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I have not. It's certainly a wonderful thought. I don't want to sound pessimistic, I applaud your generous spirit. Just some random disassociated thoughts: -To be clear, we're not talking about a credit card, just a debit card that's visa/mastercard. Right? I can't even fathom how you would arrange to get him a true credit card issued over here. - I don't know where you would actually get your guy a free-standing no-bank-account cash pre-paid debit card over here in BKK. I don't think it's as common as say in the U.S. With luck others can help tell you where you could get a good one. I also recall that in the U.S. a lot of those sorts of cards came under heavy criticism from the consumer advocates b/c of high hidden fees. - Local banks offer debit cards for account holders at reasonable fees (k-bank is 100 for the card and 200 annual fee). If your guy doesn't have a bank account, encouraging him to set up and seed a bank account is a better first step. Thai guys and in my experience Laos and VN guys already have accounts, Cambodia & Myanmar more of a case-by-case basis. Their own network of friends would be the source for where to get an account. (I.e., I wouldn't walk in with your guy to the Bangkok Bank head office, not that you were thinking of doing that.). - if you're worried about a customer taking him someplace and him getting stranded, not sure a 10K card which he may or may not spend down beforehand is the answer. Much better to tell him that he should make sure that if it's a country any distance away he buys the r/t ticket himself. - As far as visiting other countries on his own or with friends, I think far better to trust your guy and his friends to know what they're doing. I know lots of guys who stopped school at 13-14 and travel to China, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, etc., (wherever there's money and men) all without cards. I'm impressed by these guys. Once they get the hang of travel they are feerless. Maybe we're all being a little paternalistic. Or as my woke niece never tires of telling me, "check your privilege". - Throughout SE Asia it is very easy to get by without a debit card or credit card. Buying tickets, paying bills, etc., can easily be done. And as Thailand moves towards a more cashless society, that move is not being made as a move towards plastic cards, but rather phone-based payment systems, kiosks, and Family Mart/7-11. Promptpay TrueMoney Line Pay and more I am sure. - If you're really concerned about the emergency situation, maybe a nice hand printed "If you are ever in a true emergency call me and I will send you up to 10K baht by western union" would do? - Giving a guy 10K but saying "only use for emergencies" might be too much to expect, and your emergencies might not be his emergencies. He might think his brother's upcoming school fees are an emergency, but you really meant something else. - If you got a savings bond from your grandparents, were you really happy? When you really wanted money for a new bike? If he's in his late 20s maybe the respectful thing is give the money and say I hope you use this for emergency savings. I recently had a heart-to-heart with a young cambodian friend about his medium-term goal for when he goes back home, and we talked about whether he can set money aside now, and he said he couldn't and didn't want to and right now he wanted to make his life better for his mom who did so much for his family, got up at 4:00 every morning etc., etc. I love that about these guys and it drives me crazy at the same time. But it is their heart and soul. - I believe the regional traditional way to save money for emergencies is gold. Maybe if you went with him and bought a nice gold chain he might hesitate to sell it as quickly as tap into cash. Just beware if he starts steering you towards the gold wedding bands.... So good for you. Lucky for him. And where were you when I was looking for a boyfriend?

R U kidding me, dude?!!! I never set out to post research. You are the one that gave me the challenge. And I thought it would be remiss to not correct some misinterpretations of data. Many in our tribe, judging by empowered behavioural choices I witness in customary brothels, should indeed consume 24/365. I see what the problem is here, Benji ... you want the last word. Have at it. Be the dog vehemently overworking the bone. No lightning rod of yours, frankly, is going to attract an epiphany let alone a bit of give in your stance. Gilead actually does not manufacture my tenofovir-emtricitabine regime. In any case, manufacturers sponsor, not do, research. Caeron, kkkkkkkk, right? LMAO.

Uber hasn’t been restricted in any major city in Brazil, unlike a few in Europe. As of now, Uber is probably the most cost-effective, reliable, safe, convenient and ethical mode of transportation in most Brazilian cities. Because of the worldwide popularity of Uber (and to a lesser extent, other smaller ride share apps), taxi cab companies, which have previously enjoyed questionable ethical, price-gouging and customer service reputations, have had to step up their games to compete. Therefore, you can find taxis in cities in other countries like Brazil using apps like Cabify and 99 to hail and pay for a cab with ease.

Anything you give will be appreciated. I once gave a guy a bottle of nice cologne. He lit up because he said it was the first he ever got "original" cologne, instead of the cheap knock-off on the streets, and no matter how hard he works he would never spend that kind of money on something so frivolous for himself. Any gift, big or small will be appreciated.

