Thread: Defintely Not a computer guru and very lost about how to do this!

My name is Dennis. I am a ex-Marine and currently still a working Merchant Marine Officer involved in the Oil/Gas Industry in the Gull of Mexico. I work for a company based in New Orleans. The vessel I work on just went back to a 28on/28off schedule. I have been through the Panama Canal maybe 5-6 times in the late 80's going from Houston, Texas to El Salvador but never had a chance to get off the boat and visit. I loved Central America and its people and vowed to return someday. Well it is now someday!!!!
I will be 70 in December. Plan on retiring for good when I am 72. Want to visit Panama with a interest in spending my off days down there and living there full time when I retire. Would welcome any and all advice you could give this Ole Jarhead!!! Be prepared to answer about a zillion questions. Semper Fi, Dennis

Welcome!!

Ask away Ole Jarhead, and we will try to answer.

Becky, Thank you for your reply. I am hoping to make my initial visit for a period of at least 2 weeks between July 14th and Aug 11th. I signed up for some info from Interantional Living about living oversea and a audio on Panama itself. Currently am on my boat and havn't had time to listen to it. I am originally from California. Spent alot of time at S. Calif beaches. Kinda like to get my feet back in beach sand again. Thinking I would stay at a B&B or Moderate priced hotel. Hopefully by the time I show up through this forum I will have met couple folks down there that might have the time to show me around. On quick question for today. Is it better to have money in a internaional bank in the states that does business in Panama as far as getting $ out of either the bank or atm machine. Instead of closing with "Have a Nice Day" how about "Do at least one thing fun today" Semper Fi, Dennis

Bring down a Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card. As far as I know any will work. Make sure you let your bank know you will be here so they don't cut you off. If you have a choice, use a bank that doesn't charge huge fees for international withdrawals.

hi , and welcome , a little advise , take everything that Interantional Living says with a grain of salt . their panama is a bunch different than our panama .

Banks here do not match up with banks up there. Citibank Panama is COMPLETELY separate from Citibank US. I also know that BAC is also completely different.
We have a Chase card and aren't charged foreign fees. My Citi card does.