SouthOfTheBorder

if you’ve been to India - you would not make that statement 

perfect example of a imperfect risk/reward calculation.  the participants were seeking adulation in third-world relatively risky proposition.  things went predictably wrong & the couple paid the price.  doesn't seem worth it really - but who am I to judge ??
they aren't the first to be done in by narcissism & vanity - and they won't be the last 

some Thermas tips 
1. go early - before it gets crowded.  Thermas is big and spread across 3 floors - it can be disorienting to arrive when filed with providers & clients. Plus - it’s competitive & the locals/regulars will always go for their favorites who are usually the most in-demand. Arriving when it’s crowded puts you at a disadvantage. I like to arrive at opening about 3p and watch as providers/ clients arrive. 
2. get familiar with the layout - because it is confusing.  I’d recommend a complete walk-through of the entire place at least once to take note of spa facilities & bar (first floor), all showers (first & second floors).  And the one private bathroom on first floor with a douche - the key to that bathroom is at reception and depending on the attendant, they may require you buy an attachment or if you have your own, then a tip to get the key.  Return the key asap as there may be others waiting.
3. there will always be guys hanging around the reception area & watching the clients locker room.  the game is to snag clients in that area & before they can see the other providers.  don’t fall for it.
4. like anywhere else - be cautious if anyone offers you anything to ingest. last time I was there, a provider offered candy between sessions - upon inspection it was potent edible marijuana. there are a couple guys there routinely selling things - I’d avoid them & whatever they have.  they are obvious & likely will make an approach at some point. 
5. the free cabins are fine for 30 minutes & the staff cleans continuously- but that doesn’t mean you’ll always get a fresh cabin.  If you want to make sure it’s clean - then private rooms. Again - getting there early ensures access to private rooms - when it’s crowded you may wait and sometimes they don’t open up at all. 
6. you dont need ID to get in - leave passports & valuables in your hotel safe.  I carry a set amount of cash, one credit card & phone.  I don’t leave those items in the locker - I carry them with me in a small pack at all times.  you need cash for the guys - everything else can be on credit card.
7. bring your own condoms & lube.  the condoms provided are the most basic & the lube is almost nonexistent.  the guys appreciate good quality condoms & it makes a big difference.  I like to bring my own antibacterial soap along too - just to be extra careful between sessions.  availability of soap in the showers is not a sure thing.
8. if smoking bothers you - avoid the area on the second floor where smokers congregate.  for people who smoke, it’s ideal place to engage the guys in a more relaxed environment.
9. don’t be afraid to say no.  you will be approached many times by guys who may not be your type.  there’s not pressure per se, but they are direct and don’t want to waste time.  they are used to no & it’s just part of the environment.  polite & firm gets the message across.  

10. you will pay for everything at the end & check your final bill carefully.  if buying drinks for providers, make sure you are clear at that time what you’re offering. an offer for a drink can easily turn into a full meal - and that’s fine if that is what you’re offering.  if spending a few hours there, the charges can add up quickly. 
11. don’t be afraid to tell the provider exactly what you want - they’re professionals and have seen it all, several times.  no reason to be embarrassed.  If there is a language barrier - use google translate or show them a video of the type of scene you want. a video is easiest way to get the clear message across & I’ve seen several clients do it.

 
 
 

there is a luxurious gay guesthouse in Barrio Alto - The Late Birds.  It’s basically a small gay design hotel.  Exceptionally well done & not typical of gay guesthouses/hotels.  That would be my first choice in Lisbon for sure. 
 

https://www.thelatebirdslisbon.com/homepage

dealbreakers from client perspective,
any reference to PNP in the ad
any visual clues re: PNP - there’s a look 
any visual clues to a disorganized environment 
any mention of “anything goes” or similar risky behavior
no reviews or unacceptable ratio of neg reviews (more than 10% NO)
more than 4-6 hours time to respond to inquiry 
pressure to book immediately 
deposits 
younger than 26
hubris 
providers soliciting on hookup apps - not professional 
 

learning to walk-away from stupid people or situations is worthwhile 

learning to walk-away from stupid people or situations is worthwhile 

I would never assume a provider is hosting  - unless it's clearly stated in profile & confirmed while making appointment.  
It's a plus if they do, but not an absolute requirement

chalk it up as a learning experience & do not contact the provider 
next time you want to spend $3k+ on an extended date, go to Barcelona for a long weekend (it’s doable) and you’ll have your pick of handsome providers from around the world.  There’s no place else that offers relative security/safety and has the variety of providers at reasonable rates. 
as a US domestic alternative- hourly only & anywhere but New York City
I wouldn’t do anything with a provider before sex that may impair his performance - no food, alcohol or anything else.  I save the small-talk for after, even if I know him.  In multi-hour appointments, I look for fireworks in Hour 1.  I don’t like overnights, so 3 hours is my max.  I wouldn’t ever travel for a specific provider bc it’s too much expectation tied up in one person - I’d suggest selecting a destination based on volume of providers & ease of hiring for better opportunities. 
get back in the saddle asap !
 

