Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

We leave Saturday for Birmingham. Hoping to get to The Stand on Thursday to see some great humor. Cheers. Read More

No, we didn't like PC either. I lived in Glendale, CA for many years so I know the type of weather you are looking for. Panama is hot and humid, so is Nicaragua and the rest of Central America because of the equator. You will have to live with ... Read More

It's not so much the mosquito's in that área as it is the coffee bugs. Screens on the windows won't really mean much as they don't sit flush to the window, there is a gap everywhere. I always had to watch to see what was flying into the house. I ... Read More

You can also try a site called InterNations - they have a fairly active expat group in PC that meets monthly (I still get the invites). You might want to give them a try. Be safe and have fun. Read More

They have been talking about direct flights from the US to David since 2008. First it was TACA airlines, then Aeroperlas (which is now gone) and of course Air Panama (whose planes come from COPA). Yesterday the head of Panama's tourism and the ... Read More

He told me once but I honestly don't remember Kristc99. Email him and ask. He will respond to your email. Especially handy if there are larger groups with lots of luggage. Let us know what he says. Read More

Does it have to be a cab driver? If a shuttle driver will do - since they are the same cost - contact jose@goldenfrog.net. Speaks English, has his own vans and will drive you all the way to Boquete or even Bocas if pre-arranged. He owns a home in ... Read More

Thanks Michael. If you want to keep up with our take, and our travels around Scotland, I have been asked to write for a new tourism site that highlights the best of Scotland. Here is the url; http://www.great-scotland.com/ - it should be an ... Read More

Bob, Are you aware you posted on a topic from 2010? Things have changed in Panama since this first post. You might want to repost a new topic for people to respond to. Florence Read More

I was just telling another member of this group that one of the youngest expat groups I have seen has been here in Cuernavaca, Mexico. In fact the leader of the group in Mexico City says her group is just as young. I mean families with young kids ... Read More

We chose Cuernavaca because there are over 40 Spanish language schools here and most of the students come from the US. We have been on many excursions with some of these students through the Cemanahuac School. The guy who runs it is an American ... Read More

Actually the answer is how do you want to live? Car or no car? Near PC or not? Sea or mountains? Gated or with locals. If you tell us your passions then we can assist you better. What and how do you want to live (and you will live incredibly well ... Read More

I'm sorry, I meant that there were no perks left for US military in Panama. No bases, no military post exchange places, etc. You should be fine on $2000 a month in retirement funds. We decided to live like locals and lived for less than $700 a ... Read More

One of the military airports is being remodeled and will be opening as the 5th of the 'new' international airports in Panama. It is located near Colon. Your military retirement won't amount to much in Panama any longer. The other airport used ... Read More

Hola Duff! I guess I would recommend thinking about the small everyday stuff. Like, don't forget to tip the kid bagging your groceries in the store. I know it's not something that we think about because we don't do it in the US but it's very ... Read More

@Nystp – sorry for the slant towards Boquete. I guess I write on so many sites I forget where I said what. But on so many sites I talk about Las Tablas and even Bocas. The reason so many pick Boquete is because of the cooler weather. I was born ... Read More

Okay so one month in both Las Tablas (a cute little town I liked) and Boquete (the town we lived in). You can live in Boquete on $1000 a month (or less) so don't count it out. Others who live in the lowlands actually pay for air conditioning so ... Read More

PattiH, Never in a million years would I recommend one of those relocation tours. They do not tell people the truth about life in Panama and they have something to sell. There is a lot of property for sale all over Panama by those who came on ... Read More

There are other single woman living in Panama. What you can afford to spend a month will determine the city where you will end up. With no health issues that really opens up the possibilities. You don't need a car in some areas and with taxis ... Read More

Utilities were included in our rent but yes we paid in cash. Most locals do as well. Most Panamanians do not have credit cards so they do most things in cash. Read More

Well now we understand your need for good medical care. You will have to visit the hospitals for sure and then feel comfortable in them. Have you investigated sites that deal with medical tourism or contacted the medical tourism certification ... Read More

I hope you will both read all the entries here on the Panama forum and then ask questions. There is a lot of great information on here. There are also lots of good blogs (and bad ones)out there to read on life in Panama - honest blogs where you ... Read More

