Top Ten Safety Tips for Brazil!

[Guest tomcal]

THE TEN TOP SAFETY TIPS FOR HAVING A GOOD TIME IN BRAZIL!

I have not had any problems in the 50 + trips I have made to Brazil except once, having a camera stolen about 6 years ago, from the apartment we were renting. We had a party with about 25 guys over and I left my camera laying out in my bedroom on the night stand. If I had taken a very simple precaution of locking it up, my record in Brazil would be perfect! The suggestions below are basic and reflect what has happened to several guys I know who were careless on their first trips there! The big key is dont put temptation in someones way. Most of the guys are really great, but when they see a cell phone or camera or cash laying around the temptation to easily make a months wages to them is too strong! The Min. Monthly wage which is what most of the labor force makes is R$465 or about U.S. $265. This is for a MONTH! so you can see why working in a A/C suana and getting $50+R for an hour is alluring to the guys

1) When you get to your hotel room put wallet/passport/cash/credit cards in the room safe and then put the safe key in a well hidden spot, dont put it in your pocket where it can fall out while you are fumbling to get cash out of your pocket to pay a boy in the sauna! I have on friend that brings duct tape with him and tapes the key under the bed stand…a little extreme but works, I have found several good places to hide a key in a typical room.

2) This goes along with the above, NEVER leave a guy alone in your room where he can than have plenty of time to search for the key! If you go to the bathroom and hes in the bed, LEAVE THE BATHROOM DOOR OPEN, its amazing how fast they can jump out of the bed, open your suitcase and jump back in the bed before your done doing your business!

3) When you head out to the saunas at night, take only as much cash as you think you will need plus $50R more(theres always that one more boy you will want to do more than you planned). Take one credit card; if u run low on cash you can pay your sauna bill with it!

4) Take a CAB! The metro/subways are safe but if you are new to Rio or Sao Paulo the difference between the two is about $10. And not worth you running into trouble at night. All the saunas have cabs right outside their doors

5) If you are walking back from Corujinhas, the infamous hustler restaurant at night by yourself, offer $10.R to have one of the boys to walk the 5 blocks back with you, dont walk alone if you are not familiar with the area. The same applies to Sao Paulo even more so!

6) If you are going to make arrangements to take someone back to the hotel with you, register him at the desk! This is not embarrassing, to either the desk clerks or the boys! They keep the guys I.D. card until they leave and they call your room for confirmation! In Brazil, residents really cant function without their ID cards, its much more important than our Drivers licenses are to us and the guys wont risk it! I would recommend that until you are comfortable with the scene and get to know some of the guys¸ only have sex at the saunas! If you want that overnight experience use one of the sauna boys as they are known and IDs are kept on file at the saunas. I have had many great experiences with taking street guys back at night, but I feel comfortable in how I approach it and the precautions I take to ensure I dont have problems. I never have more money in my pocket than I think I need and when I do a overnight, that money is already counted and in my pocket so that in the morning I dont have to open the safe to get it. Should someone steal away in the in the middle of the night all they would get is the amount I was going to give them anyway!

7) If you are going to pick someone up from a non sauna venue, a bar or club like Leboy or the Week, always get your own drinks! While I havent heard of it happening in the last couple of years it was not uncommon for guys to get drugged back at their hotel and wake up without their belongings! This includes taking gum with the liquid centers from someone, they use a hypodermic needle to inject GHB into the liquid center. This happened to a American friend who picked a guy off the street and didnt register him at the hotel, all Rookie mistakes and he was out within 5 minutes of getting into the room. He woke with no wallet, camera or cash! He hadnt bothered to lock them up before going out!!

8) Do not wear watches or rings or jewelry of any sort when you are out walking around! Do not walk holding your cell phone or check messages or text while out in public! If its that important go back to the hotel to do your phone business! We have seen a guy come by on a bike and grab the phone right out of someones hand while he rode by and there is zero chance of catching them! One friend had a watch stolen off his wrist(I had told him dont wear it) He goes it was only a Timex! I go timex or Rollex they do not know the difference all they know is you have something of value that they can sell!

9) Do not walk alone at night! If you do, walk assertively and know your route! You do not want to walk around looking confused or needing help!

