Guides

[wncdemcub]

I read a lot of posts about hiring a guide. Beyond the non-sexual visiting the spots that the tourist should see, how does a guide work in relation to your experiences meeting guys. Do they go to the saunas with you? Arrange guys to meet at your hotel. What would the cost be for this? I'm exploring a trip to both Sao Paulo and Rio.

[Guest tomcal]

... how does a guide work in relation to your experiences meeting guys. Do they go to the saunas with you? Arrange guys to meet at your hotel. What would the cost be for this? I'm exploring a trip to both Sao Paulo and Rio.

IMHO..for what it's worth, it's a waste of money to hire a guide to help you navigate the sauna scene or to use to meet guys, especially in Rio! Sao Paulo being much larger and more spread out I will let someone with better knowledge of that scene like Mvan1 address that.

With the wealth of information here and the fact that all three rentboy saunas in Rio are very close to the Metro(subway) stops, getting there is really easy and easier if you use a taxi if you don't want to attempt the subway system on your first trip! You are going to walk into the sauna(s) and see anywhere from 12 to 40+ guys depending on the night to pick from. Smile at whatever one gets you excited and the rest is easy! Tell him "Desculpe, eu não falo Português" sorry I don't speak Portuguese.

then ask "você é um bom beijos" are you a good kisser? usually they will demonstrate on the spot! the guys have no hangups kissing you in front of the other guys or customers!

Activo or Passivo? top or bottom. and if you like the answers, he will let you to the desk to get a key to a room. that's really all the Portuguese you need to know....worked for me the first 6 or 7 years I was going to Brazil, before I learned a few more key phrases! :-) again the smart phone translator app is worth it's weight in sauna boys!! lol

Seriously, ask any questions you have, there are a number of members here that will be happy to help you and you can use the money you would save on a guide to meet more guys in the sauna...at least that's what I would do! lol

I know some have used guides, I never have even my first trip back in 2001 when there was no GPS, smart phones or internet service in the hotels there! I remember taking a couple of pages of notes with me to Rio with the addresses of the saunas written down and having a heck of a time finding my first sauna, Rogers in Copacabana. fun times!

[mvan1]

IMHO..for what it's worth, it's a waste of money to hire a guide to help you navigate the sauna scene or to use to meet guys, especially in Rio! Sao Paulo being much larger and more spread out I will let someone with better knowledge of that scene like Mvan1 address that.

With the wealth of information here and the fact that all three rentboy saunas in Rio are very close to the Metro(subway) stops, getting there is really easy and easier if you use a taxi if you don't want to attempt the subway system on your first trip! You are going to walk into the sauna(s) and see anywhere from 12 to 40+ guys depending on the night to pick from. Smile at whatever one gets you excited and the rest is easy! Tell him "Desculpe, eu não falo Português" sorry I don't speak Portuguese.

snip

I know some have used guides, I never have even my first trip back in 2001 when there was no GPS, smart phones or internet service in the hotels there! I remember taking a couple of pages of notes with me to Rio with the addresses of the saunas written down and having a heck of a time finding my first sauna, Rogers in Copacabana. fun times!

I agree with tomcal’s opinion concerning the lack of need to hire a guide in Rio de Janeiro. I emphasize “need” compared to “desire” when it comes to hiring a guide.

I just finished my 123rd trip to Brazil. In all my trips, I have never hired a guide. I never felt the need to hire a guide.

At the same time, I realize that many people are not as independent or adventuresome as I and are nervous about visiting foreign countries where they do not know the local language or the local customs and environment.

Despite my lack of knowledge of the local language during my early trips to Brazil, I never had a problem navigating my way around Brazil and/or the saunas or anywhere else I wanted to go.

I always do my research before I travel to any city that is unfamiliar to me. I believe that if one has sufficient information and maps, rarely will anything go wrong or be disappointing while in an unfamiliar city.

On several trips to Brazil, I took certain garotos with me when I visited other cities. However, those garotos were not guides for me. I did those garotos a favor in paying their way to cities that they ordinarily would never see. While it is true that the garotos were helpful in translating things for me, I could have done very well on my own.

