SolaceSoul

The first post = infamous journalist - pornographer who also famously married a Brazilian garoto de programa. The Twitterverse and Datalounge had loads of fun with this exposé a few years ago. 

One thing that really absolutely gets my goat more than anything are these entitled Westerners who travel to places where darker, poorer people are much less privileged and then take advantage of them by doing things like using their monetary influence to have irresponsible, unsafe sex with them. 
And then BRAG about it. Or encourage this kind of behavior by patting those who do it on the back with “good job!”
I don’t care if you’re on PrEP. The other party in a developing nation may not have access to top-shelf medical care like you, and also PrEP does zero for the spread of other deadly or chronic sexually transmitted diseases like hrpatitis or meningitis, or the new viral-resistant gonorrhea which are all on the rise with gays in the USA because they are back to barebacking.
It’s not that hard to be a responsible whore or an ethical sex tourist.

This is turning into a very different conversation than the OP intended, and I don’t mean to thread jack.
But Barcelona, Spain, Lisbon, Portugal and Medellin, Colombia are all going through an anti-tourism, even anti-expat wave right now. Much of it is fueled by rising housing prices and costs of living, but some is also cultural — many non-locals seemingly disrespecting or disregarding local customs, etc. I am hyper-sensitive to this in Rio and other parts of Brazil, as a gringo expat here. I have yet to experience this much here, but I think it’s important to try to prevent it as much as possible: keep prices affordable for Brazilians, speak in the language, watch out for my Europeanisms / Americanisms. And call out bad behavior by my fellow non-Brazilians whenever I can and try to be a good ambassador / steward. After all, when they are all gone, I still have to live here — the tourists don’t. 

I own an Airbnb apartment in Ipanema, so I will give the perspective of a local / investor — who is also quite familiar with why most traveling men who post at these message boards choose Rio.
In my neighborhood of Ipanema, as well as in Leblon and some grander parts of Copacabana (the big touristy areas), there have been some high-profile incidences involving Airbnbs / short-term rentals with some very bad actors — and a few of them ended up deadly, but most of them were violent robberies or home invasions. These have placed the other residents of the buildings in greater harm and risk, and it’s just another reason for those who hate the existence of short-term rentals to get city government involved. As a result, there is proposed city regulation on the table, and many of the condominium associations (they have group meetings) decided to be proactive and self-regulate, hoping to stem any potential laws restricting short-term rentals. Many buildings in the area, mine included, decided that they will place greater restrictions on short-term rentals — one of them being that only those who are registered as the Airbnb guests can have access to the building and apartment. Others have voted against allowing any short-term rentals at all. I would estimate that, in my area alone, in the past 2 years, over half of the buildings either added the no-guest policy for short-termers or banned short-term rentals altogether.
So, my advice is first, to carefully read the house rules of the listing before booking. If a listing does not allow guests, then the host needs either to place that in the rules in advance, or directly after booking, send you a message with any restrictions. if you find an Airbnb in the area that allows you to have guests, if that’s truly important to you, then you should book it — because they are much fewer and more far between in Rio than ever before. 
I also will add that this restriction has not reduced my bookings at all — and with less added risk. So, from the perspective of a host / investor, the threat of income loss from gay and straight male tourists who prefer the company of strangers is minimal to nil. 
And as a tourist that comes and goes, you should understand there are very good reasons why these rules are in place. Even with my listing explicitly saying up front “no guests”, I still get men (because it’s always men, gay or straight!) asking me the same old “can I have a Brazilian friend up for a drink?”. The answer is always no. Look before you book! 

Found the zombie! 

Found the zombie! 

Oh Em Gee. How did I know exactly who you’re talking about? 😆
While the average client is certainly no male supermodel or physique competition champion — including yours truly — those creepy guys definitely bring down the group average! 😳
But my mother always said it’s what’s inside that counts….
 

At least two of those you described had to be The Vampire Twins (not their real names of course, but regulars at those spots know who you’re talking about). Definitely (barely) walking (or their cases, dragging), talking cautionary tales! 

At least two of those you described had to be The Vampire Twins (not their real names of course, but regulars at those spots know who you’re talking about). Definitely (barely) walking (or their cases, dragging), talking cautionary tales! 

At least two of those you described had to be The Vampire Twins (not their real names of course, but regulars at those spots know who you’re talking about). Definitely (barely) walking (or their cases, dragging), talking cautionary tales! 

In Rio, I have had a few sets of cousins on my roster — as well as brothers, and even a father/son combo. 

In almost two decades of going to Rio and Brazil, I’ve never once been to any of the Gay Pride parade or parties. The overwhelming majority of GPs do not identify as gay and are mostly at the saunas (or placing ads) to work. But I’m sure if you pay a GP for his time, quite a few might actually accompany you to a pride parade or event. 
 
No. 

In almost two decades of going to Rio and Brazil, I’ve never once been to any of the Gay Pride parade or parties. The overwhelming majority of GPs do not identify as gay and are mostly at the saunas (or placing ads) to work. But I’m sure if you pay a GP for his time, quite a few might actually accompany you to a pride parade or event. 
 
No. 

That was last week, which was still 2024. As mentioned above (and also as displayed above in a photo), the price increases at 117 began January 2, 2025. 

