Rio has been a changing scene ever since what some members will call the "Great Loss of Help". Personally I could not care that Help closed It was in downward spiral for years. The prices kept rising and the quality kept dropping. IMHO the only benefit of Help was to sit out front, enjoy a drink with friends and laugh. I wont mention names, but I will never forget one night sitting with Cat and this ugly macaco kept trying to ket his attention. Anyone that knows Cat knows what happened next.

I know this will not surprise anyone, but Rio has changed, especially within the past 18 months. Business is down and prices are up. Luomo's has closed, nothing open on Sunday and padaria's that I would enjoy my cafe de manha are closed. Sublime on NS Copacabana Ave is closed. I was dissapointed in Frontera in Ipanema, the beef was tough, fatty, the salad bar looked dried out and they wanted $68R for Rodizio.

Terma prices are up, cabs are up and to take a girl from Centaurus, they want $500R on the side. I found this at MC as well, the garota was asking for $400R/hr.

With this being said, it is time to find new cheese, because mine has moved.

I found the apartments still a good value, Bel Prazar $140R/hr, Duda's $150R/hr and Onix $175R and you got a good massage as well.

GPGUIA is dead. so what is a horny gringo to do???

Caratao went down hill, Frotera is not pitiful, Estilito bar, questionable if it is real chicken or beef. The list continues, oh and by the way Porcao is $105 per person to start.

to be continued

Sad to read your comments Diversity. I haven't been to Rio in a few years and after your observations it won't move up my list any time soon. It seems most destinations are pricier however Rio has increased faster than anywhere else on the planet. One factor could be the drug trade since South American's now have a lot more cash to flash. It's unfortunate since it's an awesome location, the garotas are sexy as hell and between the sheets they are second to none.

Drug trade?

Going there next week and will continue to visit. The scene has just changed due to the World Cup and Olympics. There are still termas around, plus girls ready to trade their pussy for cash! The front facade just has to look pretty to tourists....the dirt can still be found everywhere. An out and open sex scene just does not combine with the image Brazil wants to present to the outside world.

It helps if you speak Portuguese and also kept a black book. I still have contacts from many trips before...and from time to time add some new ones.

Not an easy turn-key location like before, but still a wonderful city!

GPGUIA died long ago, replaced by FORUM X, plus HotForum is still active.

There are more good places to eat than ever, but they cost more, so the place isn't as cheap as it once was. C'est la vie.

Freelancers are abundant. I do about 50% freelancers and 50% termas or apartment girls. The quality has been great. And I have yet to pay more than R$250 for any girl outside the termas.

Rio ainda está meu queijo I'll be back next month.

It's been 14.5 months since my last trip. I'm not really missing the place.

Prices are up, no doubt. I remember $R75, half hour programs at Bel Prazer a few years ago. Now the half hour is gone, and the 40 minute is $R120. Still worth it though considering the other options.

Well over a year ago, some friends and I walked into Monte Carlo, but I asked about the prices and when they said something like $R450, we walked out. We used to make fun of people for going to Centarus and paying $R100 less than that.

I haven't been to 4x4 in a year and a half. I heard the entrance fee alone was $R80 last year. I think they said the "before 6pm" program was $R270. Who knows now. For those of us that have been coming to Rio for a while, those numbers are shocking, just since the last 5 years.

However, the apartment places still offer good value and you have to take the exchange rate into consideration. Currently, $R250 is about $103.

To put that in perspective, I remember doing a lot of $R180 programs at 4x4 in 2008 when the exchange rate was 1.70, and that was about $105.

And by the way, if you haven't been down in a while, here is what the museum looks like as of a few weeks ago. Very slow, but they are making progress.



It's still a beautiful place to visit. Don't get too down on it guys. The women can't be beat.