In some cases, having a garoto with me while I was traveling around in Brazil, was an inconvenience because I was “stuck” with the garoto and could not do many “sauna” things that I would like to have done. I felt obligated to spend time with the garoto.

Therefore, there are advantages and disadvantages to having a garoto type “guide” accompany you on trips.

While visiting the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Recife, Curitiba, Salvador and certain other cities in Brazil, there is no need for a guide. As I wrote, just do your research about the places you want to visit and the things you want to see.

On the other hand, there are people who prefer to hire a guide. This does not mean that these people are intellectually substandard or even fearful. It merely means they prefer to have a guide rather than not have a guide. It is that simple.

In short, it is a personal choice to have a guide or not have a guide. My choice is to travel without one.

[TotallyOz]

I have hired guides for my first 10 or so trips and loved it. For me, it was well worth the money. Back then, it was 100 USD per day. It was money well spent as I had a great guy that gave me advice and helped me to navigate the boys and the scene. I also used my guide to do the negotiating in the saunas and never once missed a guy I wanted as we understood everything up front.

I have seen Tom in the saunas and he does not need a guide. (maybe one that slows him down) But, I found for me, that I loved it. Even when I was there with Tom on last trip, he talked to a few boys for me and IPHGuy talked to some others. Honestly, for someone so bad in understanding another language, this helped out a great deal!

If you have a good guy recommendation, hire him and test the waters.

[mvan1]

I have hired guides for my first 10 or so trips and loved it. For me, it was well worth the money. Back then, it was 100 USD per day. It was money well spent as I had a great guy that gave me advice and helped me to navigate the boys and the scene. I also used my guide to do the negotiating in the saunas and never once missed a guy I wanted as we understood everything up front.

I remember Danilo, the guide.

I think you mentioned some time back that Danilo is now in a different line of work.

I recall that everyone who hired him for being a guide (not as an escort or garoto), was happy with his services.

[TotallyOz]

Yes, and if Danilo was available today, I'll still hire him on each and every trip for every city as he was great for me and to me. Plus, he was so sexy, I could just stare at him. No sex but I still can fantasize.

[Guest fourjogran]

Several years ago, I went to Brazil several times. Each time I hired Danilo to travel with me. Thus no language problem since he spoke English. Also he came with me to the saunas and helped me pick the right guys asking the right questions. He is sexy but also a lot of fun even tho no sex with clients. Great and warm personality. If I travel again to Brazil, I certainly will try to hire him. Do email back and forth a few times since. my last visit.

[axiom2001]

I remember Danilo, the guide.

I think you mentioned some time back that Danilo is now in a different line of work.

I recall that everyone who hired him for being a guide (not as an escort or garoto), was happy with his services.

Danilo and I communicated via Facebook up to about a month and a half ago. Prior to that time, I sent him an email asking if he still guided one around his city and beyond; his answer was affirmative although he supposedly has a big time job in the tourist industry to date. Unfortunately, he no longer does FB, but if any of you would be in need of his email address, I have it amongst my contacts at one of my three email addresses.

When I've traveled, especially to Brasil and to Argentina, I've read about the places I'm visiting and the cultural venues I think I can handle doing alone. But if I want company and someone to engage in the experience with me, I've hired guides, gay professional ones in Buenos Aires, Salvador [bahia], Brasil, and in Sao Paulo. I've even hired one freelance, self-taught guide in Rio de janeiro. I've had great times with all of my guides.

[...have done saunas solo and have not had any difficulty in meeting the guys with whom I am interested. This success has happened because of my prior reading of do's and dont's at this site as well as in the archives at "daddy's." The sauna guys usually have had a script: they have begun by asking you about your whereabouts, your lodging, how long you're staying, and if this is your first time in their city...? Minutes go by, and the next thing one hears is: "I give a good massage?" From there one's response is "noa obrigado," or one begins to ask him queries. For an example, "activo" or "passivo" or "compleat--" versatile. And so forth and so on. Let the fun begin!]

**So regarding one's hiring a guide, it's really up to that individual traveler and his comfortability in meandering the environs."