Recently I stumbled across some frank advice in regards to getting your 90 day tourist visa renewed in Panama. For those of you who are unaware of Panamanian law the US Department of State outlines the following:
“Panamanian law requires that travelers present a passport valid for at least three months, and must either purchase a tourist card at the airport in Panama before clearing customs, or obtain a multiple entry visa from a Panamanian embassy or consulate before traveling to Panama. Further information may be obtained from the Embassy of Panama, 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20009, tel. (202) 483-1407, or the Panamanian consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Read more
In the event of an emergency in Panama, you want to have doctors you can trust, and understand! At Hospital Punta Pacifica you’ll find just that. The hospital opened in 2006, and is an affiliate of Johns Hopkins Hospital. Located in Punta Pacifica, about 15 minutes from the Tocumen International Airport, it is on the list of hospitals recommended to foreigners.
Hospital Punta Pacifica is a modern hospital, with the proper equipment to handle emergencies and serious situations. The majority of the doctors and surgeons speak English and have been trained in the States.
The hopital has 52 private rooms and 12 suites. The only complaint I have heard voiced is that the maternity rooms are on the Read more
GiGGi Travel has been keeping the Panama Gringo updated on all the great hotel deals going on in Panama right now, and here is another for the month of September:
The Hotel Veneto is offer a special for all of September – $125 + tax for Double occupancy, and that includes breakfast!
If you are planning a romantic trip for two to Panama, you may want to consider booking a room at the Hotel Veneto.
If you are coming to Panama with your family or a group, though, a hotel room may not be the way to go. If you have several children, or just a bigger group of friends, getting enough hotel rooms for the whole lot can be pretty Read more
We are always looking for better ways to map out Panama, and now we have the newest edition, entitled EyeOnPanama.com, from Google Maps.
It lists many of the places, activities, and attractions in Panama City and around the rest of the country, that should be on the list of things to see or do for any visitor. Helpful information, like where you can find the Albrook Bus Terminal, is also listed.
Some of the shown locations, such as teh Ancon Theater Guild, are showcased with videoclips hosted off of YouTube. You can also get directions to any of the locations on the map, search the nearby area, or send the information to someone else.
Health Tourism is the newest and coolest way to mutlitask while you are on vacation. It combines vacationing with certain medical procedures, including surgical and dental care. These medical procedures often include cosmetic surgery or other health related medical procedures, as well as surgery. When the cost for such procedures can be 50% or less than that of your home country, and you can be minutes away from sandy white beaches, why not travel abroad for medical treatment?
Panama is one of the most popular destinations for health tourism and medical vacations, and it is easy to see why. Not only is it extremely close to the United States, but the first world infrastructure you see in Panama is unique Read more
La Papa is a popular choice in Panama City, and not without good reason. The food is excellent, and the service is decent (not fantastic, but this is Panama we’re tallking about, service is almost never great).
The menu at La Papa covers all your basic dishes: fish, chicken, beef, soups and salads. There are so many options to choose from, this is the perfect place to eat if you have a large group or picky eaters; everyone is sure to find something they will like at La Papa. (They even have falafel, which pleases most vegetarian friends!)
Inside the decor is nice, very relaxing and it reminds me of a chill cafe in the States. There is a huge Read more
The customs strike in Panama that started last Wednesday ended last Friday as demands of the workers were met by the governemt.
Customs workers managed to receive see Customs officially recognized as a career path, raise wages and have the appointment of 197 workers who were deemed as temporary named as permanent employees. The Director of Customs estimates that these changes will cost the government $1.6 million and $1 million respectively.
This is in addition to the multi-million dollar effect the strike has already had on the Panamanian economy. Well… at least things are moving again!
Yesterday, Wednesday June 24th, the Customs officials and members of the Association of Customs Employees announced that they are on going on strike, effective immediately.
Labor actions began last month, in May, with workers demanding higher salaries and better working conditions. The put their demands to the National Government, and have not since heard an answer. Workers in Customs as well as the Association of Customs Employees will go on strike until they receive an answer from the National Government.
This means if you are in the midst of importing something into Panama, such as a car, household goods, or other random items, actually getting it into the country might be a little difficult. It remains to be seen how the Read more
If you are looking to connect with other Expats in Panama City, head to the ExPats West meeting tonight (Wednesday, June 24th) in Coronado.
The group is meeting to mix and mingle at about 5 pm at Twisters in Coronado, which is located on the north side of the highway across from the Coronado Rey and west of the new Cochez store. For more info call Guillermo, the owner of Tusters at 240–1532 and 6673–4155.
Twisters serves up all different kinds of food, and it’s good, so come hungry. You can choose between Italian, Mexican, Columbian, Panamanian and American food.
ExPats West meets pretty much every 4th Wednesday of the month, and is a great way to connect with Read more
