Riobard

22 February 2024 update on Brazil (Brasil) SIM cards for foreigners
 
When visiting Brazil using your cell phone can be a problem if you do not have inexpensive roaming on your cell plan. Do not expect a non BR prepaid plan to work in BR. Briefest version: Airalo via eSim which you might be able to buy and then use even after arrival in Brazil seems like the easiest solution and not that expensive for light to moderate use, if you can use wifi as often as possible. Less expensive and will be I think the best choice if your cell phone cannot handle an eSIM is a TIM prepagado SIM cartao or chip pre pago (prepaid SIM card from the company, TIM) bought at a local newspaper and candy kiosk (which seem to be omnipresent on busier shopping streets) for about 15 R$ (3 Euro, Pound, or Dollars) seems to be the next easiest way to do it, but you still need to understand a bit of Portuguese (PT). Claro and Vivo seem a bit hopeless and Claro at least will likely be time consuming for no good reason.
In BR for a foreigner to get a BR SIM card some Claro/Vivo/TIM offices (if they will even assist you, and some will not) will need you to bring your passport and prefer it if you have a CPF card – like a tax ID and should take 2-10 business days for a foreigner to get one. With the CPF, you can also get some discounts at stores and supermarkets. Getting the CPF is a different topic and there are many web links. Please use a newer link, as this can all be done online now, post COVID. Here is one: https://media.doterra.com/br-otg/pt/flyers/gac-step-by-step-english.pdf
At some Claro/Vivo/TIM offices, they might only speak PT or SP. They might not have any interest in assisting you per numerous web reports. At the post office, the process to get a post office SIM might not be so easy and some report that coverage is not great. So why bother…..exactly !!
 
Searches:
https://search.brave.com/search?q=brazil+sim+card+for+tourist&source=web
https://www.traveltomtom.net/destinations/south-america/brazil/sim-card-brazil
Nice detailed information. He likes airalo.
Please check Airalo.com and the various links to make certain your cell phone is on the list for eSIM compatible phones for airalo. I do not know if any eSIM enabled phone will work or not. Same for iPads, tablets, etc. You will find up to date pricing as well, currently 30 days, 3 GB, is 11 USD.
https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-brazil/
Good advice and comments here too.
https://www.iheartbrazil.com/brazil-sim-card/
Somewhat older advice.
https://abrokenbackpack.com/brazil-sim-cards/
Makes this seem too easy, which it is not.
https://www.phonetravelwiz.com/buying-a-sim-card-in-brazil-guide/
Some might find a few helpful hints here.
 
