I was cleaning out some old files and found notes from some trips I made to Rio in tha late 80s and very early 90s. In them I had information on how much I'd paid for my programs at various places.

I got curious about how those costs compared to what I'd paid during my most recent trips. Here's what I found when I compared the prices I paid back then (in dollars) compared to my most recent trips, when adjusted for inflation.

Help Disco: The asking prices at Help have clearly gone up considerably. The prices I've paid there have actually gone down a bit, although they've fluctuated a bit depending on how strong or weak the dollar was at the time. I paid $80 in 1988 at Help for an all-nighter, which is equivalent to $130 in 2005 dollars. Most recently I paid 250 reais for an all-nighter, which presently equals $120. So the pussy I bought in 1988 at Help was actually a bit more expensive! Of course, if you're paying 300 reais a night and up it's a different story

Termas: I only have notes on L'uomo (and a few of the other Zona Sul termas). An hour in the cabine at L'uomo (there were no 40 minute sessions then) cost just over $70 in 1988, whch equals about $113 in 2005 dollars. My notes are messy from my last trip, but it seems that the cost for an hour in 2005 dollars now is $143, so L'uomo's prices have gone up substantially beyond inflation (at least, US inflation).

The current bargain, though, is the escort agency. Two hours with even the cheapest escort agencies in 1988 cost $50, which equals $81 in 2005 dollars. Two hours with a Karla Models girl now cost $48 (plus cab; just as before) and 2 hours with a New Scort girl costs about $58. So escort prices have declined, making a dupla or tripla a great deal these days!

My notes on independents are a little fuzzy, but it appears that prices for the independents I saw both in 1988 and 1992 were higher, when adjusted for inflation, than those I saw in 2006.

I've been among those whining about higher prices, but it appears that only some prices are up. Specifically, when I looked at all the numbers, it appears that the only increases above inflation are the Zona Sul termas...the ones that cater largely to tourists! Everything else seems to have stayed stable or dropped a bit.

So I'm going to shut up about rising costs and just get back to fucking.

Your intrepid reporter,
Bwana

Maybe the people who are whining are comparing today's costs to the costs in 2002/2003 when the exchange rate was above 3:1.

No doubt. Taking a longer time frame into account, the costs have moved around a fair amount, but for a long time (at least from 1988 through the end of 1998) prices were for the most part equal to or higher than they are now. Things then began fluctuating in Jan. 1999 when Cardosa de-linked the real and the dollar, with the real dropping from 1.2/$1 to 2.1/$1 almost overnight. Things cooled off in 2000 but got better in 2001 (rising to 2.6/$1 late in the year) and then went crazy as the Nov. 2002 election approached (almost 4/$1), which many say the Cardosa moderates manipulated in an attempt to scare voters who were backing the leading candidate--Lula. Things cooled off in mid-2003, but still stayed up near 3/$1 until August 2004, when the dollar started a steady fall, and since March 2006 has been fluctuating between 2.05 and 2.34/$1.

Fortunately, I speculated in reais when they hit 3.86/$1, and I'm still spending those cheap reais. When those run out I'll start whining again, but looking way back to the late 80s and early 90s, today's prices, even at the current exchange rate, aren't so bad.

I would think the quality at Help was a lot better in 1988.

2002/2004 was the Golden Era for gringo mongers in Rio. Maybe there will be another, but I'm glad I was around when it was tops. $50 a night for jr suites in the monger hotels, hours at 4x4 for under $50, escorts for $35. And Sweet's soup at TA was only $4.00 a bowl :-)

in 83 it was a real disco with alot of couples (non-pro). I think that was near when it first opened. In Copa, the was a terma called Pedagio which was a lower cost alternative to Luomo. Pedagio had a sister terma in Praca Maua that was pretty cool and catered to the brazilian businessman. The scene was very different than it is now, though hookers always were out near the Othon Palace.

Of course this are all stories my grandpa told me......

I resent that "grandpa" remark! I visited Pedagio (now the site of "Beach Girls Termas, which sucks) many times in the early 90s. Found many diamonds in the rough there, and it was about $30 for a session there. The girls would come into the steam bath and you could get free blow jobs from girls trying to nail down a session.

