Hello. Im hoping I could get some answers from some experienced/recent travelers to rio especially since the American dollar has declined so much. I would like to vist Rio sometime next spring (2009) for about 7 days 6 nights "possibly" . Want to know How far I can stretch my money down there. Im on a budget of about $3,000 This would have to pay for my round trip flight, apartment rental in copa (doesnt have to be fancy-a studio is fine), as many woman as I could muster(including overnight stays and termas, etc) food/drink/cab service/admition etc. Will I have enough money to have the time of my life or am I being too conservative? Can anyone give me a ball park figure of the amount of money I would need? Any tips on cheap apartments/woman/clubs/brothels etc. I speak fluent Spanish so I can understand some Portugues but Im starting to brush up on my portuguese (i bought some tapes!) As much advice as possible would be great. Thanks

No one can tell you what the exchange rate will be, but I can say that $3,000 will not do the trick, even if the Real slumps badly. Flights are at least a thousand bucks, and those are hard to find. A bargain apartment will be at least $75 a night, so regardless of everything else, budget a minimum of $1500-1700 for airfare and apartment. Where the exchange rate will come into play is for everything else - garotas, food, taxis, etc. Right now I would tell someone to budget $300 a day for that, and that's not really hitting it hard - one termas run, an escort or apartment run, meals, some drinks, etc. So that's a bare minimum of $2,000 for seven days right there. I would say all-in, for a short week, you're looking at $3,500 but that would be on the budget plan, and for first time out that's not really optimistic. $4,000 would be getting there, of course if the cheapest airfare you can find is $1,500 then adjust up accordingly.

And my advice, as always - mongering is not a necessity. If you don't have the spare money to blow, just don't bother to go. Counting nickles and dimes will put a damper on your trip.

try getting your airline ticket on skyauction. you might be able to save a few hundred. go to www.vrbo.com to look for apartments. i saw a studio for $55 a night in copa

I just checked vrbo...there is a 1 br for $40 per night...and dont forget the cheapie casa's in Centro. I have to agree wit Cat, penny pinching can bring on anxiety when on a trip to Rio. But if you are a young guy, i say go for it. It might inspire you to earn big $ in the states.

Indio,

I just returned from my first visit to Rio, and I completely agree with Catocony in his estimates of a realistic budget for a low-impact trip to Rio.

I was exchanging dollars at the rate of 1.5 to 1. My credit card statements haven't all come in yet, but I know I spent close to $2000 on terma visits alone - and that was at the rate of about one program per day for 8 consecutive days. Granted I could have been more restrained, but I didn't travel that far to sit on my thumbs for even one night.

I'm also planning another trip in the spring of 2009 if my budget allows. I'm already scrimping and saving to make it happen.

Best,

SW

Cats right on, even at 2/1. A 10 day trip usually runs me around $5000. Afer your first brasilera fuck, you'll agree its worth every penny lol.

I've been a Rio semi regular for about 15 yrs now. I'll make the following comments...

1) It's a "must see" at some point if your into mongering at all.

2) You can never have enough money in Rio

Now once you say that lets look at the realities. Flights are your biggest challenge and largest budget item. So what your minimum $$$ are starts there.

Once you have that you move on...

IT is very possible to have a good time and reasonable action if your comfortable in non tourist type environments. There are actually plenty of $R/min and 2nd tier (figure 60R$ to 100R$)...plenty of which can be found right here. Obviously language skills come into play.

Now assuming you don't speak GOOD Portuguese and/or arent a seasoned world traveler/monger then the reality is that 4x4 is your best ground zero. You can snag a good session and reasonably priced overnighters. 2 sessions would run you roughly $R400 out the door, overnights $R200...times 4 is 2400R$. Add in room and board + buses/subway and the occasional taxi and you get your bottom line realistic cost. Figure you can find a few guys willing to give you a tour of the 2nd tier spots once or twice (lets say $R300 total)

So...

Airfare (we'll say $1000)
Apt (6 x $70) $420
food (7 x $25) $150

So round it up to $1800 to cover all the little things. (thats about as low as you can do it IMO)

At todays rate $R600 (bare minimum IMO) is $330

So X 7 is $2300 roughly...

So minimum is roughly $4000.

Indio, the variety of the ways to get laid in Rio is almost limitless and it ranges in price. You can get laid for a real per minute, or you can go in certain termas and pay the equivalent of going to a woman in the USA, and every price in between. Some have said $500 a day for pussy costs, but you can significantly lower that by mixing things up.

I have to get up off my ass and write something about my experiences one day.

WOW, 7 days in RIO cost $4000, Jeepers Creepers that's crazy money !!!

To put that in perspective, just spent 17 days in AC with total cost, including airfare, hotel, 3 nights on Burgess St. in Makati and all the trimmings for $3400.

Thats simply a round number for a newbie. As mentioned by me and others pricing is variable. Now regardless of where you go airfare is a bigger issue then ever before. I'm at a point where airfare actually can effect my choice of venue. The 2nd factor is that the longer the length of stay the more options you have for lodging. You can find a good deal on a multi-week or month long stay in a lot of places.

No question that Rio is now very expensive for most people who don't have good local contacts/connections. The raw retail rates for airfare and lodging cost more then the entire trip back in 2003 if you factor in the exchange rate.

The problem is that for the inexperienced monger destinations like Lima & BA (or other places in Brazil like BH, SP, PA etc) are much more challenging and will actually often cost more when factoring actual results vs cost.

I haven't been in SEA in close to 20 yrs so I have no current views, but I dont doubt that right now its a better value overall vs Rio.