Need advice: Wintering in BA or Asuncion?

[Member #4110]

I'm retiring from my regular job and planning to winter in South America each year until I get frail (hopefully another 15 years or more). My plan has been to spend the winters in Asuncion with occasional trips to Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata. The main attraction of Asuncion is cheap living, including low-cost chicas. But now I read on this forum that a guy with a dollar can get six pesos, and I also read that there has been little increase in privado fees. So now I am re-evaluating: Asuncion or BA?

When I am in Asuncion, I walk to a privado at about 11:30 AM every morning and spend a pleasant hour. I like beautiful young women (lots of variety) , some of whom truly enjoy completo, in clean rooms with showers. I get these services for $34 to $55 (of course you can pay less if you don't mind dirty sheets, dirty floors, and dirty showers down a dirty hall). In addition, there are opportunities for privado girls to visit my apartment on Sunday afternoon. Many are stunningly beautiful. I have no interest in night mongering or bars, except the kinds of bars where you get together with European expats and discuss the meaning of life (very few Americans in Asuncion, but there are some very interesting local guys and lots of Germans).

I can get a 4-month rental of a 1-bedroom apartment in a secure high-rise (with nice view from balcony) for about $400 per month (including utilities and internet access). Food and restaurants are cheap, and some food is very good if you know where to go (however, beef tends to be low in quality across the board). I love the 10-cent grapefruit even though it has a lot of seeds, and other local produce is also very cheap. I do most of my own cooking.

So, here is the question: How much more would I have to pay in Buenos Aires for the same privado experience and a decent 1-BR apartment (not necessarily a high-rise, which is essential in Asuncion because of the damned buses)? Has the blue market for dollars leveled the playing field? If my needs are so simple, is there a neighborhood that would be particularly beneficial (on my three trips to BA I stayed in tiny studio apartments in the Microcenter, but I could not live in 350 sq feet over time). I would not mind living in an out-of-the-way neighborhood as long as it was safe and full of clean privados.

Of course there are other considerations. BA has less crime, less violence, and less police corruption. I worry some about the recent soft coup that deposed Lugo (is armed insurrection possible?). BA has much more in terms of culture and education. The tap water in BA can be filtered but the Asuncion tap water is too muddy for filtration (I hate bottled water). The taxis in Asuncion are cheaper, but the subway in BA is cheaper still (and the buses are better). A big advantage of Asuncion, however, is that I have made some friends there, and I enjoy the idea of living far off the beaten path away from tourists (one of my goals would be to learn Guarani).

Can you provide advice?

[Daddy Rulz]

From what you wrote I'm thinking you would prolly like it better there and just and enjoy breaking up the trip coming here. Apartment would be 1. 5x's more, food more, chicas about the same. Lacking Paraguayan blood you can't learn Guarani. If you don't believe me ask a Paraguayan. They say the language enters through the blood.

If you really want to find out since you're not taking a long term rental in Paraguay you could always try it here for a month the next time you come down and then decide what to do. You could either pick up a one bedroom place here for a month or spend a month at the AP House and see what you think and then go from there. Since you cook, there is a great kitchen there with pretty nice pots and pans which aren't easy to find down here. At worst you decide it sucks in BsAs and you go to Paraguay or you find you prefer it here and stay.

[Member #3320]

@RiverM,

I have followed your posts on Asuncion (on ISG) keenly over the years.

I understand your questions very well. I know both the cities (Asuncion and BA) very well.

Here is my analysis for you :-

1. Amongst the two cities, I prefer Asuncion. However, I live in BA simply because my work needs me to be near a major airport and travel at short notice.

2. Like you I hate the high influx of tourists in BA. That way Asuncion fares much much better.

3. Like you, I am a major fan of privados both in BA and Asuncion. Believe me, privados in Asuncion are much more cheaper than BA. With current blue market rate, you would probably pay 75 us$ for about 45 minutes of sex in a BA privado for a good looking girl with clean bedsheets. As compared, Asuncion, you can get full 60 minutes for about 33 us$. The quality of sex is good in both the cities. In BA , I get lot of BBBJ. But in Asuncion, its more tough. However, the GFE is better in Asuncion privados. And very easy to get the phone numbers for a Sunday meeting.

4. When I am in Asuncion, its easily possible for me to make 3 trips to privados in 24 hours or just two trips and just pay 66us$ for a good 2 hours as compared to 75 us$ for just 45 minutes here. Value for money, huh?

5. Asuncion is generally more hot than BA in summers. While BA can be bitterly cold in winters with better weather in Asuncion in winters.