10) Always ask the guy how much he wants (Quanto?) whether in the sauna or street guys. Dont assume! Cinquenta Reias is Fifty Dollars Brazilian and the going rate for a hour in the saunas and Cem Reias is one hundred and probably where negotiations will start for overnights! (this applies to Rio and Porto Alegre, boys in Sao Paulo have more inflated opinions of their value! Lol)

Most of what I have written is common sense but all of us seem to lose a little of that when the prospect of a hot Brazilian is in front of us!! And this could really apply for most of the points to any city in the world including NYC /Miami/L.A. etc.

Have Fun!

[TotallyOz]

Wonderful recommendations. Thank you!

[axiom2001]

Wonderful recommendations. Thank you!

Tom, I highly concur. Thanks for taking the time to present this to the future newbies as well as to us "oldsters" who've taken the plunge more than once!!!!

[Guest fourjogran]

THE TEN TOP SAFETY TIPS FOR HAVING A GOOD TIME IN BRAZIL!

I have not had any problems in the 50 + trips I have made to Brazil except once, having a camera stolen about 6 years ago, from the apartment we were renting. We had a party with about 25 guys over and I left my camera laying out in my bedroom on the night stand. If I had taken a very simple precaution of locking it up, my record in Brazil would be perfect! The suggestions below are basic and reflect what has happened to several guys I know who were careless on their first trips there! The big key is don’t put temptation in someones way. Most of the guys are really great, but when they see a cell phone or camera or cash laying around the temptation to easily make a months’ wages to them is too strong! The Min. Monthly wage which is what most of the labor force makes is R$465 or about U.S. $265. This is for a MONTH! so you can see why working in a A/C suana and getting $50+R for an hour is alluring to the guys

1) When you get to your hotel room put wallet/passport/cash/credit cards in the room safe and then put the safe key in a well hidden spot, don’t put it in your pocket where it can fall out while you are fumbling to get cash out of your pocket to pay a boy in the sauna! I have on friend that brings duct tape with him and tapes the key under the bed stand…a little extreme but works, I have found several good places to hide a key in a typical room.

2) This goes along with the above, NEVER leave a guy alone in your room where he can than have plenty of time to search for the key! If you go to the bathroom and he’s in the bed, LEAVE THE BATHROOM DOOR OPEN, it’s amazing how fast they can jump out of the bed, open your suitcase and jump back in the bed before your done doing your business!

3) When you head out to the saunas at night, take only as much cash as you think you will need plus $50R more(there’s always that one more boy you will want to do more than you planned). Take one credit card; if u run low on cash you can pay your sauna bill with it!

4) Take a CAB! The metro/subways are safe but if you are new to Rio or Sao Paulo the difference between the two is about $10. And not worth you running into trouble at night. All the saunas have cabs right outside their doors

5) If you are walking back from Corujinhas, the infamous hustler restaurant at night by yourself, offer $10.R to have one of the boys to walk the 5 blocks back with you, don’t walk alone if you are not familiar with the area. The same applies to Sao Paulo even more so!

6) If you are going to make arrangements to take someone back to the hotel with you, register him at the desk! This is not embarrassing, to either the desk clerks or the boys! They keep the guys I.D. card until they leave and they call your room for confirmation! In Brazil, residents really can’t function without their ID cards, it’s much more important than our Drivers licenses are to us and the guys won’t risk it! I would recommend that until you are comfortable with the scene and get to know some of the guys¸ only have sex at the saunas! If you want that overnight experience use one of the sauna boys as they are known and ID’s are kept on file at the saunas. I have had many great experiences with taking street guys back at night, but I feel comfortable in how I approach it and the precautions I take to ensure I don’t have problems. I never have more money in my pocket than I think I need and when I do a overnight, that money is already counted and in my pocket so that in the morning I don’t have to open the safe to get it. Should someone “steal away in the in the middle of the night” all they would get is the amount I was going to give them anyway!

7) If you are going to pick someone up from a non sauna venue, a bar or club like “Leboy” or “the Week”, always get your own drinks! While I haven’t heard of it happening in the last couple of years it was not uncommon for guys to get drugged back at their hotel and wake up without their belongings! This includes taking gum with the liquid centers from someone, they use a hypodermic needle to inject GHB into the liquid center. This happened to a American friend who picked a guy off the street and didn’t register him at the hotel, all Rookie mistakes and he was out within 5 minutes of getting into the room. He woke with no wallet, camera or cash! He hadn’t bothered to lock them up before going out!!

