Assuming that my budget would allow me this - sure, there are times when I am on travel and would love to have an attractive companion to share dinner/drinks and laughs.  Of course, if I had a great time,  I would probably want to night to continue in my hotel room  But, I can think of occasions when I would just want some company for dinner (without sex), especially with one of my ATF's...

to the extent that I've done 12 and 24 hour dates with people whom I really enjoyed being with and had only an hour or less of actual screwing around time because I enjoyed doing other activites with them even more.

To have a date with zero sex however?

I'd feel a bit deprived, I think.

Once I need some personal questions answered about the provider side of this hobby and and how it effected there civie relationships. So, I paid a lady to answer them. It was money very well spent.

Once I got my STD test results back about 2 hours before I had an appointment with a lady. I learned I had chlamydia. I knew she passed on anther client to be able to keep the appointment so it didn't feel right to cancel on her and there was noway I was going to risk her health so I paid her to talk for a couple of hours and eat dinner with me. I had a great time.

I haven't done it intentionally, usually -- more because something has come up like getting a boxing glove in the face (don't want to kiss with a split lip) or I don't have enough time for sex because of a last-minute emergency.

Then I have paid just for company. I see no problem with that.

I try to never book a lady for a session whose company I wouldn't enjoy outside the bedroom as well.

I've paid for the meal in exchange for the company, but that's as far as I'm going.  I don't pay to fuck my friends, so once we cross that line, something has to give.  Sometimes we forget the money; other times we end up just being friends.  You can never have too many friends, especially if you're moving.  

There are ladies (very few tho) who advertise both escort rates (sex included) and social companionship rates (no sex on the mneu).  The social rate is usually much lower than the escort rate, of course.

If it was a lady I knew and enjoyed being with and I was in the mood for an evening out, and that's all, then I would do so at the social rate she offerred.

Paying for sex would be illegal. But often it happens, in addition to the service bought.

tough confession: i have to, boohoo

i am a 4.2 average in my hobbyist rating

In addition to escorting and companionship (which are not always the same thing), I have paid for modeling, massage (and other body work), and a few novel things like nude haircutting.  Interesting fact — getting your hair cut in the nude prevents getting hair in your clothes and you can better judge the cut in comparison to the rest of your body hair.  I see that as a growth industry.

Thankfully we review only the incidental sex.  Because even though I enjoy the paid part of my encounters, I don't want to read about them.

Isn't that kind of what a real GFE experience is?

Of course, YMMV, but to me, part of a real GFE is exactly this kind of companionship - some small talk, a few drinks, a nice meal. I've never been much of a "wham bam thank you maam" type; I want to know at least a little something about the person I'm with, which is why I always book 4 hour sessions (no, I'm not rich - at least not at the moment); it seems more like a GFE and less like a....well, you know.

I pay for a provider's company.  I do it because I think the time will be more enjoyable with her there than without her being there.

There're lots of ways I can enjoy her company and often what we planned isn't what winds up happening.  That flexibility happens more with women I've seen a few times, and sometimes we're just enjoying the outside activities too much to move indoors.

At the end of the evening if I can honestly tell myself I enjoyed the evening, who cares if it didn't go as planned.  I've hardly ever been taken advantage of by a provider this way, and often the "pay back" at some future time has been exceptional.

You can go to a bar and talk to people FOR FREE. Unless you're really repulsive, doesn't make any sense.

....and a play rate.

She would visit me at the hotel spending the afternoon poolside for that social rate while we ate, drank and relaxed but above all her teasing, pampering and the attention that she paid me was worth every penny.

Later in the afternoon we would disappear to the room for two hours of play time at her going rate.

I have already begun looking for just the right lady for my upcoming April trip in order to continue those sexy, relaxing afternoons.

Yes I have- its called my sexless marriage!

Would you pay for only companionship

I've been with my fair share and most of them can't hold a decent conversation. Not that are not decent individuals just not my sort. Typically we are talking a 15 year difference in age so that's part of it but there is one I would and that is demi in Vegas. Great woman. Has me laughing the whole time we talk. God I need to get to Vegas

It is reasonable to pay a lady for sex.  After all, "c*ck likes p*ssy more than p*ssy likes c*ck."  However, it is foolish to pay a lady for talk.  Every woman (whether amateur or professional, heterosexual or lesbian, etc.) likes to talk and talk and talk.