sfcastro

It is good for multiple trips and mine is valid for 10 years. It took 3-4 weeks of processing time before I received the e-visa so suggest applying early.

It was 2007 https://extra.globo.com/noticias/brasil/sauna-gay-de-37-anos-recebe-visita-da-policia-741071.html

Thank you for the information. Is it the same owners with a new name? Do you know if they are changing anything?

Just be sure and ask that question of the hotel and/or Airbnb host where you will be staying. You can find placed with speeds that fast, gerally up to 125mps, but I've stayed in many places where the speed is less than 10 mps. I found it useful to being an ethernet cable and adapter so I can connect directly to the routers/connection in a hotel as wifi speeds vary a lot in certain placed that I have stayed.

If you are a US citizen, you no longer need a visa to travel to Brazil. So nice not having to worry about having a valid visa any longer! https://onemileatatime.com/brazil-dropping-visa-requirements-us-citizens/

Lach Jardim Botânico, 512 - Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22461-000 https://www.lach.com.br/exames.html Be sure and get the Covid RT-PCR test (not the rapid test), which is the one generally needed for international travel. Cost is 350 reais for results in 48 hours and 500 reais for results in 24 hours. Prices seem to change, so use these as a general guide. Like CR-Diagnosticos in Sao Paulo, you contact them through Whatsapp for information and appointments. Note that the lab at Santos Dumont does not currently offer the RT-PCR test, just the rapid test which may not be valid for travel to the USA, so be aware if considering using that service.

Lach Jardim Botânico, 512 - Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22461-000 https://www.lach.com.br/exames.html Be sure and get the Covid RT-PCR test (not the rapid test), which is the one needed for international travel into the USA. Cost is 350 reais for results in 48 hours and 500 reais for results in 24 hours. Prices seem to change, so use these as a general guide. Like CR-Diagnosticos in Sao Paulo, you contact them through Whatsapp for information and appointments. Note that the lab at Santos Dumont does not currently offer the RT-PCR test, just the rapid test which is not valid for travel to the USA, so be aware if considering using that service.

I had a recent conversation with a couple of guys I know from Porto Alegre who told me the Mezzaninu is permanently closed. Apparently due to the illness of Riu, the owner. Does anyone know if this is actually true? I started going to Mezzaninu when it first opened and have always enjoyed it, especially in comparison to the Plataforma sauna, the other sauna there.

Just a heads up that as of January 26, all international travelers to the USA, including US Citizens, will need to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of your flight. There is a similar requirement for entering Brazil. In Brazil, there is testing at GRU airport in Sao Paulo in Terminal 3 with CR Diagnosticos and they advise that you arrive 6 hours prior to your flight if you are flying the same day to ensure you get your results in time. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0112-negative-covid-19-air-passengers.html

One of the best options for travel insurance is Square Mouth. https://www.squaremouth.com/ Be sure and check the boxes on left for Coronavirus coverage and I would recommend selecting recommend Primary Medical Insurance. Be sure and look at the Primary Medical Insurance amounts on the policy results as a reasonable amount of coverage is not much more. This insurance is quite inexpensive especially if you don't select Trip Cancellation coverage and could be quite beneficial if you need hospital care given the current situation in Brazil with Covid. There are no current requirements for a Covid test prior to entering Brazil and they also no longer require proof of medical insurance to enter the country.

I will let TomCal answer the Ipanema/Farme question, but wanted to note that there are two newer gay bars open in Copacabana. Nice to have these with the closer of Leboy a few years ago. Pink Flamingo located at R. Duvivier, 21, which is close to Copacabana Palace. I've been three or fours times and liked it, but prefer it before midnight with mostly music videos vs later when the music format turned to more electronic music without vocals. Black Cat located at Av. Princesa Isabel, 21, which is a cross from the large Hilton Hotel at the edge of Copacabana/Leme. I have not been yet but it was recommended by a couple guys in Rio for me to try.

Thanks for the recommendation. What area in the city would you recommend staying? Did you stay at a hotel or Airbnb? Any issues with guests?

Agreed that is would be wise to purchase travel insurance covering primary medical with medical evacuation including COVID19 when traveling to Brazil. The high incidence rate alone, which is is understated, and the fact of that you don't want to be dealing with hospitals in Brazil if you have complications. It will cost less than $50 for 2-3 weeks of coverage, which is inexpensive in my opinion.

Consider bring cash from your home country and converting at a cambio in the city. The better ones will give you a good rate and is safer than using an ATM in Brazil.

My opinion is NOT to have you camera around your neck. It is too tempting and you run a high risk if having it stolen right off of you. I was with a Brazilian friend in his 20's less than a year ago in Rio, and while we were stopped at a corner, a young guy came up to and asked a question and then proceeded to rip cheap gold chain right from off of his neck and started running. SP and Rio are well worth visiting, but are cities where you need to be extra cautious on your initial visits.

In Brazil, foreigners can get a sim card with their passport and use it with any GSM unlocked phone. It is easiest to go into a Tim or Vivo store to buy one and they can register it with your actual passport (I tried using a copy once and they would not accept it). You can also buy a sim card from a street vendor, but then you have to call and getting someone who speaks English or a language other than Portuguese can be very challenging.

Thanks for the updates FloridaRob. Any news on the relocated Fragata opening?

Are both Copacabana and Ipanema beaches open to tourists? Are the normal vendors (tents with chairs, umbrella and drinks) on the beaches?

The Week is closing for this weekend and will reevaluate for future weekends. They also postponed their multi-day Acquaplay Event, which was supposed to begin on April 10.

I decided after my first visit to Lion's Rio Club on a Friday to try it the following Monday night. It was much quieter than my Friday night visit, with about 10 garotos and 5 clients. Rooms were free for 30 minutes and the admission was R$60. Even with only a small number of clients, they still had a show at 9 pm. With it being slow, you definitely receive lots of attention. The Monday I visited was also before people received their December salary and their December bonus so not sure if that was a factor. My recommendation would be to try it on a Friday night if you want to try an alternative to 117 or 202.

I went to Lion's Rio Club last night (Friday) around 8 pm. There were about 25-35 garotos and 20 clients with a show at 9 pm with three drag queens and one gogo boy. They gave out a glass of champagne, some fried appetizers and then a variety of pastas to everyone. Overall I really like the club overall and the renovations. There were a number of staff from Meio Mundo and most of the garotos were the same type of guy found at Meio Mundo. The garotos were complaining that it was very weak for a Friday night, but it was also the end of the month when many brazilians are short of money waiting for their monthly payroll check next week. From talking with the people there, the best nights, in order, are Friday, Monday and then Wednesday. I was there with some friends and all of us liked the club and had a good time. Now hoping it lasts given some of the rumors as competition is good (Club 117 was offering a 50% discount on suites Friday nights in November) and another option in addition to Club 117 and Pointe 202.

The original Lagoa location was closed tonight. The website says the new location is opening tomorrow, November 22, 2019. Anyone have confirmation that the new location will be opening tomorrow?

Thank you. For this, I was just considering a higher end customer to be someone who is spending a lot of money on tips and buying multiple bottles of liquor for the working guys, meaning they were spending a lot of money while at the bar. Very much in contrast to me who had one drink, paid with one tip and then left.

Correction, drinks were 200 baht. I mistakenly listed the drink price for Toy Boys, sorry. Overall a good time at Cupidol with staff and guys very friendly.

I stopped by Toy Boys last night for a drink. There were at least 12 guys on stage and another 5-6 were sitting with a high end customer. Good variety of guys available. Also walked by on Friday and Saturday night and could see many guys on stage when I passed by. Drinks were 240 baht.