Riobard

About tips: tips are an American thing, where you supposed to tip everybody, is very moderate in Europe and non-existent in Asia. In Brazil, which is obviously the case here, you tip the waiter that serves you food and the hotel worker that carries your bags, that's about it. If you are in a bar, sat on a table for drinks, an additional 10% will be included on your bill anyway, you should no go any further than that. If you are in a bar and you go to the counter order a beer or whatever, you pay exclusively for the cost of the drink, bartenders don't get tipped by Brazilians, unlike they get tipped by Europeans and definitely not by Asians. In a sauna, for example, if you tip the help, you are being very gracious, they are not counting on it. I've worked for tips in NYC for many years and me and my co-workers knew in advance if we would get a tip or not. In a crowded disco, for example, Asians, included the many ones that were born in the States and were aware of the culture, would be served last, regardless of time they reached the bar counter, because the staff knew that tips would not happen. If you are in Brazil, if food is not involved, tip if you feel like. Important:  cab drivers are not tipped by Brazilians ever!

I have logged several months overall of living within a 10-minute walking distance to the Gloria/CandidoDeMendes intersection without incident. I tend to feel more on guard walking from Tonelero up Siqueira Campos to 202, likely because there is theoretically more foot traffic between the favela and the Metro station, and later at night there is a short span without much of a sidewalk crowd. 
Car hijackings do occur in the city, but the chances overall are obviously quite low. When I take an Über, however, I sit in the front passenger seat so that I am not telegraphing "Hey, this is a tourist in an Über."

Who's who and the question of tipping housestaff:
Gratuities are, of course, optional and appreciated.
The mix of staff, generally, is:
-Reception for computerized account, keys, payment, sometimes the towel/flipflop dispensing
-Bartenders
-Management troubleshooting types floating around
-Music/show coordinator
-Suite cleaners, sometimes also floating as locker attendants
-Locker-room attendants, sometimes the towel/flipflop dispensing
Are cash gratuities pooled and shared amongst the total group or any subgroup? No, it's each man/woman for himself.
Me, I am a modest tipper and my focus is the cleaners and attendants. Per visit, i dispense single cincos. This is typically 10 total for the 2 women at 202; 20-25 total to the locker attendants, the 2 women supervising the suites and the floater cleaning the overall premises and some suites at  117. 
Overall, on any one more extended Rio visit these low wage earners may benefit more from me personally than many GdePs I sample. But anyone cleaning up my poopy cummy condoms deserves a tad extra, in my view. 
To each his own.
Have a safe, prosperous, and fun-filled visit.
 

The answers to some of your concerns depend on how savvy you are as a traveler and a player.  I am guessing you don't play much in your hometown and you don't travel overseas much.
HPV -- There is HPV in every country.  How do you handle your HPV concern in your home country? I suppose you never hire any escort or go to a sex club or have sex with strangers in your home country. 
Wifi -- Buy a Brazilian sim card or use your home country sim card with international roaming.  And you will have internet connection everywhere while in Brazil. Do you really want to rely exclusively on establishments' free wifi?
Club117 area safety -- many members  on this forum take metro there, but Uber is cheap and safe if you don't feel comfortable with public transportation.
 
 

Exactly! More for them, as the little bit of research existing suggests that up to 20% of men who pay for sex are found to have an STI on routine consultation, without necessarily having had telltale symptoms. Male commercial sex workers also tend to be more lax than female sex workers, and the research suggests that up to 40% of male sex workers not on the street would spot-test positive for an STI, a higher rate than for female sex workers and for men who have non-commercial sex with men. 
But many of those transmissions were contracted from clients, not difficult math given the volume of tricks turned. 
These estimates are at the high end of confidence intervals. In other words, the true rates are likely lower, or depends on the group and other factors, but these figures are still sobering. And in your face at the clubs the big head can see the potential chain of transmission on full display even if the little head is clueless. 
I myself fellate without a condom some of the time, but I get tested regularly, am immune against HepB, and take PreP when sexually active, just for good measure though it is far less imperative. In a foreign country I do not want to deal with the local system in the event of accidental exposure. 
I would suggest the most important precaution in the travel sex playbook is to be immune against Hepatitis B, by vaccination, or you may have previous exposure and clearance. I caught HepB and was extremely ill through protected sex many years ago, via the kissing part. It is not a wimpy virus in terms of transmission. Acute HepB can be very serious, even kill.
I have had none of the more garden-variety STIs that can be acquired in the saunas in Brazil. I consider this to be luck more than smarts.
We probably most of us have HPV.

The risk is two sided, for them as well, no?