You are the OP.  And you did ask for thoughts.  He gave you his thoughts & maybe it’s as simple as that. 

totally normal - nothing to see here 
I wonder how the paparazzi manages to photograph their every move ?  It’s almost as if someone is providing places & times 
and you can bet they employ several stylists to get that look 

I’m retired and spend at least 6 months of every year traveling the world.  Once you get out of the US & stop buying the propaganda that everything American is the best - you will quickly see many other countries are superior in many ways.  Actually in almost every way. 

The US is a nation in decline.  It wasn’t inevitable, but it was predictable because empires always collapse throughout history.  You just happen to be witnessing the American Empire collapse in real time. Just like the Roman, Spanish, Portuguese & Soviet empires before it.  I’d give it less than 10 years. 
Since you’re the OP & since you asked the question - I felt it was ok to answer.  Even tho you took the topic sideways.   Maybe you should start a new thread ?

typical American viewpoint. Money = success/happiness.  Boring & cliche. Next 

So, you start a thread specifically asking for thoughts - then when you get the thoughts & different opinions than your own, that becomes its own separate thing.
interesting- seems to be creation of conflict by design.  because then you go after why you think someone feels a certain way about a subjective question you’ve put out there.  When actually, you have no idea what forms the opinion.
These type threads are like an unprepared client going to see a provider.  Full of shit, messy & it stinks. 

Correct in most cases, just not this one.
Bezos & Sanchez are actively pursuing publicity/press coverage in attempt to shape public opinion. This appears to be Ms Sanchez doing as it was never a thing for Bezos previously.  
In doing so, they open themselves up to all kinds of criticism that wouldn’t be an issue otherwise.  They invited the scorn, criticism & ridicule. And it was predictable.  
It’s not enough for these people to just be insanely rich, they want more attention and to be more famous - and the Vogue article & pictures are tone-deaf and in poor taste considering much of the American public struggles financially.  

it’s kind of pathetic - one of richest men in the world & he could do so many good & necessary things w the vast wealth.  
Instead, he marries someone that looks like a Real Housewife and they’re just chasing publicity to be even more famous.   the paid Vogue article & pictures look more than a little desperate.  She’s got no style or class, whatsoever.  
That picture is so re-touched and filtered - she must be a trainwreck in person.  She looks demonic 
 
 

good question 
the recent coverage of Bezos & Sanchez is a paid public relations campaign.  It’s not a random event & the press coverage you see is not random either.  The entire thing was a carefully orchestrated paid media campaign with lots of money behind it. And it’s thinly disguised as random news.
They paid to be on the cover of Vogue magazine and for the article inside.  They paid for all the mentions in adjacent traditional media & social media.  Of course, there is some spillover because they’ve gone to such lengths and cost ensure they capture the public attention- that in and of itself is now newsworthy because it’s so unusual. 
And that’s the point - this insanely rich couple aren’t satisfied with their extreme privilege & position.  They want more.  That’s what’s gross & disgusting about it.  It’s an insatiable hunger for more money & more fame. 
I’m not on any social media - yet, the Bezos/Sanchez “news” pops up in Apple News feed.  I’m not looking for it. It’s been hard to avoid it actually.  I didn’t read the fawning Vogue article - but rather the Slate piece about the reaction to the article & pics.  That’s what’s interesting- the analysis of why they would do it and the general public reaction.  
It’s not about a super rich celebrity couple - it’s more a critique of American culture and why does the average person worship these people when they are destroying the very basics of our society. Amazon is an unsustainable business model for a number of reason too lengthy to discuss here. The more basic proposition is that Amazon put the final nail in the coffin of American Main Street shops because now it’s far more convenient to make a few clicks to buy vs patronizing a local retailer.  If you think this is an abstract concept - just visit a European city and you will see thriving small local stores in every city of every size.  Amazon is in Europe, but it has not devastated the local retail - they still prefer to shop in stores and buy local. You do not see buildings like in NYC where it’s flooded with dozens & dozens of packages.
Amazon is a cancer devouring American retail. When this becomes a common thought, it’s way too late. Bezos represents the billionaire class so much that’s it’s a cliche of a very wealthy mid-life crisis, complete with a surgical second wife and some super cringe pictures and desperate for attention.
Obviously, money does not buy happiness - just look at those two.

