Xclay

No, it is not new. MachoMan Club opened in September 2018. It seems to one of Rio's many gay saunas without escorts, such as Termas Catete, Termas Leblon, Thermas Copacabana, Sauna Carioca, Kabalk Sauna, and Rio G Spa. Lists vary and some of these may be closed, but there are quite a few.

You are right. They are definitely not at 555 these days! I like like the Men's Fitness types too (with natural as well as gym muscles). I was thinking more about quarterbacks and tight ends (no jokes please) that fall into that cover-model category — not the offensive line. But, hey, I think Men's Fitness could feature quite a few of these University of Tennessee football players on its cover.

Agree. I did mean to imply that Sunday was any kind of definitive test of 555 vs. Lagoa. I mentioned (bullet #2) that my Sunday experience may not be representative of other days. Yet, if Sunday is the best night at 555, as some clients told me, I still suggest Sunday as the best time for those who want visit 555 for one night. If another night is superior, that would be valuable intel. I will look forward to your update!

Alas, wet, naked, soapy, tumescent Brasileiros are not visible from 555's bars.

Over a year ago, sydneyboy1 started an interesting thread on the status of Clube 555 (heir to Fragata) in São Paulo. Most posters were impressed with the facility but not the GPs. If you are interested in São Paulo options to Lagoa (such as Pauleiro's account today of HotHouse), you might want to look over those May 2022 posts about Clube 555 along with this update below. I thought sure that Clube 555 was defunct. It had been closed down when I previously tried to visit. But I was wrong. It turns out that São Paulo does in fact have a second, active, real GP sauna after all. After two weeks of going daily to Lagoa, I ventured over to Clube 555 on Sunday night, a short $3 Uber from my hotel by Avenida Paulista. Here is what I found: ● Big downstairs with the stage, bar, pool, over 20 tables, was filled (50+ people) for the 9:20 lipsync, bingo, go-go boy show. (See partial photo of the airy area below.) ● A year ago travelers here were wondering if 555 could survive! Even if Sunday is 555's top night and I did not have a perfect sample, it sure looked like 555 is doing OK if not thriving. So I think it's good news that Lagoa seems to have at a least a little competition, even if not with our crowd. ● Credit where credit is due. Clube 555's facility is clearly superior and far more spacious than Lagoa's. Instead Lagoa's tiny, cramped changing room, the one at 555 is nearly three time larger. The two bar/dining areas at 555 seem over three times larger than the two compact spaces at Lagoa. The steam room at 555 is more than double that of Lagoa. Also, for those who hate steps, 555 is spread over three large floors, instead of four floors like Lagoa. Pictured below is the large changing room and the second bar/dining area. ● Obvious issue: What about the talent? Outside of the "Lagoa-looking" go-go boys, I did not see any beefy, good-looking guys that you might see at Logoa. Guys at 555 were generally more swimmer types, not US football players. (Well, plus a few out of shape.) None at 555 were distinctly Euro or Afro; all were handsome Brazilian shades in between. They were not nearly as pushy as many Lagoa GPs. I had two good connections. One was a str8, trim, toned, handsome, hung newbie and the other a masculine, gay, trim, toned, passionate btm. Both seemed far more surprised and thrilled to get a RS50 tip (up from 150) than any GP at Lagoa. I cannot dispute the 2022 critics who identified 555's chief deficit as its lack of more top tier GPs. That is still the case in 2023. And yet, I got lucky. ● Suggestions: I still share the consensus recommendation here that Lagoa be your default sauna destination, especially if you are in SP for no more than a week or so. However, if you stay longer and are looking for some variety and change of scene, you might find it interesting to go explore 555, ideally on a weekend night. And you can always quickly retreat to Lagoa in a cheap taxi. Don't know about other nights but the Sunday show starts at 9:00 (BT so more like 9:20). Before 7:30 it will look pretty empty, but then it starts filling up. Website: http://www.clube555.com.br/

Yes, providing nice eye candy, a good number guys do walk around town in shorts of varying length and fit. Yesterday was a perfect sunny Sunday. So, grand Avenida Paulista was totally pedestrian and filled with people (families, singles, couples, many same-sex hand holding, and hot men in shorts), along with singers, bands, mimes, tricksters, capoeira and other dance teams, including seven young ballerinas. Along the sidewalks were more than a kilometer of crafts, antiques, and miscellany for sale.

