2006 General Reports

[Cho 637]

Just came back from a trip to Rio.

Ther rate at the Airport was 2.00 - don't buy from the window after you get you luggage. Instead go by the elevators and get some cab money from the security guys standing over there. They gave me R210 for $100

My hotel rate was 2.10
The rates at the ATM were 2.15
Surprise - ratee at Help was 2.20 the whole trip.

I used Help and the ATMs

DD

I just got back today from Sampa and Rio.

Sampa- Citibank atm was 2.15 + R6 service fee.
Hotel quoted me 1.9 (Insane)
Rio- Help 2.2 ($100 limit)
Blame it on Rio 2.2

[El Austriaco]

Okay, that was admittedly a gross exaggeration on my part, but thanks very much for your in-depth input!

Not THAT gross, actually. I've overheard girls quoting guys R$ 500.00, for sure.

EA

[Urcarioca]

If you have a really large amount to change (when paying for an apto etc) there are people who can give you a "special" rate. I can't give you any contact info on this. They will send a big guy to your place with a bag filled of R$ and a big gun in his waist.

Hi all,

There's an illegal but working really well for those who need to transfer a large amount of cash : the "Dolero".

It's based on confidence, with no name and no id number.

You can transfer US$ 3000,00 to a bank account in Switzerland or Uruguay and 5 days later someone will ring at your door and give you the cash in R$ (with a comission fee as low as 2%).

Sperto, I know that the cambio you mentioned (Rio Branco, place before Presidente Vargas) brings this kind of service.

Meus 2 centavos.

Urcarioca.

[WSJ3]

In October 2006 all of the Help Garotas were asking for 200 Reals but would take 100 reals.

Peace:
WSJ3

[Giggity]

I have never had a Help girl pull a R$ 500.00 first offer on me, but R$ 300, yes...

Okay, that was admittedly a gross exaggeration on my part, but thanks very much for your in-depth input!

[El Austriaco]

My question for those who have vaster knowledge than I: Would you say that the "gringo premium" charged by girls all over the world has to do more with the impersonal nature of doing business with someone who does not know the local language, or simply a contempt for foreigners in general? That is to say, would a girl (like in Help, for instance) try to pull the R$500 quote right off the bat if she saw that you were a gringo, but at least knew very good Portuguese?

I see it this way:

1) The workings of supply and demand: there are far less girls that speak fluent English, so supply drops, and prices rise. Just like with any other kind of product or service.

2) The GFE premium: I know, some mongers define GFE as including BBBJ and DFK, but I don´t know, even if I get that from a girl, I have a hard time fantasizing that she could actually be my GF if I can not speak a word in her own language to her and get to know her a little bit beyond the edge of the bed. So for linguistically-challenged mongers looking for a GFE that feel like I do, a girl speaking English is the only way to go, and I guess they are willing to pay an extra premium for that.

3) The ignorance premium: unless you speak, say, Portuguese, a girl will assume that you haven't spent a lot of time in, say, Rio, and are therefore unaware of current pricing or other options available. All of this makes you a better prospect for her in terms of overcharging you. Hey, she has nothing to lose. There might be some contempt mixed in, yes, but not to the extent of "I just hate foreigners, so I will charge them more", no. You are just a more gullible and ignorant victim, that's all.

I have never had a Help girl pull a R$ 500.00 first offer on me, but R$ 300, yes, even when I asked in plain Portuguese, and if I had gone a lot to Help in the past couple of years, I am sure I would have run into one trying to hit me up for R$ 500.00. Some of them just don't care... whatever shit sticks, they will try to throw at the wall. But I do agree that speaking only English and displaying no local knowledge whatsoever will certainly greatly increase the likelihood that they will try and fleece you, yes. It's part of their job description: P4P. If you gotta play to make a living, might as well grab as much cash as you can, right?

EA

[Giggity]

But if you're there, and want an awesome time with an English speaker, check out "Elektra Stocklos". I saw her last year and just had too much on the schedule to get back with her.

http://nossoforum.com/phpBB2/viewtop...hlight=elektra

She's pretty, and I'm sure that finding a girl who speaks fluent English will definitely attract a solid number of Anglos who are tired of doing business with hand gestures and a dictionary.

(What I'm about to say has been discussed ad nauseam in the past, but I believe it bears repeating by anyone willing to mention it.)