6. More Americans in BA for sure. Have some great American friends in BA. My friends in Asuncion are mostly German or locals.

7. Apartments costs are huge in BA. You can get a 2 bedroom apartment (more space) in micro center for probably 800 us$ a month. The building would be shoddy, not very secure and not sound proof. A building away from the action, much secure, with a 1 bed room apartment will cost at least 1300 us$.

8. Options for food. I don't find much difference in BA or Asuncion. In fact, I prefer the food in Asuncion to BA. But thats just me! I am sure most will disagree.

9. Asuncion is a offbeat city to live.in. Not everyone's cup of tea. However, if you like it (as I do) , its a much better option than BA with a more bang for buck as far as privados are concerned.

10. The social life of BA is far more enterprising than Asuncion with something happening here every night. However, if you are not a night person, forget about it.

Hope this helps.

[Daddy Rulz]

Except point 3 and that is minor. Good privados are going at 350 right now which is 60 bucks. Estrellas phenom BBBJCIM is still 42. I always get the full hour because I keep my own time.

As far as the rest I'm in agreement with 3320 regarding BsAs.


@RiverM,

I have followed your posts on Asuncion (on ISG) keenly over the years.

I understand your questions very well. I know both the cities (Asuncion and BA) very well.

Here is my analysis for you :-

1. Amongst the two cities, I prefer Asuncion. However, I live in BA simply because my work needs me to be near a major airport and travel at short notice.

2. Like you I hate the high influx of tourists in BA. That way Asuncion fares much much better.

3. Like you, I am a major fan of privados both in BA and Asuncion. Believe me, privados in Asuncion are much more cheaper than BA. With current blue market rate, you would probably pay 75 us$ for about 45 minutes of sex in a BA privado for a good looking girl with clean bedsheets. As compared, Asuncion, you can get full 60 minutes for about 33 us$. The quality of sex is good in both the cities. In BA, I get lot of BBBJ. But in Asuncion, its more tough. However, the GFE is better in Asuncion privados. And very easy to get the phone numbers for a Sunday meeting.

4. When I am in Asuncion, its easily possible for me to make 3 trips to privados in 24 hours or just two trips and just pay 66us$ for a good 2 hours as compared to 75 us$ for just 45 minutes here. Value for money, huh?

5. Asuncion is generally more hot than BA in summers. While BA can be bitterly cold in winters with better weather in Asuncion in winters.

6. More Americans in BA for sure. Have some great American friends in BA. My friends in Asuncion are mostly German or locals.

7. Apartments costs are huge in BA. You can get a 2 bedroom apartment (more space) in micro center for probably 800 us$ a month. The building would be shoddy, not very secure and not sound proof. A building away from the action, much secure, with a 1 bed room apartment will cost at least 1300 us$.

8. Options for food. I don't find much difference in BA or Asuncion. In fact, I prefer the food in Asuncion to BA. But thats just me! I am sure most will disagree.

9. Asuncion is a offbeat city to live. In. Not everyone's cup of tea. However, if you like it (as I do) , its a much better option than BA with a more bang for buck as far as privados are concerned.

10. The social life of BA is far more enterprising than Asuncion with something happening here every night. However, if you are not a night person, forget about it.

Hope this helps.

[Member #3320]

Except point 3 and that is minor. Good privados are going at 350 right now which is 60 bucks. Estrellas phenom BBBJCIM is still 42. I always get the full hour because I keep my own time.

As far as the rest I'm in agreement with 3320 regarding BsAs.Thanks.

However, I beg to slightly disagree with you regarding point 3.

I visit low end, medium end and high end privados in BA and Asuncion. My comparison was basis the medium end privados.

Lets take blue rate at 6. 0 to 1 us$. (fluctuating between 5. 85 to 6. 15. Depending where you are changing). A medium end privado in BA normally charges 350 pesos for conventional sex (present day rate) + 50 pesos for BBBJ. So it comes to 400 pesos which is almost 70 us$. I made a slight mistake in previous post and assimilated the cost as 75 us$ in BA privado but its more like 70 us$. Still almost twice that of a average Asuncion privado and you never get more than 45 minutes for the 1 hour you pay for in a BA privado.

Like BA, Asuncion also has high end and low end privados. So best to compare the average / mid priced ones! Overall, for privado fans Asuncion wins hands down any day.

[Mpexy]

5. Asuncion is generally more hot than BA in summers. While BA can be bitterly cold in winters with better weather in Asuncion in winters.Minor comment. Bitterly cold is relative to what you're used to. I'm from California that's gone through number of winters living in BA, and even relative to California's mild year round weather compared to most other US states, I find BA winter slightly milder and less cold than Northern California winter.

