose to have.

^(What is this?)

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Electrical-Piece-706@reddit

It depends if it’s a well known diver finger finisher or not, seen as most Thai massage places offer that. Unless you goto an actual spa ofcourse

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BaBaFiCo@reddit

The vast vast majority of them are legitimate businesses where people get a good massage. So no, you won't look dodgy unless it's 8pm, the place looks shit and there's a neon sign.

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tekkon896@reddit

All of the Thai massage places in my area are completely legit and very professional. I have back pain a lot and they're usually my go to for dealing with it. It's very effective. You can get funny looks sometimes, but that's usually people and their own issues, preconceived biases and lack of understanding on what these places actually are. They're spas and that's it.

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

That's useful, thanks.

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Basic-Salamander-808@reddit

I've wondered the same thing.

Where I used to live nearer London there was a street with a couple of massage places that looked super dodgy and were kind of obviously not the place to go for a simple massage.

But now I've left London and live in a much more respectable area, and there is one of those Thai massage places that I've driven past. But it looks a lot nicer, so I'm assuming it a place where you would go to get an actual massage. I've just never been brave enough to actually go in there...

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

This is it. I live in a nice area, it looks like a really nice place too, great reviews.

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Diplomatic_Gunboats@reddit

As long as it *is* just a massage parlour its fine. Nothing worse than going into a massage parlour for an actual massage and it turns out its a knocking shop. Should be safe with anything on a high street. YMMV depending on your part of the country though.

Anywhere that the entrance is set up as 'door at one side with blacked out window store front - leads immediately into a corridor running alongside the window before another door' is somewhere that does extras.

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OmniWise@reddit

I would say, who cares what preconceptions other people (you're never going to see again) have about you entering a presumably legitimate massage place. They're not brothels, and if it is.. well then you walked in to the wrong place.

While I regularly visit sports massuese, I did try a Thai place in my quest for finding a new one when my old one left town. It was a shocking experience. I'd recommend searching for a reputable sports therapist who does massage.

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

This place gets great reviews on Google, so that's appealing - so is the price and convenience, as it's just around the corner from mine.

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Hot-Clerk504@reddit

I suppose the better question is are you a pervert?

If you leave your boxers on they’ll probably know you actually want a massage. Still run the risk of a half arsed rub down though instead of a proper massage if you pick somewhere that leans more towards the “massage mister?” places

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TelephoneOrnery1394@reddit

My wife went to a place for a few years and spoke very highly of it. It was before we met, when she showed me the place online I thought she was joking. 2 minutes later, we were reading “punting“ detailed reviews of her masseuse who went to great lengths to satisfy her customers.

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j4rj4r@reddit

Most thai massage places are completely legit- I've been to several and never been offered (or requested) anything other than the massage.

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

This is what i wanted to hear, and hope most people realise.

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marktuk@reddit

Which is largely irrelevant, because it's about what people's perception might be

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Chopsticks_Charlie@reddit

Only if you walk in like when Russell Brand went to court.

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west_head_@reddit (OP)

Good shout, I'll bring me bible.

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split-tennisball@reddit

No, that's what they're there for.

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Terrible_Ad_7735@reddit

Actually I'm an investigative journalist. This shit is going to be front page of The Guardian if OP goes ahead with it.

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BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit

To flip this around a little bit, I’ve pursued a genuinely vanilla massage in “a nice shop” that was well regarded and a number of female friends were happy to use… and I was asked as soon as I got in the room if I wanted a happy ending…

Basically, just go for your massage… Try not to look like a flasher in a rain coat and sunglasses, but that’s about it…

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CoffeeKeyDog@reddit

Weird racist vibe on this post.

The majority of Thai massage places are legit. And the people that do it are normally very good. They may or may not have qualifications, be very experienced, and should also be insured.

Some places will offer you a happy ending at the end of your massage. For a fee. This isn’t an expectation, just an extra service that the tax man doesn’t know about.

You’re not gonna walk in to a Thai massage place and be greeted by pimp and be asked which girl you’d like to take to a back room. And if you do, you’ve walked in to a brothel, not a massage place.

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Leading_Weather_1177@reddit

It shouldn't do since Thai massage is perfectly legit.

There's plenty of simpletons in this country though. The real question is, why are you bothered what other people think.

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znv142@reddit

I strongly recommend a physio. It's not a fun relaxing massage, but they are literally trained do know what's wrong with your body and deal with it.

I used to have sports physio massages regularly and I never enjoyed the pain but they are sometimes what your body needs.

(also most don't offer happy endings)

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Objective_Mousse7216@reddit

Most. Interesting....

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Betelgeaux@reddit

You are suggesting some do? Slightly worrying.

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Past-Anything9789@reddit

Look for a sports massage therapist - helps to make sure you get a qualified massage therapist rather than someone offering a happy ending.

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k0n3kt@reddit

Yeah just a tad. Ive thought this myself id love a real massage but I'm pretty sure the ones by me do happy endings 😬

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Due-Parsley953@reddit

WHERE IS THIS?

Interested for research purposes.

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