Is Thailand or Brazil a safer place to visit

[PattayaMale]

Several posters have told me how much they enjoy visiting Brazil. Especially Rio. In today's Bangkok Post, there is a story about 30 tourists being kidnapped by several gunman out side of the Intercontinental Hotel in Rio. "It looked like a war zone" with all the automatic weapon fire as the gunman battled police according to the article.

 

What an exciting holiday. Sounds like Bangkok during the Red's occupation and Government take back

[Guest]

I have stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel in Rio over 200 nights over the years and never had a problem. This is a very sad event. All I can think of is: will this make the rates at the hotel finally go down?

 

 

In all honesty, Thailand is safer for the general tourist. But, Brazil is safe is you know where to go and what to do or have someone that can show you around. Why don't you and I plan a trip down and see if we make it back to Thailand OK? I have been there 4 times this year already and have not had any problems.

[Guest beachlover]

Holy shit... That's crazy.

 

They must be good at taking cover or bad marksmen over there... Only 1 killed (a suspect).

 

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/7949012/gunmen-invade-luxury-rio-hotel

 

-----

Brazil probes Rio hotel hostage crisis

Brazilian authorities are investigating the brazen seizure of 35 hostages at an upscale central Rio de Janeiro hotel following a shootout between a gang and police that left one person dead.

 

Saturday's incident dramatised the security challenges faced by the host of the 2016 Olympic Games.

 

The hostages were released unharmed after police cornered the gunmen inside the hotel kitchen.

 

But a woman was killed and seven people, including four police officers, were wounded by gunfire as the violence spilled from the streets of Rio into the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel.

 

Nine suspects were arrested, police said on Sunday.

 

"Unfortunately, in Rio, we have drug traffickers with barbaric tendencies and when they run into the police, these things happen," said Jose Mariano Beltrame, head of public safety for the state of Rio de Janeiro.

 

The incident began when officers on patrol early on Saturday ran into "criminals" in vehicles and motorcycles heading toward Rocinha, the city's most populous "favela", or shanty town, police spokesman Colonel Lima Castro told CBN radio.

 

"There was a shootout, and two police officers were slightly wounded," Castro said.

 

Amateur images of the incident taken from nearby buildings and broadcast on local TV showed scores of people running down the street screaming, and others waving their weapons and firing.

 

A woman was killed in the hail of bullets. Witnesses said she was struck by a stray bullet but police later said she was a gang member.

 

TV images showed the woman's lifeless body covered with a black cloth on the ground outside the hotel.

 

Some of the gunmen fled the scene but witnesses said about 20 others ran into the Intercontinental Hotel, where police said they took 35 people hostage, including guests and hotel workers.

 

Brandishing weapons, the bandits took over the reception desk and then fled to the kitchen, hotel manager Michel Chertouh said.

 

There were about 1550 people in the hotel at the time, including guests and workers, he told Globonews TV. About 40 per cent of the guests were foreigners and none was injured, Chertouh said.

 

After holding their hostages a few hours, the gunmen surrendered without putting up resistance, seeing that they had no other way out, Castro said.

 

Police said they confiscated vehicles, motorcycles, a hand grenade and at least eight automatic weapons.

 

Police surrounded the hotel, located in the southern part of the city in front of Sao Conrado beach, and police helicopters hovered above searching for missing gang members.

 

For the past two years, authorities have been cracking down on crime in a "pacification" program in several city favelas, including Rocinha. They say the crackdown has lowered the rates of violence in the city.

 

"We have a new Rio that has to live alongside the old Rio" until authorities complete the security plan, Beltrame told a press conference.

 

"People who believe that they are going to solve this problem in the short term are mistaken," he said.

 

"In Rio we have to put an end to these territories that are controlled with weapons of war."

 

Police are under pressure to impose order as Rio de Janeiro will be one of the cities hosting football's 2014 World Cup, as well as the 2016 summer Olympics.

 

------------------------

 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/rio-tourists-caught-up-in-fatal-shootout/story-e6frg6so-1225908571445

[Guest beachlover]

I've heard hotels are pretty pricey in Rio... It's $100 to $150 a night for budget hotels. 5 star hotels are $400-$500 upwards. Definitely far more costly than Bangkok.