More chilly than SoCal for sure, but less than NorCal. Only real big diff is rains / hail in BA is for real while what counts as wet water coming down in any part of California is pretty tame comparatively

[Daddy Rulz]

Thanks.

However, I beg to slightly disagree with you regarding point 3.

I visit low end, medium end and high end privados in BA and Asuncion. My comparison was basis the medium end privados.

Lets take blue rate at 6. 0 to 1 us$. (fluctuating between 5. 85 to 6. 15. Depending where you are changing). A medium end privado in BA normally charges 350 pesos for conventional sex (present day rate) + 50 pesos for BBBJ. This is where we go a little sideways, I refuse to tip for BBBJ. Either the chica does it and I might repeat or she doesn't and I won't. It's their body so I respect their desicion however they are my pesos and I choose where to spend them. I don't decry the idea of giving extra for complato, BBBJ, CIM, COF, or whatever but I refuse to do it. I have seen too many times where this "standard" propina becomes a part of the base price and then you are tipping for the same service on the raised base price.

Again we agree far more than we disagree.

[Dickhead]

Whose winter are we talking about? If we are talking US/Can/Eur winter, i.e, austral summer, there is no way Asuncióand (I'll just leave that spelled the way Jackson's software changes it, just to point out again how FUCKING STUPID Jackson's software is) would be doable, in my opinion, because of the heat. However, anyone who finds the winters in a place where it doesn't even snow to be 'bitterly cold' might feel otherwise. I would not live in either BA or Asuncióand during austral summer. I DID live in BA for several austral summers and always found it necessary to leave for at least a month. Also, considering non-mongering factors, here is a list of interesting things to do in Asuncióand:

[Member #3320]

Guys,

You caught me on that phrase! .

Lets face it. The winters of BA will not kill you. I was actually comparing the winters of BA with Asuncion.

Having spent many months near to the North Pole due to nature of my work, I know exactly what "bitterly cold" means. My intention was more of describing it for the comfort / leisure factor.

I personally prefer the summers of BA to the winters of BA. I know 99% will disagree though. However, sex is always more interesting in winters than summers.

Yes, their are not many interesting things to do in Asuncion. But if you speak Spanish and mix with locals, you would find things to do but then due to limitations of the city itself, it would not be that great.

I am not sure if I will say Asuncion is more dangerous than BA or vice versa. Its a subject open to debate.

[Member #4110]

Thanks to all for all. You have reminded me that my "wintering" in South America means coping with the sweltering heat in Asuncion, so much worse than the already hot BA. When I spent the Christmas holidays there, I got into the habit of siesta with the air conditioners going full blast. Also, I would call my favorite privado and ask the nice lady to put on a room's air conditioner in advance. Still, the sweat from my neck sometimes got into the little darlings' eyes. Lo siento mi amor.

Dickhead made me laugh when he provided his list of things to do in Asuncion. Actually, there is some artsy thing going on almost every night as advertised in the paper. I like to hang around universities, and the kids are always up to something. I read a lot and enjoy conversations with guys who are full of bullshit, like me. I don't worry about night life. Having said that, my favorite thing about Costa Rica is watching the chicas dance their asses off at Key Largo in the gulch. I wish I could find a place like that, but I'm not sure it exists in South America (but Thailand, yes).

If I were to spend a month in BA each year, what would be the best neighborhood in terms of security, cost, and proximity to privados? Does anyone like San Telmo (I like old decrepit things, like myself). Can you get a 1-bedroom for $700 for a safe yet stimulating 1-month stay? This might be the deciding factor, perhaps along with the privado differential.

[Member #3320]

Does anyone like San Telmo (I like old decrepit things, like myself). Can you get a 1-bedroom for $700 for a safe yet stimulating 1-month stay? This might be the deciding factor, perhaps along with the privado differential.Yes, you might get something for 700 us$ in San Telmo. Its not the safest neighborhood. But if you live cheaply and have nothing to lose, their is no harm in staying there. What kind of quality you would get for 700 us$ is tough to say. But yes, overall your plan might work.

[Dickhead]

I don't think you would be happy with what you could get in San Telmo short-term for $700. You might want to look at some of the short-term rental sites such as www.reynoldspropiedades.com.ar For some base figures. I think $850 is probably closer to reality right now, if it is only going to be one month. I like San Telmo but there are a lot of junkies there because it is artsy fartsy, so there is a lot of (usually fairly) petty crime. I would suggest you investigate Colegiales or Abasto as alternatives.