1. Keep the cash in your locker. I like to carry my iPhone, and I do it in my hand.
2. 117 is right around the corner from the Gloria Metro station. The neighborhood is not unsafe — especially if you are just going in the well-traveled path directly from the metro station to the sauna and back. But if you are a Nervous Nelly or if you think you stick out like a sore thumb as a target, then just Uber it after dark. 
You might have gotten 117 confused with 203, which is in a decent area of Copa and right down the street from the Siguero Campos Metro, but if you make the wrong walking or driving turn , you’ll end up going up a hill to the favela — and you don’t want to do that. Especially not a Nervous Nelly turista who looks like a gringo!
3. I can’t help you there. You really should be taking the same precautions you do at a Brazilian sauna that you would during a casual sexual encounter in your hometown or anywhere else.
4. All of the saunas you mentioned have free WiFi access in certain common areas of the clubs. Ask an employee or the front desk for the network and customer password. But Google Translate works without WiFi if you preloaded language dictionaries. And you should consider getting an unlimited cellular data plan for your international travels as well — that way you can use apps (like translators or WhatsApp) without WiFi.
Hope this helps.

Interesting questions...
1.  Leave the cash in your locker...they have cameras and everything in your locker will be safe
2.  Take an uder or taxi if you want but 117 is a 3-5 minute walk from the metro and the neighborhood is very safe
3.  If you have to ask this question, use protection....why even risk your health if you are asking before you even get to Rio...
I never have had unprotected sex in the Rio saunas (and would be leery as hell of any body open to raw sex) and as far as oral sex, never gotten anything in Rio...Most of the guys are very safe but not sure how much body fluid you plan to exchange, I would wrap it up to be on the safe side
4.  WIFI is all over Rio and in all the saunas

The tell-all novelty of your accounts is telenovella addictive. I kept eagerly waiting for each installment, its creative flourishes, and what course  the events would take. 

Who's who and the question of tipping housestaff:
Gratuities are, of course, optional and appreciated.
The mix of staff, generally, is:
-Reception for computerized account, keys, payment, sometimes the towel/flipflop dispensing
-Bartenders
-Management troubleshooting types floating around
-Music/show coordinator
-Suite cleaners, sometimes also floating as locker attendants
-Locker-room attendants, sometimes the towel/flipflop dispensing
Are cash gratuities pooled and shared amongst the total group or any subgroup? No, it's each man/woman for himself.
Me, I am a modest tipper and my focus is the cleaners and attendants. Per visit, i dispense single cincos. This is typically 10 total for the 2 women at 202; 20-25 total to the locker attendants, the 2 women supervising the suites and the floater cleaning the overall premises and some suites at  117. 
Overall, on any one more extended Rio visit these low wage earners may benefit more from me personally than many GdePs I sample. But anyone cleaning up my poopy cummy condoms deserves a tad extra, in my view. 
To each his own.
Have a safe, prosperous, and fun-filled visit.
 

I would be slightly more tolerant than thinking of banning anyone. Let me try my way to say it, I think I am tuned with those criticizing @Badboy81's post.
If you want to be negative in a not constructive way, just to spit your disgust for someone or for something, please feel free to do it. But suck it up when you are called out as the negative asshole you are, without bringing freedom of speech to the table. Just suck it up.
 

This month at 202 entrance Thursdays is reduced from 60 to 30. Suites continue free Mon/Wed/Fri.

Who's who and the question of tipping housestaff:
Gratuities are, of course, optional and appreciated.
The mix of staff, generally, is:
-Reception for computerized account, keys, payment, sometimes the towel/flipflop dispensing
-Bartenders
-Management troubleshooting types floating around
-Music/show coordinator
-Suite cleaners, sometimes also floating as locker attendants
-Locker-room attendants, sometimes the towel/flipflop dispensing
Are cash gratuities pooled and shared amongst the total group or any subgroup? No, it's each man/woman for himself.
Me, I am a modest tipper and my focus is the cleaners and attendants. Per visit, i dispense single cincos. This is typically 10 total for the 2 women at 202; 20-25 total to the locker attendants, the 2 women supervising the suites and the floater cleaning the overall premises and some suites at  117. 
Overall, on any one more extended Rio visit these low wage earners may benefit more from me personally than many GdePs I sample. But anyone cleaning up my poopy cummy condoms deserves a tad extra, in my view. 
To each his own.
Have a safe, prosperous, and fun-filled visit.
 