[Guest badcdn]

I've heard hotels are pretty pricey in Rio... It's $100 to $150 a night for budget hotels. 5 star hotels are $400-$500 upwards. Definitely far more costly than Bangkok.

 

Seems to be the case...

 

I had been considering changing my vacation plans for November to check out Brazil. The cost of accommodation is at least twice what I can get in Thailand and like you said 'for budget hotels'. I get a better deal in Thailand for my dollar.

 

For a four week trip, Brazil is out for the count until next year when I can save that extra cash.

[Guest beachlover]

Yeah, I'm even inclined to say Rio is TRIPLE Bangkok prices. The quality of hotels at $100 in Rio looks comparable to 1,000 baht/night dumps in Bangkok. 5-star hotels in BKK start at around $100-$150 while in Rio it's looks like it's $450 upwards.

 

I think Brazil is much more accessible to US visitors than Thailand is for them.

 

But for the rest of us, it's a lot further. From Sydney Bangkok is 9hrs (usually $1,000 or so). But Rio it's a 14-hour flight plus a domestic connection. Fare is $2k to $3.5k).

[Guest]

FWIW, I spend a great deal of time in Rio and stay at nice hotels and always get rates around 150-200 per night. That is the same as the rates I get in Bangkok. In Pattaya, it is about 50 less per night.

 

If you ever book a long stay rate, you will get a great deal in Rio at most hotels. The nice hotels in Copa are not as good as the ones further away IMHO. The Copa Palace is amazing and so are other hotels in Ipanema.

 

If you go south to Porto Alegre, you will get the really nice Sheraton for around 125. The boys there are amazing as well.

 

I love Thailand but I also love Brazil. Both have great things about them.

[Guest beachlover]

Wow... Really? Maybe it's not so bad then.

 

I had a quick look on Agoda and the prices were way more than Bangkok!

 

What hotels do you recommend and what's the best way to get a good rate with them for, say a 1-week or 2-week stay? Location is more important to me than the interior... I tend to want to be close to the beach, convenient ammenities and whatever else I'm going to be doing.

[Guest]

Wow... Really? Maybe it's not so bad then.

 

I had a quick look on Agoda and the prices were way more than Bangkok!

 

What hotels do you recommend and what's the best way to get a good rate with them for, say a 1-week or 2-week stay? Location is more important to me than the interior... I tend to want to be close to the beach, convenient ammenities and whatever else I'm going to be doing.

 

I love the Intercontinental Hotel is Sao Conrado. It is a bit distant from Copa but an easy and cheap taxi ride into the area.

 

The Atlantico is where all the gay guys stay who want to take the sauna boys back to their hotel. It is a short distance walk to the beach. Most hotels in Copa and Ipanema are an easy walk to the beach. You will pay a premium to stay directly on the beach.

[firecat69]

I love the Intercontinental Hotel is Sao Conrado. It is a bit distant from Copa but an easy and cheap taxi ride into the area.

 

The Atlantico is where all the gay guys stay who want to take the sauna boys back to their hotel. It is a short distance walk to the beach. Most hotels in Copa and Ipanema are an easy walk to the beach. You will pay a premium to stay directly on the beach.

Sorry GT but that is just not true about Hotel prices. Your memory is old and colored by the fact that you are a Grand Pooba in all these Hotel chains.

 

There is just no comparison between the prices of 4 and 5 star Hotels in Brazil versus Thailand. It is hard to spend $150 in Bangkok unless you are picking a Holiday week etc. That dump the Atlantico gets almost $150 now and that Hotel is equivalent of a $20 hotel in Pattaya.

 

Also Thailand has fabulous long stay serviced apartments for rent and Brazil has nothing like that and the apartments they do have are ridiculously over priced.

 

Brazil has many reasons to visit but a bargain it is not. Three years ago maybe . If you want muscle it is a great place. The sex costs the same as Thailand and everything else in Brazil is far more expensive!!!!!

[Guest]

everything else in Brazil is far more expensive!!!!!

 

How can you say that? I took you to some of the most fabulous restaurants in all of Rio. If I remember correctly, you have talked about them for years! You must have loved them. It seems to me that seafood buffet was very cheap for the great quality we received. Your memory must be lagging.

