Rio de Janeiro Reports

[QUOTE=Spidy;2589434]Yep, there are a great many good deals to be found in Centro. When you see the Copa tutes selling much of their wares (ie. sunglasses, hats, football shirts, beach towels...etc), many of them have simply purchased it in Centro and then up sell it in Copa (for the tourists) for a small profit. This goes double for some of the business owned shops in Copa.[/QUOTE]The wholesale area in Centro is run by the Chinese. There resellers can buy individual items, baseball caps, t-shirts or they can buy in bulk and get a discount. Prices are clearly marked but there is always room for negotiation. Some electronics can also be purchased here. Like phone chargers but many of those are purchased at wholesale from same electronics stores you see when getting off the metro.

[QUOTE=Proline22;2589711]I've decided as a little gift to myself after my divorce I am planning a two week celebration in Rio by myself in November. To get the lay of the land and [b]start the planning process I red the first 40 pages of this thread, but [/b]. . . [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=TheCane;2589819]I always advise people to start with the Reports of Distinction instead of reading pages and pages back and having to wade through extraneous posts all over the place. You get more bang for the buck in a more efficient way by focusing heavily on the RODs.[/QUOTE]I second, that sage advice. Also happens to be the way I typically research and gather info, on a new destination.

I'll just add to that notion, and say another advantage to first checking and reading the RODs, is that, most often in the following days, topics of discussions will form around a ROD, highlighting the pros, cons, advantages, disadvantages, what could be done better, what to avoid next time...etc.

Thing is, [i]all sorts of questions and answers will be generated[/i], in which you yourself may have thought about or wondered.

One more thing. Although the ISG editor is a [i]"pain in the ass"[/i], the ISG search feature is very good. There are several search tools you can use. Get to know them, they will serve you well.

There hasn't been a lot of talk about BBFS but it is very important to me to know. Is Vila mimosa any good nowadays? In WT69's map it says over 1.5 k SWs with prices of 50-70 R which seems excellent to me for the exchange rate I get. MDE Botero is just in the same priceclass but nowhere near 1.5 k SWs. I don't mind running around asking half of them in a month for BBFS. Termas seem very overpriced to me and gparena seems like lots of effort, which I wouldn't mind either if BBFS is available at a reasonable rate.

[QUOTE=JimmyBoy99;2589340]Went last week to Vivo and Tim stores to get a Brazil phone number but neither would give me SIM card without a CPF, and Tim wouldn't even reactivate my previous phone number without a CPF. I remembered a post by Vagabundo about getting one from a kiosk but could not find the post in a search. Met with Vagabundo on Wednesday to go to Casa Bombeiro and asked him where he said to get the card. He said it was at Central metro station, so we walked there because it was fairly close. There is a Tim stand in front of the entrance with a sign saying a SIM card is 10 real. Told the girl there that I did not have a CPF. She called another girl over and told her I had no CPF. The other girl took out a stack of SIM cards and gave me one to put in my phone. She then activated it and it worked fine. For 10 real you get the chip, 20 days of unlimited calls, and 9 gb of data, and it is rechargeable. Hell of a deal. Thanks, Vagabundo.[/QUOTE]I am going in two weeks and I am interested in knowing exactly the location to go to get the sim card! Thank you!

[QUOTE=Spidy;2588284]BTW, when in Centro, I would use the Zenith Exchange and Tourism house a just across the street and few doors down from the Sao Bento Hotel (and Center Hotel) on Rio Branco.

Zenith Exchange and Tourism, Avenida 25 - Av. Rio Branco, 25, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, [URL]https://www.zenithcambio.com.br[/URL].

About 1 or 2 blocks away, Av. Rio Branco intersects with Av. Pres. Vargas and there are several Exchanges on the corner, each giving fair to comparable rates. (Note: Windsor Guanabara Hotel is located at the same intersection for a bearing reference).[/QUOTE]Went to the Bradesco branch across the street from the Hotel Atlantico Tower to compare bank ATM rates with the money exchange place recommended above. Was going to see what the bank rate was and compare it with Zenith. Machine said there was a 20 real fee for a withdrawal. Input real 1000 as the amount that I wanted to see what it would cost in dollars but it processed the transaction without giving the dollar amount. I then went to Zenith and asked for their rate for a $100 bill. Was told it was 5. 20.