Bwana: Have you been to Beach Girls Terma recently? Perhaps a couple of years ago I went there (I am assuming we are talking about the same place; it was in a small mall in Copacabana on the second floor) and it was closed and didn't look like it was going to open again. Before that I went there a couple of times to look around and may have sessioned once. Nothing to write home about.

Closed a couple of years ago.

And it deserved to be closed. No, I was there once in early 2005 and it was so frightening I never went back.

It was better as Termas Pedagio. The great one, Camila (the Black Widow), got her start there.

Etiquette question - if you blow a load while getting the free advertisement hummer in the sauna, is it ok to then session with a different garota? How about just finishing your beer and leaving and giving the free hummer girl a nice peck on the cheek and an obrigo tchau?

Cat-

I asked Miss Manners. She says a small tip to the GP who blew you gratis in the sauna should cover anything owed her. You are then free to leave or do a program with someone else. Leaving or sessioning with others without tipping her would be considered in poor taste. She suggested you just buy the girl a Red Bull and whiskey, which would serve both as a generous tip and a way of washing the cum taste out of her mouth so she can move on to the next guy.

Can't argue with Miss Manners.

BD

A sensible plan, and also good for FKKs in Germany.

Hedgy-hedgy can be a bit pricey, so perhaps a straight cash tip would suffice. I would think that R$20 would do the trick, that seems to be the going rate for a quick hummer in some of the more rustic locations in Centro.

You know, that R$20 might have been raised to R$25 with the New Year. I am sad to report that I just learned one of the places in Sao Paulo I frequent that used to be R$30 for 40 minutes has raised their prices to R$40 for 40 minutes, a full 33 percent increase. Rather than pay THAT, I decided to go full hog (it's just an expression and has no bearing on the garota I was with) and just finished a session there at the more reasonable, but more costly, R$50 per hour.

I hear you, Cat. Hedgy Bull and whiskey is not cheap, but if a sweetie takes it, swallows, and smiles, I'm happy to buy her one. If she grimaces and spits, I buy her a coke.

Laguy, I'll check out those cheap places in Rio soon and see what a blowjob is going for. The researcher's work is never done.

$143 for a one hour session in a terma? Jesus Bwana, no wonder you started hanging out in SEA.

Sweet does not drink any more. If you want him to swallow and smile bottled water will need to do.

Murasaki: Yes, the prices in Brazil (at least at the high end places) are getting prohibitively expensive, particularly when you look at other options. And certainly a Brazil newbie will want to at least get a taste of the higher end places if they make the effort and subject themself to the expense of visiting.

OTOH, I rarely go to the expensive places anymore, and instead spend my money at places that are more reasonable. They are less luxurious, (perhaps simmilar to Tulip, give or take a standard deviation) but I can't say the sessions are any worse than the expensive better-known places, notwithstanding it may take a bit more searching to find the girl you want. Another thing, which probably is easier at the mid-priced places than the expensive ones, is in addition to getting anal, a fairly high percentage of the girls I have been with recently (maybe as high as 50 percent, although it is hard to say because I don't always ask) let me videotape the sessions (as well as take photos) without any extra charges. So there are things you can get in Brazil (including also much more enthusiastic sex than the other locales I have mongered in) that are difficult elsewhere.

In any case, if our paths cross in Brazil (more likely in Sao Paulo than Rio) let me show you around. But don't expect me to take you to the through the roof priced places like Bomboa or Bahamas.

Murasaki-

Between the termas upping their prices and the dollar tanking against the real, it's been quite a bummer. But I've been coming to SEA off and on for 20 years, making on average a trip a year. In fact, 2005 was the first time since 1989 that I went a whole calendar year without some playtime in SEA. I'll be back in SEA in a couple of weeks, and wish the dollar was a little stronger there as well.

LAguy is right, though. If you avoid the gringo-centric termas and stick to the more modest places downtown, and also use the "fast-foda" casas in Centro and the escort services, costs are much more reasonable, and the level of service still is hard to beat.

Not unlike my college days, when you would drink a couple of decent beers before opening the floodgates of Old Milwaukee, Milwaukee's Best, Schaefer and Weiderman under the logic that you taste the first couple of beers but not the later ones, I've found that mixing and matching a couple of full terma runs on some some days with a few days where you just hit massage places/sex apartments is a good way to stretch the dollar.

