abcdef814
12/16/2014 20:57 EST
I may well be testing the patience of avid followers of this site by once again asking for help. I have a reason though - we made the mistake of installing a metal roof in Nova Scotia Canada and lo and behold the internet provider could no longer provide. After 8 weeks sans communication, we now have a satellite provider. So, now to my plea for help with our second recon visit to Panama loosely scheduled for November, 2015.
Several of you responded when I asked for suggestions on locations where we would find: an expat community, reasonable services, access to water and affordable housing. BUT -- given the aforementioned fiasco with internet service, your good advice has disappeared.
So far, the next trip includes one week in Bocas del toro; 4 days in Boquette (just because we like it so much and; 3 days in David (because I thought someone mentioned a location close to David we might like). We have one more week. Took a hard look at Taboga but think that's not the environment for us on a long term basis.
Looking for any and all suggestions on what location would best fit our 4th location to ensure a well rounded exposure to Panama while being a contender for our ultimate retirement spot.
Thanking you all in advance !
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travelnmike
12/16/2014 23:24 EST
My name is Michael and I am heading to Coronado for two months on March 1st.I recommend a website called"Panama for real".The fellow that runs the site travels to different areas with his family and videos the areas to give us an Idea and feel for each destination.He also goes as far as does a cost analysis of living in each of these neighborhoods.I also am in communication and follow PanamaJames on this site. He is from Canada,lives in Boquete and has very well written insight and opinions about living and traveling in Panama.you can keep in touch with me through my email myacopino@yahoo.com. I will send you recon reports of my adventure and give you my NYer, retired Police Officer view of Panama. I wish you good luck on your travels.There are some on this site that are very negative, some that are seeking business. Be patient read all the stories and advice. Use common sense and you will feel better about where you would like to visit. I am going to PCY for a few days. Being from NYC, Every other city I ever visited seems small and pales to the diversity of NYC. I am a water person as well so living a beach life is more my style. I have heard lots about Boquete, David area, So its a must visit for me as well.I am also going to try and visit Bocas Del Toro on the Carib side. I am keeping an open mind and hopefully meet some cool expats that will assist me navigate the country to get the most out of the 8 week vacation.
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travlur
12/17/2014 07:46 EST
Hi abc....
We just returned from Panama where we stayed on the carib side, highlands, and Pacific side throughout the country. For Pacific beaches I would strongly recommend either Las Lajas, where you can stay at Las Lajas Beach Resort - the beaches are gorgeous and the food there is fantastic. I would also strongly recommend Pedasi, which is further east. We actually stayed in Playa Venao at El Sitio Resort, which was spendy, but WOW, it's phenomenal in terms of beach, food, atmosphere. Pedasi also has nice beaches and many great places to stay. I would recommend a B&B called Casa Lajagua. It's "in town" and a 5 minute drive to very pretty beaches. If you have the funds and want to splurge, I can't say enough great things about El Sitio!
Please let me know if you have any questions about these places, driving to them, where to visit while there, etc. I have tons of pictures too.
Cheers!
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travlur
12/17/2014 07:51 EST
I should mention that Las Lajas is a very small village with a a very small expat presence, but Pedasi is a place that, while a small town, does have a decent expat community with lots of volunteer opportunities, activities, and friendly expats and locals.
When we move to Panama we will be starting in Boquete for about 6 months and then going to Pedasi for about 3 months to see how we like it on the longer term. Las Lajas will be a vacation destination.....it's insanely beautiful and not at all commercialized yet, so we had the 10 mile long beach almost to ourselves last month. Phenomenal!
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GlamBabe
12/17/2014 13:26 EST
While it's not the least expensive place in Panama I would check out the Coronado/San Carlos area. I am biased though since I live here now.
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panamajames
12/17/2014 13:32 EST
Panama offers many options. Very warm and expensive like Coronado and Panama City, or very cool and inexpensive like Volcan and Boquete, and everything in between. Pedasi is a great beach area with lots of expats and reasonable costs. Stop in to Smileys when you are there. Bocas Del Toro is beachy and warm and not terribly expensive.........Lots to choose from.
