Sao Paulo Reports

[Member #4732]

The boates, clinicas and escorts who take credit cards usually tack on a fee. While the fee is not much, it does add up, especially on a long trip. That's why I almost always pay in cash. But sometimes it can be a pain in the ass. The ATM machines almost always dispense large bills so the smaller bills are hard to come by. I always try to give the girls the exact change as most can't break up the big bills. I even had instances in clinicas where they couldn't give my change right away and told me they would have it after the session. I remember one time in Rio, I forget about my change upon leaving the casa. It was only after I got back to my place that I realized that. I immediately went back to the casa and got my change. LOL.

The ARMs dispense mostly 50's and 100's yes. But every free lancer charges a multiple of 50 so I see no problem. Every clinica or boate has change. I do this every day for years and I have never had a problem with cash in putaria, never. In fact the clinicas and the boates are the only places in Brazil that reliably have change.

This whole thread is the biggest mountain of a mole hill ever.

[Member #4732]

Sex budget let's say 1500 R per day. Maximum ATM withdrawal 1000 R. Allowing for other expenditures (beside rent) that means 2 ATM withdrawals each day. If you stay for 2 months it means 120 ATM withdrawals. What could possibly go wrong?

First of all I have taken 2000 at a pop out of Santander, and I am not even sure if that is the limit. Plus you can do multiple withdrawals until you hit your own bank limit. Frankly if you can't working girl till you drop daily on less than 1500 reias you are doing something wrong. I do top girls every day for 300 reias for 2 hours. Just got to play the game right. Top as in both great looks and service.

Also as I said in original post if you want to maximize your cash for P4P you use the credit card for all other commercial activity. I reemphasize, this should be a non problem.

[DreamCarnarvon]

Regardless if you keep that pace, I believe most of the boates and clinicas accept credit / debit cards. Hell, some of the top escorts will take credit card. It goes without saying most groceries and restaurants take credit / debit cards.

The boates, clinicas and escorts who take credit cards usually tack on a fee. While the fee is not much, it does add up, especially on a long trip. That's why I almost always pay in cash. But sometimes it can be a pain in the ass. The ATM machines almost always dispense large bills so the smaller bills are hard to come by. I always try to give the girls the exact change as most can't break up the big bills. I even had instances in clinicas where they couldn't give my change right away and told me they would have it after the session. I remember one time in Rio, I forget about my change upon leaving the casa. It was only after I got back to my place that I realized that. I immediately went back to the casa and got my change. LOL.

[DreamCarnarvon]

Sex budget let's say 1500 R per day. Maximum ATM withdrawal 1000 R. Allowing for other expenditures (beside rent) that means 2 ATM withdrawals each day. If you stay for 2 months it means 120 ATM withdrawals. What could possibly go wrong?

I assume your calculation of 120 ATM withdrawals implied a little exaggeration and sarcasm. But I do agree the more you withdrawal from the ATM the more your risk increases. I think its perfectly fine to just rely on ATM for short stays of 1-2 weeks. However, anything longer than that I would bring some cash as a backup. The amount would depend on the length of stay. I stayed in Sao Paulo and Rio for 2.5 months on my last trip. In Sao Paulo I relied solely on my ATM card. And in Rio I used a bit of both ATM card and dollar (the casas de cambios in Copa gave out fantastic exchange rates). Of course my daily sex budget was no where near R1500 per day. That seems like an unrealistic daily average for a 2 month stay. I can see some weekend warriors splurging that amount of money. Also the R1000 max withdrawal limit also seems unrealistic. My bank (and I think most banks) allows much more than that. Every person is different on how they obtain and spend their money. But the bottom line is be extra care with your money when you are abroad. Especially in Brazil, only use ATM machines that are located inside banks and / or in areas of high traffic.

[WyattEarp]

I don't understand all the anxiety over payment methods. Its 2020 guys. I haven't worried about payment since the early 2000's. Just get a credit card and bank account that have no foreign transaction fees. Problem solved. Use credit card for all normal consumer transactions and cash for P4 P. Only Withdraw cash from ATMs that are located inside banks that have visible security. Follow these simple steps and you have convenience and safety.

Worst case, with mobile alerts you will be aware quickly of any fraudulent activity.

Bingo!

I think on the Rio thread some guys occasionally experience getting much better than the published market rate for foreign exchange. I have not been so lucky. Back in the 1990's, some local cash businesses would be aggressively seeking Dollars. I personally haven't seen this in years.

So if this happens, it appears to be a timing thing and hunting down the best rate on the ground. It also might be a Rio thing when the timing is right.

[WyattEarp]

Sex budget let's say 1500 R per day. Maximum ATM withdrawal 1000 R. Allowing for other expenditures (beside rent) that means 2 ATM withdrawals each day. If you stay for 2 months it means 120 ATM withdrawals. What could possibly go wrong?

