Rio de Janeiro Reports

I recommend to anyone traveling to Brazil, especially Rio de Janeiro, to never use ATM cards in Copacabana. I've had the same crap happen to me twice! Ever since, I began using the bamks in Centro: More people, a lot less tourists. For the last 3 years, so far, so good.

The perpetrator of the cloning is someone on the inside of the bank as I have been alerted by my bamk's investigators. These so called "Bankers" get your pin codes from the video from the ATM area. If they are not using skimmers, it is easy to get your pin code if you are not covering your hand as you enter your pin.

My bank never told me what happened to the thief who got my information (They have him on film!) , but I hope the bastard got fired and sent to jail after they realized what the insider was doing. I seriously doubt he got in any trouble and the asshole may have got promoted from the theft!

[QUOTE=LuvnLatinas; 1357431]A word of warning using the atm's at Banco do Brasil, Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana. 749. I just got word from my bank about "irregular" activity on my card. Yep, somehow someone was able to clone it and used it 2 weeks after I left Rio. How do I know where it got cloned? I used my card at this branch only, during the day when the security guy was there, and it was always in my possession. I even physically checked the card readers before using them. Don't know what else I could have done to protect the card.

The clone was used at a "building and materials store". My bank told me Brasil is rated "high risk" for this kind of fraud.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Voyajer1; 1357804]I recommend to anyone traveling to Brazil, especially Rio de Janeiro, to never use ATM cards in Copacabana. I've had the same crap happen to me twice! Ever since, I began using the bamks in Centro: More people, a lot less tourists. For the last 3 years, so far, so good.

The perpetrator of the cloning is someone on the inside of the bank as I have been alerted by my bamk's investigators. These so called "Bankers" get your pin codes from the video from the ATM area. If they are not using skimmers, it is easy to get your pin code if you are not covering your hand as you enter your pin.

My bank never told me what happened to the thief who got my information (They have him on film!) , but I hope the bastard got fired and sent to jail after they realized what the insider was doing. I seriously doubt he got in any trouble and the asshole may have got promoted from the theft![/QUOTE]Here's something I do. I have a checking acct that I have just for international travel. I have another acct with the same bank but the accts are not linked. I keep about $20to in the "travel" acct. If I need to withdrawl cash I transfer the funds into the travel acct and get it out immediately. This way in the case that my card is compromised there's no. Oney in the acct other than the $20 bucks I keep in there.

[QUOTE=LuvnLatinas; 1357431]A word of warning using the atm's at Banco do Brasil, Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana. 749. I just got word from my bank about "irregular" activity on my card. Yep, somehow someone was able to clone it and used it 2 weeks after I left Rio. How do I know where it got cloned? I used my card at this branch only, during the day when the security guy was there, and it was always in my possession. I even physically checked the card readers before using them. Don't know what else I could have done to protect the card.

The clone was used at a "building and materials store". My bank told me Brasil is rated "high risk" for this kind of fraud.[/QUOTE]When this happens, who loses the money? You, your bank or the bank in Brasil?

[QUOTE=OldAsiaHand;1358002]When this happens, who loses the money? You, your bank or the bank in Brasil?[/QUOTE]No idea, my bank will send me paperwork to fill out and return, then about 3 months later the money will be returned to my account.

I know when I used my card to purchase a dvd player I had to show I'd. I would think for purchases for the amounts they made they would be showing the store some form of I'd. The cloned card was actually used in Sao Paulo and I haven't been there in a few years.

Are any termas open on Sunday? Monte Carlos website say they open at 4.

I need something to do on Sunday.

I haven't been to brazil in a little over 1. 5 years. I just wasn't getting the ROI that I was expecting. The money that I was spending was not equal to the amount of fun that I was having. On my last trip, it was so bad, that it actually got to the point where I thought about leaving mid-way thru my 10 day trip and going back home. After all this time, I finally decided to give Rio another shot and I have been looking online to rent an apartment for a March 2013 trip! Holy Shit!

I went on Google and looked at the top five apartment rental agencies; (I know its against the rules to post up websites on this board, so I won't do it). I could not believe what I saw. Not only are the prices for apartments freaking ridiculous, they are now charging you money for shit that used to be free! I couldn't believe what I saw! What the hell is going on? Here is a list of a few of the things that I saw.

1) Electricity and Gas. Some of these websites have the nerve to want to charge you between 20-30 dollars a night for Electricity usage! One website wanted to charge me 20 dollars a night in addition to the 90 dollars a night apartment fee! Since when do mongers have to pay an electricity bill for a 9 day vacation?

2) Cleaning fee – These guys are charging a 30-60 dollar fee in order to clean your apartment! For years, I would always have my apartment cleaned twice during my 10 day stays, for no charge. There really wouldn't be much for the maid to do, take out the garbage, sweep and mop the bathroom and change the sheets. Less than 15 minutes of work!