First went the duplas at L and 65 and whatnot, then the duplas at 4x4, now we're down to skipping days at termas altogether. It's a slippery slope I admit but as I vaguely remember from my economist days, a little price elasticity and subsitution flexibility will let you keep your budget in line while still getting plenty of quality brasilera cabine exercise sessions.

So what kind of daily budget would someone need who likes to get laid three times a day (all ST's or 2ST and 1LT), stay in a comfortable apartment(assuming that is the cheaper option,)is a light drinker? ALso, I want to include in this budget usual ground transportation, eating, commincation, and other misc expenses. But I don't want to include airfare.

I hang more in Sao Paulo than Rio, but am reasonably familiar with both. The daily budget question wrt Rio (or Sao Paulo) is so dependent on what level of entertainment you like it is difficult to answer. On the hotel/apartment, I would say somewhere in the $75 to $100 range for Rio (for an apartment) and somewhat less in Sao Paulo for a reasonably clean and modern hotel. Food is relatively cheap, and you probably can get by on around $15 a day, but if you want to experience the good stuff, like churrascarias (sp?; a place that serves unlimited portions of different types of beef and other meat brought to your table) it will cost more, up to maybe $50 a day.

Maybe allow $15 - $25 per day for transportation, again a very rough estimate that will depend on whether you use taxis exclusively, or don't mind the metro and/or buses (the later no recommended in Rio though).

Sex is the biggest wildcard. Unless you want a Cambodia style experience, you are probably looking at between $35 and $125 per hour session. As one who spends alot of time in Brazil, I have gotten to the point where I would rather spend less money, and sometimes end up paying less than $35, indeed if you bottom feed (which IMHO isn't always so bad as you sometimes find diamonds in the rough at the cheap places, some of your sessions could run as low as $10; perhaps a good analogy is that if barber shops in Changping had short time rooms, they would probably be similar to (or maybe even a step up from) what you find at the low-end apartments in Rio).

However, realistically speaking, you will end up spending perhaps $200 a day if you want three sessions, and are willing to do the majority of them at places that are cheaper than the top termas. If you become addicted to the termas though, as many do, and want to spend most of your time at them, the prices can shoot up substantially.

I'm sure others will have different opinions; these likely will reflect, at least in part, the great variability in what is available and the respective prices.

A one-way taxi ride from Alcazar to 4x4 is over US$10 now, just a ride from one end of Copa to the other will set you back close to $5. I would say if you do two termas girls a day plus an all-nighter from Help or somewheres, that will be at least $350 a day. An apartment is at least $75 now, food and transportation around $50. So, call it US$500 a day for apartment, three garotas, taxis, food and cell phone credits.

Yep, double what it was 2-3 years ago.

Just to clarify if it wasn't clear, my estimate of $200 a day was for the sex only. Also, I usually would take the metro more than Cat apparently did/does, e.g., a metro to 4X4, and a taxi back. I also would often walk from one end of Copa to the other, although this granted is a bit longer than most would want to walk.

Ditto, I use the metro for downtown runs (much to Sweet's chagrin) and stick to 4X4 (where I don't have to pay entrada ), Cancun and the budget termas (i,e., screw 65 and their inflated prices). I also use the buses to get to the metro (they are perfectly safe in Zona Sul). Food is cheap unless you choose to go upscale. Apartments are available from $60 and up that are perfectly good. The place I rent is $60 and is quite nice, with full kitchen, washing machine, 2 bedrooms, etc.

Let me try to describe a typical day, if there is such a thing. Get up early and have a quick breakfast of yogurt, juice and fruit in my apartment (maybe $1.75). I grab a bus to the beach (about $.80) and rent a chair, umbrella, and have a coke or two (total bill $$3.75). While there I call Karla Models and order delivery to my apartment at noon. Two hours with the GP of my choice, including her taxi, is $61. After lunch (between $3 and $7, dpending on my mood and hunger), I grab a bus and then the metro to downtown (total $1.80) and walk over to 4X4. My usual bill at 4X4 is about $110, which includes drinks and an ass-pounding hour with some nymphomaniac. After hanging out for a couple of hours there I either head over to Cancum for a final session (also in the $110-$120 range, or head back to Zona Sul (another $1.80 for transportation) for dinner ($10-$15, but one can spend less) and then dial in one of my favoritas for an all-nighter. My arrangement is 200 reais ($95) plus they can eat and drink anything in the fridge. I don't stock Red Bull, but they do consume about $10.00 worth of stuff.

