Mitchc is right, sometimes it can get expensive SDU-CGH especially on weekend. I paid one way over R$300 one time. Best is to fly during the week on gol or vasp.

The original question was regarding a taxi. We found a taxi off of the street in Leblon and paid R200 (three of us in a taxi) knowing from local friends that the going rate is about R150 (we gave up after asking 4 or 5 and couldn't get one below $200 (with A/C).

On my return, I came back a day before my friends (was jonesin' for Help), and I took the bus you mention... paid about R18 ('about' because I don't remember... but sounds right).

The bus is nice enough - clean, like a standard Greyhound (I imagine... haven't taken one in decades), and a great price. But if you want a taxi for SP to Rio, and are wondering what it might cost... I'm guess you can make an educated guess knowing Rio Buzios is about 1/2 the distance and goes for about R200, if you speak enough portuges to negotiate. Again, I'm only guessing...

Thanks for all the great tips

I just checked GOL and the rates are only R$ 52.00 each way... that is pretty cheap. Now I just have to see if I can coordinate with the flight from the US. I'll be flying Delta using frequent flyer miles.

One other important question - I have read that in some Thermas they are starting to use condom's for BJ. Which are Thermas where BBBJ is pretty much guaranteed?

Watch out for the cute multi-lingual mulatta at the reception desk. If she thinks you are confused about your bill or don't seem to know the prices, she will pounce on you and try to cheat you out of some reals. She'll give you a verbal total and print out a phoney and inflated bill with her calculator/adding machine. ALWAYS check the computer generated bill -- that is the real bill with the actual price.

Yeah, she speak´s pretty good English, as her husband is English. Not sure if they are still hitched?

And she alway´s trying to score tip´s for herself!

Know, what your paying for, so you don´t get taken advantage of/cheated!

That pretty much goes everywhere in Brasil. Waiters have a habit if including an extra drink or three on most bills, hotels squeeze in charges, things like that. It's so common you have to get in the habit of inspecting every bill/receipt on the spot, before paying.

OK, after reading the archives, I can't see any comments about the Sunday Sauna Mista, anyone ever brought an outside garota into Solarium for this event?

Ok - time to stop lurking and chip in my two cents worth, I guess...

Finally managed to find time to visit Termas Solarium tonight (Thursday, or "quinta-feira")

Thanks to the previous postings of many on this board, I found the environment to be somewhat familiar -
At reception, you are issued your key bracelet (HANG ON TO IT), which is the method by which they total your comsuption, of both drinks and "extras", as they call them there.

One nice thing - if you ask at reception, and the same curly-haired morena is at the desk as I met tonight, she will offer to recite the list of offerings in English.
Contrary to other postings on this forum, I did not see a sign in the reception area listing the "menu", but the prices seemed to be in line with Bwana Dik's guide, even after many ups and downs in the exchange rate.

All else is right: R$50 entrance fee (NOT including any drinks), but R$50 for cabine, plus whatever you drink.
My tab came to $115, plus the cash paid for the "extras". IN my case, in fact, I was only charged R$120 for the garota, not R$130.

Since Jan 03, you can no longer pay for "extras" on your credit card, so remember to bring some mongering cash ("reais") if you want to partake - perhaps as much as R$300 - otherwise...you lose - YES, it's safe in the locker room.

I arrived a bit after 7 PM - Cab ride was R$12 from Copa, around the Help area, but traffic was crowded and we went slow - probably should be more like R$10, which is what I paid on the return.

Now - as to the scene - WHAT A FRICKIN' ZOO this place is - it's like fellini movie crossbred with a disco. There are MANY ladies to be seen, and danced with, and teased and, etc..., and many of them are quite nice to look at - some are stunning, and some appear to have attitudes (and perhaps really do) - I don't know, I didn't try to talk to any of those. MOst seem veryu nice, and very friendly, without being pushy.

But - You will find that there are some ladies who are quite agressive, and who will immediately suggest a "dupla" with their "amiga" - "por exemplo": - after telling one 5'8" blonde that I was specifically looking for short blondes (baixinas loiras) she pushed hard for a session with her and her similarly tall friend - I know my Portuguese isn't bad, so she was just trying to direct the fun - no way Jose!

So the scene is rockin' and I'm checking out the action, and my eyes lock onto the cutest, sexiest face I have ever seen, and it belongs to a cutie who's 5 feet nothing, wearing platform spike heel boots! Opa Brasil!
We instantly connect like Bell telephone and we're off and running - "Something for everyone" is truly the catchphrase here.

