speedoo1

Most likely due to the war in Ukraine and oil prices going up significantly. High oil/gas prices and strong demand (Russia has been banned by many countries/companies) boost the confidence in Brazilian economy and investors are buying BRL. .Prepay your hotel/Airbnb condos and exchange cash to BRL in your home country in advance.

For 150 BRL you can't expect the guy to "gozar" at Club 117. That would be an add. 50 BRL = 200 BRL. From your description of him it doesn't sound like he would have to go below going rate to get the deal done.

As a reference /data point I bought generic Sildenafil at a pharmacy in SP. Package of 4 50mg pills at 17 BRL/package, so very reasonable. No questions asked at the counter (except that I was asked for my CPF, which I don't have but nevertheless I received a discount of around 30% - I thought it would require a CPF to get such discount).

Thanks for all the tips, especially from Riobard on busses between SP and Rio. I ended up buying a bus ticket for a night departure to Rio. On the 1001 webpage. Worked like a charm. It was on the day of departure so all sleeper seats (Leito) sold out for late evening departures and fares at their peak. I was looking at semi-leito at around 160 BRL but suddenly 2 Leito seats became available for a 22:30 depature (I guess somone cancelled) and I immidiately grabed one. Rather pricy at 380 BRL incl. tax etc. but it was well worth the money. I sleept like a baby during the 6½ hour ride. Seat became fully flat with a small pillow and blanket. Arrived Rio (Rodoviário Novo Rio) at 05:15 and went to a friend's room in Gloria until check-in was possible at my Airbnb condo. I could easily do that again, although I would probably buy the ticket in advance as the fares seem lower if bought at least a few days out.

Any nice/more upscale recommended hotels in Republica? Apparently Saturday night is very popular in this area and my preferred Airbnb options are all sold out Saturday - many seems only occupied for that night, so apparently people are flocking to Republica Fridays and Saturday?

Thanks. This is insane; USD 250+ for CGH-SDU 10 days out! No thanks. How can Brazilians pay fares like this? (I assume that not all Brazilians will be able to book 2-3 months out to get a reasonable fare) All flights during the day seem to be priced similarly so def. not demand driven, but seems like the lower booking classes are closed at certain days before departure regardless of actual demand/tickets sold; this way of pricing air tickets were abandoned in Europe by most airlines long time ago. Or maybe I'm just spoiled from traveling in Europe during Covid-19 where reasonable/low air fares could be found even shortly before departure as fares here are more actual demand driven....

Looking at fares between SP and Rio next week and the week after. GOL and LATAM fares are all more than USD 100-150+ For less than 1h flight it is kinda expensive - and much more than the GOL ticket I bought last year (which I ended up skipping because travel to Rio was cancelled). Airtravel in Brazil has picked-up so airlines now can charge an arm for dom. flights - or it is because I'm too late/close to my departure date? (obviously, cheaper tickets can be found if bought more than 3-4 weeks out but I didn't expect tickets 1-2 weeks before to be this expensive). Any tips?

There is nothing unusual about being quoted THB 600 for tuk-tuk or taxi ride from Kathu to Patong Beach. This was also pre-Covid standard rate/flat fee. This is Phuket after all. Grab, Bolt, Uber etc is useless.

Which Brazilian banks do not apply a ATM fee for withdrawing cash with foreign cards ?

Arriving around 4PM should work fine. Weekdays are more quiet than Fri-Sun, but should nevertheless be fine.

That is a good and safe area to stay in whilst in Medellin. Carrera 70 gets quite lively in the evening/at night. Easy to go to the city center from Estadio metro station or even easier take a collectivo (minibus) along Ave. San Juan. San Peter Apartments on a side street to Carrera 70 has several Airbnb listings with nice and roomy apartments; pick one a high floor for amazing views over Medellin and less street noise.

No one in the apps of your liking?

Elaborate? Expecting to travel to Rio later this month and would like to buy if easily available. Where to buy without prescription?