So, this typical day, which represents sort of a mid-point (I have days when I hit a Zona Sul terma at higher prices and others when I hit the fast-foda casas which cost practically nothing) would add up to between $363/day (incl. rent) and $383/day. Hell, I can't get a hotel and spend a day at Disneyland at that price!

First of all, even Sweet takes the Metro now. Second, $500 would make for a comfortable budget for a newbie and is assuming two garotas at a terma or two and an all-nighter. Substituting escorts and private stock GdPs will lower the price, of course hitting the Zona Sul termas will increase the price. But, US$350 a day will get you three quality goes.

As far as transportation, I like the Metro myself and never take a taxi solo to Centro. I use the minibuses to get around Zona Sul and they're R$2.00 or so, depending on how far you're going.

Use coupons and promotions for places like Monte Carlo and Solarium, and certainly do their frequent fucker program. Every R$500 you spend - which includes everything but bar tab, I believe - gets you a free entry on your next visit, so Solarium and MC give you every third entry free, which is a decent discount.

I think everyone should have a dive place they like. Be it a massage place or a favorite apartment, they can be a lot of fun and very cheap. Most veterans have some private stock to call on, and the agencies are still cheap. But, my $500 a day budget will cover most guys for tourist apartment, a terma run or two and an all-nighter each day, with money for food, drink and transportation.

Probably the only thing that's gone up faster than the price of pussy the last couple of years are hotel rates. That $75 number is assuming an apartment, there are few hotels that are in the R$150-175 range these days that are worthwhile.

Thanks for all the great feedback on my budget question. I suspected a $400 a day budget would be enough to live it up and not stress about expenses. Just need to exercise a little fiscal restraint. Anyway I am thinking about doing a SA excursion in conjunction with a trip I have to make back to the US this coming summer. Unfortunately Brazil maybe a little too rich for my blood. $2800 for a week of mongering is just not something I can afford. Well I could sacrfice two weeks of SEA time - but I don't see that happening. So you Rio millionares do one for ole MongerX.

BD, I like your style I too prefer to fuck on an empty stomach and then eat. And we like to screw around the same times a day. Although you appear to screw one or two more times a day more than I. But I probably eat one or two more times a day than you!

MX- Too funny! Actually, I have my days when I sit on the beach half the day and do just one session. For example, I might just call in two girls from ScortShow at 5:00 for a dupla, which sets me back about $110 total for the dupla. Then I'll just hang out with the boys at the Terraço in the evening watching the Help piranhas circle their prospective prey, but go home at one or two after a few beers or caipirinhas and something to eat.

One of the things I love about Rio is that there's so much to besides mongering. The beaches are amazing, there is great music all over town, and if you just want to hit some great restaurants, Rio has an amazing assortment of great places at all price levels.

Looking back at the last few trips, I averaged closer to $300/day for all expenses except airfare.

Come on down in early August and I'll give you a personalized tour. And I promise we'll eat as often as you prefer

Bwana, since you have been going to Rio for almost 20 years, I would be curious if you ever seen the price of termas go down?

Before the influx of tourists the past few years, I'd also be curious if the Copa termas still had a decent share of brasilieros? I will still see brasilieros in a place like Solarium, but the other ones seems like it is predominantly tourists. Certainly, the bottomline of these places has to be steadily going downhill.

I guess I am still looking at the fundamental economics and that is the termas doesn't really have anything without its garotas. If the garotas aren't making money because brasilieros are going elsewhere, then don't see the logic.

In my many years of attending the "Igreja Das Pernas Abertas" I have never, ever, seen 4x4 when there were more estrangeiros than brasileiros, except perhaps in those sparse hours between opening and 4 pm.

My take is that gringos typically make up a small percentage of the "clientes" in termas generally(possible exception Monte Carlo) and don't appear to exert any downward push on pricing. If anything, the opposite, because the turistas as a group tend to self-justify spending more of that "funny money" because they're on vacation.

With the current problems that 65 is having it will be interesting to see if they start having some promotions. I haven't been in there since November and it really sucked, so much so that I called Roberto to take me to the airport an hour early because I didn't even want to hang out in the boite any longer.