Her name and the details will remain private, because I wish it so (and to keep all you Hombres from occupying her the next time I'm in Rio). Note to other small-stature individuals - She's a five-foot-tall, five-star spinner, for sure, with curly long hair (morena) and a tattoo on her right shoulder. You can't miss her, if you look DOWN from all of the other putas who are trying to get your attention - she has the face of an angel, and a body built for amor.

What IS interesting is that after we were together for a while, I asked her for her number, and said I'd like to hook up with her on her day off - she readily said yes, but said to keep it very discreet (probably because mgmt,. doesn't like the ladies becoming entrepreneurs on their off hours). For this reason I have kept her name private. Other garotas may be similarly obliging, if you have a desire to see them outside of the confines of the Termas.

How it works:

Go past reception, turn left at first door, there is the locker room - By the way, many Brasileiros leave their jockey shorts ON in the locker room. One reason might be the young lady (!) attendant, who arranges the robes and flip-flops. I think this is the usual option, but it is not mandatory - YMMV.

turn left ouf of the locker room, and the Showers and Saunas are at the end of the Ground floor hall - dry sauna ("sauna seco") and steam sauna ("sauna vapor") - they are on opposite sides of the (tiny) shower room, which can become a traffic jam when the place is rockin', as it was tonight. Bathroom just before you reach the Shower Room -
There are sinks in the shower room for shaving, but ONLY COLD WATER!! If there aren't any disposible razors or toothbrush/paste kits there, ask the attendant.
ONLY the SHOWER at the very LEFT has HOT WATER ("AGUA QUENTE"). The other is cold -(brrr)

Last, turn right outside the shower room and there is a little "relax" room with a TV - AND this seems to be the area where the real "massagistas" work - I was quoted a price for half an hour that seemed reasonable, but the price has vaporized from my brain - perhaps R$40-50.
(Wish I'd asked them to explain in English). Ask - they DO offer a real massage if you choose to not partake in "the programa". But hey - you're only young once, right?

So from hereon out, you know the drill:

the sign at the bottom of the stairs points up to the "BOITE", which is where the action is happening - be careful that your flip=flops aren't wet because the steps IN the bar look like marble, and a fall would hurt (your pride, as well as your bunda).

To quote an American term, this place is a meat rack, but one with Grade-A Prime and Choice, just waiting to meet you and have fun.

Don't be afraid to jostle your way over to the bar (it's on the right side of the dance floor) and order something to drink. Show the key number they gave you (yes, keep it with you after you leave the locker room); this is how charges are recorded.

I was a little concerned when my garota asked for a drink, figuring I was going to be "zapped" with a champagne cocktail for R$100, but no, she ordered orange juice ("suco de laranja"), which is quite reasonable.

when you select a girl, she will attend to getting the key for the cabine or suite, and will guide you to the stairs - from there, she will say "Espere la" which means wait in the room - she will appear in a few minutes with her kit ("kit-chee") of condoms and the like. She will also have changed into something different. Enjoy!

You can take drinks with you to your cabine ("cabeenie") or suite ("sweet-che"), depending on your taste and budget . I asked for a suite, but all were occupied - rather than sit around waiting (which I could have done, as it would have given more time to get to know my "baixinha" a littl bit better), I shifted down to a cabine.

The cabine was, well, "functional".
Nothing great, not disgusting, just "functional".
Controls for lights, music volume, a phone so they can call you when your time has come to an end (and hopefully after you have also). But overall it was cool, and private, and well, "functional".

A programa in a Cabine costs R$40-50 for 40 minutes. Not sure about you but that's a bit fast for my taste, so I would not do that again - but it DID give me a quiet private area to chat with my gal and get her number - I'm looking forward to Sunday, her day off, so we can spend some time together with leisure - I HATE when the clock is running - messes with my concentration, and my pleasure.

Hope you newbies will find this information helpful - I was a bit nervous about what to expect, but thanks to this forum, it was simple enough to put 2+2 together, based on the previous trip reports and the rather complete guides assembled by other Hombres.

if I can get the details together soon, I'll post about Bomboa in Sampa - another tiny little spinner, another Meat Market on the hoof - this was a Friday night

Stay tuned Hombres - I may go back!

This should be interesting......!

A Deeg clone in the making.....!

Well written Dag!

Good post, Dagnome. I know the little Solarium spinner you speak of; she's a sweetie and lots of fun.