In principle I would agree with you, but there are occasions when we can offer boy (or friend, or family member) an unsolicited, possibly unwanted, gift, yet it turned out to benefit them immensely.

DivineMadman, The above post is the most thoughtful advise I have read in the forum. I agree everything you’ve written there. For his birthday I would give him cash 10,000-15,000. Or buying gold jewellery weight one baht, app. 20,000 baht in cash at a reputable gold shop such as Hua Seng Heng in China town. Last year a Jupiter boy had emergency money requested from his family and he was thinking of selling a 10 baht weight gold chain but luckily one of his admirers intervened and helped him out by sending money from overseas. Thai bar boys love gold! I think he would appreciate much much more than prepaid card.

I don't that is the case at all. Like anything in the world it depends on the person. It appears you have been around this individual so your thoughts may be right. Unfortunately DivineMadman is right also in that Debit card may be the only way to go. Easily gotten at any bank and accepted around the world. Just has to be money in the account. I wonder if you asked him if he already has such a card. If not then you can explain to him the value of such a card especially for protecting his cash from theft . Seems to me it starts with asking him if he has such a card and if he thinks it would be valuable to have . Then go from there.

Hi, I think you made a wise decision to skip Carnaval in Rio. It is very crowded during that event. Many ordinary things like hotels and certain restaurant prices get doubled and tripled in price during Carnaval. My first Carnaval in Rio made me ask myself, why I was there. I did not enjoy it at all. I enjoyed being in Brazil but I did not enjoy the celebrations because of the massive crowds. I am of ordinary height. However, when I went out walking in the areas where celebrations were being held, all I could see was the backs of the people in massive crowds in front of me. Performers on stages could not be seen, only heard. Despite the crowds and lack of ability to physically see any performance, I am glad I had the experience of attending one Carnaval. How else can one evaluation something without experience or exposure? You said you read a lot about Sao Paulo on these threads. Therefore, I will not go into much except to say there is a lot to do in Sao Paulo during the day if you have interests other than to visit the saunas. There are more than eighty museums in Sao Paulo and there are a lot of cultural things available. You mentioned Lagoa sauna. I have been there hundreds of times over the years. The fact that I have been there so often and so many times must mean that I like the place. You don't need me to go into detail about Lagoa as you said you read this forum. I cannot add much to what has already been written about that sauna. I have been visiting Brazil for going on sixteen years, many times each year. Last year was the first time I had a bad experience on the street with muggers. That experience will not stop me from visiting Brazil but it will make me more cautious than I have ever been while visiting Brazil. You should remain alert while in Brazil. In my case, there was nothing I could do. Two muggers appeared out of a doorway around eight thirty at night while I had just exited an Uber en route to a restaurant only about one hundred feet from where I exited the Uber. Thus, no matter how careful you are, if your unlucky number comes up, it comes up and often there is nothing you can do about it. As to Florianapolis, there are parts of the city that are nice. However, over the past three years, crime has increased there markedly. Here is a link to a study that was updated last month that shows an increase in street muggings in the city. https://www.numbeo.com/crime/in/Florianopolis Your Brazilian friend who recommended the city might not be aware of current statistics. You wrote "it seems the bathhouses are less about having fun with locals who are horny and more of hiring escorts" - I believe you are describing a regular gay sauna. There are many regular gay saunas in Brazil but I do not go to them. The variety of person available there is not what I seek and vice a versa. So, yes, the saunas discussed on this forum are saunas where you will meet hustlers or commonly known as garotos. Lastly, you wrote - " Do people walk around in towels or fully dressed?" The answer is yes, to both - some people walk around the saunas in towels (most) while some walk around the saunas fully dressed. It is up to you how you want to dress and what to wear. I have even seen guys in Lagoa wearing a dress and no one gave them any trouble. At another sauna in Sao Paulo - Fragata, I have often seen the same man wear a dress - he is transvestite and seems to be liked by most customers and some garotos. There will be others to give guidance. Have a wonderful time in Brazil - it is not like any other place in the world.

100& agree with Reader! During my August visit in 2018, I had two excellent massages at Nakarat.

Of course I still remember the Columbia and Challenger accidents as if they were yesterday. Is space flight ever safe? Going to the moon was so improbable (in retrospect) that I can understand why some do not believe we went there. Naturally any mode of transportation is inherently dangerous, some more than others. Sometimes it makes me wonder how I survived all these years and "crazy" flights. Best regards, RA1

I think it far more likely that the difference in numbers isn't because of the effectiveness of this particular protocol, it's that people don't actually follow it.