I'm guessing by theatre you mean movie, is that correct? If you mean actual theatre productions unless you want to attend the expat productions there won't be any professional productions, unless you stay in PC. There is a movie theatre in David ... Read More

How much health care do you need? That answer will determine the best city for you I think. I would suggest when you travel around Panama stop in at the clinics and hospitals to see if you would want to be treated in them. I was quite content to ... Read More

Thanks Wolf. Appreciate the cudos. At the Tuesday Market the woman who manages the used book tables with books for sale is also the post-mistress. She's the one who gathers US mail that needs to get back to the US so just see her when you arrive. ... Read More

Karen, We did take what happened as a learning experience and due to the changes happening in Panama we are actually grateful. Everything happens for a reason and we are very happy here in Cuernavaca. We have also started a new enterprise based ... Read More

SawMan, We have heard good things about Ecuador and we have friends living there who love it. I think every country in Latin America should be explored. I found wonderful places to live in just about every country (including Nicaragua!) and we ... Read More

Is it true SawMan that the only way to totally not owe the American government any tax money is to completely liquidate all of your holdings in the US and then give up your citizenship? Which means you then have to get citizenship in another ... Read More

Hola Lily, My my husband and I are planning on living in Ireland beginning in July for 6 months. I see you are in Meath. We were thinking Galway (I'm still trying to decide what city actually). How did you decide on Meath and what are the rental ... Read More

You are being gouged by your bank in Florida. We have never paid anywhere near $18 for a transfer fee. Are you transfering your whole check into an HSBC in Panama? That's why we don't have an account in Panama or any other country. We leave all ... Read More

Charles, I am going to respond to both posts you posted last night, one on Panama and the one in Mexico if that's okay. We lived in Panama and are right now in Cuernavaca so I have the perspective of both answers. I will then send you privately an ... Read More

I don't think anyone answered because they are not familiar with the answers. Your son would be considered an international student if he applied to American colleges for enrollment. Now he is a dual citizen I'm guessing and right now that would ... Read More

It's such a beachy area to me its very laid back. Growing area? There is a new botanical garden that has just opened (it's just lovely) and the owners are expats from England. There is a cacao plantation on Bastimentos with expats from the US ... Read More

Your question made me smile. Bocas is a fun and quirky little town and is filled with locals and expats. I suggest staying at the Gran Bahia Hotel (if he has room). The owner Tito is amazing and his hotel is very nice. It's also one of the ... Read More

Wolf, Definately head to the expats meeting on Tuesday. The best times to go (if you want to buy something) is by 8:30 when they open since they tend to sell out sometimes of produce or other baked goods. The meeting will commence around 11:00 ... Read More

Hola Wolf, Sorry for the delay here but I've been working on other things lately (launching The 6 Monthers). And I've seen your new account on LinkedIn (nice photo by the way). Welcome to Boom Panama. Sorry, didn't mean to sound so cryptic about ... Read More

Yes, even though they use the American dollar as their currency (that's what comes out of the ATM machines) they charge you a conversion rate for the Panamian balboa. So we get charged a service fee to get our money out and then a conversion rate ... Read More

The largest bank in Boquete is HSBC. I would contact one of their offices in the US and see if they tell you what the service charge will be to use travelers checks. I know they will charge you something. I tried to deposit a bank certified ... Read More

Wolf, Since you are on LinkedIn check out BOOM Panama. The guy who leads the group, his name is Dennis. He has been in Panama 34 years. He was married to a Panamian and he is the editor for several expat magazines (hence my editor). We have had ... Read More

My editor has been in Panama for over 34 years and he's married to a Panamian. I'm not sure what questions you are asking. Do you mean to ask if you automatically get citizenship if you marry a Panamian? Give me a list of questions and I'll ... Read More

What is your budget a month? You are reading about crime because for the countries you mentioned the income level is still very low for these people. In Panama its $600 a month, in Ecador its like Nicaragua and closer to $300 and in Uruguay it's ... Read More