It's the unusual garota who will try to soak you for expensive drinks. Every once in awhile you'll run into one who'll start ordering whiskey with Red Bull or something similar and run up a good sized tab, right Sweet? But most are putting in an 8-9 hour shift and can't afford to get too shitfaced, and they know that customers who feel like they're being ripped off are less likely to session with them, which is where the girl makes her money.

exatamente Bwana - the little morena spinner has a Bunda to die for, and her GFE attitude was a nice change from the usual "push the gringo to buy expensive drinks" gag they try to pull at Barbarella and the Boates in Lido. so - my vote for Solarium: "Nota Mil"

and thanks for the post compliments, guys -

BTW - a note to other newbies - read ALL of the advice here and remember what you read! - Your cab ride to a termas is FREE, if you remember to tell the driver where you are going, and tell him "sem metro" (no meter). He'll get his commission from the Termas when he drops you off, and you get a free ride (so to speak).

OK - So far, so good - now on to conquer other new experiences "aqui no Rio"!!
"Boa sorte para todos as pessoas" (good luck to you all, not that you'll need it)

I'm enjoying the life...(right Moondog?)

Gotta add my two cents guys:

I fucked a girl who I seriously considered to be a Miss Brazil type. My attitude was, a girl who looks this good was going to get fucked real good by me. I also fucked a girl who I consider to be one of the sexiest girls I've ever seen: blonde,21, penetrating, beautiful eyes, nice full lips, with body and attitude to die for. She's always on the dance floor shaking it up. I thought to myself, this girl would be a lot of fun, and she was! I fucked the living shit out of her, grabbed her by her hair doggie style, she loved it, and all throughout this session she kept saying "fuck my pussy." What a blast! I haven't been to all the termas, but Solarium is definately off the hook.

Also, I must concur: that morena at the front desk loves to pad the fuckin bill! The third time I went, I said wait a second, and got everything clear; then, the bill came down considerably.

R$ 50 discount in Solarium on Mondays, with a printed Coupon. Same on Tuesdays in Monte Carlo!!

http://www.solarium.com.br/festa_do_internauta/index.php


you could try to print this, but probably you should get an original with its colors and formatting

Oh, it is not in your name, so you can print one for all of your friends. Who wants to go on Monday?? email or phone me!

Still waiting for the Monte Carlo offer.


================================

Festa do Internauta
Este e-mail impresso lhe concede um desconto de R$50,00 (cinquenta reais).
Valor este a deduzir exclusivamente do uso da cabine (não pode ser usado de forma cumulativa).

Obs.: A noite dos Internautas acontece todas as segundas-feiras, portanto somente nestes dias serão aceitos os e-mails impressos.

Um Abraço
A Direção.
E-mail enviado em 22/08/2004. Válido por 15 dias.


Here are the urls>
http://termasmontecarlo.com.br/
http://www.solarium.com.br/

There are a few, as they say, "conditions" to the offer. First, you must present the ORIGINAL printed invitation (as opposed to a photocopy). Secondly, the discount does not apply to suites...only cabines. Finally, if you do a dupla, you not only pay for the second room (which you are not using), but pay for it at full price.

At least they didn't make it applicable to only the ugly girls...

We went to Solarium yesterday afternoon, arrived about 5pm. When we first got there only about 7 girls in the boite and about 5 guys, within minutes the number of girls had swelled by 10. Over the next hour the number of and qaulity of girls just kept increasing. There were some smokin hot girls and I had a great session there. We went to LÚomo next and for the third time this trip, I left without sessioning. Solarium's talent was way superior.
BL

Just thought I'd chime in and let everyone know I was at Solarium 30 days ago...had great sessions. I have a new policy. Every time I go in there I find a new hot girl...and I include Vanessa for a dupla. Vanessa at Solarium might be the most enthusiastic garota in Rio, and I have no problem using her name because I found her pic plastered all over the website last night. Also, on a previous trip in August, I was able to get one of the garotas to (vai embora con eu)leave with me...if you have had the same experience at Solarium, I'd love to compare notes. The best part was, the next day I showed up, banged Vanessa and another garota, and the girl who came home with me was PISSED! "Eu nao falla con voce!" when I came back down from the cabine with a big grin...I'm not sure what was more satisfying, the fact that the terma girl in question came home with me or the fact that she was pissed the next day after I sessioned with two of her colleagues while she was busy...

I also spent a couple of fun nights in Solarium about a month ago. I had sessions with 3 different hot garotas and all 3 of them gave me their phone numbers. I had one of them stop by my apartment for a fantastic morning session and another joined for an incredible weekend in Buzios. I wanted to meet up with the third girl, but unfortunately ran out of time. All three of them did make it a point to tell me not to let any of the other girls and especially not any of the Solarium staff know that they had given me their numbers. I'm not sure whether these girls meeting up with you outside of the terma is common or not, but to be honest with you, I didn't really care, because of all the fun I had with them.