Extension of validity varies greatly from one provider to the other. Maximum validity for AIS is 365 days. Registering your number does not help. I did so in 2012 (?) hoping that would keep the number to my name, but the time I came to Thailand for holiday, it was beyond validity and I couldn't get the number back. Between AIS, you can transfer validity or balance for a small fee. @ChristianPFC is using these machines (I never have) and can advise more These machines do indeed come with or without service fee, as high as 5 THB for 100 THB top-op, i.e. you have to insert 105 THB. There is an interesting problem related to expiration of SIM-cards. I have saved someone's number, his validity expires, the number is assigned to a new SIM-card and bought by a new person. The network detects activity, and LINE adds this person. I message him/her, hoping to find a long-lost friend. Usually it's pretty quick to figure out it's not the person I'm looking for, but once I ended up with a Thai woman who insisted she loves me and wanted to marry me, and when I told her that's impossible because I'm gay, she wanted to borrow 20,000 THB.

Some years ago Shamelessmack put a blog out with lots of info on massage shops in Bangkok, which I found very helpful. A while back I put together a spreadsheet with some updated information. For various reasons that format hasn't really worked for me. Instead, I've updated the information and put it on a blog, which for a few reasons is easier for me. Experienced readers/users can ignore most of it. Actually all are free to ignore all of it. But for the newbies might be some useful info. Happy 2018 https://bkkmassages.wordpress.com/shop-specifics/

It would be, but you have grossly misinterpreted Ipergay. You need to read beyond the brief summary abstract. On demand Truvada 1% infection annually; 99% effective, not 86% effective. Placebo, no drug, 7% annual infection. All considered, fucking without any Truvada, 93% safe. Remember, HIV is a wimpy retrovirus until you get one particle germinating in your bloodstream. A 14% failure rate might occur in a study arm of full--time darkroom ass-in-sling non-HAART-consuming bttms. For low infection rates, 86% more effective is impressive. Do not get caught up in the complex stats math ... things like rigourous confidence intervals override simple arithmetic and are extreme in taking our wellbeing seriously.

PS: the Ipergay study is the same lead researcher Molina and compares on-demand to placebo (placebo is no drug; subjects double-blind except side effects may be a giveaway), predates Prevenir research project by a few years, and does not compare on-demand to permanent daily uptake. Very different research approach. In Prevenir, obviously both treatment arms open label unblinded. The team is not self-contradictory. But read, interpret, and behave at will and according to resources and prefernce.

Sieg Heil!

The Prevenir study ... my clinic where I receive consultation is one of the cohort sites. i believe another study was truncated because the evidence of efficacy was incontrovertible in the early stages and there is only so much funding, and clinicians may be satisfied that replicated findings are less important than one solid longitudinal temporally prospective cohort design. Again, the two options depend on sex patterns and preference. There should be a journal-level report eventually. I am on holiday and do not wish to spend hours using my faculty library privileges for a thorough online search and report. Also consider that many populations do not prophylax due to lack of access to costly meds. On demand may help mitigate infection among these, though sadly not solve the larger socioecon factors. Look, I am reasonably qualified to interpret the findings and make an informed choice. I am a retired clinician/researcher/educator with 12 years of uni ed. This is not the place to more specifically self-identify, but if admin here wants the option to corroborate that my capacity to weigh in ranks highly, I am willing to share with admin my credentials and live with how admin rates me out of 10 viz expertise on this subject. Brooklyn 99 ... not a doctor. That said, I AM NOT GIVING CLINICAL ADVICE. And I don't want the volleying back and forth here to be farthically thilly. A 10% difference is the usual standard for the threshold of clinical significance. I do not have the time or interest to drill down further. I take my health very very very very seriously but I have former trustworthy associates who have world-class status in Infectious Diseases / Genitourinary Medicine. I am not a contrarian on the current subject. I do other pro bono work and folks here can and will put on their bigboy investigation pants. Not my wage grade to be convincing here. I have rather sloppily added some screenshots. And now, breakfast and on to today's collision course of dick, cum and last night's true-vada blue pill swallow.

Does your right hand inadvertently go up when writing about von Braun? Best regards, RA1

The proposal by z909 is a good one especially for the inhibited and unsophisticated moneyboys to go about using banking services for their own advantage. Since almost all of them are already using smartphones, they will easily appreciate the simplicity of online banking and avoid entrapment by middlemen in the streets. Cash can be squandered inadvertently on friends and alcohol etc.