Regarding the side thread on SP weather... Had the recent pleasure of meeting the impressive, energetic, indefatigable @pauleiro! I'm a big fan but must disagree on the weather, of all things. I've been pleasantly surprised by the comfortable weather in São Paulo over the past two weeks. Granted, records show it did indeed get cold at 2:30 or 3 in the morning when dynamo Pauleiro finally departed Hot House❗ But when I walked back exhausted and satiated from Lagoa at 9:30, I was usually fine in a polo shirt, sometimes bringing along a long-sleeve, light-weight "overshirt" (not a jacket) just in case. Over the past two weeks, we did have one cold weekend (and no measurable precipitation) when I needed a jacket during the day. Otherwise, overall it has been an unusually mild Brazilian "winter" in São Paulo with 12 of 14 days mostly in the 70s. That said, scott456 is right that São Paulo is often somewhat chilly this time of year. Below is usual climate pattern and a comparison with Rio. (Source.)

But since you raised the subject!... I'll share a July '23 update on Boate Casa Grande in Bangu: ● Uber took me "straight" there. Dropoff stop was maybe ten feet past the entrance. No problem at all. Previously posters found the location challenging, but maybe map directions have improved. ● It is a big, airy space but below New Meo Mundo in elegance. ● Manager (owner?) Márcio is a nice guy. ● On my Sunday afternoon around 4pm: 5 clients and 8 GPs. No gym rats. Average to trim built. All handsome shades (none white or black). Only one was really toned. Slightly shy and not at all aggressive. ● Happy to get 100. Probably could have bargained for less but why just to save two dollars? 😱 #1: My first time with a known parolee wearing an electric ankle monitor! (A personal first.) He was the most muscular and best looking GP there. 😐 #2: At least 6'4", kinda cute, eager kisser, but super soft. 🙂 #3: Danil was 6' tall with big brown eyes; really got into it; excellent kisser; shot. No plans to return, but I'm definitely glad I checked it out and played. It was worth the ride out to Bangu if only for the electric ankle monitor.

Thanks for the 2015 flashback. A couple of updates: The Boate Casa Grande is in Bangu outside Rio, about 45 minutes from Copacabana. In April, pauleiro started a very good thread about it with lots of helpful photos:

Good question. Sadly the owners of failed 555 (intended as the new Fragata) blew it with a terrible location.

