Rio de Janeiro Reports

[Bubba Boy]

I agree tipping is fine when someone actually does something for it. The security guards at Termas and some Boates that stick their hands out for a tip are something else. Even the Brazilian guys complain on gpguianet about the guy at 4x4 and the fat security guard at 502. These guys ask for a tip very aggressively and are relentless. They deserve nothing but contempt!

[Mangera]

My point was that tipping is fine, however, a tip is well earned when they actually do something to earn it. Those two ladies in the front desk at Solarium don't do a darn thing to deserve any kind of tip. I am sure they are wll compensated, they handle lots of money and transaction. I am sure they are well trusted by management (very top) , hence get good pay.

I have spoken to them 2 ladies in front desk) quite a bit, and they have done their fair share of travel out of the country, so its safe to say they are not dirt poor. That being said, if they actually did something out of the ordinary, I would tip them.

BTW, as for the older black lady who works at 4 x 4, I have been tipping her for years. Even during her days at Luomo's. She goes out of her way to make sure I am comfortable with robes and sandals, etc. I gladly tip her. It all comes down to whether they do some out of the norm or at least attempt to do something to earn it. Same thing applies to the working girls. Just my 2 cents.

[Ipanema Carioca]

I tip in Rio even though it may not be the norm or the local custom. It has been repaid to me many times over because of the as good will established and friendship between the requestor and me. For example, at the hotel, I left the safe open once with over BR2000, $500, credit cards, passport out in the open from early in the morning till I came home from my trip downtown. Nothing was missing.

At the termas. 4 X 4 more than once I've misplaced my keys, forgot to lock my locker, left the keys at the bar, left the keys at the sauna, left the keys at the room, and so on (Yes, I am very forgetful at times). The workers always seem to find me and return my misplaced stuff and not once have they tried to get over by trying to charge things on my account. Now, they will ask if they can have a soda, buy them a burger, whatever; for what they have saved me from I've always said no problem to them.

Just try and treat these people with some courtesy and respect and believe me, what comes back your way will be worth much more than a few reals or a drink or a snack. It might be priceless.

I agree Voyajer1!

[Voyajer1]

I tip in Rio even though it may not be the norm or the local custom. It has been repaid to me many times over because of the as good will established and friendship between the requestor and me. For example, at the hotel, I left the safe open once with over BR2000, $500, credit cards, passport out in the open from early in the morning till I came home from my trip downtown. Nothing was missing.

At the termas. 4 X 4 more than once I've misplaced my keys, forgot to lock my locker, left the keys at the bar, left the keys at the sauna, left the keys at the room, and so on (Yes, I am very forgetful at times). The workers always seem to find me and return my misplaced stuff and not once have they tried to get over by trying to charge things on my account. Now, they will ask if they can have a soda, buy them a burger, whatever; for what they have saved me from I've always said no problem to them.

Just try and treat these people with some courtesy and respect and believe me, what comes back your way will be worth much more than a few reals or a drink or a snack. It might be priceless.

4x4, Cancun and T502 have tip beggars. At 4x4 an older morena locker room attendant passed me a note for a tip. At Cancun the girls near the 3rd floor showers begged for tips, and at T502 the girls at the desk and the fat guy at the entrance begged for tips. Just give them what you want or nothing at all. The beg Americans for times because we brought that customs overseas with us. We in the US are taught to tip. As a waitress my more raised 5 kids with her tips, and she told me to tip. When I travel it's a insurance that I get favors when I want. If you tip the older glasses wearing brown skin woman in the locker room, she'll run in the rain to give you your dropped wallet like she did my buddy. Or give you your credit card that you leave at the cashier like she did me. Give them something, but I don't give beggars anything. But for brazilians they don't get tips from brazilians, so they are awkward and annoying with their begging.

[Ipanema Carioca]

This reminds me of the two garotas that work at the front desk of Solarium. Always asking for a tip on the way out. Give me a break! A tip for what? For taking my money and putting it in their cash register?

I can't stand it when they do that. I just give themthe WTF look as well. I even speak to them in Porto, so its not like they are translating anything for me, and doing me any favors. They must have nothing to lose by asking, cause I am sure some baffoon tourists have tipped them in the past. Believe me, I highly doubt any Brazilian would tip them.