Gold chain has its merits in Thailand, but could be very hard to get true value in many other countries unless he knew where to go. Likely lots of questions of where he got chain etc and of course easily stolen with no way to get the money back. Unlike a debit card where no one can steal the money.

You will find tons of information on boytoy.com. Similar site to here, just join and read some of the threads on Brazil. Ask any questions and you will get all the help you need to understand the country. Also more photos are allowed there of the explicit type Now that Michael resides in Thailand, Tomcal is the member to ask for any specific and current information. He is very willing to share his knowledge of Brazil. There are many other members but I would call Tomcal the one I would ask specific questions.

Hi @ppappi22 some hints: Safety in São Paulo- the Paulista avenue region, Pinheiros, Vila Madalena and Itaim are the more touristic and safer regions. General advice is to avoid wearing expensive jewelry. Rua dos Pinheiros has a ton of restaurants and Vila Madalena has lots of bars. The most famous museum is MASP in Paulista Avenue. Saunas are basically Lagoa, Fragata and Rainbow. Massage places: Inhouse and Gold Therapy. Download WhatsApp to communicate with Brazilians. It is the best way to reach us.

I use DK Eyewitness travel guides, hardcover. Much cheaper formats of those publications available iBooks or Kindle. The Brazil version would cover SP and Floripa, as well as RJ for future. The RJ Top10 version is unnecessary if you spring for the country guide. I described a walking itinerary for SP in the thread 'SP in dribs and drabs' here, Sept 2018?

von Braun did however jave one mantra: ’NEVER put ze propellants above ze astronauts!’’

If you go to the saunas, you will not be disappointed.

Hi, you said you travel a lot to Latin America and Europe. Brazil is no more or less dangerous than parts of Latin America. Some parts of Europe are as dangerous as Brazil. Medellin, for example. I was there last year and had a wonderful time. It is not as interesting (to me) as Brazil but it was fun. I would return. You do not need to go to a studio for a massage. At the saunas there are usually guys who are fairly good at massage. When you go into the sauna, just ask to see the masseur. As I wrote, there are more than eighty museums in Sao Paulo. The most famous is MASP located in a very good neighborhood downtown (Avenida Paulista). Last year they had on display more than fifty original Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Yes, originals! Think of the cost of those treasures. There is so much to do you really should check google. As I do not know your interests, I do not know what to recommend. Prior to your going, you might want to see about setting up your telephone so you will be able to communicate while in Brazil (Uber, garotos etc).

TMI?? We expect fully rendered explicit accounts!

Massage houses with tantrica [nudge wink] are less stable. This is my observation following the ads over the years. I stick to Lagoa or Fragata. netgay.com.br may yield some ads/links

Thank you so much for your input! Of course we'd like to experience some culture while in Sao Paulo, so if you have recommendations on tours, guides, museums and restaurants -- please share! Also, I must admit I was a bit unaware of the high crime rate in Brazil. We travel a lot to Latin American and Europe and usually are very vigilant about our surroundings. But it sounds like in Brazil we should be very, very careful. I mean -- being mugged while getting out of an Uber? Scary! One last question: any good gay massage studios?

The narrator makes a good point. Although Spanish and Portuguese are related languages, Brazilians get somewhat offended by Americans and Europeans thinking of Portuguese as being the "little brother" or, even worse, a "variation" of Spanish. He uses a one sentence example containing all cognate words, to show how "easy" it is to understand Portuguese. However, when you enter the world of sex with Brazilian men, you'll encounter sentences like this (from an ad for a GP, i.e., garoto de programa): Here is my translation of the ad: However, if you try to put this GP's ad through Google Translate, here's what comes out: You might end up wondering, "What scene is that GP really into?!"

For Adam Smith....

The Wave Organ Peter Richards and George Gonzalez Exploratorium artists in residence, 1986 The Wave Organ is a wave-activated acoustic sculpture located on a jetty in the San Francisco Bay. The concept was developed by Peter Richards and was installed in collaboration with sculptor and master stone mason George Gonzalez. Inspiration for the piece came from artist Bill Fontana’s recordings made of sounds emanating from a vent pipe of a floating concrete dock in Sydney, Australia. In 1980, Richards (a Senior Artist at the Exploratorium for many years) received a planning grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that enabled him to conduct an extensive period of investigation into the physicality of the Wave Organ phenomenon. A prototype, built at the same location, was presented as part of the New Music ’81 Festival. Though very rudimentary in nature, it generated enthusiasm and support for a permanent work. Permit acquisition and fundraising efforts by Frank Oppenheimer, Founding Director of the Exploratorium, began soon after, but actual construction did not start until September 1985, seven months after Oppenheimer’s death. The Wave Organ was completed in May 1986 and was dedicated in June to the memory of Frank Oppenheimer. The Wave Organ is located on a jetty that forms the small Boat Harbor in the Marina district of San Francisco. The jetty itself was constructed with material taken from a demolished cemetery, providing a wonderful assortment of carved granite and marble, which was used in the construction of this piece. The installation includes 25 organ pipes made of PVC and concrete located at various elevations within the site, allowing for the rise and fall of the tides. Sound is created by the impact of waves against the pipe ends and the subsequent movement of the water in and out of the pipes. The sound heard at the site is subtle, requiring visitors to become sensitized to its music, and at the same time to the music of the environment. The Wave Organ sounds best at high tide.