Vanessa is no longer at Solarium. She had a fight with another girl and was fired. I had dinner with her and a friend about 2 weeks ago. I don't know where she is working yet? - Hemp

Physical altercation type fight? Wow...If I was a girl I would not want to fight with her...not that she is overly robust, however, she was unusually strong for such a little girl. BTW H2001c - was the buzios weekend free? If it was not, I'd be curious what the price was...Could not imagine a better way to hang out at Geriba, con duas garotas

Vanessa update - She now works at Monte Carlo - Hemp

who's ass did she beat? Carolina?

Hey H2001c, it is very common and the girl will always tell you not to let management know. Think about it from a management point of view, if you see her out of the termas it is money out of their pockets. I bet most termas girls will meet you outside. I had girls from L'uomo, 65, Monte Carlo, Centaurus and 4 x4. Actually a bunch from 4x4 which will surprise nobody.

Even in Brazil; HR dept transferd her ass to another district

Damn you're right on Cee, they're owned by the same people right? I bet she's too much of a money earner with a regular clientle to blow out or let a competing termas take advantage of. She was my first pro girl ever in Brazil.

Copabrasil1,

That girl from Solarium and I really hit it off, so the Buzios weekend was free. Of course I did need to pay for the hotel, food, drinks, a few souvenirs, etc while we were over there which was no big deal. I probably would have spent a lot more if I had taken some girl I was dating. The entire weekend was lots of fun. It was basically like a honeymoon(minus the actual wedding).

The first time I went to Solarium, walking up the stairs to the bar, good ole vanessa was hitting me up before I can take a 360'look of the joint.
Two reason I passed, even if she is a performer.

1. she is not good looking, in my book she is a 4

2. After hearing she being nailed for the 10,000 times, I just didn't want to see that big ass snatch, sagging out from being pounded. Now guys are working her anal and I think it's big as a half dollar coin by now.
Vanessa and Taiza (4x4) has to be the two top stars (as far as being rammed)

Later guys,
CN

CN
Vanessa used to be good looking but now she is worn out but remember she must me close to 25 now.

Athos...you mean 25,000 don't you? I think her total must be higher than Wilt Chamberlain's

I meant 25 years old, vanessa is working at mc these days.
Went to check out 1/2 selection on Saturday. Well good news 85% turnover so repeat chance practically nill, not so good news mostly 6s in there but I highly recommend Lorena as i was lucky to pick her, very pretty 7 in looks, italian descent and first week ever on the program. It was one of my fantasy to play with a bank teller and now I kind of did that. She was great kisser and never asked to go upstairs, great session, makes up for long flight.

price update R$50 + R$50 + R$120.
They have a coupon online for free entrance on mondays

Athos, thanks for the info re the discount. I'm on the email list for the "Semana Maluca" emails but wasn't aware of this.

BTW the discount is a coupon sent to your email address on request. It is only valid for 15 days from the date of request so no point ordering it unless you've a trip coming up.

Thanks, Athos. That'll get me there for the first time Monday in a couple of weeks.

Was in there on Saturday 11/20 and the place was a morgue. Maybe 7 - 9 garotas that looked like they were all on tranquilizers. About 15 - 20 guys. We tried to get our entrance fee back, R$50, but the front desk would not oblige. After complaining that they should have told us that so few girls were working, they said next time we could look first before paying. I'll never waste my time going there again.

IMHO Solarium is NOT a terma I would frequent.

There is a guy that works the reception area that speaks pretty good English. If the customer is unfamiliar with the pricing there, the customer is marked for his sales pitch...Of which every other sentence is, "and provide a generous tip for me" This guy is a jerk.

Upon entering the boite, there were a number of heavier set girls working there. Upon chatting with one of the garotas, she explained to me that many Brazilian guys prefer women with a lot of butt, waist and thigh.

Upon leaving, I got a taxi cab outside of the terma. This taxi cab driver attempts to treat me like a tourist and do the "no meter" stunt. Upon questioning this, the taxi guy quotes me a "flat rate". This guy continues to say that quoting a rate was the status quo...like going to tourist attractions like the monument of Christ. I basically told him that I know this was not the status quo and I've visited Rio several times. As a result, he turns on the taxi meter.

If anyone wants to check out Solarium, these are some of the things you may experience.

Although not as overbearing as the Asian cashier at Quatro, among the termas Solarium comes in second in terms of obnoxious tip groveling by those at the front desk, at least in my experience.