The last time Corujinhas was on and popping was maybe 2011 or 2012. The trade would stroll on the outskirts of the park across from the restaurant and stroll on by the sidewalk. When I returned the following year or so, everything had completely changed. I went back a few more times hoping that maybe it was an anomaly, but like with Le Boy, it had become a thing of the past.
All good things must come to an end. 

The last time Corujinhas was on and popping was maybe 2011 or 2012. The trade would stroll on the outskirts of the park across from the restaurant and stroll on by the sidewalk. When I returned the following year or so, everything had completely changed. I went back a few more times hoping that maybe it was an anomaly, but like with Le Boy, it had become a thing of the past.
All good things must come to an end. 

The first post = infamous journalist - pornographer who also famously married a Brazilian garoto de programa. The Twitterverse and Datalounge had loads of fun with this exposé a few years ago. 

The first post = infamous journalist - pornographer who also famously married a Brazilian garoto de programa. The Twitterverse and Datalounge had loads of fun with this exposé a few years ago. 

My point is that they could very well know the difference — but not care. You as a US citizen think a millionaire is poor compared to a billionaire. To a working-class (or poor) Brazilian, it’s all relative. To be in the top 1% of income earners in Brazil in 2024, an individual needs only a monthly minimum income of approximately R$35,000 - R$45,000, which is around $6,480 - $8,300 USD a month. The average monthly income for a salaried individual in Brazil is around only 3,343 BRL ($620 USD) and the minimum monthly wage (of which 1/3 to 1/2 of all Brazilians receive less than) is only R$ 1,518, or $280 USD, per month. So, after a certain threshold, those pedantic numbers about millionaires and billionaires in the USA that you’re posting would not even matter to the overwhelming number of Brazilians.
Still, there are enough Brazilians (some of them are garotos) who associate wealth (and class) — at the very least, lots of disposable income or credit — with anyone from certain countries like the USA. “Trailer park trash”, “house and car poor”, and “nouveau riche” are not concepts that they are vert culturally familiar with. 
 
When Calvin Klein visited 117 and Lagoa he was generous to the boys as well as to the house, but it’s not like he was paying in proportion to his net worth. Which was the point of my previous post.

if Geffen were to come to Brazil for his boy toys (and who’s to say that he did not?) , he most certainly would not pay $10,000 USD (R$ 54,000 BRL) on Garoto com Local. 
Yes, word gets around who the clients (whether local and visiting) who are very well-off, and who the pretenders and the stingy, are. 

I don’t think you’re understanding. The point is that to many Brazilians, there is no difference between billionaire David Geffen and an American schlub who works in a cubicle. That average-to above-average earning cubicle supervisor at a paper clip company could be a 1%(a milionário) in Brazil. Try telling a favelado in Jacaré that you as a traveling gringo staying in Zona Sul are not rich. 

As of January 2, 2025, the new, increased entrance fees and suite fees for Club 117 in Rio are now (in BRL):
Entrance fees:
96 BRL — if paying with credit or debit card.
88 BRL — if paying in (Brazilian) cash.
Suite fees:
77 BRL — for 40 minutes. 
[Editor’s note: Before any tourists complain about this slight increase, the prices for almost everything in Brazil are increasing, and the exchange rate for the USD, the EUR and the CAN are currently at insanely favorable rates for foreigners (currently above 6:1 for the USD).] 

Salvador’s saunas are not hyperactive and crowded like the ones in Rio or São Paulo, the Bahian culture is different, so maintain reasonable expectations. They also tend to clear out earlier than the ones in Rio or SP.
Sunday — (1) Fox (2) Clube 11 
Monday — CLOSED
Tuesday - Fox
Wednesday — Clube 11 (Tie for best night)
Thursday  - Fox 
Friday — (1) Fox (best night) (2) Clube 11 
Saturday — (1) Clube 11 (Tie for best night) (2) Fox

It’s not just Clube 11. All the saunas in Salvador — unlike the ones in Rio or São Paulo — tend to be more popular earlier and are pretty empty later. It’s not a pre- or post-pandemic effect. It’s Bahian cultural. It’s always been like that. Expect the saunas in Salvador to be dead by 9 pm. Sometimes, they are active as early as 4 pm. 

Salvador’s saunas are not hyperactive and crowded like the ones in Rio or São Paulo, the Bahian culture is different, so maintain reasonable expectations. They also tend to clear out earlier than the ones in Rio or SP.
Sunday — (1) Fox (2) Clube 11 
Monday — CLOSED
Tuesday - Fox
Wednesday — Clube 11 (Tie for best night)
Thursday  - Fox 
Friday — (1) Fox (best night) (2) Clube 11 
Saturday — (1) Clube 11 (Tie for best night) (2) Fox

Salvador’s saunas are not hyperactive and crowded like the ones in Rio or São Paulo, the Bahian culture is different, so maintain reasonable expectations. They also tend to clear out earlier than the ones in Rio or SP.
Sunday — (1) Fox (2) Clube 11 
Monday — CLOSED
Tuesday - Fox
Wednesday — Clube 11 (Tie for best night)
Thursday  - Fox 
Friday — (1) Fox (best night) (2) Clube 11 
Saturday — (1) Clube 11 (Tie for best night) (2) Fox