When people think of Thailand, they often picture white sandy beaches, buzzing nightlife, and endless parties.
But behind that postcard-perfect image lies another reality — one that many young British men are flocking toward, but few fully understand.
Zara McDermott’s new BBC documentary Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise pulls back the curtain on a world where cheap sex, drugs, and broken promises collide with dreams of escape and romance.
Brits Chasing “Fantasy Lives” Abroad
The documentary reveals how some British men, many in their early 20s, travel to Thailand not just for a holiday but for a lifestyle they believe is unattainable back home.
For as little as £23, they can pay for sex in Pattaya — known globally as the “sex capital of Asia.”
Some go even further, forming relationships with Thai women and moving there permanently, convinced they’ve found a simpler, more “traditional” way of life.
Meet Mac: The YouTuber Selling a Dream
Zara meets Mac, a 30-year-old from Staffordshire who has lived in Pattaya for two years.
His YouTube channel offers so-called “guides” for British men looking to navigate Thailand’s sex industry, from bar etiquette to negotiation tips.
He insists he’s “helping the economy” by drawing more tourists in, but Zara challenges him on whether he’s actually promoting exploitation while packaging it as paradise.
Loukas’ Story: From Party Trip to Romance
Another voice in the film is Loukas, a 23-year-old chef from Manchester.
He admits he flew to Thailand after seeing party clips on social media. During a night out, he paid £23 to take a sex worker back to his hotel.
What started as a transaction turned into something more complicated when she kept wanting to see him, even when he refused to pay.
Loukas believes many women try to get tourists emotionally hooked, so they’ll keep sending money home even after leaving Thailand.
He admits it’s behavior he’d “never consider in the UK” but says the flattery and attention make young men feel differently abroad.
The Women’s Side of the Story
Zara also sits down with Thai women working in Pattaya’s red-light district.
One, introduced as Annie, shares a heartbreaking story of betrayal, hardship, and shattered dreams.
After leaving her boyfriend, she turned to sex work, hoping a foreign partner might offer her a better life.
Instead, she ended up falling in love with a customer who promised support but ultimately abandoned her.
Her words capture the painful cycle many women find themselves trapped in — lured by promises that rarely come true.
Life Inside the “Red-Light on Steroids”
Pattaya’s notorious Soi 6 strip is described as a red-light district “on steroids.”
When Zara tried to film there with Mac, police quickly shut down the cameras under pressure from bar owners, highlighting how sensitive and hidden this world remains.
Still, the neon-lit bars and aggressive street marketing reveal a reality that stands in sharp contrast to Thailand’s serene tourist image.
A Girlfriend Called “Beverly Hills”
Zara later visits Mac’s home, where she meets his Thai girlfriend, Panida, nicknamed “Beverly Hills.”
She often features in his content — cooking for him, playing the role of the doting partner.
To Mac, dating a Thai woman is “more fun” than being with English women, whom he claims put too many demands on men.
Zara presses him on whether this is just another “fantasy” being sold to viewers, but he remains convinced he’s living the good life.
A Country of Contrasts
Zara’s documentary highlights Thailand’s dual identity: a country of idyllic beaches and vibrant culture, but also one shadowed by sex work, drugs, and inequality.
From young backpackers chasing quick thrills to expats seeking permanent escape, Thailand draws thousands of Brits every year. But behind the fun and freedom are deeper issues about power, exploitation, and vulnerability.
Giving Women a Voice
For Zara, the documentary is about more than just exposing the nightlife.
With her background in women’s advocacy, she wants to give Thai sex workers the chance to share their stories — often stories of survival, resilience, and disappointment.
“My aim is for these women to feel completely seen and heard,” she explains, stressing the importance of empathy and understanding in an industry where women’s voices are often silenced.
Now Streaming on BBC iPlayer
Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise is a three-part series that takes viewers from Bangkok to Pattaya to Thailand’s party islands, weaving together stories from tourists, locals, and content creators.
It’s a raw look at what really happens when paradise meets reality — and why so many young Brits can’t resist stepping into the darker side of Thailand.