I don't think the places would ever lower prices but the promotions could kick in. Monte Carlo and Solarium are pretty good at running promotions - lots of coupons for free entry or cabines, free drinks, their frequent fucker program basically makes every third entry free, etc. 4x4 and the Centro termas don't really need them, although Rio Antigo runs promotions regularly but then again, on the two times I've been there the place has been empty, as late as 7:30 PM

SF, you do see some Brasileros in Monte Carlo but I wouldn't think you see more than a handful at a time in Centaurus, maybe none at all.

I went into 502 two weeks ago and the couple of garotas I spoke with were surprised to see a gringo in there as they hadn't seen one of us in in quite some time.

Cinco-

No, I've never seen the actual prices drop in a termas. Occasionally they will roll out more promotions if things get slow. And I have seen the effective price drop a few time when there were major fluctuations in the exchange rate in our favor.

When I first went to L'uomo in the late 1980s there were very few gringos in the mix. The desk staff spoke no English back then and didn't even have price lists in English. It wasn't until the post-web influx that gringos became common. I do believe (as do the Brasilian guys who post in places like GPBR) that the influx led to higher prices in the Zona Sul places.

I have seen the escort agencies drop prices. I noticed that NewScort is now advertising 100/2 hrs. Their price has always been 120/2 except during promotions. A couple of others have done the same, and there are now more "100/2 hrs" escort agencies than I've ever seen.

Cat,
Have you poked around the whiskeria at 65? The guys on GPBR say all the action has shifted to the whiskeria. I haven't been so I can't compare to what it was like in the boite.

I was told by a few ex-65 garotas last week that the whiskeria at 65 was doing ok business but it is, of course, much lower volume than the boite. All three told me that they were lucky to get a program a day at 65 when they left, whereas a year or two ago two programs would have been considered average.

65 would make a good business school case study of how new management fucks up a gravy train. Of course putarias aren't usually used as case studies but perhaps some of us could start an extension program for a 4th-rate B-school in the US. Putaria management 503, boite staffing 620, gdp psychology 634, 640, 701 and 745.

That is a good point about Termas 65. It is literally a block away from both Termas 4x4 and Termas Cancun (those two which charge a good percentage lower than 65). I think 65 is roughly 250R compared to 160R.

According to the main Termas 4x4 thread, it showed the price for 40-min. being 130R. I don't ever remember that price since it must have been prior year 2004. It was 150R for a good while, and now it rose to 160R. So, that is a 25% increase in just a few years. Given that trend, we can expect to see all the termas exceed 200R in the next 2 years for any kind of sex.

For one hour sex plus the entrance = 210R or roughly $100 is a price I am comfortable with at a place like Cancun/4x4. One garota there and another allnight for 200R totals $200 per day for girls. Beyond 400R/$200 per day on girls is really blowing the budget at least for me.

I really wish that dollar could move up to 2.5 Reais. (sigh). Damn, perhaps Bush/Lula (now that they have become friends) could setup some governmental subsidized program to make our dollars worth more if they are spent in termas.

Cancun hasn't raised their prices, the Whiskeria entry is R$20 and the boite is R$30. Probably a wash at R$30 when you add in a tip for whatever you have in the whiskeria. Hours are still R$170 or 180, whatever 4x4's prices were before they raised them in November.

I have no problem with the rate of inflation at the Centro termas. An hour and entry at 4x4 now is only R$20 or R$30 than it was four years ago, so 20% over 4 years is nothing. The assholes in zona sul raised their prices 20% in 2004 and another 20% in 2005 so that's a big hit right there.

The Centro termas are maybe 20% more now than on my first trip 4 years ago. The zona sul termas (L, MC and S) are at least 40-45% more. Interesting, how the brasilero termas are going up slower than the rate of inflation while the tourist joints shot up much higher than inflation.

Cinco,
No worries about the exchange my friend, just think long term, like after Nov, 08....... shortly thereafter the rate will return to more normal levels. Those I think are 2.75- 3.00, not the 3.8 we saw at W's re-election, nor the 2.0 we will see in the next 2 weeks. Iraq, W's weakness and energy in general make the dollar very weak right now, hwoever, the people who actually control the cost of money need a fairly strong dollar over time so all will be well. Just remember, would you rather drop $200USD in a termas in Rio or a titty bar in Houston???