3) Laundry Fee- These assholes want to charge a 30 dollar laundry fee. Since when is washing my sheets and towels not considered cleaning? Why would I pay a cleaning fee, if washing sheets was not included? And since when does it cost 30 bucks to wash 1 set of sheets and 4 towels? Despicable!

The last one is the biggest rip off that I have ever seen. I was so insulted after seeing it that I am seriously thinking of not returning to Copa until after the Olympics!

4) A Booking fee – The websites wanted to charge me 30 dollars to reserve an apartment. Unbelievable! That is the equivalent of me going to a grocery store, gathering all the things I need and then the manager telling me 'You have to pay the cashier 30 dollars for her to ring up your food! ' So in addition to paying for the food, I have to pay an additional 30 bucks for the cashier to do her job!

Is it really this bad now? Do I just have bad luck that the first 5 websites I saw were complete ripoffs? Please tell me apartment renting in Copa isn't this terrible.

[QUOTE=Bravo;1360161]I went on Google and looked at the top five apartment rental agencies; (I know its against the rules to post up websites on this board, so I won't do it). I could not believe what I saw. Not only are the prices for apartments freaking ridiculous, they are now charging you money for shit that used to be free! I couldn't believe what I saw! What the hell is going on?[/QUOTE]I never used an agency to rent an apartment, but the fees really sounds weird. I always use personal contacts and that works excellent without any BS.

Christopherd mentioned Airbnb. I havn't tried the site but I heard from friends that you can get really good deals.

[QUOTE=Sperto; 1360174]I never used an agency to rent an apartment, but the fees really sounds weird. I always use personal contacts and that works excellent without any BS.[/QUOTE]I had been renting faithfully from the same guy for about 15 years now. 15 years. 5-6 trips a year! However, on the last trip we had a problem. He sat down and said "Bravo, you know the prices for aparmtents in Copa have gone up alot in the past year. Ever since we won the Olympics, prices have gone thru the roof." I looked at him and said "yeah, I know. But I have been a loyal customer for 15 years, so I know you won't charge me the same amount you charge the other tourists." I thought he would charge me an extra 5-10 dollars a night on my 50 dollar apartment. This asshole jacked up his price by 50% I couldn't believe it!

Now he wanted 75 bucks a night for a small ass 1 bedroom apartment that was 2 blocks from the beach! No cable tv and no internet! I started thinking "Ok dickhead, you want to treat me like a regular customer? Well, then I will treat you like a regular apartment rental. If I am going to pay $75 a night, the apartment better have cable and internet! You can't charge the same price as other places if you don't provide the same amentities!" So I vowed to start looking else where to rent my place.

I know I will run into him because he is always walking around Copa nd we constantly see each other. When he asks me where I am staying, I will explain to him that his places do not have cable and internet and it is 2012 and he needs to step up his game.

[QUOTE=Bravo; 1360182]But I have been a loyal customer for 15 years, so I know you won't charge me the same amount you charge the other tourists." I thought he would charge me an extra 5-10 dollars a night on my 50 dollar apartment. This asshole jacked up his price by 50% I couldn't believe it!

Now he wanted 75 bucks a night for a small ass 1 bedroom apartment that was 2 blocks from the beach! No cable tv and no internet![/QUOTE]Resistance is futile bro. I think you are fighting a losing battle. $75 sounds like a steal in 2012, damn the TV. I haven't seen a place in Copa or anywhere in Rio for less than $100 in about 2 years. Unless you want to see what Brazil Specialist can hook you up with or if EC has a back room you can use. Most of the people I know don't even go down anymore. And the veterans say if they ever do consider going down again then they will more than likely look for a place to stay in Niteroi instead.

[QUOTE=Bravo; 1360161]I haven't been to brazil in a little over 1. 5 years. I just wasn't getting the ROI that I was expecting. After all this time, I finally decided to give Rio another shot and I have been looking online to rent an apartment for a March 2013 trip! Holy Shit!

1) Electricity and Gas. Some of these websites have the nerve to want to charge you between 20-30 dollars a night for Electricity usage!

2) Cleaning fee – These guys are charging a 30-60 dollar fee in order to clean your apartment!

3) Laundry Fee- These assholes want to charge a 30 dollar laundry fee.

4) A Booking fee – The websites wanted to charge me 30 dollars to reserve an apartment.

Is it really this bad now? Do I just have bad luck that the first 5 websites I saw were complete ripoffs? Please tell me apartment renting in Copa isn't this terrible.[/QUOTE]Bravo, It's not too bad but don't look for "the olden days." Rents are higher now and will continue to climb in the future. The value of properties in Zona Sul has grown considerably in the past and probably won't level off any time soon. With Carnaval coming early this year, rents should be a bit lower by the end of March but don't expect to find historic rental prices.