Early december would be extreme low tourist season (together with January) and a lot places are closed. Try go back in the summer and the picture will completely different (I was in Barcelona twice last year, late Aug and late Sep - a lot tourists and things very busy)

It is almost guaranteed that you will not find any info about this in booking.com, Expedia, Agoda etc. If you are luckly you may find the info on the webpage of the hotel, but most likely you will not. You would need to contact the hotel and inquire about their practice. Be prepared to dispute the matter? You will be asked to sign the form where you accept the payment and it will be charged to you room. If you don't sign, you will walk alone to your room... You don't want to take that discussing with an embarrassed boy next to you.

Please also take into consideration that many hotels (most?) in Patong will charge a "joiners fee" if you bring a guest back to the room. Usually around 1,000 B. It doesn't matter if you book the room for 2 persons. You may be able to sneak in a guest during daytime (because will nobody notice) but at night it is almost impossible. The security guards are trained in spotting guests trying to bring a local lad or girl to the room, so most likely will have to do the "walk of shame" to the reception with your guest to have him registered and you to pay/to charge it to your room (admittedly, front desk staff is cool about it - as if it was perfectly normal; no issues there). Annoying practice but that is how it works in Patong/Phuket (at least pre-Covid; I would be surprised if it changed). That is one of the main reasons I prefer to book Airbnb in Patong.

Thanks. I didn't know that. My experience with hotels/establishments in Colombia is limited (and to chain hotels and Airbnb). Som Airbnb places have limited check-in times,but then it is/should be clearly stated in the profile. I can't recall to have seen it for the hotels I have stayed in in Colombia.

I wouldn't stay there. There are way better options and locations in Patong. Check out the Holiday Inn Express, Best Western and Patong Resort (for the latter book the garden superior rooms rather the cheaper rooms in the main building); all are within walking distance from Paradise. For more upscale hotel check-out the Impiana Resort at the ocean front.

Patong is a good place to stay if you want to go out /visit the gay bars at the Paradise complex. Yes, there are a few male massage shops in the alleys around the street itself. In high season there should be plenty of gay tourists in Patong; this was pre-covid mind you! No need to stay in the Paradise complex itself (too seedy IMO); you can just walk to the area at night from elsewhere in Patong or take a (over-prized) tuk-tuk. For gay travelers Patong is not matched anywhere else on the island.

Why pay double for 4 hands when 2 are sufficient? most of us don't come for the massage but for the "afters" with the guy. It doesn't get double as good because there 2 of them.

In a different note, I am contemplating Rio in late February and now I realise that Rio Carnival is scheduled to take place from 25 Feb. Will things get extremely busy and hotel, Airbnb rates etc go sky high before or during Carnival? I have never been in Rio let alone at the Carnival (and somehow I doubt that I will be really into it, also because I'm no longer partying into the night/mornings).

Hardly any property (in Colombia or elsewhere) is going to allow you check-in at 5AM (for a reservation with check-in same date around 2-3PM). As rates are fairly cheap in Bgta, you make the reservation for the previous night and then state in the reservation or inform the hotel in advance that you will check-in late /past midnight. Then you will have no issues to check-in early in the morning and get a few hours of sleep in the room; much better than waiting in hotel lobby or elsewhere because you have been told to come back for check-in in the afternoon (been there, done that)

You will find plenty of top guys in Bgta. Just search the apps when you get there - and write in Spanish that you prefer mature top guys. No reason to create a Colombian itinerary based on assumptions of where top guys are located.

Forget it! Most likely you will not accomplish it - or his price tag will prohibitively expensive. But rest assured that in Medellin there are plenty of hot guys that will be happy to meet up in exchange for cash. Just search the apps when you get there - or use the various listings for male scorts found in other threads.

Somehow I doubt that there are many true bisexuals as members of this forum; the majority is gay. That being said, I hope you reconnect with him in Rio.