Quote: (09-24-2015 03:04 PM)Papi Rico Wrote:
Thanks for the thread. I was there at the end of 2015 and somewhat benefitted from a ~2.65 exchange rate.
You mean end of 2014? Makes sense.
Quote: (09-24-2015 03:04 PM)Papi Rico Wrote:
If you're planning on a week trip to Rio as a result of this devaluation, I don't think you would derive too much benefit. Your online-booked lodging (whether AirBnB or a hotel) will still be priced in terms of USD, you will eat and purchase goods in tourist-oriented establishments that will quickly adjust their prices or quote you in USD, and as a poster mentioned above, goods merchants and service providers will otherwise treat you as a walking sack of cash.
Had some obligations in São Paulo several weeks back. Though I benefited from restaurant/nightlife prices, etc...lodging via Airbnb was quickly adjusted to meet inflation rates.
Quote: (09-24-2015 03:04 PM)Papi Rico Wrote:
I see real value (no pun intended) in long-term apt leases or even home purchases, paid in cash. I see value, financial and psychological, in skipping Rio and SP in favor of Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, etc -- cities that will be more dependent on your dollars.
With regards to strife & frustration in São Paulo (infrastructure crumbling) and Rio (continued tension between Zona Sul residents & the rest of Rio not to mention increased crime rates), the possibility of those people flocking to tier two cities has already happened & might happen more often.
Women from Rio de Janeiro have a history of hating on Southern Brazil & especially the women down there...though recently in a city I'm staying in, I've met three females move due to crime/ridiculous prices & met another one who wants to do the same. That shift means property in certain competent tier 2 cities like a Curitiba, Campinas, or Belo Horizonte could increase in value as well.
Relatively speaking...look at what's happening in major Texas cities (property vale increase) like a Dallas/Ft. Worth or Houston with all those Californians shifting there for work.
Quote: (09-24-2015 03:04 PM)Papi Rico Wrote:
In terms of policy, I will be glad to see Brasilia finally come to terms with the necessity of tourism and its role in shaping Brazil's future. Travel visa requirement for US, Canadian, Australian, and Chinese passport holders? That garbage, tourism-stifling "reciprocity" policy has to go. So does this notion of a self-sufficient Brazil that answers to nobody but local business and domestic civil society. We're talking about one of the world's most complex and burdensome bureaucracies for foreign investors and foreign nationals seeking citizenship.
Wait...answering to nobody while begging the world for foreign investments only to place ridiculous sanctions on them only to piss it all away as they please? You took the words right out of my mouth...if not saying it better.
Then there is the issue of myself paying a ridiculous $7.00 USD for a bottle of Sriracha. If the real did not drop, it would likely be $15.00 USD. It's ridiculous how the government is trying to play up their whole good samaritan card by bringing in refugees that can increase the number of votes for the Partido de Trabalho while making it harder on immigrants that can stimulate the local economy....but that would be a bigger threat to the political party in power right? There is also the issue of helping out those same immigrants instead of providing a better foundation of success for people living in the favela communities in order to garner more votes again.
Quote: (09-24-2015 03:04 PM)Papi Rico Wrote:
As far as reports on the ground, it would be nice to get some qualification as to your location and target demographic prior to talking about a "Brazilian" attitude to foreigners. The daughter of a Joao Pessoa fisherman will not be impacted in the same way as the daughter of a Sao Paulo property developer who will see the value of her trust fund decrease by 65%.
Wait...did you just call me out?
You're absolutely right.
Let's just say I'm here long-term for certain obligations outside of game that entail me being in between a top/lower tier Southern Brazilian city with time spent in the Southeast zone as well (São Paulo, Rio, Belo).
The whole "eu tou aqui fazendo alguns projetos para trabalho" line (I'm here doing work projects line) worked terrifically in Brazil 2014 during a brief visit. That whole "work projects" line however in those same economically relevant cities 2015 right now has locals baffled giving me shit tests wanting to know more....
I know some rich top dogs in São Paulo that took 4-6 international trips (OUTSIDE of Latin America) annually amongst some pretty well off people in Tier 2 places that have NO plans to leave South America anytime soon. These are the same people who likely increase their domestic tourism ventures in 2015-2016.
There are some who will continue to proceed with their plans to study abroad (intercâmbio), but a great deal of this group have delayed if not cancelled theirs altogether.