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pollokeeper
12/17/2014 13:37 EST
If money is not an issue there are plenty of nice áreas of Panama to choose from. If money is an issue then you need different guidance. I live in Las Tablas área. There is a small xpat community here. Real estate is reasonably priced. There are many nice barrios and Little community's to live in. Pedasi is about 30 miles away and has a large xpat community but this town is not cheap to live in. Real estate is expensive and so is everything else. However, if money is not an issue than this is a fine área to live in also. Prices are rising on everything in Panama. Inflation has become an issue here. I live simply here in Las Tablas and love the quiet barrio I live in. I don't want to be bothered by the rich xpats in Pedasi who drive up the prices and change the flavor of the place. Too each his own I always say.
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panamajames
12/17/2014 20:01 EST
And I also agree with the previous comments about Las Tablas. Very inexpensive beach like area. It is not rich expat oriented beach, but it has water and sand and an ocean. I believe it will stay that way for a long time to come. Not many developers interested in it, so good for the people of Las Tablas.
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pollokeeper
12/17/2014 21:55 EST
Las Tablas is actually growing very fast. There are many construction projects going on in that área. I often wonder why anyone would want to build a new mall in Las Tablas? But, there will be a new mall there in the future. New Banks. New hotels. New retailers. It doesn't seem like Las Tablas can support the investment that is going on. At any rate, Las Tablas is a hub for numerous barrios in the surrounding country side and all those people shop in Las Tablas. Prices for real estate inside Las Tablas have gone parabolic in some cases but the Price for a home 5 miles away from town is still reasonable. Also, Chitre is close enough to visit when shopping is desired. I like Chitre but do not wish to live there. I live close enough that I can visit Chitre when needed or if needed. Also, Panama has really improved the roads in this part of Panama. The worst problema is the wáter supply which this área has succeeded in poisoning. Other than that, Las Tablas is a pretty decent place to live.
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panamajames
12/18/2014 18:47 EST
I really like Las Tablas, pollokeeper, as it is a great little town that has a huge future. Chitre is very large and can supply all your needs for food and supplies. For one of those warm climates near the ocean, it has huge potential, but the growth will be slow as the Gold Coast continues to grow by leaps and bounds, as does Chiriqui Province with Boquete and Volcan. Volcan got a new hospital which is a huge boost to it´s economy. Boquete is in the process of building a new Polyclinica in Alto Boquete, so the growth is amazing. If you haven´t been to Chiriqui in a few years, with the new highways and building that is going on, you won´t recognize it. Panama is definitely an up and comer with expat communities and the US dollar and North American influence helps a great deal. Here in South America, there is very little North American influence, but they do continue to respect the US dollar, especially here in Buenos Aires on the black market. The US dollar here buys 12 pesos on the Blue Dollar market, where the banks only pay 8 pesos.
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pollokeeper
12/18/2014 22:58 EST
I personally do not want or need growth where I live nor consider it a positive aspect of the área. Things were better when prices were cheaper. In the past 5 years the cost of realestate has doubled. Food has been going up at least 10% per year. This type of growth is not good for retiree's.
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panamajames
12/18/2014 23:12 EST
I would love to put a cork in it myself and even turn back the clock when things were twice or three times as cheap. If history repeats itself, that just won´t happen, but I love the wishful thinking. In Argentina now, things are very cheap, even cheaper than Panama, but the infrastructure is starting to deteriorate as a result. I met some people from Venezuela who came to visit, and feel that Argentina is very expensive. It´s all relative I suppose. If you need really cheap, it´s good to know that Venezuela could be one of the cheapest places on the planet now, to live. The politics there, are a bit of a problem. I think we are better off in Panama and deal with inflation as it comes and hope that our social security keeps up with it..............
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