August in Rio, Buzios and Buenos Aires

[BgMstr4u]

I will be spending three weeks in Argentina and Brazil, starting in Buenos Aires, then to Rio, on to Buzios, back to Rio, and finish in Buenos Aires. It seems a strange itinerary, but it is substantially less expensive to fly to BA than to Rio, even though BA is farther south.

 

I have a hotel in BA and in Buzios, thanks to friends with friends in the hotel business. But I am on my own in Rio. I have read so many good things here about the Hotel Atlantico Copacabana, and the rates are good -- several of the internet sites have it at $65 a night. I like its location -- practically next door to a metro station, and very near some of the saunas, and of course its good reputation with M4Mers here. But of course I have some questions.

 

1) Are the suites substantially better than the regular rooms?

2) How much more do they cost?

3) Should I book through an internet site and prepay, or book through the hotel's own web site?

4) I am seriously attracted by older, luxurious hotels, and wonder if anyone has experience of the Copacabana Palace Hotel? It looks wonderful, and every once in a while I like to splurge seriously. Other suggestions?

5) And of course, the saunas. What would be the recommendation for a rank newcomer as a way to start -- where to go first, when, etc.

 

There doesn't seem to be any serious classical music or opera on at the Theatro Municipal, which looks to be Rio's answer to the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. Any other suggestions for a culture lover?

 

Is there an escort scene in Buzios at all?

 

I am reading the reviews of Buenos Aires escorts and getting ready.

I'm an older, basically top guy with an occasional kinky thought. Any sugestions?

 

I am so grateful to Trilingual and all the others for their great informational postings here. Thanks!!

[+ Axiom2001]

I have been to Brasil on four occasions and will be making my fifth trip there during this October. Most answers to your questions are contained in the archives at this site. Do a careful search, and the number of entries will be cited for you, but I'll lend my answers to most of your questions.

 

If I were you, I'd book The Atlantico Hotel through Carlo at Romanus. His website is located in some of the threads at this particular forum; I'm sorry that I can't locate it. He should be able to get you a great rate at The Atlantico; he could also address your query regarding the Copa Palace.

 

Once I stayed in a wonderful suite at The Atlantico; they're rather spacious and nicely appointed. The regular rooms are comfortable, but for space-- you'll like the suite.

 

In terms of culture, check with Carlo again; he's wonderful when it comes to accommodating one's desires and wishes; he's gone above and beyond for many of us M4mers.

 

Lastly, ask the same questions at GayTravelBrazil.com;more than likely you'll get more salient replies.

 

This site, unfortunately, has been dry for almost a month.

 

Have a wonderful trip! I'll be going to Buenos Aires for the first time in September and am excited since it'll be my first trip there.

[trilingual]

The suites at the Atlântico are definitely larger than the standard rooms, which are comfortable. In the suites the bathrooms are ballroom-sized! The price difference isn't that much. You can book through the new http://www.gaytravelbrazil.com site and get the rates Carlo has negotiated with the hotel. They get a lot of business from us, so usually he can get rates that are lower than those advertised on their own site.

 

The Copacabana Palace is a very fine hotel, but to be honest it's a hassle for M4Mers because of the difficulty of having "visitors" to your room. Also, the rooms aren't all that glamorous, although they're very nice, of course. I'd suggest saving your money by staying at the Atlântico and just splurging on a superb dinner at the hotel's Cipriani restaurant or their lavish Sunday brunch in their other poolside restaurant. That'll give you the feel of the place for considerably less money!

 

Hard to tell you where to start your sauna adventures. If you like larger places and crowds, try Point 202 or Club 117. If you'd rather go to a smaller, less frenetic place, go to Roger's or Estação. Except for Club 117 (which is accessible by metro with virtually door-to-door service) the other three places are within a couple of blocks of the Atlântico.

 

No escort scene in Búzios. You'll have to bring your own company from Rio. I'm sure one of the guys you like would be happy to spend a few days there with you!

 

In Buenos Aires I strongly suggest contacting RobertoBA (mentioned elsewhere here) at vdagp@yahoo.com.ar He can orient you to whatever is happening culturally, give you a walking tour of the nice parts of town you might not discover for yourself, and assist you in contacting escorts if your Argentine Spanish is less than perfect!

 

Have a great trip!

[BgMstr4u]

Thanks to several of you for your good help!

 

I'll be in Rio Aug. 15-18 and 23-26 (Buzios in between) and in Buenos Aires before and after. Staying at the Atlantico, thanks to all the good suggestions and Oswaldo at Romanus, who got me a rate of R$ 253/night inclusive of taxes for a junior suite.

 

I can't wait! Hope to meet a few Hoovillians there if I can.