Hi, We are making our first visit to Panama at the end of January. We are visiting Panama City and El Valle. While in Panama City, we are meeting with one attorney. We would like to meet with more though. From your experience, is there anything else we should do to try to be prepared for our eventual move in late 2015? Thank you in advance. Carrie Weiler

Hi all, we are so excited about our first trip to Panama coming up. Don't want to post actual dates but am interested in meeting some expats who have successfully made the move to Panama. We are a young very active and friendly couple in our 50's and very adventurous (anyone up for a game of hoops)? Speak a little spanish. Please PM me if you can and are interested in meeting up. Trip is this month

Is a subscription to International Living Magazine worth it? Meaning, can I get all the info I need from the web and this site?

Is there any bank in panama that is tied to a us bank so I can transfer money from us to panama electronically. If not, any thoughts on how to get this done. Thanx's

This from AM Costa Rica, today: $5 land exit tax will go into effect Monday, Tributación says By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The country's tax authority says that it will begin collecting a $5 land exit tax Monday. The agency also said that no one at the border crossings has the power to accept such payments, so travelers must pay their tax beforehand. The agency, the Dirección General de Tributación, said Tuesday it had entered into an agreement with Banco Crédito Agrícola to handle the money the same way that the bank handles the airport exit tax. Within two weeks, the bank is supposed to have automatic machines to collect the tax from credit and debit cards and give receipts at Paso Canoas, Río Sereno-Sabalito, Sixaola and Peñas Blancas. These are the major crossings. The exit tax can be paid ahead of time at branches of Coopealianza as well as the Banco Crédito Agrícola, said the ministry. Tour companies, travel agencies and some transport companies also will be selling the exit tax proof. There will be a flood of Nicaraguans going to their country over Christmas, and the ministry is sure to rake in plenty of money. However, the agency said that anyone not having proof of payment of the tax will be denied exit. Immigration agents are supposed to verify online the validity of any receipts showing the tax has been paid, said Tributación. Then there is supposed to be a system to prevent reuse of the payment slip. The tax can be paid in dollars or colons at the existing exchange rate. The money is supposed to be used to fix up the exit facilities. Diplomats, truck drivers and bus drivers are exempt from the tax, said the agency. The tax passed the legislature in July, but putting the levy into practice required the drafting of regulations. Initially the tax was going to apply to cruise ship passengers arriving and leaving by boat. There also was talk of increasing the airport exit tax. __._,_.___

From what I have been reading, Panama is the easiest country in Central America to own and carry a gun. I would appreciate hearing from someone as to the best method for doing this. I'd like to bring my Glock with me. What do I need to do?

Hi can anyone help me find someone that can make custom furniture near David or Boca Chica. Please send me the contact info. Thanks brian

My wife and I will be in Santiago during the last 3 weeks of February 2014. We would like to meet up with an expat(s) to talk about their experiences and lessons learned in and around this location. We are planning to build a few minutes north, just past San Francisco.

We'll be in Panama for a couple of weeks in early February, splitting our time between Boquete and Pedasi. We plan to rent a car so that we'll be able to explore on our own schedule while we're there. I understand my U.S. cell phone won't help me as a GPS, correct? Can anyone recommend a good road map of Panama, or should we just go ahead and pay (about an extra $100) for a rental car with a GPS.

I often read some of the posts here and laugh to myself because many of you out there complain about how the beloved Republic de Panama runs their Govt. offices. Such as lack of computer networks, slow or lack of service personnel in the Govt offices, stamps for everything, copy fees from the clown on the corner, they lost my paperwork now I have to go back next week … and the list goes on and on. Why do I find this comical? This is the place ‘YOU’ have chosen to retire or come here to form a business. Nobody twisted your arm to do so. Most likely you came down here because of some nonsense magazine article saying you can live in Panama for less than $750 a month! Now that’s off my chest … here’s some things to keep in mind while dealing with the new country you decided to transplant yourself to … When dealing with appointments or walk-ins to a Govt office. Take a number or sign in and wait your turn as if you have NOTHING else to do that entire week. Panama does not work like what you may have grown accustomed to in the USA. Things RARELY happen in one office visit. When you know you have to visit a Govt office, do yourself a favor so you won’t lose your place in line … before entering the office building, make copies of your carne, IDs, passport, etc. from the copy person planted on the sidewalk by the buildings entrance BEFORE going inside. Chances are you will need them while inside. If not, you only lost .50 to a buck. Bring snacks or pack a sandwich or two. If you didn’t bring anything, there will almost always be a vendor just outside next to the copy guy. I like to do is watch how the others in front of you conduct their business. Often there will be another needing to conduct business similar to yours. Situate yourself so you can hear what’s going on … this may help to you keep from making mistakes. Folks, keep in mind, most of you are retired and have NOTHING else to do but business of the day. And quite often, that business may take more than one day. Some of you may remember me saying previously to make friends with those you do business with. This also goes for any customer service person you may have to speak with. Remember, if you pi$$ them off, your paperwork will probably get lost. When your number is FINALLY called, approach the counter with your best smile, say hello and how are you. And I usually have a pack of life savers in my hand, and as I go to get one for myself, I first offer one to the customer service person. This will usually level the playing field especially if he/she just had a customer previous to you that was hard to deal with. Everyone likes a lifesaver! Gum wouldn’t be appropriate since its frowned upon for office workers to chew gum. Panama is a laid back place w/ the mind-set of” we’ll get to it when we get to it” environment. You may even here the word ‘tomorrow’ used a lot. Tomorrow is used usually when they have no idea when or even if they want to help you. Please do not bring your North American ‘I want it now’ attitude, because that’s just going to make your process longer. Panama is a wonderful place to call home … but for a North American, you will need to ‘learn’ how to live here vs. acclimating yourself as you would in another country such as Europe or Asia for example. **NOTE … I used the word ‘you’ many times above for simply pointing to those it may apply to. You know who ‘you’ may be.