[firecat69]

How can you say that? I took you to some of the most fabulous restaurants in all of Rio. If I remember correctly, you have talked about them for years! You must have loved them. It seems to me that seafood buffet was very cheap for the great quality we received. Your memory must be lagging.

 

You are an expert on many things even including restaurants outside of Brazil. In Brazil I always thought you must be on the payroll of the restaurants you took us to. Still the only place where I had to pay for entrance into a restaurant and never got any food. And I have reliable witnesses to attest?

 

By the way Intercontinental in Sao Paulo during November $386 per night for the cheapest room. Hate to tell you what you can get in Bangkok for $386. You get the room and 5 boys LOL I know what my choice would be!!!!

[Guest]

You are an expert on many things even including restaurants outside of Brazil. In Brazil I always thought you must be on the payroll of the restaurants you took us to. Still the only place where I had to pay for entrance into a restaurant and never got any food. And I have reliable witnesses to attest?

 

By the way Intercontinental in Sao Paulo during November $386 per night for the cheapest room. Hate to tell you what you can get in Bangkok for $386. You get the room and 5 boys LOL I know what my choice would be!!!!

 

My goodness. What is wrong with paying an entrance fee to get into a famous restaurant? The fee was for the music and dancing and atmosphere. You did have great company and good fun. I have photos that will prove you had lots of cute guys sitting on your lap that evening. I don't know what happened to your food. Some asshole must have ate it when you took to the dance floor. Mine was yummy.

 

I just called the Intercontinental. They told me I could have a suite for anytime in November for 145 a night. I also get a free boy with the room.

[firecat69]

My goodness. What is wrong with paying an entrance fee to get into a famous restaurant? The fee was for the music and dancing and atmosphere. You did have great company and good fun. I have photos that will prove you had lots of cute guys sitting on your lap that evening. I don't know what happened to your food. Some asshole must have ate it when you took to the dance floor. Mine was yummy.

 

I just called the Intercontinental. They told me I could have a suite for anytime in November for 145 a night. I also get a free boy with the room.

 

I don't believe you and I know there is no boy with the room. Plus what you can get means nothing . Mere mortals like us have to pay the rate . We do not get special deals because we give the Hotel 200 nights a year.

 

You should get good rates. Bet you can even get a better rate in Rio and each room comes with a machine gun to protect yourself. LOL. You can use it to keep all those muscle Boys off of you!!!

[Guest]

Bet you can even get a better rate in Rio and each room comes with a machine gun to protect yourself. LOL. You can use it to keep all those muscle Boys off of you!!!

 

Are you kidding? I'll use it to keep the muscle boys on me.

[firecat69]

Are you kidding? I'll use it to keep the muscle boys on me.

BTW Just to be fair I checked the same dates in Bangkok in November as in Brazil, on the Intercontinental website. Bangkok $140 per night. Rio $252 per night and Sao Paulo $362 per night.

 

So lets see the difference between $140 and $362 per night is about 7200 baht per night. Now how many boys can I have in the Orgy for that amount????

 

 

Sorry Brazil you will have a long wait before you get any more of my money!!!!

[Guest]

BTW Just to be fair I checked the same dates in Bangkok in November as in Brazil, on the Intercontinental website. Bangkok $140 per night. Rio $252 per night and Sao Paulo $362 per night.

 

Never compare the Bangkok Intercontinental to the one in Sao Paulo. It is the same chain for vast differences in size. The one is Sao Paulo is for business travelers. They are more like a small boutique hotel. Their rates are always high.

 

The comparison between the Rio and Bangkok hotels are more reasonable. But, as you well know, all hotels negotiate. The one is Rio is great to negotiate. The one is Bangkok is not. So, there is more leeway there.

 

PS. I am headed to the gym. I'll debate your last point when I return.

[firecat69]

Nice Try

 

But Bangkok and SaoPaulo are the similar cities and therefore the ones to compare. The comparison will become even more unfavorable if we compare Rio to Pattaya where the Hotels are cheapen then Bangkok.