4x4, Cancun and T502 have tip beggars. At 4x4 an older morena locker room attendant passed me a note for a tip. At Cancun the girls near the 3rd floor showers begged for tips, and at T502 the girls at the desk and the fat guy at the entrance begged for tips. Just give them what you want or nothing at all. The beg Americans for times because we brought that customs overseas with us. We in the US are taught to tip. As a waitress my more raised 5 kids with her tips, and she told me to tip. When I travel it's a insurance that I get favors when I want. If you tip the older glasses wearing brown skin woman in the locker room, she'll run in the rain to give you your dropped wallet like she did my buddy. Or give you your credit card that you leave at the cashier like she did me. Give them something, but I don't give beggars anything. But for brazilians they don't get tips from brazilians, so they are awkward and annoying with their begging.

[Mangera]

Had some free time on Friday night hence went for a strategic Terma run. I haven't been to Cancun nor 4x4 in a while, a while being maybe 6 weeks. In fact haven't been doing enough mongering of late, have been busy doing other things. Anyway.

Cancun, got there at about 5pm, place was just filling up. 80% of girls were already there. Not many guys at this stage. I was there to basically just see all the talent. That is I planned a stay of 2 hours to catch the full roster of women. I love the facilities at Cancun, nice and new, however I have never had much luck with the talent there. I tend to find the look is kind of big average looking girls. The look I find unattractive. Having said this I have banged a lot of girls that have worked at Cancun, just haven't seen many hot girls when they were actually there. I guess the girls that I like don't do well at Cancun and leave in a short time. Ended up very dissappoined, not even a maybe for me. Paid R$50 for entrance which included 2 beers.

At 7pm arrived at 4x4. I love 4x4, just love sitting there and watching the happenings. It was actually less busy than normal, you could actually walk around without the need to push and shove people out of the way. It was nice not being pushed and shoved around as well. A bit of space was nice. What wasn't nice was the talent. I always tend to find 1 or 3 hot girls at 4x4. Tend to see a lot of average girls and below as well of course. This time I saw Katia, very hot, very popular for about 5 minutes before she was dragged upstairs. Apart from her really didn't see much else worth jumping on. No real super hotties there. Ended up staying for 3 hours and had about 4 beers, bill was R$86. Beers were Heineken at R$ 9 a pop. Is it just me or can't you buy cans there anymore for R$5? I checked my change very carefully as I have had problems with the receptionists there before. She very quickly gave me R$10 then very slowly another R$4. I don't mind tipping for great service but the cows, I mean receptionists, there get R$0 from me because of there bad thieving past. On the way out the security guy of course asks for a tip, I just look back at him on the way past and give him the WTF look. Yes I am getting grumpier in my old age.

This reminds me of the two garotas that work at the front desk of Solarium. Always asking for a tip on the way out. Give me a break! A tip for what? For taking my money and putting it in their cash register?

I can't stand it when they do that. I just give themthe WTF look as well. I even speak to them in Porto, so its not like they are translating anything for me, and doing me any favors. They must have nothing to lose by asking, cause I am sure some baffoon tourists have tipped them in the past. Believe me, I highly doubt any Brazilian would tip them.

[Dutch44]

At 7pm arrived at 4x4. I love 4x4, just love sitting there and watching the happenings. It was actually less busy than normal, you could actually walk around without the need to push and shove people out of the way. It was nice not being pushed and shoved around as well. A bit of space was nice. What wasn't nice was the talent.....

I got in around 22h00, may have seen you without knowing it was you. 4x4 talent is less than 2009/2010 (from what I remember). One of the things I observe in Brasil is that obesity is hitting the GDP's hard. A large ass is one thing, but if everything becomes big and fat I run the other way. Pity, girls here used to look like photo-models, but that is getting less nowadays.

