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Everyone has different tastes. For example, in spite of all the praise heaped upon Meio Mundo on this forum, my experiences there were underwhelming (and each of my traveling friends independently felt the same way). However, we all love 117. I can totally understand why someone would not like it very much, though. Each night is different. Assuming you went last night (Thursday), it very well could've been a slower night. If there were not a whole lot of clients there, I can totally understand why the muscle guys looked bored (although you'd think they would pounce on the few available clients -- according to the rules of supply and demand). By the way, this (slow or off nights) sometimes happens at saunas in all the cities, Rio, São Paulo, Salvador, etc. Locals and expats probably shrug it off a lot more than tourists (particularly non-regular tourists) BECUASE the latter have too much emotionally (and financially) invested in every day and night being an off-the-charts good time. If possible, if time permits, you should give each place a few shots on different days before making a final judgment. Even I went back to Meio Mundo 4 times before rendering my final judgment of "not for me!" Of course, if time is short, then just pick the best night for all. And remember, if the place just isn't right for you, there ain't nothing wrong with that. There's so much more to do in Rio, or Brazil for that matter -- and there's also non-working boy saunas for you to try. It's funny how meeting that one right guy at a sauna just one time can completely shape of change one's opinion of the place. I suspect that didn't happen to you last night (bad night), but the total opposite could happen tonight or tomorrow night.

AdamSmith, I think I've found a new kink for you to perv on: Or was I too late again?

That's your perspective, but there are quite a few sauna clients who aren't into watching most of the shows, and have a great time doing other things while the show is on. Other things like talking, eating with, drinking with and hooking up with garotos in the outside lounge, steam room time, XXX video room time, or chilling by "The Stairway To Heaven". The shows, entertaining to some as they may be, aren't for everyone. I like the strip shows and the sometime sex shows, and "bingo for boys" is cool, but I'm not a fan of sitting through the drag shows. That's perfect time for me to close In on some garotos! I find I do this at most payboy saunas in Brazil. I think it's a good idea to use the advice at this site and other sites that works for you and keep the rest of it in your hip pocket. Your mileage may vary, so do what works for you.

I used to advise people who wanted to work retail that retail involved dealing with the general public. And the general public meant everybody not currently under lock and key. Posting on a public website has much in common with working retail except lots of folks in lock-up have access to the internet.

My brief visit to Sauna Lagoa last night disclosed the following: 1. The sauna was "very good" in that it contained many handsome garotos. 2. The ratio of clients versus garotos was roughy 2 - 1 with garotos being the higher number. 3. Rodolfo (the owner) reinstituted a modified version of his previous cash or debit card reduced entrance fee. What he did was reduce the entrance fee (beginning last night) to R$40 provided the client pays with cash (no debit cards). If any other form of payment is used, the entrance is R$60. 4. Rodolfo did not reintroduce the cash only discount because he is a nice guy. He did it because he had to do something to entice clients to return to his sauna. In recent months, there were fewer and fewer clients coming to his sauna. The entrance fee at Lagoa is higher than at any sauna in Brazil. No one knows how long the cash-only discount will remain in force. The discount stimulated business because, as I said in item # 2 (above), last night there were approximately twice as many garotos as there were clients. Brazil's awful economy and high unemployment has negatively affected most businesses. Saunas are not exempt from the negative economic fallout Brazil is experiencing.

Thank you for the update. 60R is a lot of money when the majority of it is being paid by locals. That is just the entrance and then you have the drinks, the boys, the rooms, etc. It can be an expensive night. I do hope his cash only policy stays in place.

BTW, all these comments are referring to a trip made beginning of 2012. Situation might have changed significantly since then ... My main source of information to find the places was Spartacus guide and of course internet

I was planning to answer on Istanbul but I need to copy and paste text. Anyone knows how to do that ? I will post pics of the text

Each sauna has what is known as "good days" and "bad days." This means that you can never predict the turnout at any sauna on a given day. If you return tomorrow, there is a good chance the sauna will revert to the way you liked it in prior visits. You might have heard the garotos and the clients walking around saying "fraco" which is a word that translates to "weak" but in usage in the saunas means that the sauna is not up to the quantity and/or quality of previous days. Oh, yes, R$55. for that drink in a sauna is high. If you went to a five-star restaurant and ordered that drink, I doubt you would be charged as much. On the other hand, there are different ways to prepare that drink. It is possible that the sauna personnel used better quality ingredients, thus "justifying" the higher price. All in all, for your first trip to Brazil, you seem to be weathering Brazil as a "first timer" fairly well.

Different poster- same bitchy disrespect on your part though. The way social media works is that we each express our view and later readers decide for themselves which to believe and which to discard. A forum that consists of identical reviews ultimately has little value. And when new posters are discouraged, the site becomes a conversation between old friends who reinforce each other's opinions. This site has potential to be an open, honest informative exchange rather than a front porch knitting circle.

Séances and other revelations welcome. My original source was the statements under the first picture of your initial post. I am relatively sure the astronauts on board 13 would have been happy to join Mr. King in avoiding the entire episode. Best regards, RA1

full house at point last night free rooms do bring out the crowds more garotos then clients, 5 garoto's from 117 in house about half the crowd left after 8pm The New Point black T shirts have arrived for the workers, and the place is well staffed. the rooms... not as nice as 117, but then again they were free last night. sadly first room some one had taken a dump in the toilet, and it smelled so bad in the room we had to go down and change rooms...OMG it was bad. in the 2nd room....light broken, and for the Garoto, the video stopped... poor thing. mattress so hard and sheet so thin whats the point... BTW watch your towel... lol, in watching the coming and goings. a couple came down with the wrong towels on, with the color code red for garoto, blue for clients, and least you should know which towel is yours... some floor plan... ground floor locker room for clients bar video room stage and dance floor toilet and sinks. from the dance floor, up a flight of stairs is the wet room sunna and steam. going back to the main floor 1 flight up about 8 rooms, and the garoto changing room 2 flights up the smoking room and hang out room 3 more rooms 1 massage room