Thread: Hey, y'all

I am an early retiree (not by choice) living in New Orleans with an adult son with fibromyalgia. Am seriously looking at Pacific Coast and must be near Panama City for Johns Hopkins hospital. The closer to a beach the better. Planning to come down for a month or so to look around. Our income is minimal and if we eventually move, we won't have a car and will need furnished rental.

Would love suggestions!

Originally Posted by bayou8928

I am an early retiree (not by choice) living in New Orleans with an adult son with fibromyalgia. Am seriously looking at Pacific Coast and must be near Panama City for Johns Hopkins hospital. The closer to a beach the better. Planning to come down for a month or so to look around. Our income is minimal and if we eventually move, we won't have a car and will need furnished rental.

Would love suggestions!

That is a tough call bayou. How close to Panama City do you need to be time wise? Is your son able to take (sometimes cramped) public transportation? Panama City itself doesn't really have "beaches", it has a shoreline that you probably don't want to swim in.

He only needs to see an MD every two-three months. Not too bad. He can easily take public transportation. Don't want Panama City - my brother lived there in the late 1950's and it doesn't appeal. Want small and beachy.

Your best choice is to come down here and visit. You can find a nice little town in the interior that is less than 10 miles from the beach. There are so many choices of places to live that it is mind boggling. You just need to take a few trips down here and start poking around. There are also some very good doctors here that you can find for your son. Very good. I don't know what is your income but 2 people can live Ok on 1500/bucks per month if you watch your budget and do not mind living very simply. Most of the towns in the interior are very safe and the people are very helpful and nice.

See if you can file for the pensionado right away when you get here. Then you will enjoy 50 % off hotels Mon-Thurs and 30 % off weekends. Also 25 % off restaurants and 15 % for fast food. 50 % off entertainment and probably some for public transportation as well.

Thanks for all the information. You guys are great!

@Pollerkeeper - if I move to a small town close to the beach, will I need a car or are there buses? Really don't want a car if it can be avoided!

Hi!

Most small towns do have buses and taxis. Now how often they run is a different story. The larger places by the beaches will have more buses and better schedules. The bus sizes differ in more ways then just size, a lot of buses in the smaller towns in the interior are nothing more then glorified mini-vans and no a/c. They will also pack as many people as they can into the smaller buses.

You will have to come down here to understand what I am talking about and you will have to go to some of these small towns on the beaches. A lot of these smaller towns do not speak very much English. Like I said, come down and get off the beaten path to discover what I am talking about. Most of the Pacific area beach towns are relatively expensive to live in - you will be lucky to find anything under $500/month for a 1 bedroom place with no a/c and doesn't include electricity.

I know people that have come down here and not had a car in the interior and loved taking the buses everywhere. Everyone is different in what the expect when they come to PANAMA to look!

Mary
www.whypanama.com

One more question - how difficult and how expensive would it be to get a car and driver by the day to help us get around and see different areas?

Hi!

The ones I know aren't cheap. You are only going to be able to get out of Panama City 1-3 hours to look.

If you want to go to Azuerra Penninsula, Chiriqui, etc. areas you are going to need to stay overnight. You will probably be required to rent a car in your name and have them drive, pay all meals, gas, plus a wage of a minimum of $12/hour. Now if you want someone to speak English you are in another ballgame!

Mary

hello, I serious people who take to 60 (us) for days, car and driver all inclusive

Hey Bayou, Coming down here to visit can be very inexpensive but no one knows your budget. Personal drivers are not inexpensive here. Renting cars is not inexpensive and cabs can be expensive depending on your budget. Especially if you are going to the beach. For example, in my town a cab would cost 8 dollars one way to the beach which is about 7 miles. Very few beaches have bus service because they are usually sparcely inhabited and those who live there have cars. If you are on a limited budget then living on or near the beach will probably not be possible. Going to the beach with a friend who has a car is possible once you get to know some people. You can however, see a lot of Panama by using the buses and then walking when you get to the next town. They have inexpensive places to stay and eat in most towns. Short taxi rides are very inexpensive. You just need to come to Panama after doing a little research. Decide where you want to visit and take it from there.

Originally Posted by whypanama

Hi!

The ones I know aren't cheap. You are only going to be able to get out of Panama City 1-3 hours to look.

If you want to go to Azuerra Penninsula, Chiriqui, etc. areas you are going to need to stay overnight. You will probably be required to rent a car in your name and have them drive, pay all meals, gas, plus a wage of a minimum of $12/hour. Now if you want someone to speak English you are in another ballgame!

Mary

I am thinking bayou is better off in your neck of the woods Mary.

Howdy!!
I agree, but I don't believe that there are going to be any decent 2 bedroom rentals under $500/month near the beach. She needs to do a lot more research on this area. Like I said I know people that have been down here that don't have a car and depend on buses and they love it. Pollkeeper is right about beaches and buses. There are still a lot of people that I deal with in the area that don't speak any English and have no desire to learn the language (LOL) - especially my water commission of 49 other families near me!!

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Originally Posted by whypanama

Howdy!!
I agree, but I don't believe that there are going to be any decent 2 bedroom rentals under $500/month near the beach. She needs to do a lot more research on this area. Like I said I know people that have been down here that don't have a car and depend on buses and they love it. Pollkeeper is right about beaches and buses. There are still a lot of people that I deal with in the area that don't speak any English and have no desire to learn the language (LOL) - especially my water commission of 49 other families near me!!

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Anything near that price in El Valle? I know it isn't near the beach but at only 1/2 hour away (by bus) it's not a bad option. Plus electricity gets a lot cheaper when you don't need A/C.

Yea, there is stuff up there and it is usually very basic. The buses going up and down this hill will make it in 30 minutes but usually driving like bats out of hell (LOL)!! Plus they have taxis all over the place!

Mary

Originally Posted by whypanama

Yea, there is stuff up there and it is usually very basic. The buses going up and down this hill will make it in 30 minutes but usually driving like bats out of hell (LOL)!! Plus they have taxis all over the place!

Mary

El Valle is a very good option if you need to be near the city. Regarding buses, if the ride is to scary, just close your eyes.