In case you like to explore off-the-beaten path destinations, here is a summary of my five nights in Goiânia (120 miles southwest of Brasilia): ● Goiânia has 1.5 million residents, 2.6 in the metro area (roughly the same size as Porto Alegre). As about the 12th largest metro, it should have a sufficient base to support a GP sauna and it does: Thermas Botafogo. ● Thermas Botafogo: Address, photos here. Website here but more info on Facebook. Instagram here. PROS: ● Fairly large facility. In the photo, you can see the spacious, airy bar area. Big lockers. Downstairs level has steam, sauna, and rooms (most with showers). It also has an amusing "dark room" that always had the lights on (and no people). ● Low prices. Rooms 25. GPs can be 100 (local price). One guy seemed very happy with the 20 extra tip. ● Owner Márcio is a good, friendly guy. ● Saturday night was packed with over three dozen clients and maybe 12 or more GPs. That ratio is not bad because many men come to have a beer with friends and not bed anybody. Also, my estimate of GPs is inexact because some guys I thought were clients were GPs. I later learned that GPs are supposed to have locker keys with a thin red rubber band on their wrist, but not all do. Clients have thin black bands. ● Saturday night had a fairly good variety of GPs. Two or three were especially handsome. Saturday nights are billed as party with a (happily) short lipsync show. DISAPPOINTMENTS: ● Wednesday and Thursday nights only one star GP (Fabio) was there to save the night amid the half-dozen Italian-looking GPs in their 30s with bellies and no pecs (who might have been hot 10 years ago). ● Friday and Sunday were better than Wed/Thurs but did not match Saturday. ● Goiânia itself was disappointing. The art deco "district" is in sad, crumbling decline. The art galleries were closed for renovation. And the Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Center is a mess. It has to be the least interesting architecture the man ever designed, acres of concrete with a few third-rate Brasilia reruns (although it looks OK from one distant vantage point). ● As RioBard noted previously, "Pirenópolis and Cidade de Goiás are two colonial/gold towns worth visiting." Alas, each is a couple of hours away, and I was not eager to spend four hours RT in a car for a day trip. SUGGESTIONS: Just so! If you like that gamble, you may like a long weekend in Goiânia. Perhaps combine it with a short flight up to Brasilia if you've never been. For me the Goiânia gamble paid off, with two GP gems that I plan to keep in touch with. But otherwise I would have struck out.

After fifteen days, this is my last night in Rio. I agree with mixer17. I also love the beach and I cannot bring myself to take Rio out of rotation, even if the GP scene is a roll of the dice. Earlier in this thread I joined the Rio/117 critics after a depressing, terrible Tuesday at 117. But, tonight (another Tuesday) 117 had a dazzling array of hunks, models, and cuddle bunnies. I had three awesome sessions. Tuesday reminder tip: If you arrive by 4 or 4:30, you can snag your preferred pal and get a jump on the queue for free rooms. The queue started tonight a little after 6:00.

Scott, since you asked... Generalizing and estimating here... When I can say two weeks that tends to prompt raised eyebrows and "sim? muito bom" and another hug. It feels to me like my status gets elevated and there is no rush to the shower. But when I have to say I am leaving in a couple of days... then at least some of the wind goes out of the sail. Of course all of us have different chemistry with different guys. And (based on guessing given the cool name Scott) you may get 100% without any marginal value added from this little angle. But for me, it seems to help a bit.

Nothing above but unanimous criticisms of the current sauna scene in Rio: Young11 "a lot less hot guys at 117 compared to my previous visits" Jake789 "I was in Club 117 these past two weeks and it was not like before the pandemic. Very few good looking." Riobard "Fewer and farther between but generally positive exchanges. Nobody that I absolutely need to repeat with. Not much evidence of 'new crop' phenomena." floridarob "not a fan of Rio" sydneyboy1 "My thoughts exactly about São Paulo over Rio." It is weirdly good to see that "it's not just me." I'm in Rio now and disappointed at how sad the GP situation has become at 117 and 202. Months ago I prepaid both my hotel and onward flight to São Paulo or I would race to Lagoa right away.

Scott, you are totally right that most people do not stay very long, certainly not ten days or two weeks like I often do, in Porto Alegre! (Recap here.) Regarding the language, I know men who spend many months in Brazil (for work or pleasure) and have learned surprisingly little Portuguese. An Aussie friend was recently in Brazil for six months and still could not distinguish between chupa and chuva. I do think it is interesting that one of the first question I invariably get asked by GPs is how long I will be around. That question is so widespread that I take it as more than a random inquiry. Maybe I'm wrong, but the answer (a couple of days vs. a couple of weeks) seems to me like the difference between the session being a one-night stand versus an audition. Or maybe I'm imagining things?