However, the prices she lists on her personal web page are pretty steep. USD$100 (R$217 as of 25 Nov 2006) for the first 60 minutes! Yowza, those are almost Lisbon prices! While not totally unreasonable (compared to the R$500/hr quotes commonly heard for starters at Help in Rio), they're definitely higher than any regular reader of this forum would agree to pay in Brazil without attempts to bring it lower. Compare that to a recent positive review on the 2006 São Paulo thread describing another lovely lady as charging R$200 (USD$92) for 90 minutes in-hotel including transport.

Just goes to show you how much of a premium is demanded by English-speaking escorts, and certainly makes me glad I'm studying Portuguese in my spare time (long way to go, however). I'm figuring that despite the time investment required for now, it'll save me enough money to pay for itself. Besides, I hear it helps the girls warm up to you that much faster (making even those girls who do not drop the price be better experiences anyway), as well as opening the window to a number of opportunities (non-pro dating and general business) closed to those who don't speak it!

My question for those who have vaster knowledge than I: Would you say that the "gringo premium" charged by girls all over the world has to do more with the impersonal nature of doing business with someone who does not know the local language, or simply a contempt for foreigners in general? That is to say, would a girl (like in Help, for instance) try to pull the R$500 quote right off the bat if she saw that you were a gringo, but at least knew very good Portuguese?

[Java Man]

i've gone to a cambio in the building next door to Mabs. the guy said if i was going to exchange over $1k he would give me a higher rate. this was in sept, when the best rate i found was R2.20 for the most part all the cambios exchange at the same rate. a few will give a better rate, so shop around. also locals will get a better rate than gringos.

[Sperto]

If you are getting a better rate that 2.20, then perhaps you can share this intel with others making the trip instead of just tell them some are getting a much better rate. Where can they get a better rate, whom to ask for, etc... would be more helpful.

In Copa, Help used to have a good rate.

Personally I rather change foreign currency in centro. I forgot the name. A place on Rio Branco. It's on a corner (2 stories). The name is something like "Piano"...

If you have a really large amount to change (when paying for an apto etc) there are people who can give you a "special" rate. I can't give you any contact info on this. They will send a big guy to your place with a bag filled of R$ and a big gun in his waist.

[Pipe Layer99]

Depends on who you know and where you go. Some of us are getting much better than 2.20.

If you are getting a better rate that 2.20, then perhaps you can share this intel with others making the trip instead of just tell them some are getting a much better rate. Where can they get a better rate, whom to ask for, etc... would be more helpful.

I was just there this month and posted my info a few reports below. DD

[Giggity]

Keep that in mind and you will understand why these girls are in Copa looking for hapless tourists: because there simply is no easier way to make a lot of money for them, not by a looooooooooooooong stretch. Especially now at the beginning of tourist (by their own definition: fools) season.

EA

Touché, that's precisely why I have no intention to tread into Rio until May at the earliest! That plus I don't care for sweltering heat. Does the rest of Brazil experience the same extreme price hike during this season, forcing one to simply pick another country to travel in for the meantime?

[Member #4217]

I am in Rio now and, at my age, I rely on Viagra pretty heavliy. For this trip, however, my doctor also gave me some Cialis samples, and I tried one a couple days ago. Initial results are encouraging; however, I do not like the claim that Cialis works for "up to 36 hours". That is pretty vague. Twenty four hours after taking the cialis, I was not sure if it would still help me or not. So I popped 50mg of Viagra. This worked pretty darn well. My woody was harder than it has been in a long time. Does anyone have any advice on the risks of cialis-viagra cocktails (taking the viagra 24 hours after the cialis)? Somehow I think it is not a good idea for me to be doing this very often.

I am here for a long trip, and have both in my medicine bag. Generally, I cut them both in half, and take 1/2 either when I head out late at night, or go out on the afternoon prowl.

Seems to work OK so far.

Tom

[The Watcher]

Depends on who you know and where you go. Some of us are getting much better than 2.20.

I am going to Rio soon; therefore, please tell me where I can get the best rate. Thank you.

[Exec Talent]

That is surprising... the interbank rate (for those people who trade millions on the ForEx) has hovered steadily around 2.15 BRL/USD for weeks. What gives?

Depends on who you know and where you go. Some of us are getting much better than 2.20.

[Giggity]

Surprise - ratee at Help was 2.20 the whole trip.

That is surprising... the interbank rate (for those people who trade millions on the ForEx) has hovered steadily around 2.15 BRL/USD for weeks. What gives?