Hotel or Airbnb

[Jawjaw84]

Apologies in advance if the info is already on the site but I think these things change a lot. I am planning a trip to Brazil in a few months. I have been a few times before and always played at the saunas, never hosted guys. I will be in Rio for around a week with a friend, do any hotels easily accept visitors or is Airbnb the best option. 
 

do the airbnbs tend to have security where the guys have to register , should I be asking before booking about the guest policy?
 

we did Colombia last year together in air bnbs and had a great time with no problems 

 

any tips , hints or recommendations much appreciated 

[Latbear4blk]

I think it is a matter of preferences. I prefer Airbnb, but that is just me. In Brazil, I often have GPs hanging out with me for long hours, being in an hotel room would not offer the variety of activities we can enjoy in a full apartment.

About whether or not you can bring visitors, it depends on the hotel and on the Airbnb rules. When I find an airbnb that I want to rent, before confirming the booking I contact the host and explain that my intention is to hang out with friends during the day (I do not like overnights). So far, I've never had an issue.

Although I do not prefer overnights, many times the guys asked me to stay. I had an issue with that only in my last time in Rio. I rented an airbnb quite similar to an apart hotel, and they had a strict policy about guests leaving before 10PM. However, in my experience this has been the exception and not the rule.

[Primeone385]

I have been to Rio twice. One time I stayed at the hotel and another time at an Airbnb. The hotel was a complete hassel. Even though I booked a two person room. They kept trying to charge me for guest I would bring back during the day. In fact it was kind of hostile towards me. But I learned my lesson. The second time I got an Airbnb. I with the Airbnb host I explained to them like @Latbear4blk did I have friends that I want to hang out with and cook dinners for. They had no issue with me bringing anyone over. The doormen never gave me any problems. But I introduced myself to them struck up conversations with them even tipped them when they helped me with deliveries during my month stay. They never gave me any push back and funny enough. It also helped that my Airbnb host was gay. But based off of some forum members . You do have to vet the host. Cause some have said you can have people over. Only to reverse what they said. But I would also think that if you have don't have any issues as far as a renter on Airbnb and no negative reviews by hosters. Then its should be less of a problem. But definitely make it know that you will have " old firends" over.

 

[Latbear4blk]

2 hours ago, Primeone385 said:

I have been to Rio twice. One time I stayed at the hotel and another time at an Airbnb. The hotel was a complete hassel. Even though I booked a two person room. They kept trying to charge me for guest I would bring back during the day. In fact it was kind of hostile towards me. But I learned my lesson. The second time I got an Airbnb. I with the Airbnb host I explained to them like @Latbear4blk did I have friends that I want to hang out with and cook dinners for. They had no issue with me bringing anyone over. The doormen never gave me any problems. But I introduced myself to them struck up conversations with them even tipped them when they helped me with deliveries during my month stay. They never gave me any push back and funny enough. It also helped that my Airbnb host was gay. But based off of some forum members . You do have to vet the host. Cause some have said you can have people over. Only to reverse what they said. But I would also think that if you have don't have any issues as far as a renter on Airbnb and no negative reviews by hosters. Then its should be less of a problem. But definitely make it know that you will have " old firends" over.

 

You do not even need to say "old friends" or specify that you would invite them for dinner. Although I used to do that at the beginning, then I cut out those specifications in my messages to the host. What we do with our friends is not their business, as it is not whether or not they are "old". I think what may cause trouble is the staying over night, and not because of moral judgement, but because sometimes their business model is to charge more when more than one person is staying. 

Keeping a friendly relationship with the building staff is an excellent strategy. The one time I had trouble with a neighbor (@floridarob stay away), the doorman was my ally and that helped me a lot with the host.

[mobamboo]

While I haven't heard of a host putting cameras inside an Airbnb, there are many that place them outside the apartment to see who is coming and if anyone is staying the night. They are supposed to disclose this in their house rules. That only helps if you read the house rules. 

The post above correctly states that hosts often charge based on overnight head counts. At least that's been my experience. 

[floridarob]

6 minutes ago, mobamboo said:

that hosts often charge based on overnight head counts

That could make the orgies/gangbangs  more expensive 😏

[Primeone385]

21 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

You do not even need to say "old friends" or specify that you would invite them for dinner. Although I used to do that at the beginning, then I cut out those specifications in my messages to the host. What we do with our friends is not their business, as it is not whether or not they are "old". I think what may cause trouble is the staying over night, and not because of moral judgement, but because sometimes their business model is to charge more when more than one person is staying. 