1.) It's common practice for apartment renters to charge for utilities as a means to promote energy conservation. Hopefully the renter will not leave the air conditioner running on high with the windows open if he has to pay for his own consumption. However. 30 to 60 dollars is totally unreasonable for a short-term stay. Honest proprietors will record the meter on check-in and check-out and charge a reasonable rate for kWh consumed. Electricity is about R$.58 per kWh in the summer months. In a typical one bedroom unit, consumption should be in the range of R$4, 00 – R$6, 00 per day. Unless you do a lot of cooking, gas consumption should be negligible, maybe R$1, 00 – R$2, 00 per day.

2.) Cleaning fee is pretty standard and should run in the area of R$100 to R$150. However, the fee usually includes the cost of laundry. I wouldn't assume that cleaning is only a quick swab of the broom and mop, a decent cleaning is quite thorough. Note: Cleaning of linens can be costly at times, depending on the cleanliness of the renter and the extent of linens actually used.

3.) Booking fees are not common. They are charged by brokers (corretors) that have no contract with the owner. Sometimes they will inflate the rental price but if they do not have an agreement with the proprietor to charge a higher rent, they will charge a booking fee for their services. You can avoid these guys and deal directly with the owner if you use a site such as HomeAway. Com, Aluguetemporada. Com. Br, Temporadalivre. Com or Aluguelvip. Com. Br

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1360198]Resistance is futile bro. I think you are fighting a losing battle. $75 sounds like a steal in 2012, damn the TV. I haven't seen a place in Copa or anywhere in Rio for less than $100 in about 2 years. Unless you want to see what Brazil Specialist can hook you up with or if EC has a back room you can use. Most of the people I know don't even go down anymore. And the veterans say if they ever do consider going down again then they will more than likely look for a place to stay in Niteroi instead.[/QUOTE]Now that Copa is dead, I would seriously consider staying in Centro! I would save on time and money by being near the termas and clubs. Plus it is easier for the girls hwo live out in the sticks to come to my place in the centro instead of going to Copa. Unfortunately, I do not know of any places where I can rent an apartment in downtown.

[QUOTE=Poucolouco;1360200]1.) It's common practice for apartment renters to charge for utilities as a means to promote energy conservation. Hopefully the renter will not leave the air conditioner running on high with the windows open if he has to pay for his own consumption.[/QUOTE]Common? Since when? I have NEVER heard of guys paying for electricity or gas unless they were renting for a month or longer.

[QUOTE=Bravo;1360203]Now that Copa is dead, I would seriously consider staying in Centro! I would save on time and money by being near the termas and clubs. Plus it is easier for the girls hwo live out in the sticks to come to my place in the centro instead of going to Copa. Unfortunately, I do not know of any places where I can rent an apartment in downtown.[/QUOTE]Depends on the standards you require. For Western standards, the Ibis is a good bet. The one just off Rua Carioca is ideally placed for just about everything. Last time I stayed in Centro I used a motel north of Vargas. A bit overpriced though. More ideal if you have time is to stay anywhere secure for one night so you have time to look at places. Lots of small hotels in North Centro, mostly a bit run down but cheap. Opposite the Ibis is a Brasileiro hotel that's dirt cheap. There's another Centro Ibis in the south west side of Centro too, but its not quite as handy for everything.

If you like Lapa, there are one or two nice rooms to rent in AirBnB, and still easy few minutes walk to Centro. I quite like staying in Lapa as it has more of a party feel than Centro itself. There are some good value hotels there too.

[QUOTE=Christopherd; 1360239]Depends on the standards you require. For Western standards, the Ibis is a good bet. The one just off Rua Carioca is ideally placed for just about everything.[/QUOTE]It is. This Ibis (formerly Formula 1) on the other side of Largo the Carioca is about 134 USD includes internet. Stayed there the last two nights, quiet, without street noise, good sleeping conditions. Ideal for weeknights in Centro. Also girl friendly. Better than anything comparably priced in Zona Sul. Next door is a Budget Ibis priced I believe about 95 USD, did not see but they said rooms are smaller. You'd have to really look around to find a good older hotel in Centro. No double-paned windows and shabby. Other cheap options around Catete, although some have been revamped recently and no longer priced for low budget people.

[QUOTE=Bravo;1360205]Common? Since when? I have NEVER heard of guys paying for electricity or gas unless they were renting for a month or longer.[/QUOTE]OK, you never paid for utilities in the past. I first encountered it in 2005. Most short-term rentals of less than two weeks include the cost of utilities in the daily rates. You heard of it now as you mentioned in your OP. I only confirmed it and the reason owners are charging it.