https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/11/jeff-bezos-and-lauren-sanchez-vogue-photoshoot.html

agree.  
some providers won’t answer alternate phone numbers - evidently, there is way to determine if it’s a “burner number” vs your real phone number
as mentioned, I’ve never had anything actually happen.  just not a good feeling when someone has made an effort to investigate.
tbh - in the provider world, there are many guys with lots of problems.  It’s a numbers game - eventually you’re going to run into someone who has bad intentions.  Lots of legit guys too who are professional.  but it’s not like we’re dealing with a regulated & licensed profession- buyer beware 

friend - you quoted the wrong person.  I have never contacted you or experienced your “massage” services.  my one comment in this thread was about massage therapists in general.
while you have the right to continue your comments here - it doesn’t make you look good.  It’s the opposite 
 

$15k a month to a single provider by one client is just absurd as a point of reference for any realistic conversation about rates.  more likely providers wildly exaggerating their own value & status, which seems to be the norm among a certain type.  lots of people in this business engage is fantasy, delusion & grandiosity- it comes w the territory. 
providers can set their own rates however they wish & nobody “controls” their rates
just my opinion - but a quote of $500/hr is more a red-flag than anything else
it’s worth noting the the OP is a provider & was asking about current market rates - evidently he’s unaware of the $15k monthly gigs 
btw - anything that is truly “exclusive” cannot be purchased by just anyone for a set price.  it’s the opposite

there are other threads about tipping for various service types: wait staff, barbers, massage therapists, providers, etc
the American concept behind tipping was always to supplement someone who may not receive full benefit of payment - like a barber who does not own the shop, or a massage therapist who works in a spa owned by someone else.  
If someone receives full benefit of payment, then no tip required for services provided.  
no rules against whatever anyone wants to tip  - but in provider context it seems to set up a vague expectation ripe for disappointment or misinterpretation.  I’d much rather have a provider quote a rate that they are happy to receive without an expectation of additional tips. At $300-$400 an hour these days - that is a far cry from restaurant wait staff working at below minimum wage, dependent on tips to survive.
i see frequent tipping requests in pharmacies, convenience stores & fast food restaurants these days in US….its completely & totally out of control.
re; shorting on time or inability to perform - depends on context.  If the provider is stable & reasonable then negotiate.  if any signs of aggression or instability - pay in full & leave asap.

some of these comments seem to be from people with limited or no experience in Rio
you guys are way better off on “the other site” where it’s all fantasy & delusions 
 

you’re really overthinking this.  
an abundance of caution is always a good idea when meeting someone new, but hotel staff in general, have seen just about everything and you are very unlikely to have a problem with that.  The hotel staff won’t give anyone a second look unless they somehow appear to be entirely out-of-place or some other bizarre behavior.
If I’m meeting someone new at hotel, I always meet them in the lobby or preferably in the bar in full view of hotel staff.  There are two reasons.  First, I want to make sure everything is ok with the provider - meaning he looks his pics, he’s not on drugs or anything else that may cause me to decline the appointment.  If I decline the appointment for any reason at that point, I’d pay half the fee for my decision to cancel without receiving any services.  Second - I want the hotel staff to see me with this person in public.  This creates a situation where the provider knows he has been seen with me & it lessens the probability anything bad could happen.  It’s still possible, but less likely. It’s all about your personal safety.
Noise from hotel rooms is common - kids screaming, TVs very loud, parties in rooms, etc.  Hotel staff will intervene only when a guest complains and then only if it’s at night when people are trying to sleep.  They call the room first and usually politely ask you to curtail the noise - they do not call police as a first step & would only do that in an ongoing egregious situation when you refuse to comply.  The chances of police at your door are just about zero.
If this is your first time, then of course there will be anxiety and some fear of the unknown. Just remember your personal safety comes first always and prioritize that, not what the hotel staff might think.  They do not care.
 
 

whenever a provider says “baby” - it’s an instant boner killer and there’s a 99% chance I would not hire that person again.  there is one exception to that and he’s a 6’4” Argentino 

as others have mentioned, the formulas have changed due to laws prohibiting certain ingredients. that’s for the legit produced “poppers”
then there’s the counterfeit poppers problem which is where you can question the retailer about source.  
if you think about it - poppers are an easy mark for counterfeiters because consumers don’t really know where they come from and there are no real “brands”.  the retailers just want a product to sell with a big margin & the counterfeits are everywhere 
the fear is who knows what’s in the counterfeit products.  I would be very selective where you buys these products