Hola Jonathan, No order to my answers. 1. You don't need a converter. Most outlets are 110 (identical to the US) so you should be okay. 2. The police do a couple of interesting things, like they have road blocks set up and check points where ... Read More

You understand that you will still be fighting the mold and buying the bleach, right? I lived with spray bottles of bleach to fight the mold and I never closed the window in the bathroom so that we had constant airflow through the bathroom (where ... Read More

In our experience it is cheaper to just sell everything - unless you have priceless antiques. There is nothing you can't buy where you are going. And the cost of shipping everything can be very high. Before we began moving around we sold our ... Read More

That site is outdated by at least five years. If you want reading on what it's really like to live in panama read this site; http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2013/01/29/retire-in-panama-yes-o-no/ This is current and so is the issues with water ... Read More

Hi Mick, We will always say that Panama is a beautiful country. We just want to offer a balanced set of information to counter the fluff everyone sees from those relocation sites. @nodyesdog - I'm not sure how you want to live so it's hard to ... Read More

Contact bill@valuemotorsboquete.com to get a car rental quote. Bill is an expat, from Florida, and he shoots square with you. He will also arrange a pick up for you from the David airport if you rent from him. His car rentals are half the price ... Read More

Why would you have to pay $22K more in taxes for living in Abu Dabi? Read More

We lived in Boquete for just that reason. It's the humidity in the rest of Panama that I couldn't take and I'm originally from Buffalo, NY so I know humid! LOL. We lived in layers of clothing and without any air conditioning or heater. Are ... Read More

I would think you would be better off flying in your first time and renting a vehicle and seeing what the roads are like first. I know the road from Almirante to Boquete for example is pot hole riddled. You have never seen so many potholes that ... Read More

Enjoy your trip. Where will you be exploring? Read More

Contact jose@goldenfrog.net - he's a shuttle driver and its the same cost as a taxi and it would be easier with luggage to have his service. Read More

They don't take your IDL here in Panama. They want your driver's license and you will have to sign up for all the insurance coverage here. It's unfortunately a good thing to have since they will charge you for any little ding, scratch and even for ... Read More

For you, coming from NC the answer would be yes. If you were going to explore Bocas than I would suggest the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica (and then a flight on Nature Air from San Jose to Bocas). So the nearest airport will be determined by ... Read More

Laiken, What do you want from a country? What do you need in a city you move too? How do you want to live? Uruguay is a beautiful country and the people are warm and friendly. What cities have you read up on and which were you told to avoid. ... Read More

Mike, I wouldn't suggest Belize because it has gone the way of Costa Rica - it's been overrun with expats which means the cost of living has increased greatly. We loved Costa Rica to be sure and Grecia was one of our favorite cities in that ... Read More

Why Panama? Tell us what makes you want to come here? How do you want to live? You said the beach and close to PC. That would be Coronado to me, which has a lot of expats but is rather pricey. Are you aware that the national average income of ... Read More

I understand the allure of living here, but the reality is very different. The cost of the pensionado visa is also upwards of $1000 a person. Then you have to pay for the Panamanian attorney to do the work. That's another $1000. Air Panama (who ... Read More

I have a contact on another forum who only purchases property through the government of Panama. It takes longer but it's legit. Much of the property sold here in Panama to expats is not legal and there are stories that swirl on other forums where ... Read More

Sorry Mick, We flew from PTY directly to Mexico City. Perhaps you can find an Ecaudor board to follow on here? I'm sure they have one. If not try InterNations, Fodor's, Trip Advisor, and even LinkedIn. I do all of those and more. Good luck. ... Read More

Carez, Wow. Thank you for sharing. Sorry about your venture not taking off. I know more stories like ours are out there, maybe more people will share their stories so that people who are thinking of going to Panama to find their 'dream' will ... Read More

Hi John, I am originally from Buffalo. I have a lot of family still in the city in fact. We had moved to Boquete so I can't give you living information on the areas you asked about, just on life in Panama in general. Have a good visit. Read More

Kris - thanks for the note. No it hasn't soured me on Panama. The country is beautiful. And many of the people we met are very nice and I will continue to help them. I do every day on Trip Advisor. But living in Panama wears on your after a ... Read More