8) Do not wear watches or rings or jewelry of any sort when you are out walking around! Do not walk holding your cell phone or check messages or text while out in public! If it’s that important go back to the hotel to do your phone business! We have seen a guy come by on a bike and grab the phone right out of someone’s hand while he rode by and there is zero chance of catching them! One friend had a watch stolen off his wrist(I had told him don’t wear it) He goes “it was only a Timex!” I go “timex or Rollex they do not know the difference all they know is you have something of value that they can sell!

9) Do not walk alone at night! If you do, walk assertively and know your route! You do not want to walk around looking confused or needing help!

10) Always ask the guy how much he wants (Quanto?) whether in the sauna or street guys. Don’t assume! Cinquenta Reias is Fifty Dollars Brazilian and the going rate for a hour in the saunas and Cem Reias is one hundred and probably where negotiations will start for overnights! (this applies to Rio and Porto Alegre, boys in Sao Paulo have more inflated opinions of their value! Lol)

Most of what I have written is common sense but all of us seem to lose a little of that when the prospect of a hot Brazilian is in front of us!! And this could really apply for most of the points to any city in the world including NYC /Miami/L.A. etc.

Have Fun!

You are absolutely right on your cautions. On my several visits to Sao Paulo and Rio, always took those precautions at the advise of my non-sexual guide Danilo. Travelled all over plus to Campo Formio,

Petropolis, Iguasu Falls with no incidents.

[Guest midwestgwpm]

How does one go about hiring a trustworthy guide in Rio or Sao Paulo?

[Lucky]

"5) If you are walking back from Corujinhas, the infamous hustler restaurant at night by yourself, offer $10.R to have one of the boys to walk the 5 blocks back with you, don’t walk alone if you are not familiar with the area. The same applies to Sao Paulo even more so!"

Where is the Corujinhas in Sao Paolo?

[axiom2001]

How does one go about hiring a trustworthy guide in Rio or Sao Paulo?

I've gotten my guides through Carlo who in the past has posted extensively at www.daddysreviews.com. My suggestion would be to contact Drey at www.gaytravelbrazil.com. At his website is an email address.

In Sao Paulo I hired Danilo, who at the time was 18 years of age but quite capable. He's about 23 today, has a partner, and has apparently buffed somewhat. I DO NOT KNOW if he still guides. <He was STRICTLY a guide, no escorting. I DID NOT raise the latter with him at all or ask him to be a mediator for me when I hired independent escorts because I got them on my own through the Sao Paulo escort sites at the time and whose names and websites I've forgotten!>

But again, I think Drey would be of great help for you in terms of tour guides!

[Guest Paragon]

An interesting thread with great advice from tomcal. I've violated several of the guidelines with no problems- I love the subway- but one cannot be too careful as crime once again rises in Rio again.

[branleur]

My piece of advice about safety in Latin American countries (and beyond). 

May be the thread title could be changed to "safety tips for LA countries"
 
I think that most important of all is to go unnoticed. Of course you cannot camouflage if you are a Trump kind of guy. You know that in most Latin American countries people's skin colour is dark (brown, olive, tanned) but because of European immigration (or colonisation) lighter skin people can be found .  So, many of USA people can walk along the streets unnoticed as long as you don't speak loudly AND don't look like tourist.  
 
How not to look like tourists? No cargo trousers, no hiking shoes in downtown, no hip bag.  When in Rome..., so you can check for the natives style, look at the people at the street.   In Brazil flip-flops and sungas (or swim trunks), no surf shorts at the beach! No sombrero vueltiao in Colombia.  
 
Last but not least, when at saunas with os garotos de programa or prepagos do not show that you've got too much cash on you. You don't have to buy him a drink, most natives don't. Do not pay for the most expensive room if not needed. Let them know that the first price they give you si too much, even when you can afford it. You can ask any other customer if he knows the average rate in that place. 

I hope this information may be helpful for your getaway to Latin America.
 

[Guest leakyleaks]

Additional safety tips:

 

1. Stay in the big cities and do not go out into the countryside. The big cities are more cosmopolitan. In contrast, the people living in the countryside are typically not as well educated, more religious, and tend to be VERY anti-gay.

 

2. Stay out of any area that has separatists, militants and/or civil war. You don't want to get caught up in somebody else's firefight.

 

Now my travel advice: Know your rights as a traveler. If you are a ticketed airline passenger and the airline cancels the flight or bumps you off any flight,  the airline OWES you a hotel room for the night at THEIR expense. Don't let them tell you to sleep on an airport bench. The airline also OWES you meal vouchers for each meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner) while you are stranded.