Anyone that thinks we'll see 3.0 real/$ again is insane! It'll be 1/1 before we leave Iraq. China is announced they are dumping $350B US dollars on the market in the next few years. We are printing $2B dollars a day. How on earth do you think the dollar is going to go up?

Cat, you are right 4x4 is 160R/40min and 180R/1-hr. The entrance fee is 40R, but 30R if you session and free if before 5pm. Cancun, did not raise their prices as did 4x4 so they are still 150R/40min and 170R/1-hr. The entrance is 20R is the whiskeria and 30R for the boite. I don't recall any discounts if you session or not, but they split the difference if you go first to the whiskeria then the boite. I am happy with those prices. I agree the Zona Sul termas are consistently raising their prices, while the quality diminishes.

As for the dollar magicly rebounding right after the Nov. '08 election...what happens if Hillary wins? (God help us) The war in Iraq continues (most likely)? and China's stockpile of US cash?

Right now today 04-01-2007, the exchange rates are as follows:

1 USD = 2.05 R (probably 2.15 black market)
1 Euro = 2.75 R
1 USD = 0.75 Euro
1 USD = 0.51 British Pounds (wow!)
1 USD = 3.10 Argentina Pesos
1 USD = 7.73 Chinese Ying-Yangs

1 USD == 665 Gold
1 USD == 1251 Platinum

I want to come back to this thread 6 months from now (when I will be in Rio for birthday) and I hope to not see that Dollar below 2.0R and/or changes in the centro termas pricing.

(Message edited by cincoleche on April 01, 2007)

4X4 no longer discounts your entrance from $R40 to $R30 if you session after 5pm, unless they have gone back to that model after the end of January '07.
CG

I've sessioned after five and the entry was only 30 reals. The cute yet hairy-armed girl who works reception the R$40 is in place for the grab-asses who just go there to hang in the bar and don't session. As long as you do a program, regardless of time, your entry is R$10. If you don't do a program, regardless of when you arrive and/or leave, it's R$40.

Correct me if I am wrong currency experts, but doesn't the value of the Real to any currency have more to do with the strength of the Brasilian economy than anything else?

If Brazil, and any developing country, has taught me anything, it is that I wouldn't bet on consistent, smooth growth, without the inevitable valleys that has traditionaly been associated with these countries. They don't have the sophisticated monetary policies in place to smooth out the ups and downs found in all economies.

I certainly wouldn't rule out a return to a 3-to-1 Real/Dollar relationship in the future, but I wouldn't dare take a stab at a timetable. Basically, what I am saying is that I would bet on a Brasilian recession in the next 5 years before I would bet on anything close to a 1-to-1 Real/Dollar relationship.

Arellius yes you are correct in general. But these are not general times. Using the food chain as an example. When a great blue whale dies, everything else that feed on Krill gets healthier. Lest competition for a food.

If the dollar gets to parity with the real I don't think any of us will have to worry about the prices at termas, because by then the US economy would be fucked so badly none of us could probably afford to go.

I think we'll remain in the 2.00-2.15 band for some time to come. It may drop a bit below 2.00, which will cause the folks in Brasilia some heartburn. No export-dependent economy wants its currency to get too strong as it starts to choke off the money train. For the dollar-real to get anywhere south of 1.80 or so, either the Real would get strong against the Euro and Asian currencies or the dollar would get much, much weaker. The end result of either set of events would spell by-by for americanos in Brasil for the immediate future.

Even it were to go down as low as 1:1. I can't say I would go anywhere else. The value of the garotas has really never been in the exchange rate(though it was great while it lasted in the 3:1 territory), but in their performance.

1:1 exchange.... that would stop me from sessioning in the termas.
I might go to them and pay the entrance, because there is no place in the US you can have some pre-sex makeout sessions like in those places. But, I would only be arranging outside dates.
I can barely tolerate the prices/quality at Help now, so I know I would cross that place off my list.

Agencies I suppose would still be an option. Possibly finding a pro and working out some multi-day deal. This is all assuming apartments were still renting in US dollars as they are now and the price of an air ticket was the same.

Two notes regarding a couple of the points mentioned above:

Yesterday 4X4 was charging 40 for entrada even with a post-5:00 session.