No. Anyway, it depends on what you want to learn. My main interest is in reading, so I can understand what's written. Whereas most students, and subsequently most courses, focus on speaking and listening. I'm interested in grammar and history of a language, which I get from internet and books, but not from classes. And finally, there is this wonderful tool of the International Phonetic Alphabet, which I have never seen used in class (neither at school nor at adult education). Once you have a certain level, language exchange is something to look into. The experience in Taipei (Chinese-German) was positive. In Thailand I haven't tried it yet as I travel a lot and cannot plan more than a day in advance. The question is rather to study in class or individual courses. Both Thai (in 2011) and Chinese (in 2018) I started in class, but found large parts a waste of time, nay detrimental (when you talk with your classmates in the target language). I would say, the higher cost of individual courses is offset by having the full attention of your teacher and not being subjected to wrongly pronounced target language. Pronunciation is actually the only part where I need a native speaker. And it took me a bit to get my teacher in Taiwan to understand not to stop correcting my pronunciation when she understands what I'm saying, but when it is correctly pronounced. Everything else I can study on my own, with books or internet.

"Short time" translates as ชั่วคราว chûa kraao (short time, temporary), whereas what we call "long time" is ค้างคืน káang keun, literally "over night".

A lot of us have 1 bedroom condos. Why would a hotel suite be any different. You always need to be aware of your surroundings but I wouldn’t be concerned about a hotel suite.

there's also rumor spread by me that above it's just a rumor. Yes Jupiter will be closing at end of March , only unknown is March of what year, last estimation was 2034

Agree too. A 14% failure rate is ridiculous.

Interesting, but with a much less effective rate. 86% leaves a lot more wiggle room than the 92-99% effectiveness of daily regime PrEP. Bottom line (for me), until the manufacturer and leading ID doctors say it's as effective, I would never do intermittent cycles. Daily use results in maximum protection. Protection is the very reason why we take the drug. Why would I want to cripple the effects?

It would be awkward. What I did was went to Club 117 and pick out my 4 sexiest regulars and told them to invite friends. They did. The bartender went. A drag queen or two and we had a full booth. The boys are smart and know they get free booze and an expensive ticket. I reserved my booth through the Intercontinental Hotel so they did the book and the payments. That was not a smart move as they added a service charge but it was easy to deal with. At the end of the night, I paid for extra booze on an American CC. It was not a cheap night but we were buying lots of bottles. And, did I say I had many sexy Brazilian boys giving me tons of attention. I loved it and did the same thing for 3 years in a row.

In Rio and Sao Paulo, March 6 through 27. My very unofficial one-year exclusivity contracts with my guys have expired so I will be looking for new ones. Please accept my apologies if the new potential fitness model at Lagoa or the dreamboat from Belo Horizonte that you saw just walk through the door at 117 is suddenly taken off the market.

...was at Carnaval in the mid 2000's. ...liked Rio and its surrounding areas afterwards because the prices for lodging, I remember, were drastically decreased. ...weather great as well, but today one can't count on steady weather patterns during these drastic climate changes.

No the sign is new at Dragon! Some friends and I did go to the second floor for a visit. For me not very inviting compared to the old Good Boys. Very clean, bright, loud music, a jacuzzi, a shower, and a mystery room.

That's brazil straight off my shopping list! I can cope with the wispy taches on Thai boys, but for me beards belong on bears... and like goldilocks I don't like sharing my bed with bears!

SSA coming wkend, hightailing out just before the major swarm (and even far more exorbitant prices) Mar1-5. Likely Ubatuba-bound to recover my arse. Don't think I'll get to the bottom (bottom; teehee) of the São Vincente GP question though. BTW, that Q was also asked and unanswered in the Google file. And I do believe email not Whatsapp is the method to contact the venue. DomRep in a few weeks. Bogotá & BCN later Spring, probly. BC's Okanagan Valley wine country most of early summer. Using up Star Alliance points and other credits.

