Thread: Hello, new member here!!!

Hello all,

My wife and I are retired in the U.S. and are considering a year long trip to Panama. We have traveled some in the Caribbean and Mexico, but never to Panama. We became aware of it as a destination after some friends came for a short trip last fall.
Any information/advice concerning visas, where Americans are and live, housing, etc. would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!!!

Mike

Welcome!! Come down, rent a car, and drive. Your passport is all you need for a visit. You are going on a great adventure, enjoy it.

The consensus seems to be that the best car rental rates are when you reserve in advance through any of the international brands (Hertz, Avis, National, etc.) and keep your reservation and rate confirmation. You can count on them losing your information 50% of the time, or not wanting to look for it. I prefer paying with cash as much as possible as I'm not looking to invite someone to steal my information; others may like the security of a credit card. Don't entirely trust hotel safes, especially at the Royal Decameron. The policia are big on random stops so a color photocopy of your passport (picture and entry stamp) might be handy. It's not necessarily harrassment (although sometimes it could be) as much as boredom. Don't expect a gas station around the next corner--fill up often to keep from stressing out. Drive to the Caribbean east of Colon to Portobello and perhaps on to Isla Grande if you're brave with a good set of tires, but skip going near Colon. I like having plenty of Dollar bills and change for the toll road, which is very nice and quick heading north. (There's good discussion on this board about GPS too.) Pay taxis what YOU want to pay and don't ask them what the fare is. In the city, I think $3 to $5 covers it all. Don't expect change for a $20. Act like you know what you're doing and you invite less attention from goof balls. Listen to your friends--I bet they learned a lot.

Hi Mike!

My husband and I are also retired from Texas. We are heading to Panama for the month of August. We have rented a car, and plan on visiting as many areas as possible. We have read alot of great things and looking forward to it all! Will keep everyone posted!

Hi Mike!

My husband and I are also retired from Texas. We are heading to Panama for the month of August. We have rented a car, and plan on visiting as many areas as possible. We have read alot of great things and looking forward to it all! Will keep everyone posted!

Also like Bala says, the big car rentals are better when you rent in advance. Also I would suggest joining their various "clubs". They are usually free and require a credit club. The payoff is when you reserve on the internet they will charge your card $1 and it is listed as "pending". The other thing you will usually get a 15% discount off the rate. Also check your cc to see if what is covered in the way of insurances in a foreign country. No matter what you will be charged a "3rd party" insurance and there is no way out of it.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Watch out for this when renting on your card (I think it's standard for platinum VISA and world MasterCard and so on):

"Only vehicle rental periods that neither exceed nor are intended to exceed fifteen (15) consecutive days within your country of
residence or thirty-one (31) consecutive days outside your country of residence are covered."

So watch out if you are a resident of Panama and need it for 16 days and more.

Ancon and the other discount rentals around Transistmica are the cheapest (latest quote $333 for 2 weeks).

If you are planning a year long trip i wouldnt even think about renting a car. Just buy one, and sell it when you leave. That will save you a fortune!