Dutch44

[Dutch44]

Dear fellow mongers,

It is my pleasure to send you a report from the city of Rio. Evening now, Saturday night. 25 degrees celsius (77F) , the city is humming and the smell of the sea (I'm close to the beach in Ipanema) fills the streets, mixed with the exhaust gases of the many yellow taxis and buses. In the last two days I've been to several tier 2 rated Termas in Centro, like Termas 502, T81, T21 and so on. See the Bubba Brazil Report for details. (BTW they close around 22h00 on Friday) to be honest, I would rate them tier 3. The stairs, rooms, hallway are simply so dirty that you wonder what kind of bacterial life forms they host. I'm quite sure some new, never discovered (and dangerous) species can be found there.

Anyway, I looked around and decided this was not my thing. So I headed to 4x4 on Rua Buenos aires 44 which was very close. I still think this is one of the very best Termas in Rio, possibly THE best. I got there around 22h00, Friday evening. It was not as busy as usual. Perhaps some 30 ladies and 30 guys only. Those numbers are usually at least double.

Anyway, I just hung around and looked at some of the ladies dancing. Man can they dance here, it seems all are born with samba genes. Those hips swing in a way I thought physically impossible. That night the majority were big bunda girls, which is not my thing. By big I mean huge asses actually. Obesity is on the rise world-wide, including Brasil. Too bad for me. I like them thin.

Anyway, my eyes spotted a dark skinned garota dancing with such skill and energy that I could not miss it. She was gorgeous, thin, beautiful hips, eyes, a body made in heaven. To me she looked somewhat like Halle Berry. Since it had gotten rather late (4x4 really slows down after 23h00) I decide to ask her what she was doing after the closing hours. To cut a long story short, for 300R she spent the night with me (Cab was 30R from centro to Ipa) Incredible experience. I do not know if it was me, but when we were finished making love and she was sleeping beside me, I could have sworn I spent the night with Halle Berry in the wildest "cat women" version. Jeez, where else but in Rio. Gems can still be found. It is getting harder, but still possible.

Today (Saturday) was Escort day. I first contacted scortshow. I choose Dafne. Well I can only say: GREAT! Looks=7 to 8, service = 8+ (on a scale from 1-10) Recommended. Quality really varies with these escort agencies. You can end up with a (bored) girl that rushes things, or you could end up with a total pleasurable GFE. Dafne has a beautiful slim body and is quite tall (1m70) I asked her who else she could recommend. She mentioned Maise. I do not know her, but she said Maisa has a nice personality. (blond. 22 years. 1m67) On the scortshow site Maisa looked great BTW.

At these lower cost escort agencies (scortshow, karlamodels and starcris) you have about a 50-50 percent chance to find a really nice girl. So it takes a little perseverance, but the reward can be there. The price is great too. Basically 120R for 2 hours in your hotel / apartment. Thats just 50 Euro. Add to that taxi costs which is another 30-50R. (12-20 Euro) Anyway there is plenty info on this forum regarding those agencies. Please do note that some hotels do charge extra if you take a girl to the room (typically 50-80R). Some non GFE friendly hotels refuse. Thats why I prefer an apartment.

So there it is. All have fun and stay safe (and wear your rubbers)

Dutch44

[Jan 156]

Never heard of this, but the contract speaks about visitors, then even if I take a hooker, I can always say she is my girlfriend and we already planned to marry and even more. You bring a girl to your apartment not for a sexual purpose but to have her translate some stuff from your work and once the door is closed, even if she is moaning out loud, you can say it was the television. I do not see it as a problem this stupid contract, am I wrong?

Yes, that's just common sense, isn't it. I can only speak about what I've experienced. I've rented flats from them on B. Ribeiro, on Princesa Isabel, on Prado, and probably other places. So has a friend of mine. Unlike the places down near what used to be Help, Rent-a-flat has fixed (well more or less) prices. I always get on well with the young guy running the place (his dad is less on the ball). And it's very convenient if you just want to roll into town, get off the bus or Metro, and have a look round for a flat. I've been a few times since I sorted out my own private arrangements just to check prices for other people. But who knows, maybe he turned in his sleep last month or whatever. Like I said, I can only report what I know myself.

[Bubba Boy]

Had some free time on Friday night hence went for a strategic Terma run. I haven't been to Cancun nor 4x4 in a while, a while being maybe 6 weeks. In fact haven't been doing enough mongering of late, have been busy doing other things. Anyway.