Florianópolis Gay and Gay Friendly Florianópolis Hotels 1 Hotel Daifa | Rua Professora Maria Julia Franco 294 | (48) 3225-8300 | http://www.hoteldaifa.com.br/index2.php From the gorgeous views on the rooftop pool deck, you'd have a hard time believing you're right in the center of town. But not all rooms have a sea view, so make sure to enquire when booking. The rooms could use some updating, but they have AC and the Special Suite has a corner Jacuzzi with one hell of a view. 2 Casa da Lagoa | Servidao Palmeiras Nativas 500 | (48) 3269-9569 | http://casalagoa.com.br/florianopolis/in-english/ This is a cute little place in the Lagoa area, which is hip enough not to ever need to go into the city center, which can get tricky at night. There's wifi in the garden as well as the rooms but there are only four of them, so book in advance. 3 Quinta das Videiras | Rua Afonso Luiz Borba 113 | (48) 3232-3005 | http://www.quintadasvideiras.com.br/ Sexy and sophisticated, this mansion-turned hotel is a welcome boutique addition to the hotel scene in Floripa and our top pick. A lot of the original details have been retained, combined with modern amenities like BOSE sound systems in the rooms and high-end linens. 4 Secret Bay Apartments (Pousada Gay) | Recanto do Surfista, 58 | book by email only | http://secretbay.com.br/ and https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/275839 These apartments are pretty basic, but they are spacious, light and airy, and come with wifi, bikes, a local cellphone, and gay-friendly owners who welcome you with a drink. You can book through either link listed. 5 Hotel Baía Norte Othon Classic | Avenida Beira Mar Norte, 220 | http://www.hoteisplaza.com.br/?hotel=baianorte This hotel is a big-box structure with over a hundred rooms, and like Secret Bay it comes with wifi and free bikes for your use. The rooms are a bit cramped, but if you want a place where people aren't all up in your business, it's a good choice. 6 Majestic Palace | Avenida Beira Mar Norte 2746 | 48 3231 8000 | http://www.majesticpalace.com.br/ Another big-box hotel, but with more personal touches in the rooms, many of which have a balcony. The Luxo Sacada rooms have corner views that are jaw-dropping. There's a restaurant, bar and coffee shop on the property as well. 7 Praia Mole Eco Village | Rodovia Jornalista Manoel de Menezes 2001 | (48) 3239-7500 | http://www.praiamole.com.br/ The Eco Village is right near the gay beach, and has rooms and cabins spread out over its garden-like property. They've recently upgraded with AC. Though you'd think the pool area at a gay resort would be a scene, everybody heads to the beach instead. Still, if you want to be among the tribe, this is a solid choice. 8 Hotel Valerim Center | Rua Felipe Schmidt 554 | (48) 3225-1100 | http://www.hotelvalerim.com.br/ There are actually two hotels under this brand, right next to each other; Center is the budget option, while Plaza is a bit more upscale and is geared towards business travelers. We'd go with the Plaza, which features bright, modern, comfortable rooms and a lounge area that's good for meeting people. 9 Hotel Porto da Ilha | Rua Dom Jaime Câmara, 43 | (48) 3229-3000 | http://www.portodailha.com.br/ Gorgeous hotel, sumptuous rooms, top of the line service, 24-hour room service, and everything else you'd expect from a great hotel like this. Another top pick for the city center. 10 Bistro Isadora Duncan | Rod. Jornalista Manuel de Menezes 2658 | http://www.bistroisadoraduncan.com.br/ This listing is under hotels as well as restaurants as it is notable for both services. Their suite is absolutely gorgeous, and quite romantic if you're traveling with a special someone. The private deck includes a hot tub with a stunning view. Gay and Gay Friendly Florianópolis Bars 1 Blues Velvet Bar | Rua Pedro Ivo, 147 | (48) 3225 4111 | http://www.bluesvelvet.com.br/ This super-hip bar has a mixed scene that is very chilled out. Their theme nights are about the music only, with 80s nights and even semi-ironic karaoke happening. If you're looking to get away from a hardcore gay scene for an evening, this is a great spot. 2 Bar do Deca | Rua Rita Loureno Da Silveira 97 | (48) 3232-2052 | http://www.bardodeca.com/ Praia Mole is the best beach, and Bar do Deco is the best place to hang out on that beach. And it's right next to Praia Galheta if at a certain point you feel like you're wearing simply too much clothing. Come here for an early cocktail or party right on through the night. 