I'm not exactly sure that rate of expenditure is realistic for most of us. 1500 R is a lot to spend in Brazil every day for sixty days. (I can hear ABG saying you could live at a clinica for that amount.) Regardless if you keep that pace, I believe most of the boates and clinicas accept credit / debit cards. Hell, some of the top escorts will take credit card. It goes without saying most groceries and restaurants take credit / debit cards.

Some guys like having a lot of cash traveling abroad. They feel more secure having it on-hand. Some of my crew goes to Brazil and other locales with a wad of cash in their pants or bag and promptly deposit it in the safe deposit box in their room. You also have some guys who are in cash businesses. Some of their income never sees a bank account.

Between ATMs and charging, I've been fine with my cards (no FX fees). The one time I had a problem abroad I had a new card the next day. So yes have some back-up.

[Hobbying]

Sex budget let's say 1500 R per day. Maximum ATM withdrawal 1000 R. Allowing for other expenditures (beside rent) that means 2 ATM withdrawals each day. If you stay for 2 months it means 120 ATM withdrawals. What could possibly go wrong?

Bredesco lets you take out multiple withdrawals from the same machine until you hit your daily limit for your bank. I've taken out 5000 are before.

[XXL]

I don't understand all the anxiety over payment methods. Its 2020 guys. I haven't worried about payment since the early 2000's. Just get a credit card and bank account that have no foreign transaction fees. Problem solved...

Sex budget let's say 1500 R per day. Maximum ATM withdrawal 1000 R. Allowing for other expenditures (beside rent) that means 2 ATM withdrawals each day. If you stay for 2 months it means 120 ATM withdrawals. What could possibly go wrong?

[Dasisextra]

I don't understand all the anxiety over payment methods. Its 2020 guys. I haven't worried about payment since the early 2000's. Just get a credit card and bank account that have no foreign transaction fees. Problem solved. Use credit card for all normal consumer transactions and cash for P4 P. Only Withdraw cash from ATMs that are located inside banks that have visible security. Follow these simple steps and you have convenience and safety.

Worst case, with mobile alerts you will be aware quickly of any fraudulent activity.

Agree 100%, spent over 5 months in Brazil last year, pre Covid this year, used credit card to cover entry fees & drinks in Rio Termas & many SP clubs, used cash for the girls because clubs that will take girl payment charge a supplement. All the clubs show up as some restaurant or other & I had no issues or problems at all. Will do the same on planned trip later this year.

[WyattEarp]

Would some of my smarter ISG guys recommend I buy some reals now while they are so low. I'm coming down in November and feel I should take advantage. I only worry about a surge stopping the trip and the real rebounding and having to sell them back at a lesser rate.

It's usually not a bad idea to buy "some" currency with a trip on the short-term horizon. I discourage my friends of stockpiling currency for multiple trips over the next few years. This might make some sense if you were going to live in Brazil for awhile. Otherwise, it's hard to guess the market.

The general mistake people make about currencies is that it takes two currencies to tango. In other words, the US $ in recent months has been weak against peers as the Fed prints money and tries to prop up the COVID economy. I see no reason to see that change before the election.

Is Brazil in worse shape with the virus and economy? Perhaps, but there is a lot of uncertainty. Some news on the vaccine front could be more beneficial for Brazil relative to the USA. So you have a lot of volatility and the risk your trip will be cancelled. I don't think anyone can give you a definitive answer.

[Member #4732]

I don't understand all the anxiety over payment methods. Its 2020 guys. I haven't worried about payment since the early 2000's. Just get a credit card and bank account that have no foreign transaction fees. Problem solved. Use credit card for all normal consumer transactions and cash for P4 P. Only Withdraw cash from ATMs that are located inside banks that have visible security. Follow these simple steps and you have convenience and safety.

Worst case, with mobile alerts you will be aware quickly of any fraudulent activity.

[Steve 9696]

Thought the fees are high, 5.4 when real rate was 5. 6 when you did it?

Yeah probably true. But I was only sending a bit of money and it's chump change in the scheme of things vs the convenience.

[Hobbying]

Would some of my smarter ISG guys recommend I buy some reals now while they are so low. I'm coming down in November and feel I should take advantage. I only worry about a surge stopping the trip and the real rebounding and having to sell them back at a lesser rate.

I would speculate that it will go higher as spending and new GDP numbers are released in the coming months. It was 5.96 a few weeks ago.

[Hobbying]

Never mind I figured out how to use PayPal for this just using an email address for the girl. It gave me like a 5. 4 exchange. Can't believe how cheap the Real is. It was 4. 0 last summer.

Key to being anonymous on PayPal is to open a business account. You need your real name and real funding but the recipient sees only the business name and address. Be careful obviously with the address. I believe you can set it to something random since your home address is the key identifier in PayPal's database.

Thought the fees are high, 5.4 when real rate was 5. 6 when you did it?

[BMo814]

Would some of my smarter ISG guys recommend I buy some reals now while they are so low. I'm coming down in November and feel I should take advantage. I only worry about a surge stopping the trip and the real rebounding and having to sell them back at a lesser rate.