Cancun, got there at about 5pm, place was just filling up. 80% of girls were already there. Not many guys at this stage. I was there to basically just see all the talent. That is I planned a stay of 2 hours to catch the full roster of women. I love the facilities at Cancun, nice and new, however I have never had much luck with the talent there. I tend to find the look is kind of big average looking girls. The look I find unattractive. Having said this I have banged a lot of girls that have worked at Cancun, just haven't seen many hot girls when they were actually there. I guess the girls that I like don't do well at Cancun and leave in a short time. Ended up very dissappoined, not even a maybe for me. Paid R$50 for entrance which included 2 beers.

At 7pm arrived at 4x4. I love 4x4, just love sitting there and watching the happenings. It was actually less busy than normal, you could actually walk around without the need to push and shove people out of the way. It was nice not being pushed and shoved around as well. A bit of space was nice. What wasn't nice was the talent. I always tend to find 1 or 3 hot girls at 4x4. Tend to see a lot of average girls and below as well of course. This time I saw Katia, very hot, very popular for about 5 minutes before she was dragged upstairs. Apart from her really didn't see much else worth jumping on. No real super hotties there. Ended up staying for 3 hours and had about 4 beers, bill was R$86. Beers were Heineken at R$ 9 a pop. Is it just me or can't you buy cans there anymore for R$5? I checked my change very carefully as I have had problems with the receptionists there before. She very quickly gave me R$10 then very slowly another R$4. I don't mind tipping for great service but the cows, I mean receptionists, there get R$0 from me because of there bad thieving past. On the way out the security guy of course asks for a tip, I just look back at him on the way past and give him the WTF look. Yes I am getting grumpier in my old age.

[Eros74]

Christopherd,

A friend sent me this question today:

If you are going to Rio and you are renting apartment from rentaflatinrio. Com. When you get down there. They want you to sign a contract. Saying that you would not allow to bring vistors to the apartment for sexual purposes. 2. If you break rules, you agree to pay an extra fine R$2, 000. And any other fines issued by condominium, brazilian law enforcement. And need to be paid in cash within 24 hrs. There is a total of about 15 things the contract has on it. I don't know about other renting agency. HAS ANY BODY HEARD OF THIS

Never heard of this, but the contract speaks about visitors, then even if I take a hooker, I can always say she is my girlfriend and we already planned to marry and even more. You bring a girl to your apartment not for a sexual purpose but to have her translate some stuff from your work and once the door is closed, even if she is moaning out loud, you can say it was the television. I do not see it as a problem this stupid contract, am I wrong?

[Ipanema Carioca]

Sorry, I have used them many times before I got my own arrangements and they were always excellent. Reasonably priced, businesslike, fair, did meter readings while I was there so I could check, waived the deposit on all except my initial booking and waived that as well after I had haggled a bit. Also let me leave my stuff there on numerous occasions while I went to view as many flats as I wanted before deciding. I'd have no hesitation recommending them except if someone does know how to deal with Brasilians. As Brasilian rental agencies go, these are honest in my experience. I've never had to sign an anti-mongering contract - but there again, I don't look dodgy.

Christopherd,

A friend sent me this question today:

If you are going to Rio and you are renting apartment from rentaflatinrio. Com. When you get down there. They want you to sign a contract. Saying that you would not allow to bring vistors to the apartment for sexual purposes. 2. If you break rules, you agree to pay an extra fine R$2, 000. And any other fines issued by condominium, brazilian law enforcement. And need to be paid in cash within 24 hrs. There is a total of about 15 things the contract has on it. I don't know about other renting agency. HAS ANY BODY HEARD OF THIS

[Jan 156]

http://rentaflat.com.br/

This company long been known for being one of the stricter agencies out there. They have a long contract and will attempt to find you at fault for something!

Years ago they faked a high electrical reading to get money out of me. I was there for about a week to 10 days and my electric bill, according to them, was 200R. The guy claimed the meter (a circular one) had gone all the way around because I most have overused the utilities. This was total BS. I purposely used very little and now the reading showed I had barely used it. The meter had barely moved; which he read to mean it had circled around!