Solarium ranks numbah 1 for me in tip groveling. Moreover, they are numbah 1 for cheating tourists.

Christine at 4X4 is queen cunt period!

The dark taller girl at solarium is runner up queen cunt for sure!

As far as the quality of girls i've always been lucky to whack some real serious spinners down there. In fact I often travel with a good friend of mine Crhesq1 and he likes amazonian bitches and sometimes strikes out in solarium due to the predominantly spinners in there. Having said that this could also be us going on different nights.

Cab drivers are getting to be a real pain in the ass about the meter business after hours. We got in a cab from Shenanigans at Ipanema and i noticed the guy didnt have the meter on so I asked him nicely to turn it on. He starts having a hissy fit, so we tried to meet him half way and he was asking for BR$25 for a normally BR$5 cab ride. i asked him to pull over and let us out, he did and we exchanged some pleasantries at that point. Luckily there was a brigade of Police cars coming in our direction as he said he was gonna shoot me for not letting him screw me over! LOL

One more thing remember to print the coupon they email you from their site. It will save you BR$50 on the room fee. Also for the record solarium pays cab drivers BR$20/person they bring in. You can always negotiate a free cab ride from just about anywhere in town

Will solarium pass the $R20 onto my bill?
I heard that 4X4 does the same but last time, we paid the cab driver and he still came up to collect from the house but they rejected him.
I guess you have to pre-negotiate before you take off.
Any other terma's with this service?
Aepuerto? 4X4? MC?

CN

For the record I find the receptionists at Solarium fine to deal with. Only have the "tip" issues at 4x4.

FYI for all you Solarium front desk doubters-

One of the Garota's snuck out and met me around the corner for a trip back to my hotel leaving my buddy in the terma by himself. My buddy was having a fantastic time, so fantastic that when he left and went to pay, the bill was more than the ammount of cash in his pocket and he left the plastic in the safe at the hotel. The english speaking guy not only fronted the bill but loaned him R$20 for a cab back to Ipanema...we paid him the next day.

the termas do NOT add the taxi/guide commission onto your bill. Certainly not MC,L'Uomo, Solarium, 65.

Centaurus might add it onto your bill, not sure. This might be the tourist tax some of you guys are paying


Termas give commissions only for gringos, not for Brazilian customers. Both taxi drivers and tourist guides can get commissions. Some termas do not pay commissions for regular customers, only for new or fairly new customers. The purpose of the game is to get more customers for a termas. Of course, a taxi driver will be tempted to deviate a customer from a badly paying termas to a well paying termas.

Not speaking the the lanquage to well, what happens when I jump into a cab on copacabana ave and go to 4X4 or 65. Will the taxi, assume that I will not pay or try to tell him to go inside? Usually they want you to pay, and 10 minutes later after you have your robe on, they sneak in for there comm.
I just don't want to argue with the driver and lead him to think I'm bailing the meter.

CN

At Solarium, you may not find the best looking girls right now but great time has always been guaranteed there. They sure have never asked me for tips and know me by name.

LOL. They're resigned to you being a lost cause. They don't ask me anymore either. 4x4 doesn't even ask me anymore -- though I tip Sylvia every time.

Went here two nights ago. Arrived at about 9pm. The taxi driver went in after me I suppose to get some sort of commission but they didn´t charge me.
This place was packed with people, standing room only. Quite small was surpised in fact how small it actually was.

Had some nice talent 6-8´s in my opinion. Had a nice experience with a screamer.

Price came to 230R.
50R entrance
50R cabine
120R girl
10R drinks

Nice place just a little too small to handle that crowd.

Ceenotes: taxis expect you to pay the metered rate.

Freebies are by special negotiation only.

Just got this email from Solarium, can anyone translate it for me? Thx



Semana Maluca de Carnaval Solarium


A primeira Semana Maluca de 2005, não podia cair em uma semana melhor !!!

Do dia 31/01 (segunda-feira) até o dia 04/02 (sexta-feira), a sua cabine é gratuita.

Isso mesmo, nesta semana você terá um desconto de R$ 50,00.

Para isto, basta trazer este email impresso e apresentá-lo na recepção toda vez que desejar usufruir desta promoção.

Simplesmente imperdível !!!


Esta promoção não é cumulativa, ou seja não pode ser utilizada com outras promoções.

Well, it is the first crazy week of the year, for carnival at Solarium. So between Monday, Jan 31 and Friday, Feb 5 you get the cost of a cabine for free. This will only work for a 40 min session, not a suite. You must present the email upon entrance and the promotion is not cumulative(probably only one session that day) and cannot be used with any other promotion.
SL

Nice! THX