 

BTW the only reason the rate is so low in Rio is because of all the bad publicity. I venture to say the rate will go up very soon when the violence is forgotten.

 

Bottom line is you can negotiate with the Hotels in Thailand also, so the only fair comparison is the rate the Hotel website quotes you.

 

If you can negotiate it down in Sao Paulo you can also negotiate it down in Bangkok.

 

Bottom line Brazil 4 and 5 star Hotels are at least twice as much as similar Hotels in Thailand and by the way the restaurants in Brazil are also considerably more expensive then comparable restaurants in Thailand.

 

BTW in no way am I saying that Brazil is not a great destination because it offers many things but it is in general far more expensive then Thailand. The boys might be the only thing that is priced relatively the same.

[Guest]

But Bangkok and SaoPaulo are the similar cities and therefore the ones to compare. The comparison will become even more unfavorable if we compare Rio to Pattaya where the Hotels are cheapen then Bangkok.

 

You must be kidding right? This was meant at a joke?

 

Sao Paulo is one of the worlds largest metro areas with over 20,000,000 people. Bangkok has under 7,000,000. That would be like comparing New York City to Chomburi.

 

http://en.wikipedia...._agglomerations

 

So, now we have the two cities with over 13,000,000 people difference between them. Brazil is a very strong economy and one of the worlds business capitals. Bangkok is a great city but Sao Paulo it is NOT.

 

My point was going to be on your orgies. In all m years in Thailand, I have yet to find many Thai boys that are really great at 3ways or orgies. I have looked. They are just not there in good numbers. They are great with a farang but horrible with other Thais. The boys from Brazil are the opposite. In all my years there I have yet to meet a Brazilian lad who is not good at orgies. They are phenomenal. They love sex and groups and then more sex. So, your cost savings from the hotel in Sao Paulo to Bangkok that will furnish an orgy, will not get you the kind of orgy you would get in Brazil!

 

And, for your amusement, I have attached some photos of the Boys from Brazil. They just all happen to be taken at the Intercontinental Hotel in Rio. A clean beach, tons of beautiful boys and greenery. The sandy area is huge. I wonder if you are going to try to compare that to Pattaya?

[Guest GaySacGuy]

Loved your pictures GT. But, the discussions of hotel rates really give me pause. I usually think about the great $25 dollar rates at facilities like Howards or TwoGuys. Guess I just can't run with the big boys!!

[Guest]

Loved your pictures GT. But, the discussions of hotel rates really give me pause. I usually think about the great $25 dollar rates at facilities like Howards or TwoGuys. Guess I just can't run with the big boys!!

 

There are Bed and Breakfast places in every city. Unfortunately, I don't know much about them in Rio or Sao Paulo.

 

But, I don't know much about them in Bangkok or Pattaya either. I like to get my points and usually only stay with the Intercontinental Group, Marriott's, Hiltons or Sheraton. The reason is they give me good upgrades. The main reason I love the Rio Intercontinental is they ALWAYS upgrade me to a large 1 bedroom suite with 2 full balconies facing the ocean and the pool. They comp my breakfast. They comp my Internet. They give me discounted rates for their car service and they are good to me.

 

I will try to do some research on B and B's there if you are interested. I'll ask friends that go often.

[firecat69]

There are Bed and Breakfast places in every city. Unfortunately, I don't know much about them in Rio or Sao Paulo.

 

But, I don't know much about them in Bangkok or Pattaya either. I like to get my points and usually only stay with the Intercontinental Group, Marriott's, Hiltons or Sheraton. The reason is they give me good upgrades. The main reason I love the Rio Intercontinental is they ALWAYS upgrade me to a large 1 bedroom suite with 2 full balconies facing the ocean and the pool. They comp my breakfast. They comp my Internet. They give me discounted rates for their car service and they are good to me.

 

I will try to do some research on B and B's there if you are interested. I'll ask friends that go often.

GT

 

You are funny.. Just one thing the average visitor can't get 1 boy into a luxury hotel, never mind a group for an Orgy. You get them into Rio Intercon. because you are a Grand Pooba but the rest of us poor souls have no chance of getting a Boy into a 5 Star Hotel.