3 Floribar | Rua Durval Melquíades de Souza, 638 | 48 3322-2550 | http://www.fervo.com.br/empresas/floribar/ This isn't a raucous bar, but instead a sleek, comfortable place to have a quiet drink in your choice of nooks. And by drink, we mean proper cocktails. Keep this on your list for great places in the city center. 4 Koxixos Beer Bar | Av. Governador Irineu Bornhausen | 48 3228-0114 | http://www.koxixosbeer.com.br/ As you can guess, beer is the star at this cute pub on the sea. It's casual, laid back, has indoor and outdoor seating, and their food choices are varied, decent, and will soak up the suds. 5 Denys Bar | Travessa João Grumiche, 437 | (48) 3034-4342 | http://denysbar.webnode.com.br/ There is a club section of this joint, and their new sound system is packing in the boys who are dancing the night away to hot DJ sounds. But its extensive outdoor bar area is where the real action is, so grab a drink and head outside. 6 Flowers Bar by Kit Kitana | Av. Hercílio Luz, 1202 | 48 9946.1753 | http://www.fervo.com.br/empresas/flowers/ This is a gay music bar, with a bit of an older crowd during the week; on Friday there is a drag show that is part Vegas, part Priscilla, and should not be missed. 7 Fany Café Bar | Rua Bocaiúva, 2468 | 48 3024-6970 | no website This is a daytime gaytime bar, where you can share a piece of cake with your sweetie, or a cupcake with your cupcake. Seriously though, it's a cute hangout place if you're able to drag yourself away from the beach. 8 El Divino Lounge | Rua Almirante Lamego, 1147 | 48 3225-1266 | http://www.eldivinobrasil.com.br/ 9 Rancho do Maneca | Rod. SC-405, 472A, Km 1 | 48 9616-6715 | http://ranchodomaneca.webnode.com.br/ This is a rustic, cowboy-themed bear bar that is a lot of fun. Hang out at once of the many indoor or outdoor areas, and be there on their Karaoke nights, which are a hoot! (Or is that a woof?) Gay and Gay Friendly Florianópolis Clubs 1 The Week | Praia Mole The Week descends onto Florianópolis in the summer and during holidays only (like Carnival), so you need to check with local listings to see if it's up and running. If it is, then you are in for a treat the chance to be at the absolute epicenter of gay nightlife. Its space packs in thousands of sweaty, dancing bodies. 2 Isla Urbana Lounge | Av. das Rendeiras, 1046 | (48) 3809-5804 | http://islaurbana.com.br/ It looks like it should be on the rooftop of a W Hotel, but instead it's on the sea, and is crazy-sexy. A mixed crowd, a bit heavy on the lesbians, comes to their theme nights and stays all night long. 3 1007 Boite Chick | Alameda Adolfo Konder, 1007 | (48) 3204-6175 | http://1007brasil.com/ This is a rocking club housed in a former brothel, with lights, music, tons of fabulousness, and insane drink specials that change by the hour starting at midnight. It might seem like any other club at first, but wait until the hotties show up. 4 Jivago Lounge | Deputado Leoberto Leal 04 | (48) 9940-5336 | http://jivagolounge.ning.com/ (doesn't work) Ask around for when the gay nights at this otherwise mixed-scene club, and then head there to find a younger crowd of beautiful boys among the lesbians that also come to party. Note that even on gay nights there's a mixed scene, so don't go hog wild but those young 'uns are pretty chill. 5 Concorde Club | Av. Rio Branco 729 | (48) 3222-1981 | http://www.concordeclub.com.br/site/inicio.html Bare chests! Go-go boys! Balconies for scoping out the talent! And a circuit-party vibe that is all about seeing, being seen, and getting your gay on. If you're going to go out to one place in Floripa, this is it. 6 Mix Cafe | Rua Menino Deus 47 | (48) 3324-0102 | http://www.mixcafe.com.br/mixcafe/home.php Go-go boys and drag shows and hot DJs are the order of the night at Mix. Note that on weekends they have live music along with the drag, which is the perfect time to grab your boy and have a little chat. 7 Barbarella Lounge | Rua Saldanha Marinho 351 | (48) 3207-5666 | no website This place is relatively new, and feels more like somebody's awesome party than a nightclub or dance hall. The crowd skews young, with baby gays and lesbians having fun and flirting and generally having a ball. A really fun time. Gay and Gay Friendly Florianópolis Saunas 1 Thermas Club Hangar | Rua Henrique Valgas, 112 | 48 3225-5858 | http://www.clubhangar.com.br/club_hangar/ We're listing this here in the interest of thoroughness, but this sauna is really to be avoided. It's bare bones, not a place you'd want to get undressed in let alone relax, and really just is not a place to waste your time. Head to our other sauna listing instead. 