Need to be reading more than just Expat.com for what is really happening to a lot of people in Panama. Of the over 300 people who have read my husband's post only two said it wasn't so and then privately in email that other readers could not see ... Read More

Where did you read that about the ATM's? Never had that happen to us so I'm not sure where that came from Stefan. Of course we only use the HSBC bank machines so perhaps that is the reason. Read More

Mick, Happy to see you got home safe. How is your daughter feeling? Hope she is well. Take care, it was nice meeting you. Best, Florence Read More

How much you are going to spend depends on how you want to live. You can rent for $500 a month but that will have no utilities included and definately no internet. Most locals do not have internet nor cable service for the TV. I live with no ... Read More

La Barqueta is about 35 miles from Boquete. About an hour drive. It's the same beach that you would go to from Volcan which is about the same time, not because of the distance but because of the roads. Read More

You said you are staying in PC for a couple of days. Are you perhaps thinking of flying to David and then touring this area? We drove across our first trip to Panama and yes we rented a car at PTY. We now fly from Albrook to David and if we ... Read More

There are only two Country Inn and Suites in PC. One is the Amador. We stayed there and liked it. Most of the rooms look at the canal and you can sit on your balcony and watch the ships make their very slow progress through the canal. The hotel ... Read More

cvincent - David is called an international airport because it has flights into and out of San Jose, Costa Rica (there is a fee to do this). Other than that the only other airline that flies into it is Air Panama. How are you planning to get to ... Read More

. Ps please don't think I'm racist, I'm just stating the facts as they have happened to me. I like or dislike people on their behavior to myself and others.Totally agree. I do the same. Has your husband ever thought about becoming a certified ... Read More

Aw, I understand. We came to Panama because of the cost of living. What does your husband do for a living? Read More

Flower - they have volunteers who teach English here. Most people who 'retire' here actually are trying to learn Spanish and so Habla Ya is one of the best. You would need visa's and permits to teach here for a profit. Both very time consuming ... Read More

Kevin - I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. I live here now in Boquete (about 30 minutes outside of David) if you want any information on this area. Maralise - What you didn't say was what part of Panama you wanted to start a business in. ... Read More

Well then Boquete will be a very pleasant surprise. We are at 4000 feet elevation and it is lush and green here. We are in the middle of our summer and its very windy and dry here at the moment. Not as hot as it gets in David, where everyone ... Read More

fl keys mary, I'd be happy to chat with you about living here in Panama if you want. We sold everything before we moved. Our house, two cars, furniture, years worth of art work I had been collecting, etc. We each brought two suitcases of clothes ... Read More

Emailing you directly. Let me know if you don't get it! Read More

Hi Mick, The Flower and Coffee festival is actually the 10-20th of Janaury so you should be okay. Okay so you want to see Boca Chica or La Barqueta. The driver I know also takes people there. Very nice beach's. Not too terribly far past ... Read More

A fellow Gemini. I had to respond. My husband and I live in Boquete. He didn't hestitate to retire, he lept into it. We retired six months before he turned 62 and toured Latin America for 4 months. We went to five countries and spent 21 days in ... Read More

We are getting ready for summer here so prices will be higher. Summer lasts until about April. I'm not sure what you are comfortable with paying but I have access to a house (not mine) that a local lets me rent out to people coming to visit. If ... Read More

I understand about the rain. Our days are thus. We usually get beautiful sunshine and blue skies in the morning. Around noon or 2:00pm the clouds come in and rain begins. It might rain until 5:00pm or so. The biggest reason we didn't pick David ... Read More

We live in Boquete. Moved from CA. Love it here. What questions do you have? What luxuries are you looking to find? Bringing your 'bike' with you? There is a bike club here. I've seen them roaring down the road between Boquete and David on ... Read More

Dave, Yes you can fly into Costa Rica (we just did it in fact). The only thing about doing that, and honestly what just makes me laugh, is how tight security will be when you do that. We've flown into PC and never had our bags searched (they run ... Read More

Hi Frank and Laura. My husband and I actually live in Boquete and we can attest to its charm. We love it here and really love renting our home from a local. The expats meet every Tuesday morning for the local Farmer's Market and then they have a ... Read More