Update on new sauna Lux: Lux was going strong on Friday. Saturday it was packed with even more clients and GPs. Lively, genuinely fun, upbeat atmosphere all weekend. Music was actually played at a tolerable level so you could talk without yelling. Steam room has been adjusted so it is hot but not scalding. Happily, no lip-sinking while I was there. One phenomenal live singer only sang a couple of songs but both were dazzling. I met the owner who seems like a really nice guy. GPs tended to be more nice-looking "boy next door" types (not Iberian Idols as I called them elsewhere) but a few were more muscled. As you'd expect in the far south of Brazil, they are mostly, but not entirely, a pale to olive mix. Rooms come with lots of gel and condoms on the table included in the 50 per hour price and have large bath rooms with hot, strong showers. I was not charged for the occasional extra towel. Some GPs will accept 100 without blinking an eye, but 150 might get you a more enthusiastic session. Suggestions if heading to Porto Alegre: Focus your itinerary on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Thursday could be OK too but hit or miss. Depart Monday when both GP saunas are closed, unless of course you've lined up a carefully screened hotel visitor. Go to Lux early (by 5) on Saturday before it gets crowded and the top-tier GPs get exhausted. Don't announce that you are a short-term visitor. I find the prospects that you might be a longer-term repeating customer elevates you to the Platinum level for customer service. And of course you indeed may come back for more. I sure do.

That is encouraging. Glad to help. Let us know how it goes!

Lucky, I'm so sorry to hear about your outrageous nightmares with Lifemiles — but thank you for sharing this valuable warning! 😱 I had periodically considered diving into Avianca's Lifemiles and even got an account, but I'd never gotten around to accumulating miles and trying to redeem then. 🤨 Thanks to you and RioBard, I'm not going to bother. Life is too short. I really appreciate your help.

Here are two GP saunas that were going strong last year and are still shown as open in Google Maps: Sauna Opiniao R. Amintas de Barros, 749 - Alto da XV, Curitiba - PR, 80045-155 Club 773 (far more upscale) R. Ubaldino do Amaral, 1664 - Jardim Botânico, Curitiba - PR, 80060-092 The GPs at both are hit and miss are unlikely to be the Nordic Vikings and Iberian Idols you are seeing on the street.

Correction: Fortaleza's region should of course be the "Brazilian northeast."

A new sauna called Lux has just opened in Porto Alegre! Investors took over the seedy shell of the old Plataforma and have substantially renovated it, and I gather more upgrades are in the works. The new manager is outstanding. They have started a virgin Instagram account but no website yet: https://www.instagram.com/saunaluxpoa/ Old location is now new again: Av. Pernambuco, 2765 in Porto Alegre Open every day except Monday. Sunday when I was there, Lux had a good crowd of clients and maybe 10 (most very appealing) GPs. It seemed almost like time travel back to the building's glory days in the first decade of the 2000s. Alas on Sunday, it seemed like a wake at old Mezzanino which had few clients and few GPs in its big building. They have made a few decorative improvements on the rooftop terrace and elsewhere but it may be too little, too late. Don't see how PA can support two such saunas these days when even SP can only manage to have one serious sauna.

I just spent six days in Fortaleza (i.e. mid-June 2023) and I can confirm that everything reported by bcdaron from early February this year was still 100% accurate! California Thermas was still thriving with 12-15 handsome, toned GPs (and only a couple were not ready for prime time) and enough clients to lure them there. One thing to add: The GP gene pool at California was far more European than you might expect for the Brazilian northwest. Sadly, Dragon is still a spacious, empty shell with only two GPs (both overweight) in my brief visit. By the way, you get fingerprinted there. The beach was long, clean, and uncrowded and the city has come a long way since my only previous visit twenty years ago. I'll be returning!

You are right and I did forget about 555. Apparently 555 still survives: http://www.clube555.com.br/ We even had a thread about it in January. See below. Looking forward to you update after you visit next week!

Thanks for this update on Brasilia! I wonder if the other GP sauna is any better. Interesting that Brasilia can support two GP (or quasi-GP) saunas when massive Sao Paulo only has one. I would add Brasilia to my summer cities but my itinerary is fully booked. In July Goiânia will be my new place to explore, along with the usual cities.

Occasionally, I'll have to mimic the motion of flying from GP to GP.