Asuncióand has several advantages over Buenos Aires other than cost. Radically better customer service, more down-to-earth people, and cleaner pussies come to mind immediately. If it was just a month every year, I could definitely see Asuncióand over BA because by the time you were incredibly bored you would be leaving. Although, I personally was incredibly bored there in about a week.

[El Perro]

If I were to spend a month in BA each year, what would be the best neighborhood in terms of security, cost, and proximity to privados? Does anyone like San Telmo (I like old decrepit things, like myself). Can you get a 1-bedroom for $700 for a safe yet stimulating 1-month stay? This might be the deciding factor, perhaps along with the privado differential.San Telmo is an option. I'm living presently in San Telmo, in a nice 1 bedroom apt, in a nice building, furnished, contrafrente, with a terrace overlooking a garden in the back of the building. $4, 400 pesos (about $700US at the current blue rate) , everything included. A bus ride will put you in privado land very quickly. I like the architecture here as well.

I think crime in San Telmo is overstated. I've lived here about half of the seven years I've spent in BsAs. I would say that late night its probably a little sketchier here than some other areas. Depends on where you are in San Telmo. If you're not stumbling around half drunk at 3 am or flashing expensive watches / jewelry, you should be OK.

[Wild Walleye]

(I like old decrepit things, like myself)Unfortunately, for you, Checkers pub closed down.

[Wild Walleye]

January in Bs As is dead, compared to the rest of the year. If you just want to sweat and nail the second string chicas, it might be ideal (less congestion on the streets, etc).

I like the weather in Bs As, all year long. My first trip was in July on the day of the Great Blizzard of '07. I brought an overcoat with me. I think that was the last time I brought any form of an overcoat. On the coldest of days, I just throw a thin cashmere sweater under my suit coat or sport coat and I am good to go. Even on those days, they seem to start off chilly and warm up dramatically towards midday (more so than you would find say in NYC on the corresponding day). If it rains, I just move a little more quickly, getting in and out of cabs and privados. The weather reminds me of living in Italy. I'd rather have to thrown on a sweater than sweat my balls off.

As for the warmer months, I have greatly enjoyed my time in Bs As during the Spring as well as Feb-May (my idea of warm might be a few degrees cooler than most).

I like San Telmo, though I have never stayed there. I think it was Dickhead that mentioned getting an idea of what is available on one of the apartment sites. I second that motion. I also suggest mapping the locations and getting an idea how far away you would be from the things that you desire. I'd pay a little more to be closer to my favorite past times.

[Wild Walleye]

If you're not stumbling around half drunk at 3 am or flashing expensive watches / jewelry, you should be OK.Is there a neighborhood that is better for this? What about if I am more than half drunk? So far, Recoleta seems to have been good for this (minus the jewelry, watch is generally in the safe back at the apt).

[El Perro]

Is there a neighborhood that is better for this? What about if I am more than half drunk? So far, Recoleta seems to have been good for this (minus the jewelry, watch is generally in the safe back at the apt).Drunk and stumbling ain't good anywhere. Recoleta is not immune, and there is a decent amount of snatch and grab near Recoleta Village. Personally, I have witnessed two incidents of theft in broad daylight right at Recoleta Village. I've had two cellphones swiped, both in the Centro area, not three blocks apart.

The point being, there are very few areas in BsAs where you can be completely assured that you'll not be a victim. And, I don't see San Telmo as being much worse than any other area.

On the positive side, theft, and maybe some slight roughing up is about all you'll get here.

[Dickhead]

I have seen TWO snatch and grabs right in Recoleta. One was a purse and the other was a bracelet. I saw that one coming and I almost caught the fucker. Chased him for a long time but of course no one else would help. I DID run down a purse snatcher in Quito once and banged his head off the sidewalk a couple times before the cops showed up, at which point I melted away.

I also was in line at a Disco when two guys came in and robbed it, and I walked around the corner right into an armed robbery on the street at 5 AM or so. Those both happened in Congreso.

[Mpexy]

Lived in highest rent part of recoleta about 3. 5 years of in-town time since 2005. Roughly, I've personally seen in that time couple motochurro bandits do snatch and scoot, a pretty darn funny robbery of the big disco on Quintana next to Alvear with some guy running away on Callao followed by 3-4 disco employees, and being a fanatical daily Herald reader, noted about on average some report of snatch, mugging, or break in about once a month. Not exactly a crime wave but enough to be prudent.

Maybe more happened but used to be a crime column in the herald till they took it out sometime after 2008 and they reported the highlight ones I guess. My take is lot safer than other barrios but crime still happens and whether you become a stat or watch a stat happening in front of you is how low hanging fruit you look