 

I know from what I speak so no sense arguing with me. It is impossible for the average guest to get a Boy into his Hotel who is not registered as a guest. I will be happy to find quotes at every gay site you care to visit, or every blog on gay life in Brazil. You take the boy to a love Hotel, for 2 reasons, 1. It is impossible to get him into your Hotel. 2. The chance of him stealing from you is exponentially greater then it is in Thailand!!!

 

Also as they say in political campaigns, you are entitled to your own feelings but not to your own facts. If you check Wikipedia you will find Bangkok has more people in the metropolitan area then does Sao Paulo and the Metropolitan area is 1/2 the size of Sao Paulo Metropolitan area.

 

 

So yes Bangkok compares quite favorably with Sao Paulo and by many measurements is a much bigger and populated city.

[Guest]

You are funny.. Just one thing the average visitor can't get 1 boy into a luxury hotel, never mind a group for an Orgy. You get them into Rio Intercon. because you are a Grand Pooba but the rest of us poor souls have no chance of getting a Boy into a 5 Star Hotel.

 

...It is impossible for the average guest to get a Boy into his Hotel who is not registered as a guest.

 

I have stayed at many hotels in Rio and Sao Paulo. I do not have issues getting a boy inside my room. I will admit, I am not stupid enough to take just any boy as there is always a possibility of someone stealing something.

 

I don't know how to respond to your Grand Pooba comment. I'll just say, I am a good customer of some hotels and they are kind to me in return. It is kind of like the "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" type of mentality.

 

Also as they say in political campaigns, you are entitled to your own feelings but not to your own facts. If you check Wikipedia you will find Bangkok has more people in the metropolitan area then does Sao Paulo and the Metropolitan area is 1/2 the size of Sao Paulo Metropolitan area.

 

So yes Bangkok compares quite favorably with Sao Paulo and by many measurements is a much bigger and populated city.

 

Really? What Wikipedia are you reading? Is this your own private version? Is it available to the general public? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Guest]

FYI: http://geography.abo...lomerations.htm

 

I am trying to find Bangkok on this list. My eyesight is bad. Please assist.

 

1. Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan - 33,200,000

2. New York, United States - 17,800,000

3. Sao Paulo, Brazil - 17,700,000

4. Seoul-Incheon, South Korea - 17,500,000

5. Mexico City, Mexico - 17,400,000

6. Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, Japan - 16,425,000

7. Manila, Philippines - 14,750,000

8. Mumbai, India (formerly Bombay) - 14,350,000

9. Jakarta, Indonesia - 14,250,000

10. Lagos, Nigeria - 13,400,000

11. Kolkata, India (formerly Calcutta) - 12,700,000

12. Delhi, India - 12,300,000

13. Cairo, Egypt - 12,200,000

14. Los Angeles, United States - 11,789,000

15. Buenos Aires, Argentina - 11,200,000

16. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 10,800,000

17. Moscow, Russia - 10,500,000

18. Shanghai, China - 10,000,000

19. Karachi, Pakistan - 9,800,000

20. Paris, France - 9,645,000

21. Nagoya, Japan - 9,000,000 (tie)

21. Istanbul, Turkey - 9,000,000 (tie)

23. Beijing, China - 8,614,000

24. Chicago, United States - 8,308,000

25. London, United Kingdom - 8,278,000

26. Shenzhen, China - 8,000,000

 

Also: http://en.wikipedia....s_by_population

 

Please help with my poor eyesight!

 

Also: http://www.worldatlas.com/citypops.htm

 

Please help me.

 

PS. Firecat and I are great friends. We are not angry with each other. I just simply haven't convinced him how wrong he is yet. I'm working on him finding the error of his ways.

[firecat69]

I'll walk you through it.

 

1. Turn on your IPAD

 

2. Go to Google and type Bangkok Population and you will find the metropolitan population to be just under 12 million people according to Wikipedia.

 

3. Now repeat step 2 but replace Bangkok with Sao Paulo and you will find again according to Wikipedia that Sao Paulo metropolital population is just over 11 million.

 

 

If you read a little further you will find that Bangkok 's metropolitan area is about 1/2 the size of Sao Paulo metropolitan area.

 

If you are having trouble ask your BF to get your glasses!!!!!