At hotel went to my bank's website and saw that I had been charged $195.29 for 1020 real (1000 real for me plus the 20 real fee) for a rate of 5. 223. I have the fee reimbursed so I got this rate for my 1000 real. If the fee was not reimbursed the rate would have been 5. 12. Obviously the higher the amount withdrawn, the lower the impact of the ATM fee (e. G. Withdrawing 5000 real the rate would be 5. 202 even with the fee).

If you have an ATM card that reimburses ATM fees, using an ATM (at least a Bradesco one) is better, and if you withdraw enough at one time, it is the same as using most money exchange places even with the fee.

Went to Lapa about 9 PM Saturday night. Passed by Up House. Tout tried to get me in, said no admission, only consumption. Rates are 20 minutes 100 real, 30 minutes 150 real, and 60 minutes 250 real. Asked how many girls were working. He said 20. I told him last time I went in there were only 3. He seemed surprised and asked what day. Told him it was last week on a Tuesday, to which he said it is slow that day. Confirmed with him that there wasn't any minimum consumption, so went in, with him following me. Place was dark and dead, maybe 4 customers and 6 girls in the place, one of which might have been doable. I asked him where were the other 13 girls and he said upstairs in sessions. Since that was obviously not true, walked out of the place.

If you're in the area, there is little harm in checking it out since there should be no cost to look but don't make a special trip to go there.

I have a Love / Hate relationship with this spot. I love seeing the girls flow in and out all night long but I have how they always try to rip you off when it comes time to pay your bill! There are times when I am leaving the club alone and they will charge 50 R for a Despersa fee. When I asked a waitress what that meant, she said "Its the exit fee they charge when you take a female out of the club". I was all alone at the desk and they still tried to charge me a fee for taking a girl out.

In addition, if you purchase a bottle of alcohol and sit on the VIP couches, you do not have to pay the table fee of 200 R! The waiters try to add that to your bill in order to get a larger percentage when they get their cut of the bill.

Vagabundo's Daily Plan (MF).

The plan of The day is:

Meet at Metro Cinelandia Starbucks (google Rio metro map).

12 h30 - 15 h.

Recon centro prives, fuck. (see [URL]gparena.net[/URL]).

15 h lunch zanetti;.

15 h30 social hotel atlantico tower 18th floor; rua inhuama 95 (the smartest mongers just stay here, due to convenience, and swap rooms with their friends at Transamerica).

17 h terma 116, fuck; rua the conceciao 116, the former secret terma.

18 h 4 x4, fuck, play Rihanna and felipe ret. Rua Buenos Aires 44 (wifi PW is buenos44).

Saturday, Sundays: 12 h30, meet at Metro Cinelandia Starbucks, take metro to Sao Cristovao, walk to massagemtijuca, on Saturday. On Sunday, walk to VM.

References to insert:

Website with bus schedule for Transamerica flat / Mediterraneo Condo.

[QUOTE=Vagabundo1;2589687]I would suggest socks with those sandals for serious hikes, like the transcarioca trail for waterfalls. You take the 409 Horto bus to the end of the line in zona sul / jardim botanico, and follow the signs to some awesome waterfalls, made for skinny dipping with your favorite girl, great for photographs and to cool off. And you are 30 minutes away from the beach for a post hike swim at barra posto 4. The only thing about hiking is some trails have vagabundos with rifles, so go with guides who know how to be safe. You can also swim with those sandals. They are straight up amphibian.[/QUOTE]Thanks again for the golden advice you regularly give out. I am looking at coming there for about 3 weeks in November. One thing I would like to do that I have not done in my previous 2 trips to Rio de Janeiro is to do some of these wonderful hikes / treks about which I hear and read so much. Basically get myself out of Copa / Leme / Ipanema and see more of Rio de Janeiro. Seriously considering staying in Barra da Tijuca and maybe taking that executive bus to which you have made reference a few times here to get down to Centro or just Uber where I need to go.

