Thread: Researching Panama

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum.

I was originally thinking about moving to CR, but now I'm thinking maybe Panama is a better option.

Have any of you lived in CR & then moved to Panama?

If yes, why did you move?

What do you see the main differences are?

What are the pros & cons for each country?

I heard CR is a lot more beautiful.

I went into the dating forum & it sounds like there are only kids in there. Is this forum only for 20 somethings? (no offense) I'm 45.

Thanks


Michelle

Welcome Michelle,
I think you will find a wide age range of people on this forum. I am married in my late 30s with 2 boys.
We had thought CR was the country to move to in our mid 20s when we traveled there. After a period of 8 years and 4 visits into Costa Rica, we decided Panama is a better choice for us.
Have you been to either countries? The best thing to do is to try it out. Our plans are on the works. 6 months should give us a feel whether Panama is for us.
I noticed you are also from Ontario. I am from Toronto. Is it the cold that is causing your move?

Hi there,

Thank you for the welcome

Unfortunately I can't just up & test the waters, so I have to do a lot of asking around b4 I make my decision.

What didn't you like about CR?

Actually it's all of Canada, but yes, the cold is one factor

Have a lovely day.


Michelle

Welcome! We tried Costa Rica first too, but just a visit. All the buzz on the internet was about CR, but when we went, it was just too alien for us. Panama has had so much US influence that it felt so much more comfortable. Not that it isn't a different world, it is, just a better fit for us.

Hello Michelle,
For us it was important that the kids continue to have a good education even when we move to another country. I looked at CR and wasn't convinced it had enough.
The capital of Costa Rica is far from Panama City, Panama. Panama seems to have more to offer. Not to mention that the prices of real estate is sky rocketed in CR. Panama has more benefits for retirees. My husband and I are still living on a dream that Panama will work out for all of us. We have some things to sort out before our 6 month trail. I will be glad to update you once things happen, until then we will have to bundle up in snow suits!
Panama Dreamer

Hi there,

I want the nature & quietude (but close enough to amenities) & I hear that Panama is more cosmopolitan, so I didn't know if that means the nature is missing or what b/c I want to be around nature & animals & CLEAN air.

What did you find alien about CR?

Now with the water issues in Panama that concerns me.

Panama Dreamer, Yes it's very cold now

Keep me posted & who are you using to ship your things?

I talked to one guy in TO who's ridiculous. $420/cubic foot or something like that.

I may just send my stuff to someone in Miami & have it shipped thru there.

Thanks & have a great wknd. & keep me posted


Michelle

Believe it or not, we are not shipping anything down to Panama. It is my husband's second marriage, his two older kids will remain in the 4 bedroom house we are leaving behind for them to stay in.Usually it is the parents kicking the kids out after they become adults, in our case we are leaving.
We will come down to Panama with a suitcase of clothes and some cash. That's all you need. I can start all over again. I have heard some people have terrible experiences in getting their containers. I guess my husband and I have always know we will move to another country, most of our furniture are IKEA style so they are not hard to part from. In the past 10 years we have moved 3 times within Toronto...some of my things are still in boxes from the first move.
I look forward to the day I head into the airport with 1 suitcase each!

This is just an opinion. It would be a good idea to live here for awhile before making the decision to move things here. Many people come here because of some kind of dream, without knowing what it's really like and then decide that Panama is just not for them. They get tired of it or for whatever reason just decide to go back to the US or where ever. Take Panama for a test drive. Live here for 6 months. Then, if you still like it, you can decide to ship things or not. There is no rush. New Xpats tend to be very transient at first also. Travel light, figure out where you want to live-etc. Worry about your stuff later. If you think its expensive to drag your stuff here, it will cost a lot to drag it back to Canada if this plan doesn't work out the way you are hoping. Easy does it. Things will fall in place.

Wow & you are a woman saying that too LOL. There's no way i could pack everything I need in one suitcase. How old are the kids?

Poller, I can't afford to come down for 6 months, pay for rent here or pay for a moving company to move my stuff into storage & then pay for storage every month. Last time I pay for storage it was $500/month.

This is why I'm doing a lot of research now. And if I don't like it, I'll move to another country. I'm pretty sure I'm done with Canada.

I know the negatives of Panama, but let me here why you think expats have moved back b/c they couldn't stand it?

This way I will see if something is an issue for me I can't handle.

Thank you


Michelle

I am sure you can "handle anything". I just gave you my opinion. If you don't like my opinion that is fine. Move here with all your stuff. I really don't care one way or the other. Every person is different and their reasons for coming or leaving are their own. I was making a suggestion that you find out if you like it here before making a huge investment in this endeavor. Or, at least find out where you want to live. Your stuff will get damaged here making local moves believe me so you want to put your stuff in a home that you are sure you will stay in for awhile. Storage facilities are not existant out here in the interior for example. The usual recommendation is that a person come here and rent for at least a year so they can be sure they like it and they can make rational decisions about staying her and finding out where they want to live. There is much to learn during the first year. It is easier to travel light. Take it easy. Make some friends and learn about this new environment. If you wish to use a different strategy then by all means do it.

Originally Posted by Pollerkeeper

I am sure you can "handle anything". I just gave you my opinion. If you don't like my opinion that is fine. Move here with all your stuff. I really don't care one way or the other.

Wow, not very nice. I didn't say anything to deserve that. I heard what you said & appreciate the advice I've heard several time before. I was just telling you what I feel & my situation. I'm allowed to do that - I THINK.

And I never said I was going to move here with all of my stuff. I said I can't afford to put it all into storage over here while I investigate down there.

Adios


Michelle


Michelle

I give that one bark.

My family and I may have the opportunity to move to Panama this year, and I wanted to join this forum to get a better feel for the country. Learn about schools, real estate and living there.