There is a rumor flying around all the downtown termas that 65 is closing for good at the end of this week. This could fall in the "Help is closing soon" category of rumors, but the girls are streaming out of 65 and taking jobs at the other places. Met a couple at 4X4 and one at Cancun last night.

Well, if it does close I'll be sad, it was my favorite place for three years and I had dozens of excellent times there.

About 65, just curious...does that nice lady that helps with the robes still work there? I remember her wearing black framed glasses, as well.

I'm not sure what "normal levels" are for the USD/BR. When I first when to Rio in Feb. 2000, the rate was about 1.8 - of course prices in Reals at Help and the Termas were about half what they are now. The levels above 2.5 were IMO extraordinary rates that we won't see again unless there is some sort of government crisis (or perceived crises) in Brasil.

Elgrancombo has a good point, which is that as the exchange rate was becoming more favorable several years ago, the inflation of the Brazilian money supply was kicking in and nearly keeping pace. The past few years the exchange rate has become less favorable, but the larger problem, as I see it, is the continued rapid inflation of the money supply. Inflation at a rate that has roughly doubled prices in seven or so years--that's a big problem that's continuing. In comparison to that, the exchange rate is relatively stable, although we would all like to see a stronger dollar. What I'd like even more would be if the Brazilian government would stop using a radical (by US standards) inflation of the money supply to as a source of funds. To put it another way, when I first visited Rio the exchange rate was about the same as it is now, but prices were maybe 1/2 to 2/3 what they are now.

Regarding terma 65, over ten our so visits of mine, that terma and Solarium have consistently been my favorites, so I'll be very sorry if it closes. As I'm approaching 50, I've been looking forward to Rio as a great alternative to what's left of my former sex life in the "real world" (I don't have much of a desire to have sex with 50 year old women, unfortunately). This trend with the increasing expense and decreasing quality in Rio is getting disheartening... I hope it doesn't get worse, or rather, I really hope it starts to turn around. The older I get, the more I'm counting on Rio!

65 was one of my favorites last year. But now there are definitely fewer garotas as well as clients. One girl who had been there for a while told me she was going to Antigo, and I saw another longtime 65 regular GDP at 4x4. She was very busy at 65 so for her to leave means that things have definitely taken a turn for the worse.

Well damn, it certainly did not take 6 months for the Dollar to drop under 2.0 ...only fucking 6 weeks!

As of this writing, it is at an even 1.95. Cambios in the Rio are not giving higher than the published
rate so they are at either 1.95 or 1.90. Same with Help.

As for the rest of the currencies, they have not changed much.

Right now today 05-20-2007, the exchange rates are as follows:

1 USD = 1.95 R (Cambios -- 1.90 or 1.95)
1 USD = 0.74 Euro
1 USD = 0.51 British Pounds
1 USD = 3.08 Argentina Pesos
1 USD = 7.67 Chinese Ying-Yangs

Gold == 661 USD
Platinum == 1318 USD

Amazing how quickly things can change.

Who in their right mind is now going to pay the asking rate of R$350 to R$400 at Help? I'm anxious to see if the Help GP response to the slower business I've been hearing about will be to raise their asking prices.

When I was in town in April I ran into an old friend who works at Help. She was complaining about slow business so I asked her what her price was these days. "I had to raise it to R$400 so I can live on one program a week," she told me. "Wouldn't it be better if you dropped your price to R$250 and did two programs a week, or to R$200 and did three programs a week?" I replied. She seemed completely thrown by the notion that one could lower prices and increase profit. I tried to explain that in a business where her product (sex) had virtually no overhead costs, each sale was pure profit. And when business is slow (demand is down), the logical step is to drop prices, not increase them. She still didn't get it. She asked me if I was interested in having her spend the night. I said "how much?" "Three hundred and fifty reais," she replied. I just shook my head, muttered a mild oath under my breath, and walked away.

Cincoleche, would you happen to know which cambio is giving 1.95R? I heard from a couple different people that the cambios dont want to give the official rate and would rather give 1.90R, like you said.


Bwana, thanks for making my day, that story was fucking funny!

I would have loved to have been there with a cigar in my mouth and a beer in mind hand to sit back and listen to that attempt to educate on capitalism. That is a good Micro example of what plagues the Macro in Brazil.