Then the rental guy attempted to blame me for a blue stain on the wall, which was caused by a blue blanket covering they had on the couch (the blanket obviously had been there for years and is still seen in pictures of this apartment on the site. But somehow the guy suddenly noticed it when checking me out. He supposedly decided to check behind the couch and low and behold, saw this stain! He tried to charge me and I got very angry.

Like many renters around the world, they keep a safety deposit and like many of these renters they attempt to keep as much of it as possible.

Stay away from them. Stick with the usual sites mentioned here on the ISG!

http://rentaflat.com.br/

Is NOT monger-friendly!

SS

Sorry, I have used them many times before I got my own arrangements and they were always excellent. Reasonably priced, businesslike, fair, did meter readings while I was there so I could check, waived the deposit on all except my initial booking and waived that as well after I had haggled a bit. Also let me leave my stuff there on numerous occasions while I went to view as many flats as I wanted before deciding. I'd have no hesitation recommending them except if someone does know how to deal with Brasilians. As Brasilian rental agencies go, these are honest in my experience. I've never had to sign an anti-mongering contract - but there again, I don't look dodgy.

[Sunset Strip]

http://rentaflat.com.br/

This company long been known for being one of the stricter agencies out there. They have a long contract and will attempt to find you at fault for something!

Years ago they faked a high electrical reading to get money out of me. I was there for about a week to 10 days and my electric bill, according to them, was 200R. The guy claimed the meter (a circular one) had gone all the way around because I most have overused the utilities. This was total BS. I purposely used very little and now the reading showed I had barely used it. The meter had barely moved; which he read to mean it had circled around!

Then the rental guy attempted to blame me for a blue stain on the wall, which was caused by a blue blanket covering they had on the couch (the blanket obviously had been there for years and is still seen in pictures of this apartment on the site. But somehow the guy suddenly noticed it when checking me out. He supposedly decided to check behind the couch and low and behold, saw this stain! He tried to charge me and I got very angry.

Like many renters around the world, they keep a safety deposit and like many of these renters they attempt to keep as much of it as possible.

Stay away from them. Stick with the usual sites mentioned here on the ISG!

http://rentaflat.com.br/ Is NOT monger-friendly!

SS

[Ipanema Carioca]

I am finding that the apartment market is high and the quality in Rio has gone with Club Help. Help's closure has given the apartment pool available to gringos wallet burn. I've been in Rio 5 times in 2009 and times in 2010, which gives me an idea of the apartment situation from researching where I would stay. Like termas and other Brazilian business people, as the renter pool shrink the price goes up. During the after the boom mongering days, many apartment owners are not upgrading or fixing wear and tear in apartments. I have inspected apartments with made beds of dirty linen, and bad plumbing with dirty floors and etc. Plus, you never know your neighbors, mongers, gdp, or possible crazies to criminals. So I've been happy with hotels.

The hotels I've been in have clean linen every morning or on demand. Maid service by professional maids with supervisors inspecting after the maids. Most apartment owners or middlemen either half clean the apartments themselves, or some friend. Imagine sitting on dirty apartment toilets, or a male or female who comes to your apartment to make your bed or change your linen after wiping their own ass.

Maybe I'm too funny. But I don't travel so far to live worse than I do at home. I like the smell of disinfectant when I walk into where I am temporary living. As for the gdp fee, when I add up the sheets and towels I use in my Rio 10-15 stay, it adds up money and time. So the gdp fee is a convenience trade off. Plus the free breakfast, and knowing there is in house security and door made who are not easily paid off by a gdp to stalk you.

Just my humble opinion. You get what you like and pay for.

If you are going to Rio and you are renting apartment from rentaflatinrio. Com. When you get down there. They want you to sign a contract. Saying that you would not allow to bring vistors to the apartment for sexual purposes. 2. If you break rules, you agree to pay an extra fine R$2, 000. And any other fines issued by condominium, brazilian law enforcement. And need to be paid in cash within 24 hrs. There is a total of about 15 things the contract has on it. I don't know about other renting agency. HAS ANY BODY HEARD OF THIS?