Ok, airalo might seem a bit pricey or you do not have a compatible eSIM phone. A TIM SIM card seems like the next best choice – you buy this once in BR.
Step by step directions:
-make sure your phone, tablet, etc is not locked to your current cell carrier. Easy to check with iphone. Not so easy to be certain with Android.
-After arrival in BR, go to local newsstand and candy kiosk. (Might be able to get TIM SIM card at airports in BR after you arrive, but you can arrange local transportation with airport wifi and arrive at your place ok.) Ask for a TIM prepagado SIM cartao or chip pre pago (prepaid SIM card from the company, TIM). They might have 4G or 5G SIM cards. For most of us 4G should be fine. Expect to pay about 15 R$ (3 Euro, Pound, or Dollars). This is the price ONLY for the SIM card itself-nothing else, no data, no minutes, no texts. At most kiosks, they will only speak PT and maybe some SP, so please don’t expect much assistance, if any, from them. You can do the rest on your own….well yes, mostly, sort of (if you cannot handle any foreign words). I think this would be most difficult for non western language speakers, like Japanese.
-After you buy the TIM SIM card, go back to your place (hotel, airbnb, etc) and use wifi and the SIM itself to do the rest. Why? You will prefer privacy when giving details of your passport to follow.
-take a photo of the numbers on the sticker of your SIM card and write them down as well, just in case. These include parts of the SIM card number.
Also photograph or copy all of the numbers you see on the credit card size SIM plastic card and the actual SIM number (zoom up a photo for this). Mine included PIN, PIN 2, PUK, and PUK 2 numbers. You might not need any of them, but you never know. The PIN and PIN 2 are NOT your password code for the meuTIM app.
-you can insert the TIM SIM card into your phone or tablet now. Be aware that my TIM SIM card came with 3 size choices in the packet. The expected tiny SIM with 2 larger surrounding pieces of plastic if your SIM slot requires this. I have never seen this before and the tiny SIM worked fine in my cell phone.
BEFORE contacting TIM, have your passport with you or a copy of the page(s) with your number and issue date, etc. Also have a copy of your full address in Brazil, just in case they ask (which, apparently they don’t). Ok if it is a Hotel address. Some old posts indicate TIM uses this to figure out the correct BR area code and number for you. However, these days, when you insert your TIM SIM card you automatically receive a phone number !!
There is no need to go to a TIM store unless you expect major language issues (eg Japanese only speakers)
-BR phone numbers: 55 (21) 12345 6789. 55 is the country code for BR. If you are in Rio, 21 is one of several State codes within Brazil. The next 9 numbers are your number. But when using the TIM phone app, do not use 55!! Your number begins with the numbers 11-99 depending on what State of Brazil your SIM card links to. So there will be 11 digits to enter for the meuTIM app. My 11 digits start with 21 and then the 12345 6789.
- with the new TIM SIM card in your phone, dial *144. Despite previous postings, the robot never defaulted to English and hung up on me around 2:15. If you are luckier and hear English, press 3 to get to an English speaking attendant. If you do not hear English around the 50 second mark, after hearing “DOISHE” the EN pronunciation for the PT word for 2, listen carefully for “trAYsh”, like “trace” with the C replaced with SH, PT word for 3. Then press 3 on your cell phone (not sure if also had to hit “*” as well). When I did this the English speaking attendant came on quickly in less than 15 seconds (weekday, around 1500 hours in Rio). The connection was not great, but it worked. She wanted my passport number, country, date of issue, and my name. Nothing else. I spelled my last name for her, although she did not ask for this. I thought it best just in case name she put it did not match name on credit card to pay for data etc to follow. She said I could buy service plan, data, days of service etc at drug stores, kiosks, TIM stores, etc, but not with her by phone now.
-throughout the process of plonking the TIM SIM card into your device and activating it by calling TIM you will receive MANY text messages.
- Pay special attention to any text that includes the word “senha” and copy the 4 digit number down. This is the password code you need for the meuTIM app.
-I clicked on one of the text links that followed my TIM English conversation within minutes to get a prepaid plan. Paid 30 R$ (about 6 Euros, Pounds, Dollars). I think it was via ativar.tim.com.br. I could not pay with the phone VPN on, so might need to start from scratch with the phone VPN off if you do this via phone. Went through seamlessly.
-It will be difficult to figure out what you actually bought !! I thought I was getting 30 days, but it seemed like I got 90 days of service and 12GB or more of data, with bonus data depending on when the data is used, like overnight. Using a few apps and checking emails, maps, a few websites and social media I can often get by on 2GB/week using wifi when eating, at museums, etc. I think texts are unlimited and calls are unlimited (perhaps in State of RJ or only BR). There are multiple discount and other offerings as well. For example with the Ze food delivery service. (Claro adds completely free whatsapp, which is hugely popular in BR, but this was not noted with TIM) So no complaint about price or set up time with TIM. From buying the 15 R$ TIM SIM card at a nearby kiosk to finishing call with TIM attendant to buying a 30 R$ 12 plus GB 30 or 90 day prepaid plan took less than 30 minutes and cost around 9 Euros, Pounds or Dollars !!
-you can add the meuTIM app on your phone via Apple or Google Play store. Can do it on your computer browser as well if you like. I assume topping up if you need more data or longer stay will be very easy as well – but I have learned, never assume.
-as always, can save cellular data via using wifi when able. Always use VPN when possible.
 
Other numbers to be aware of:
*244 or *244# to top up
*222# to check balance
 
Hope this step by step guide will assist folks and sorry for the long post necessitated therein.

If I understand this correctly, you can pay a one-time monthly fee of $50 to use your phone in almost every country in the world. Canada is so fucked up when it comes to cell phone service, especially in other countries. I'm with Virgin Plus and to be fair, I've never really figured cell phone plans, but I think they also do a bit to make sure the plans are confusing. Anyway, it always ends up costing a lot more than I thought it would. My trip in January to Colombia I just had the sim card changed at the airport and as far I know, Virgin didn't have any way to add on extra charges. I used the esim in Europe last year, it was fine, but because of some shit going on at home I had to keep changing back and forth... paid dearly for that.

The main issue was there is and was a $16 daily charge even if I had to flip over to make a single phone call. This was an unexpected financial thing that came up that had to dealt with. And I'm not sure that anybody who hasn't lived in Canada can truly appreciate how badly we're ripped off by a handful of big corporations that control the communications and banking industries.         

Gigolo Erotic House; stripper/gogo/dancers with some small private lap dance areas, usually an overlap with the masseur trade downstairs; I believe same management. Hit and miss. The hottest guy from a year ago graduated up to Theatron. 
Recent example of lineup:

Gigolo Erotic House; stripper/gogo/dancers with some small private lap dance areas, usually an overlap with the masseur trade downstairs; I believe same management. Hit and miss. The hottest guy from a year ago graduated up to Theatron. 
Recent example of lineup:

Now that’s raisin awareness to new heights. I’m a fruit that would have had to start very young and break the piggy bank, but there is the advantage of priority boarding access if aged whining finely enough. 

600 a year ! It's half of my recent airfare to BKK. I wouldn't call it small change

You have the option of 2 towels or 1 towel plus a large terry cloth robe on check-in. If you spread out the robe on a vinyl mattress, not routinely swabbed between sessions because the cleaners are run off their feet and cannot track everything minute by minute that goes on in every private space, you get more cloth coverage over it. 
Another tip: If you rent a room that is put on your check-out tab, you have it for an hour. Write down the time from the clock at reception, making sure the attendant knows you are aware, and optionally keep the key for 55-59 minutes because you may want to fit in at least one more session. Rookie mistake is to hand back the key after 20-30 minutes and then regret it. 
The light dimmers generally don’t function well. 