Keeping a friendly relationship with the building staff is an excellent strategy. The one time I had trouble with a neighbor (@floridarob stay away), the doorman was my ally and that helped me a lot with the host.

Well @Latbear4blk i do believe like Genuwine said in a song " It ain't none of your friends business what we do tonight." But I feel when you do say I will have friends over. It will set the expectation someone might sleep there because they are to drunk to drive or take a uber home. Which any reasonable person would expect. That's why I am friendly towards the door man. Ask them questions and find out if they have any cheap interest. Because if its a case of beer on my tab. During my stay i can afford that especially if it gives me a heads up or can protect me from Airbnb owners that want to nickel and dime me on anything. But I could say "Hey I am going to have your best, brightest and finest pieces of ass come over to suck my dick and get dicked down and get slurped on at my pleasure in multiple positions. In the suite i am renting." Something tells me that will not go over in a affectionate way. LMAO

[Primeone385]

Also @Latbear4blk were you talking about that time you were on the balcony and that little old lady got a show. Because I love that story. That is why I will not get a balcony view around other buildings. I would forget in the midst of trying to get the guy out of his clothes.

[Latbear4blk]

5 hours ago, Primeone385 said:

Also @Latbear4blk were you talking about that time you were on the balcony and that little old lady got a show. Because I love that story. That is why I will not get a balcony view around other buildings. I would forget in the midst of trying to get the guy out of his clothes.

Damn, I asked @floridarob to stay away and you had to bring that story. I think I need a new identity in this forum.

[floridarob]

38 minutes ago, Latbear4blk said:

I think I need a new identity in this forum.

Just add another personality, @Olddaddy has an entire cast....

[Olddaddy]

Today I'm speaking with a Russian🇷🇺 accent, I find you can get discount on most things with this accent 

[hornyfrog]

On 3/3/2026 at 12:21 PM, Jawjaw84 said:

Apologies in advance if the info is already on the site but I think these things change a lot. I am planning a trip to Brazil in a few months. I have been a few times before and always played at the saunas, never hosted guys. I will be in Rio for around a week with a friend, do any hotels easily accept visitors or is Airbnb the best option. 
 

do the airbnbs tend to have security where the guys have to register , should I be asking before booking about the guest policy?
 

we did Colombia last year together in air bnbs and had a great time with no problems 

 

any tips , hints or recommendations much appreciated 

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! 

[Riobard]

When you say “stem”, I assume you mean getting ahead of it and self-regulate in such a way as to block municipal regulation that may be too rigidly restrictive where some condo entities might prefer some fluidity such as ‘room in home’ ST tourist let category, or simply prefer the non-registered visitor restriction policy that I guess is only enforceable when building concierge / security are brought into it. 

[hornyfrog]

2 hours ago, Riobard said:

When you say “stem”, I assume you mean getting ahead of it and self-regulate in such a way as to block municipal regulation that may be too rigidly restrictive where some condo entities might prefer some fluidity such as ‘room in home’ ST tourist let category, or simply prefer the non-registered visitor restriction policy that I guess is only enforceable when building concierge / security are brought into it. 

Not completely sure I’m understanding you, so maybe that makes two of us! What I meant by “stem” (maybe it was not the best choice of words) was starting self-regulation at the building level so that when or if it ever comes to a vote at the prefeitura (city hall) level, additional legislation would not pass because it would be deemed unnecessary or repetitive. Condo buildings and apartment buildings have their own rules that are voted on from within (by the owners), plus there are city, state and federal laws. I can’t speak to the wishes of every building in my area, but of the ones I do know, most owners would vote to keep short-term rentals as long as it is well self-regulated. But enough bad incidents with bad actors in the toniest, priciest areas of town — especially if given lots of bad press, and even more especially if they involve foreigners / Westerners! — will drive a vote at the government level for more restrictions. Possibly even “the death penalty” for short-term rentals, like what’s going on in Barcelona (although I don’t think this will happen, as there are too many local owners here who enjoy renting their places out).

Those regulations could include or exclude room-only rentals. I doubt they would. It is likely to be an “all or nothing” thing. The buildings like mine and the others I am aware of did not exclude rooms-only. And regarding buildings with no doormen, I imagine they would still have the same regulation, but enforcement would occur at a local resident or staff level (meaning, “if you see something, say something”). I do know of one Airbnb male guest who tried to “sneak in” an unregistered pro (female) into a doorman-less building, and after she left (after the deed was done), the owner was asked to remove the guest or be fined. That was probably a very embarrassing conversation for both the Airbnb host and the guest.