2 Sauna Termas Oceano | Rua Luiz Delfino, 231 | 48 3222-4547 | http://www.thermasoceanoflorianopolis.blogspot.com This isn't the biggest sauna in the world, but it's really the only one in Floripa, so chances are you will see everybody at some point including bears, who are welcome here. The crowd skews yum oops we mean young, and the dark room is where you'll find the most non-sauna activity. Gay and Gay Friendly Florianópolis Restaurants 1 Barracuda Restaurant | Avenida das Rendeiras, 1562 | (48) 3232 5301 | http://www.barracudagrill.com.br/ Fried, baked, grilled, raw however you like seafood is how you'll find it here. And in case that's not enough, there are also excellent meat dishes, pasta and risotto. And save room for dessert! 2 Bar do Vadinho | Rua Manoel Vidal 305 | (48) 3237-7305 | no website As you can imagine in water-logged Floripa, their menu is seafood-heavy, and it's fresh and delicious. It's a huge space that's a lot of fun, if a little loud; but a glass of wine from their extensive collection will mellow you out soon enough. 3 Café das Artes | Rua Esteves Júnior, 734 | 48 3024-0669 | no website This is a cute cafe that has all manner of beverages and snacky-type foods that you pick up and bring to your table. Definitely only a daytime place, but it's a great daytime place. Order the strawberry juice, it's delicious! 4 Box 32 | Mercado Publico Municipal | (48) 3224-5588 | http://www.box32.com.br/ Yes, this is in a food market, but you should still make a reservation. And lest you think it's absurd to book a table at a food market stall, think again this is seafood at its exquisite, inventive best. Just go ahead and book your next meal there as well, you know you want to. 5 Churrascaria Ataliba | Rodovia José Carlos Daux, 3008 | (48) 3333-0990 | http://www.ataliba.com.br/ This massive, almost hilariously elegant place seems out of sorts with the massive meat-eating crowds that pack in this place, but when you want your churrascaria fix, this is THE place to come and come hungry to this temple-like spot to worship the gods of glorious meat. 6 Caravana Fusion & Trailer | Avenida das Rendeiras 1672 | (48) 3232-0045 | http://www.caravanalagoa.com.br/ (doesn't work) This started out as a trailer, and has evolved into quite a little foodie spot one of those places where you order a hamburger and receive a masterpiece. It's casual and delightful and you'll definitely return to work your way through the menu. 7 Bistro Isadora Duncan | Rod. Jornalista Manuel de Menezes 2658 | http://www.bistroisadoraduncan.com.br/ With a name like that, you can guess that it's gay-owned, and is also listed in our hotel listings for their stunning, romantic guestroom. If you're not staying here, book ahead as there are only five tables. But book you should, for really great French-inspired food in a most welcoming atmostphere. 8 Boteco da Ilha Choperia & Bar | Avenida Afonso Delambert Neto, 714 | (48) 3236-0098 | http://www.botecodailha.com.br/ This is a locals' place that resembles a down-home bar and grill, with a bar-friendly menu of seafood and various fried things with things to dip them into. Yes, it sounds like a sports bar, but it's super-fun and the kind of place you can make friends even if you go alone. 9 Restaurante Pier 54 | Rua Forte Santana 405 | 48 3225-2419 | http://www.pier54.com.br If you can tear yourself away from the seaside view book a table outside - you'll be richly rewarded with beautifully presented, delicious seafood with an international flair. Gay and Gay Friendly Florianópolis Activities 1 Hunter Video Club | R. Padre Roma, 431 | 48 3228.5868 | http://www.huntervideoclub.com.br/ (under construction) As is the norm in gay Brazil, yes, this video club has private video viewing rooms, dark rooms, labyrinths, and a pretty good cruising scene. And it also has an Internet point that is a decent cruising area as well. 2 Magia Video Clube | Rua Hoepcke, 76 | 48 3225-1441 | no website This takes the cruising video place to a new level; they have all the usual dark rooms, labyrinths, etc. - and they also have go-go shows and a bar, so you can actually hang out there as well. 3 Praia Galheta This is a naturist beach, and VERY gay-friendly although not exclusively gay. Head back to the dunes for cruising. 4 Praia Mole This is THE gay beach in Florianopolis, and since it's Brazil, this means it's also the major spot for the gay scene in town as well. If you want to know what's happening in Floripa, head here and you'll get the low down and go down, too.