It would be prudent to rotate these vehicle rentals so an ongoing pattern of isolated parking does not alert authorities to various shenanigans ... Ford Escort, Dodge Magnum, Ford Probe, Dodge Ram, etc. 

+1, in some bars add the show to list of goodies provided, in some even with glimpse of cock or even chance to get grasp of one for a tip  during big cock parade.  
great sightseeing report in your blog about Santa Cruz neigbourhood in Bangkok
Santa Cruz church and Kudeejeen – ShamelessMack2 (travel.blog)

IMHO not at all, but the only choice we have is either to enter+pay or not step foot in a bar at all.
However, to be fair, 500 is not the price of the beer. It is a combo price for the following:
1. The beer.
2. The waiter's effort bringing it to you and watching you like a hawk for the rest of the evening in case you leave without settling the tab ("check bin").
3. The gogo boys' pittance of a salary for being there on stage.
4. The extra allowances paid to those boys who participate in shows.
5. Your share of rent and utilities.
6. Your share of the brown envelope money that even permits the bar to operate the way it does.
7. Costs of other staff such as the DJ who does not know what tolerable volume level means.
8. Management profit.
All the above add up to 250 baht, which would be more or less what the girl gogo bars charge.  It is 500 baht because each customer who steps into a boy bar has to pay the share of the missing customer who, having seen the fast declining quality of the boys and their undress (less undressed than before), the boring shows, and the escalating prices, have since stopped to the bars or much less frequently than before. If not for paying the share of the missing customer, there won't be enough revenue to keep the bars going.
Enjoy 😛
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Only just!

Agree. There is no reason to panic about having assignations thwarted. The motel I have used also didn’t unlock the reception exit unless I ushered my ‘guest’ out in person after the session. The room was modern and very nice.
I disagree that one cannot determine Airbnb guest policy ahead of booking. They are written or absent. I do agree that it is wise to communicate intent to host a friend for quiet drinks/dinner but not “party” events and that you wish to view any guest policy prior to booking, not be presented with new regulations at the point (usually 24-48 hrs) detailed check-in instructions are released. This inquiry may raise eyebrows but may help you to disqualify the more rigid host. The majority of hosts recognize we don’t live in a social vacuum. Nationals using the platform would, in fact, be expected to host friends because that would be the primary reason for renting the place. Hosts just don’t want noise complaints or damaging wear and tear. 
 

I have been lucky w the Airbnb I've used too. But keep in mind in Chapinero there are at least a dozen love motels.  They're cheap and add a little fun to the experience.

What we don’t know is the instructions the presiding judge gave the jury prior to sending them to deliberate.
I’m sure this and other derails will come out on appeal.
i still believe that she willfully decided to speed with the knowledge that the consequences could indeed be fatal. And I’m satisfied that qualifies as afore thought. 
 

Like a hybrid in a sense. I cannot put away all the items on a typical tasting card. I am not a big eater and drink very little alcohol. This was smallish palate-teasing bouches to start with a flute of sparkling; may have been Thai vinyard as I know that I had a few glasses of nationally produced wine over a number of weeks. Mains all arrived at once, equivalency to a large entrèe. Dessert light and refreshing, a first for me wrt that fruit species.
Most days my nutrition intake was a few bucks, geared to requirements over hedonism, as that’s my playbook. Go large occasionally, though admittedly Brioche From Heaven at Chong Nonsi BTS wouid subvert all health goals if in my home city. 

Aaah … that explains the Patpong Dept Store displays, one for Songkran, the other for everyday drab that’s useful for concealing drooling as well as accidental mussel salad drippings. 

Now that is the definition of pedestrian. 

I'll say.... they routinely claim they are living under a tyranny in Canada. There are lots of things the Canadian government can be accused of, gross incompetence, endless acts of virtue signalling with no actual changes, misleading the public..... but tyranny is hardly one of them. Canada's tolerance for homosexuality ( as far as I know it doesn't differ significantly from western Europe) does seem however to be a major grievance. For the religious right wingers living in a country that doesn't persecute gays is not acceptable.

Let's assume the story is true, even if there is some exaggeration or missing elements. I for one am not surprised. Rightwing nuts live in their own bubble, consume their own media and therefore see the world through absurdly distorted lenses. They believe what they want to believe. Out of the millions of rightwing nuts, there will surely be some who act on those beliefs, like this man and his family. 
 

I had exactly the same question and doubletake moment as @Riobard

Can’t the expat forum fact check or be logical? The article indicates that a crackdown on LGTBQ+ rights has “complicated” the plan. Why would that defenestrate the Feenstras since the ideologies don’t mismatch? What actually transpired in the toilet misunderstandings? 

Bye-bye hiatus. Hello ‘hi, ate ass’. Go git it!

Bye-bye hiatus. Hello ‘hi, ate ass’. Go git it!