 

[Riobard]

1 hour ago, hornyfrog said:

Not completely sure I’m understanding you, so maybe that makes two of us! What I meant by “stem” (maybe it was not the best choice of words) was starting self-regulation at the building level so that when or if it ever comes to a vote at the prefeitura (city hall) level, additional legislation would not pass because it would be deemed unnecessary or repetitive. Condo buildings and apartment buildings have their own rules that are voted on from within (by the owners), plus there are city, state and federal laws. I can’t speak to the wishes of every building in my area, but if the ones I know, most owners would vote to keep short-term rentals as long as it is well self-regulated. But enough bad incidents with bad actors in the toniest areas of the town — especially if given lots of bad press, and even more especially if they involve foreigners / Westerners! — will drive a vote at the government level for more restrictions. Possibly even “the death penalty” for short-term rentals like what’s going on in Barcelona (although I don’t think this will happen, as there are too many locals here who enjoy renting their places out).

Those regulations could include or exclude room-only rentals. I doubt they would. It is likely to be an “all or nothing” thing. The buildings like mine and the others I am aware of did not exclude rooms-only. And regarding buildings with no doormen, I imagine they would still have the same regulation, but enforcement would occur at a local resident or staff level (meaning, “if you see something, say something”). I do know of one Airbnb male guest who tried to “sneak in” an unregistered pro (female) into a doorman-less building, and after she left (after the deed was done), the owner was asked to remove the guest or be fined. That was probably a very embarrassing conversation for both the Airbnb host and the guest.

 

Your use of ‘stem’ was correct, I realize once you clarified, as that would aim to prevent municipal legislation on tourist homes steamrolling over the flexibility or specificity of regulations that each building would prefer to control. Stand-alone detached house owners, I assume a very small representation, would likely not want any interference. 

From what I understand, what is common between Rio and Barcelona is consideration of affordable housing inventory for locals, though in Rio the emphasis is preventing new multiple family dwelling projects from being undermined by the tourist home economy (I assume a very small proportion of total housing is represented by upcoming projects); in Barcelona the blanket ban goal by 2028 is to increase conventional rental inventory by even a small percentage across all zones (less socioeconomically stratified compared to Rio?) while attenuating the surge of tourism that many locals resent.

It appears that condo syndicates in Rio have strong authority in terms of banning ST rentals but the general and practical rule of thumb emerging globally is that both municipalities and condo entities must align in terms of allowing same. It makes sense, as you describe, to regulate internally via building governance and reduce the need for municipalities to exercise regulations for the sake of safety and security, based on headline-grabbing incidents, that seem to punitively override the prerogative of a condo co-owner collective. They can focus on things like tourist tax collection, host permit infrastructure if applicable, and land use legality such as zoning related to defined-purpose building projects. 

Prohibiting unregistered guests is a legal no-brainer since from the point of view of the insurance integrated into bookings it is stipulated that the paying booker is liable for damages incurred even by guests “registered” on the booking. Airbnb assiduously assesses incidents on a case-by-case basis for the sake of their own insurance premium management.  Hosts that cavalierly assert the home is yours to use absolutely at your discretion have not necessarily thought it through.

[hornyfrog]

19 minutes ago, Riobard said:

Your use of ‘stem’ was correct, I realize once you clarified, as that would aim to prevent municipal legislation on tourist homes steamrolling over the flexibility or specificity of regulations that each building would prefer to control. Stand-alone detached house owners, I assume a very small representation, would likely not want any interference. 

From what I understand, what is common between Rio and Barcelona is consideration of affordable housing inventory for locals, though in Rio the emphasis is preventing new multiple family dwelling projects from being undermined by the tourist home economy (I assume a very small proportion of total housing is represented by upcoming projects); in Barcelona the blanket ban goal by 2028 is to increase conventional rental inventory by even a small percentage across all zones (less socioeconomically stratified compared to Rio?) while attenuating the surge of tourism that many locals resent.

It appears that condo syndicates in Rio have strong authority in terms of banning ST rentals but the general and practical rule of thumb emerging globally is that both municipalities and condo entities must align in terms of allowing same. It makes sense, as you describe, to regulate internally and reduce the need for municipalities to exercise regulations for the sake of safety and security that seem to punitively override the prerogative of a condo co-owner collective. They can focus on tourist tax collection and zoning related to defined-purpose building projects. 

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.