Who's who and the question of tipping housestaff:
Gratuities are, of course, optional and appreciated.
The mix of staff, generally, is:
-Reception for computerized account, keys, payment, sometimes the towel/flipflop dispensing
-Bartenders
-Management troubleshooting types floating around
-Music/show coordinator
-Suite cleaners, sometimes also floating as locker attendants
-Locker-room attendants, sometimes the towel/flipflop dispensing
Are cash gratuities pooled and shared amongst the total group or any subgroup? No, it's each man/woman for himself.
Me, I am a modest tipper and my focus is the cleaners and attendants. Per visit, i dispense single cincos. This is typically 10 total for the 2 women at 202; 20-25 total to the locker attendants, the 2 women supervising the suites and the floater cleaning the overall premises and some suites at  117. 
Overall, on any one more extended Rio visit these low wage earners may benefit more from me personally than many GdePs I sample. But anyone cleaning up my poopy cummy condoms deserves a tad extra, in my view. 
To each his own.
Have a safe, prosperous, and fun-filled visit.
 

I think it's great that you have done so much research--and this board is a great resource. If I had to give one more piece of advice it would be to prepare to go with the flow on any given day and see where it goes. Rio is an amazing destination both in and out of the saunas. You hate to give up an amazing conversation with a new friend on the beach only to run to the sauna and discover that despite all the best planning it's a dud night. Go enjoy--use your research but be flexible--and of course report back! And I agree with Tomcal--no need to bring your own towels.

I dont agree that threads exist or should exist for "positive" commentary only.    There is a yin and yang to everything in life.  Negativity is part of lifes fabric.  Threads laden with only positively are unbalanced and often come off fake and contrived.  HOWEVER, I also believe its not WHAT you say but how you say it.   There is a way to respond negatively WITHOUT an attack on the person posting, and I think THAT'S the real issue...  While I have been guilty many, many times of attacking posters, its usually after the fact once they attack me for my comment.  Some people can just make you lose it !    Keeping yourself in check is one of the most difficult things to do on forums where your anonymity shields you, but I am a work in progress.    

Yes. Yes. 

For the youngsters in the group, you know we did not have apps and online fora in the 70s and 80s.
We have all been as young as 20 and up. If we had online communication then, I think it would have been considered impolite or 'gloaty' to share that we could pick up tricks in a bar, park, church social (including Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence religious retreats), etc, but not describe them a little.
Look, I had casual sex with a lot of really attractive guys in my day. Like, a lot. And I simply do not recall any silly top/bottom distinction; you fucked and got fucked. Eventually, you reach an age of majority ... the majority of hot young things look to their age group while issuing you your gay death certificate with a golden handshake, not even the decency of a golden handjob. 
Not bitter ... had a good run, and no hangups about the sex trade. 
This forum is meant to be inclusive in that it is not restricted to catering to men seeking info and stories about paid encounters. But commenting about Grindr and similarly sourced exploits is like saying there are gay men who have sex with other gay men. Everybody knows this already and that the bulk of sex that occurs on Earth does not involve monetary exchange. 
So if you wish to underscore your membership in the subgroup of queers capable of hookups with guys not interested in your money, please at the very least entertain us a little with some tantalizing narratives. Also, discreet photos of your conquests do not compromise the average joe in the same way as they would a working guy.
How do you like them freedom of speech apples?

For the youngsters in the group, you know we did not have apps and online fora in the 70s and 80s.
We have all been as young as 20 and up. If we had online communication then, I think it would have been considered impolite or 'gloaty' to share that we could pick up tricks in a bar, park, church social (including Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence religious retreats), etc, but not describe them a little.
Look, I had casual sex with a lot of really attractive guys in my day. Like, a lot. And I simply do not recall any silly top/bottom distinction; you fucked and got fucked. Eventually, you reach an age of majority ... the majority of hot young things look to their age group while issuing you your gay death certificate with a golden handshake, not even the decency of a golden handjob. 
Not bitter ... had a good run, and no hangups about the sex trade. 
This forum is meant to be inclusive in that it is not restricted to catering to men seeking info and stories about paid encounters. But commenting about Grindr and similarly sourced exploits is like saying there are gay men who have sex with other gay men. Everybody knows this already and that the bulk of sex that occurs on Earth does not involve monetary exchange. 
So if you wish to underscore your membership in the subgroup of queers capable of hookups with guys not interested in your money, please at the very least entertain us a little with some tantalizing narratives. Also, discreet photos of your conquests do not compromise the average joe in the same way as they would a working guy.
How do you like them freedom of speech apples?