Michelle, we are moving here next month. I am one of the (few) ones who move because of my husband's job. I have no choice, in other words. So I look at it from a very objective point of view - I have no preconceived dreams or illusions about Panama, neither was I pushed from where I am (due to weather, finance, etc).
I just have to say, do look at the place objectively, and the perceptions from a "visitor" point of view is very different from a person who is going to stay here and make it work. Actually, from that second group, even the requirements of a retiree and a person trying to make a living here, is different, if you have young kids, you have even more to consider.... All is different for diffferent people and you have to consider carefully.
Just my 2 cents worth.

If i would go to retire/do nothing, i would never go to Panama. Thailand for example is more beautiful, cheaper, cleaner, more developed in many ways, wayyyy safer, more fun, nicer people, better beaches etc.

I have been to Thailand. It is absolutely beautiful! My husband and I would move there in a hearbeat, but when we looked at the international school fees....we couldn't afford it. In addition, Thailand is far from Canada. It would be harder for me to travel home to visit my aging parents compare to Panama. Who knows, it could still be an option when our two boys are grown up. I love the Thai style houses.

Originally Posted by Panama Dreamer

I have been to Thailand. It is absolutely beautiful! My husband and I would move there in a hearbeat, but when we looked at the international school fees....we couldn't afford it. In addition, Thailand is far from Canada. It would be harder for me to travel home to visit my aging parents compare to Panama. Who knows, it could still be an option when our two boys are grown up. I love the Thai style houses.

Even more then in panama?? I read here the other day that they charge about 10k per child here as entrance fee alone.. :S

But even besides thailand, panama still wouldnt be very high on my list. Its been a while since ive been in dominican republic, but when i was there last it was way nicer then here as well.

And yes those houses are awesome! I have a friends who are building a traditional style house and bungalows on a mountain near chiangmai now its so beautiful

Yes the fees in Thailand are high. Our two boys still have another 10 and 15 years of school....that is really going to add up.

The beaches in Thailand and DR are nice. I have yet to find that in Panama. Our next beach to explore with be San Blas.

Originally Posted by Panama Dreamer

Yes the fees in Thailand are high. Our two boys still have another 10 and 15 years of school....that is really going to add up.

The beaches in Thailand and DR are nice. I have yet to find that in Panama. Our next beach to explore with be San Blas.

omg im so happy i dont have kids

san blas i saw on youtube and looks awesome. but i also saw theres hardly any acceptable hotels there.. :S

i was in Corona, near Coronado, last week and those beaches werent much better then the ones i had in netherlands. Although the temperature was way nicer then in netherlands lol

I know what you mean. Beaches in Coronado ...nothing to be excited about. If you been to Jamaica, Punta Cana or Cuba.....those are beaches that puts a smile on your face instantly.

well my 2 cents . i have been here just over 3 years , i personally love it , panama is what you make it , some can live in the city and be happy , others it is the small town , near other gringos , away from gingos , all you have to do is throw away your watch , be able to accept a huge different lifestyle and be very flexable in your plans , if you want everything to be the same as you have now in your home country , except cheaper , you will be very dissapointed . my personal thought , mingle with the locals , move into their neighbourhood , because once they are friends you will see how good of friends they can be , if you think you need to live in a gated neighbourhood , then you should stay where you are , this country offers nothing that any other country in the world can not offer , except the great people , it is warm , cool ,wet , dry in many countries , the medical , food ,beaches etc can be found in any country , the only thing left is the people , dealing with the power company , banks others can be trying , but you have to do it there way , getting mad will only eat you up , , for example the power company took 9 months to run power into my acerage , i took the lady 12 roses the day after and said thanks , i believe she pushed a little , , thats what this country is about , the good bad and ugly ,

welcome , well not having kids of my own , i will just pass on what i have heard from others who have kids , if you put them in the local school ,you will not be doing them any favors , from what i have hheard , grade 12 here is about grade 8 in the states , so it means private schools , which means living in the city , some can be happy in the city , i just am not one of them , but different strokes for different folks , real estate , a house can be had from 30 grand to millions , you just need to look in the area you want or need to live in , the people ,for the most part are super and it is good to make friends with them , i am not a believer in the gated gringo neighbourhoods , thigs happen real slow here , both for the good and bad , i live near a small town and think 1950 when i am there , but dealing with companys like the banks , power , etc is also 1950 , slow and tons of paper work , so it is what you make it , if you have traveled to latin american countries then you have a idea , if not , hang on and it will teach you , not you teaching it , if you expect the USA but only cheaper , dont move , its way different , good but different in my mind

Nakeguy pretty much hit the nail on the head for the small town he is here. Don't know if your a city type folk so if your thinking of Panama City hold on, she's a pretty busy city. Lots of hustle and bustle, casinos, nightclubs, restaurants but traffic holy shit there's traffic from hell.
Don't know if this helps? It would be helpful to know what kind of lifestyle you are looking for??
Panama pretty much has it all.
Good luck
Capt

I don't know what beaches all you people are going to in Panama, but it can't be the same ones I have been fortunate enough to experience, agreed the Pacific beaches aren't that great, but the Caribbean beaches are drop dead gorgeous, white powder sand some are not occupied, crystal clear water, jungles, rain forests, archipelagos , how do you spell paradise. Thats my 3 cents worth (I had to top the nakedguy)
Anyway I am moving to Panama also, and I am going to buy a container to take some of my stuff, and probably won't be able to fill it, so we may be able to split the cost. The advantages of this are: You don't have to unload the container right away and it will supply me with future storage. I think this will mitigate a lot of headaches. Send me a PM if you are interested and we can discuss it further if you wish.
Capt

Hi Capt.

So sorry, never saw your message until now.

I don't know what happened, but I just PMed you.

TTYL


Michelle