 

 

[Latbear4blk]

1 hour ago, leakyleaks said:

Additional safety tips:

 

1. Stay in the big cities and do not go out into the countryside. The big cities are more cosmopolitan. In contrast, the people living in the countryside are typically not as well educated, more religious, and tend to be VERY anti-gay.

 

2. Stay out of any area that has separatists, militants and/or civil war. You don't want to get caught up in somebody else's firefight.

 

Now my travel advice: Know your rights as a traveler. If you are a ticketed airline passenger and the airline cancels the flight or bumps you off any flight,  the airline OWES you a hotel room for the night at THEIR expense. Don't let them tell you to sleep on an airport bench. The airline also OWES you meal vouchers for each meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner) while you are stranded.

 

 

Can you please clarify? I have been in small towns in Rio Grande do Soul 25 years ago and the people was still significantly gay friendlier than most American country side areas. Sure, big cities are a better environment for partying, but I would not say there is a safety issue here. In my experience there is definitely none.

Are there separatists areas in Brazil? Civil war? I think I am reading the wrong news outlets.

[Tartegogo]

Yeah I think leakyleaks pasted this from some warning about some other country, or he assumes every developing country is the same. 

[Guest leakyleaks]

3 hours ago, Tartegogo said:

Yeah I think leakyleaks pasted this from some warning about some other country, or he assumes every developing country is the same. 

My trips to Venezuela in the 1990s.

[Latbear4blk]

16 minutes ago, leakyleaks said:

My trips to Venezuela in the 1990s.

It looks like you do not understand geography very well. Check this thread title.

[Guest leakyleaks]

18 minutes ago, Latbear4blk said:

It looks like you do not understand geography very well. Check this thread title.

Sorry. I was under the impression all of South America was the same.  I stand corrected.  I had been in Venezuela on business and didn't like it.  Never went back after the business was concluded around 1995.  I guess Brazil must be better from the posts above.  Maybe someday I will get to Brazil.

[Latbear4blk]

10 hours ago, leakyleaks said:

Sorry. I was under the impression all of South America was the same.  I stand corrected.  I had been in Venezuela on business and didn't like it.  Never went back after the business was concluded around 1995.  I guess Brazil must be better from the posts above.  Maybe someday I will get to Brazil.

For your information, all of South America is not the same. Venezuela is not representative of Brazil or any other country.

[tassojunior]

https://www.facebook.com/279770479109364/videos/538622433224166/

[BlkSuperman]

On 12/20/2009 at 2:01 PM, Guest tomcal said:

10) Always ask the guy how much he wants (Quanto?) whether in the sauna or street guys. Dont assume! Cinquenta Reias is Fifty Dollars Brazilian and the going rate for a hour in the saunas and Cem Reias is one hundred and probably where negotiations will start for overnights! (this applies to Rio and Porto Alegre, boys in Sao Paulo have more inflated opinions of their value! Lol)

Wait a minute!!!!!! Am I reading this correctly????? Guys from 117 and 202 will accept $50R an hour at the club????

[azdr0710]

12 minutes ago, BlkSuperman said:

Wait a minute!!!!!! Am I reading this correctly????? Guys from 117 and 202 will accept $50R an hour at the club????

your quote was written nine years ago

[Simpleboy21]

Thanks for the tips! 

[axiom2001]

I just thought I would peruse out of curiosity today to see if there were any additional updates for 2019-2020.  NOPE!  Additional and more current info. on varying topics related to Brasil are in individual threads.

[tassojunior]

On 1/8/2019 at 1:19 AM, BlkSuperman said:

Wait a minute!!!!!! Am I reading this correctly????? Guys from 117 and 202 will accept $50R an hour at the club????

That's the local rate. See why you should have learned Portuguese?

and the time slot is 30 minutes.

Edited January 29, 2020 by tassojunior

[Badboy81]

Nobody is taking 50R in 2020....Even somebody that is desperate....And if they are willing to accept so little, I would question WHY.....Seriously

[SolaceSoul]

The only venues in Rio or São Paulo where a garoto is accepting 50R for a programa are hustlers off the street, in parks, in adult theatres / cines or peep shows. And you’re really AYOR / playing with fire in those situations. If you’re thinking about doing this and you are not already an expert in BrazilIan street / favela trade, if you don’t fluently speak and understand Brazilian Portuguese with a local dialect, and if you look like a gringo outsider, then you might as well just sign your death certificate right now.

[simplyme69]

Thank you for sharing the tip