I really doubt the GdeP demanding double is very confident it will pay off, at least in the sauna setting. The menacing posturing is his lottery ticket, usually discardable.
Some of the garota brothels with high-end working ladies charge a flat rate: 400 reais for entrance and standard suck'n'fuck with one girl. Believe me, the customer does not easily get a second roll of the dice for free if he is dissatisfied with the one he chooses.
Do we want the more cookie-cutter business model at those prices? Probably not. The law of averages works in our favour.
We get to window-shop non-commitedly over a cocktail for a pittance, interact and extract phone numbers, have a hot time with at least one GdeP, optionally negotiate particulars of sexual choreography, all for a substantially great price. 

For the youngsters in the group, you know we did not have apps and online fora in the 70s and 80s.
We have all been as young as 20 and up. If we had online communication then, I think it would have been considered impolite or 'gloaty' to share that we could pick up tricks in a bar, park, church social (including Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence religious retreats), etc, but not describe them a little.
Look, I had casual sex with a lot of really attractive guys in my day. Like, a lot. And I simply do not recall any silly top/bottom distinction; you fucked and got fucked. Eventually, you reach an age of majority ... the majority of hot young things look to their age group while issuing you your gay death certificate with a golden handshake, not even the decency of a golden handjob. 
Not bitter ... had a good run, and no hangups about the sex trade. 
This forum is meant to be inclusive in that it is not restricted to catering to men seeking info and stories about paid encounters. But commenting about Grindr and similarly sourced exploits is like saying there are gay men who have sex with other gay men. Everybody knows this already and that the bulk of sex that occurs on Earth does not involve monetary exchange. 
So if you wish to underscore your membership in the subgroup of queers capable of hookups with guys not interested in your money, please at the very least entertain us a little with some tantalizing narratives. Also, discreet photos of your conquests do not compromise the average joe in the same way as they would a working guy.
How do you like them freedom of speech apples?

I really doubt the GdeP demanding double is very confident it will pay off, at least in the sauna setting. The menacing posturing is his lottery ticket, usually discardable.
Some of the garota brothels with high-end working ladies charge a flat rate: 400 reais for entrance and standard suck'n'fuck with one girl. Believe me, the customer does not easily get a second roll of the dice for free if he is dissatisfied with the one he chooses.
Do we want the more cookie-cutter business model at those prices? Probably not. The law of averages works in our favour.
We get to window-shop non-commitedly over a cocktail for a pittance, interact and extract phone numbers, have a hot time with at least one GdeP, optionally negotiate particulars of sexual choreography, all for a substantially great price. 

I really doubt the GdeP demanding double is very confident it will pay off, at least in the sauna setting. The menacing posturing is his lottery ticket, usually discardable.
Some of the garota brothels with high-end working ladies charge a flat rate: 400 reais for entrance and standard suck'n'fuck with one girl. Believe me, the customer does not easily get a second roll of the dice for free if he is dissatisfied with the one he chooses.
Do we want the more cookie-cutter business model at those prices? Probably not. The law of averages works in our favour.
We get to window-shop non-commitedly over a cocktail for a pittance, interact and extract phone numbers, have a hot time with at least one GdeP, optionally negotiate particulars of sexual choreography, all for a substantially great price. 

I suggested avoid complaining or refusing to pay because of the quality of the performance, in case of the boy asking for substantially more than was the deal, I would notify the management, they have a good idea of what the boys are charging and in the case of something outlandish they will do something about it. Is not in their best interest to have workers robbing the clients and the possibility of the police coming in is the thing they fear the most.

For the youngsters in the group, you know we did not have apps and online fora in the 70s and 80s.
We have all been as young as 20 and up. If we had online communication then, I think it would have been considered impolite or 'gloaty' to share that we could pick up tricks in a bar, park, church social (including Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence religious retreats), etc, but not describe them a little.
Look, I had casual sex with a lot of really attractive guys in my day. Like, a lot. And I simply do not recall any silly top/bottom distinction; you fucked and got fucked. Eventually, you reach an age of majority ... the majority of hot young things look to their age group while issuing you your gay death certificate with a golden handshake, not even the decency of a golden handjob. 
Not bitter ... had a good run, and no hangups about the sex trade. 
This forum is meant to be inclusive in that it is not restricted to catering to men seeking info and stories about paid encounters. But commenting about Grindr and similarly sourced exploits is like saying there are gay men who have sex with other gay men. Everybody knows this already and that the bulk of sex that occurs on Earth does not involve monetary exchange. 
So if you wish to underscore your membership in the subgroup of queers capable of hookups with guys not interested in your money, please at the very least entertain us a little with some tantalizing narratives. Also, discreet photos of your conquests do not compromise the average joe in the same way as they would a working guy.
How do you like them freedom of speech apples?