I'm 12 weeks away from my first Rio trip. I'm going to use Airbnb. I like my options for places to stay in Ipanema better then Coco cabana but as a first timer I keep reading that it's better to stay in that area. Is that true?

[QUOTE=Bravo;2590531]I have a Love / Hate relationship with this spot. I love seeing the girls flow in and out all night long but I have how they always try to rip you off when it comes time to pay your bill! There are times when I am leaving the club alone and they will charge 50 R for a Despersa fee. When I asked a waitress what that meant, she said "Its the exit fee they charge when you take a female out of the club". I was all alone at the desk and they still tried to charge me a fee for taking a girl out.

In addition, if you purchase a bottle of alcohol and sit on the VIP couches, you do not have to pay the table fee of 200 R! The waiters try to add that to your bill in order to get a larger percentage when they get their cut of the bill.[/QUOTE]HI Bravo. Customer has to pay R50 to take a girl out? And R200 if I sit down at a table? I was there 3 years ago and didn't see that charge! Please confirm so I know before I go, Thanks.

[QUOTE=PapiMuyRico;2590696]HI Bravo. Customer has to pay R50 to take a girl out? And R200 if I sit down at a table? I was there 3 years ago and didn't see that charge! Please confirm so I know before I go, Thanks.[/QUOTE]PMR,

I am not sure what you want me to confirm. I just returned from a 2 month trip and they tried to hit me with the fee on Multiple occasions. Each and every time, I confronted them and they removed it from my bill. I think at the end, the girl was just trying to fuck me over because she was sick and tired of me always checking my bill.

[QUOTE=TravelGuy79;2590689]I'm 12 weeks away from my first Rio trip. I'm going to use Airbnb. I like my options for places to stay in Ipanema better then Coco cabana but as a first timer I keep reading that it's better to stay in that area. Is that true?[/QUOTE][B]Here's you asking the same question about 2-weeks ago: [/B]

[QUOTE=TravelGuy79;2582677][b]Couple more questions for my first trip to Rio.[/b] Based on advice on here I've decided to stay in Cococabana but my best off staying close to the beach or is there a better area? . . . [/QUOTE][B]Here's Xpartan answering your question:[/B]

[QUOTE=Xpartan;2583101]I don't know if you're staying at a hotel or apartment, but don't stay 'close' to the beach. Stay across from the beach on Avenida Atlantica. Sure, 1-2 blocks from the beach don't sound like a big deal, but that puts you on Nossa Senhora, which is noisy, polluted, unpleasant and might be an unsafe walk down a side street late at night. Trust me, this one or two blocks (depending where in Copa you're staying) makes a hell of a difference even if staying on Atlantica costs you a few more shekels. The only exception is if you're staying in Arpoador. I love that small area between Copacabana and Ipanema, and there are some upscale apartments there with killer views.[/QUOTE]Note: Mr Enternational, Rio Bob and Yossarian, also followed up w/r to questions about "What stuff bring to the beach?"

[i]Was your question(s) not already asked and answered? [/i]

Copa or Ipanema, they are both or fine. There is no wrong or right answer. Book a few days Airbnb in Ipanema, if you don't like it then find something in Copa. If you like Ipanema, then extend your stay. And vise-a-versa, if you book in Copa.

Any intel on Copa Terapias.

Says they offer mutal massage and nuru, but wondering if that means full service?

[URL]http://copaterapias.com.br/therapists/[/URL]

[QUOTE=ManchesterLad1;2590841]Any intel on Copa Terapias.

Says they offer mutal massage and nuru, but wondering if that means full service?

[URL]http://copaterapias.com.br/therapists/[/URL][/QUOTE]Try a simple thread search and see if you can find the answer (you can).