Thread: Travelling to Panama for the first time, got advice?

Hi, I'm heading to Panama from Canada either end of this year or January some time. It'll be my father and me, he's been wanting to do this for a decade(well past retired) so what the heck... It's an extended stay and I'm planning to rent an apartment for 3 months and just relax, look around and take care of some business.

I've been reading these forums for the past few months getting info, it's been very helpful.I plan on learning spanish (took a couple courses in high school a decade ago...so terrible at it) and possibly staying for a while.

I'm hoping the limited language skills wont be a huge problem inside Panama City, any thoughts about this?

At this point I'm wrapping up things here and planning to secure furnished apartment for rent in the city so we have someplace to go straight from the airport. He(dad) has already contacted a lawyer to help with some things locally, and I'm wondering if we should secure a rental through him or is it safe enough to do otherwise?

I would think since you have not been to Panama, that you might want to look around a few days before deciding on a area to rent in Panama City .
I used the "Rocket Spanish " Program for learning spanish and am quite happy with it . You can download the whole program for about a $100 . Much cheaper than Rosetta Stone . WE love it .
Have fun and Good luck !

Come to Chiriqui province, lots to do and see, there is the lovely high land town of boquete, boca bravo, las lajas, hot springs of caldera, bambu hostel in david, baseball in david, lost and found lodge in the fortuna, check out stuart of mamallenas new place in boquete, casinos and nightlife in david, the faeria in bugaba in late january..etc etc

I have property for sale without the Gringo pricing deal directly with owner ME

Rocket Spanish sounds interesting. Ayyone else use this. Am looking for good program. Did not think rosetta stone was so great.