I was laughing too, Thumper. Another illustration of the poor quality of the basic public education system in Brasil.

Thumper, the Cambio across the street from Bobby was giving 1.95. It was strange though because that cambio would always have the posted rate in Dollars and Euros outside the cashier window. This time around, there was nothing. I walked in and said "you are giving 1.95, right?" with a wad of cash in my hand. The lady nodded her head.

As for Help, there seemed to be slim pickings and girls were still asking 300R. One had the nerve to say 250R for 2 hours.

I don't get their logic, they would rather go home empty-handed and get nothing at all. I just hope a lot of them are saving their nuts for the winter because after this Memorial Day weekend, June is going to be a terrible month for those garotas.

Well, the didn't drop out of fifth grade and then drop a kid when they were 14 because they're smart.

CincoLeche was that the cambio where they make you show your passport? THX for the info, I will be there in 2 weeks and I am trying to get every centavo I can!!

Yes, that cambio asks to show the passport. The lady behind the cashier window has the personality of a stick.

I was also saving some centavos when entering taxis. I would ask them if they took dollars and most would say yes. I don't think they keep up with it, so I told them it was 2.0 to 1.

(I can't believe I am talking about getting a full 2 reais to a dollar...how depressing is that now).

I remember, around 1982, I got all-nighters for US$ 20, from Princesa Isabel street night clubs.

At times, during the 80ies, Termas Monte Carlo charged US$ 20 from Brazilians for the first fuck, then it got cheaper. The rip-off-the-gringo-price was US$ 40, then. Madam Claudia, who then was a celebrity with amazing quality products, a sort of Heidi Fleiss, charged US$ 40, twice to Monte Carlo rate for Brazilians.

I don't know about Vila Mimosa at those times, but I suppose it was US$ 2-5.

Now, up to 1994, the prices in dollars fluctuated wildly, as exchange rates fluctuated. Especially, there was the black market rate at the cambios that was, on average, 30% better then the ATM rate. Occasionally 50% to 200% better. So that greatly influenced prices in dollars.

Of course, we can ask our Asian friends, at that price I suppose pussy even in Korea was only a few dollars. And Thailand and Philippines probably went for a few dollars.

Now the local rate, the cheap brothels, for tha last 15 years always was in the range of US$ 2.50 to 5 and up per express fuck. Now it is US$ 6 and up. Yes, I did two 19 year olds for R$ 20 each last week (I splurged and did not go for the lowest R$ 10 rate), and one for R$ 10 (thank god, she was not worth more then that)

Don't know about earlier times, how much the brothels were in the 80ies.

Now one main difference was the age. Plenty of 18 year old talent then, even if you eliminated underage girls. Now the average girl seems 25 years old with kids.

Well, this week the US Dollar finally rose over 2 Reais. Not sure why...the Housing market is literally falling apart, the stock market is down, Iraq is a continual waste of money with no end in sight...
For the most part, the Dollar has stayed the same or gained on most of the currencies especially our whoring-venues of Colombia, Argentina and Brazil.

Sure, our great grandchildren will be marrying mexicans and be speaking Chinese in unbearable, toxic heat, but for now... we can still enjoy our South American whores.


1 USD = 2.03 R
1 USD = 0.74 Euro
1 USD = 0.50 British Pounds
1 USD = 3.16 Argentina Pesos
1 USD = 2042 COP
1 USD = 7.59 Chinese Ying-Yangs

Gold == 666 USD
Platinum == 1262 USD

WTF, the Canadian Dollar is stronger than the US Dollar.

1 USD = 0.93 Canadian
1 USD = 1.75 Reais
1 USD = 0.69 Euro
1 USD = 0.48 British Pounds
1 USD = 3.13 Argentina Pesos
1 USD = 2005 COP
1 USD = 7.45 Chinese Ying-Yangs

Gold == 808 USD
Platinum == 1460 USD

Even though, the US Financial backbone is on the brink of breaking it is nice to see Dollar-Real get closer to the 2:1.

1 USD = 1.07 Canadian
1 USD = 1.85 Reais
1 USD = 0.70 Euro
1 USD = 0.55 British Pounds
1 USD = 3.05 Argentina Pesos
1 USD = 2169 COP
1 USD = 6.83 Chinese Ying-Yangs

Gold == 857 USD
Platinum == 1143 USD