Thread: Hello to all!

I just joined this forum and I am certainly happy to have found it! My husband and I have been building custom swimming pools for 20+ years. Our business used to be year round but with the economy and the winter weather the last few years, we don't get much accomplished from Dec to Feb. We decided that we needed to find some place warm for a few months since we weren't able to do much here anyway. Our plan is to visit for a couple of months during the winter and then in a few years, retire there for part of the year. Our first visit to Panama was January 2011. We rented a car and drove from Panama City to Pedasi and then to Boquete. So we have seen at least part of the country and were very impressed with everything we experienced. We are planning on returning as soon as possible. In the meantime, I am enjoying this forum!

Sounds like you're living the dream! Way to go. I too have found this a very useful forum -- most everyone is civil and well behaved, offering constructive comment and useful information. Okay, maybe everyone except the guy asking whether it was a good idea to buy 'pot' in Panama!

Welcome! It's dry season here now, perfect time to put in a pool.

Happy to hear about your trip. I plan to rent a car and do the same thing y'all did. Was it difficult to find a rental, was the drive difficult? I have not been to Panama yet, but think Boquete may be my ultimate destination. What kind of clothes should I pack. I'm only bringing one piece of luggage and a back pack because I really want to hike, too. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Originally Posted by candab16

Happy to hear about your trip. I plan to rent a car and do the same thing y'all did. Was it difficult to find a rental, was the drive difficult? I have not been to Panama yet, but think Boquete may be my ultimate destination. What kind of clothes should I pack. I'm only bringing one piece of luggage and a back pack because I really want to hike, too. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

I reserved a rental car online thru Thrifty - the airport location is open 24 hours, this was important to me because our flight was scheduled to arrive at 9:30pm. The car was supposed to be $79 for the week, however, with fees, etc.. it ended up being $270 - still can't figure that one out. The drive was not diffiicult. The hardest part was trying to find our hotel in Panama City the first night. The rental car agency gave us a map without any street names on it. But that makes sense because there were no street names posted on the actual streets either.

We had only 1 suitcase for both of us. We packed shorts, tshirts, swimsuits, a jacket that I wore once at night in Boquete. The jeans and long pants I packed, I never wore.

If you are coming from the States where all the traffic hazards are labeled far in advance, for example, "left lane closed 1 mile ahead", expect none of that in Panama. They just throw some cones in the closed lane, or in huge hole in the road. So keep your eyes open for that. Your rental car will probably not have any airbags or seat belt chime either.

We ate at the roadside Fondas everywhere we went - delicious food, super nice people, and super cheap prices.

Have fun - I ready to go back !

I've noticed that the daily rate is around $15 when reserving in advance and that the walk-up rate per day can be around $30. Avis tried that once, walked fifteen steps around the corner to National and got a lower rate. (el Congrejo area).

If you don't want to mess with a car when you arrive late at night at the airport and hope to find your hotel before morning, take a taxi or shuttle to your hotel. It's hard during the day to find anything if you're not familar with the streets and landmarks. At night and for the first time might be too much stress right off the bat. Believe me, street signs are rare and when you find them they usually don't match the name or number on the map.

Instead, rent your car from any one of the many rental car locations throughout the city. As pointed out, you need to check their hours. Not all are open late or on Sunday. I found all of this available on-line. Many hotels have rental offices too (e.g., Marriott has Hertz I believe). Even if you rent at one location, you can return to another one that has longer hours, or at least I have. Also, a hotel such as the Radisson Decapolis on Balboa Ave. has "free" self-parking - just park in the mall parking garage across the street. (I hate paying for a hotel to park my car--but am sure I'm paying for it at the Decapolis). I don't know what hotels generally charge, but since you're leaving the city you don't care much anyway.

Oh yeah. I recommend buying their overpriced insurance too. Others agree or not?

Also, Panama rental cars are known for worn tires. Check them out, as well as the spare. I've not had a problem, but I''ve heard of others having terrible blow-outs from badly worn tires. Maybe less of a problem with the big brands.

Rent the car online and save a few bucks. Insurance is manatory here, but you can just take the $11 a day kind.

Originally Posted by BalaBeacher

I've noticed that the daily rate is around $15 when reserving in advance and that the walk-up rate per day can be around $30. Avis tried that once, walked fifteen steps around the corner to National and got a lower rate. (el Congrejo area).

If you don't want to mess with a car when you arrive late at night at the airport and hope to find your hotel before morning, take a taxi or shuttle to your hotel. It's hard during the day to find anything if you're not familar with the streets and landmarks. At night and for the first time might be too much stress right off the bat. Believe me, street signs are rare and when you find them they usually don't match the name or number on the map.

Instead, rent your car from any one of the many rental car locations throughout the city. As pointed out, you need to check their hours. Not all are open late or on Sunday. I found all of this available on-line. Many hotels have rental offices too (e.g., Marriott has Hertz I believe). Even if you rent at one location, you can return to another one that has longer hours, or at least I have. Also, a hotel such as the Radisson Decapolis on Balboa Ave. has "free" self-parking - just park in the mall parking garage across the street. (I hate paying for a hotel to park my car--but am sure I'm paying for it at the Decapolis). I don't know what hotels generally charge, but since you're leaving the city you don't care much anyway.

The Radisson Decapolis was the hotel that we had a hard time trying to find. Then once we found it, the roads were a little confusing to actually get to it. Finally drove thru the mall parking garage to get to it. The valet parking there was free.

Originally Posted by BalaBeacher

Oh yeah. I recommend buying their overpriced insurance too. Others agree or not?

Also, Panama rental cars are known for worn tires. Check them out, as well as the spare. I've not had a problem, but I''ve heard of others having terrible blow-outs from badly worn tires. Maybe less of a problem with the big brands.

Every time we drove over a bump, it sounded like the front of the car was scraping the street. We pulled over to see if we could determine what was making the noise. Upon raising the hood, we discovered the front of the car was held together with zip ties of which 2 of the 3 were broken. We bought some additional zip ties and we were good for the week.

Ha! I didn't know I had to check under the hood too!

That's how they operate here. You lose 2 vacation days and almost die (possibly). They save 50 bucks.

Originally Posted by ebs964

Every time we drove over a bump, it sounded like the front of the car was scraping the street. We pulled over to see if we could determine what was making the noise. Upon raising the hood, we discovered the front of the car was held together with zip ties of which 2 of the 3 were broken. We bought some additional zip ties and we were good for the week.

The last time we went to Panama, we booked our vehicle through Thrifty. We paid in advance and received a 20% discount. By pre-paying before we left, I avoided most of the games they try to play once you arrive at their counter. They know you've been travelling all day and just want to get to your hotel. You wouldn't believe some of the crap they try to pull on you at the rental car counter. By pre-paying, there is nothing for them to do except give you the keys.....

BUT, as mentioned above, you really need to take a good look at your vehicle before you drive away. We always arrive in Panama after dark, so I bring a flashlight in my carry-on bag to inspect the vehicle. It really blows the mind of the attendant who goes over the checklist with me!

I checked with a couple of my credit card companies and both American Express and Capital One said they automatically covered rental car insurance, even in Panama....so I don't get it.

They only cover collision damage waiver (CDW), at least Capital One (only if you rent for less than 31 days and don't live in Panama).

There is also LDW, SLI, PAI, PEC and who knows what.

Originally Posted by bicar

I checked with a couple of my credit card companies and both American Express and Capital One said they automatically covered rental car insurance, even in Panama....so I don't get it.