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Home Archives for living international
9 Tips for Driving in a Foreign Country

Last Updated on June 19, 2017 - by Jackie Lange

9 Tips for Driving in a Foreign Country

Reprinted with permission from Billy and Akaisha Kaderli of www.RetireEarlyLifestyle.com  Commentary in blue about driving in Panama added by Jackie Lange of Panama Relocation Tours

Driving in a Foreign Country

Most people in the U.S. and Canada own their own cars. Wherever we want to go, whether it’s to the grocery store or the next town, we simply jump into our cars and start driving. There’s no second thought about traffic rules, which side of the road to drive on, the language of the land or whether the car is in working order.

Generally, mass transport options are scarce for everyday getting around (unless you live in a city with a subway or airtram) and the use of taxis for transport can add up.

The situation is different in a foreign country. Taxis are cheap, and there are other transport choices like tuk tuks, local buses or bicycle driven taxis. Uber is available and very affordable in Panama City.  You can even request an English speaking Uber driver.

Still, even with the abundance of affordable selections for getting around, some still prefer to rent a vehicle.

If this is your choice, below you will find nine useful tips for driving in a foreign country.

  1. driving in a foreign country 2Think twice about renting a car. Hiring a driver is an affordable option in many countries. These personal drivers know where they are going, they know the best sites to visit, and will assure your safety. It is a stress-free option.  Many car rental places in Panama will not accept your insurance and force you to buy very expensive insurance.
  2. Become familiar with a rental car by driving it around the parking lot. If you do decide to rent a car in a foreign country, become familiar with the vehicle by driving it around the parking lot. Check that the seat belts are functioning, that the car is equipped with airbags and make sure the brakes and windshield wipers work. Try the headlights to verify they light up, and confirm that the turn signals blink. Check your fluids and fuel levels.  Make sure you have Whatsapp on your cell phone and a cell number for the car rental place so you can call them if you have a problem with the car… know that they may not speak English.
  3. Plan your route ahead of time. This is very important. Know where you are going, and what stops you can make along the way. Weather conditions or even a local political protest can interrupt an otherwise easy trip and turn it into a nightmare, so have a secondary location where you could stay the night. Are you going through mountains? Do you want to avoid big cities or go right through them? Have a list of hotel choices in your destination place as well as your possible secondary stop.  Always have plenty of water and snacks in the car just in case you are delayed.
  4. driving in a foreign country tipsGet the latest maps and know the metric system. If you don’t know where you are going, how far it is to get there, or what the speed requirements are you are at a disadvantage. Going too slow or too fast, and not knowing what to expect on the roads ahead can create safety problems. Your car might have a GPS, but if you are going to less populated areas, or off the beaten path, those roads will not be registered in your device. You can’t buy a good map of Panama in Panama.  Buy your map from Amazon before you come to Panama.
  5. Read up on the road laws and know the road culture of the country you are in. Stop signs and speed limits can be meaningless in some countries. It behooves you to take this fact seriously. In some countries like Thailand, the one with the larger vehicle pays for the damage, even if it’s not your fault. If a motorcycle driver runs into you, you are liable for the repair of his bike and his medical coverage. Be aware of your surroundings on the road. In Panama, the maximum speed is 100km or 60 miles an hour and it is strictly enforced.  There could be police check points anywhere.  The police will want to see your passport and driver’s license.  They will check the entry stamp in your passport to make sure you have not overstayed your time in country as a tourist – which is a maximum of 90 days if you are driving.
  6. Tips for driving in a foreign countryAvoid driving at night. Road cultures differ from country to country, and besides the fact that stop signs and speed limits can be meaningless in some countries, there are drivers who choose to turn their headlights off “to save battery power.” As astonishing as this might seem to you, it is often done, especially in rural areas. If you cannot see the car in front of you or the one behind you, this places your safety in jeopardy. If you are driving through a rural area at night, there can be cattle, donkeys, horses and other animals roaming the roadways. They are harder to see at night, and running into them is a rude surprise.  I would add, try to avoid driving in the rain, especially hard rain, because it’s hard to see.
  7. Lack of enforcement and bribery are commonplace in many countries. This may or may not be to your advantage. Especially, if you have an accident with a local driver whose brother is the mayor or police chief! Try to keep your cool in any situation. Demanding, screaming and the flailing of arms will only place you lower on the totem pole of getting anything done in your favor. Don’t assume you have rights. Remember, you are in a foreign country. Move the situation forward with politeness and respect, and take care of your complaints later.  If you get a ticket in Panama, you’ll have to go back to that province to pay the ticket.  Do not drink and drive, or use your cell phone while driving.  
  8. Tips for driving in a foreign countryDon’t be afraid to use your horn. Americans are among the most polite drivers in the world, but it gets them in trouble. In many countries, using the car’s horn is a normal function of driving and is a form of communication. Using your horn can be effective in reducing crashes. Always toot your horn when you are passing someone on a road in Panama.
  9. Use public transport as often as possible. Public transport is often very good in foreign countries. Bus, air, ferry or rail passes make traveling from place to place affordable and less stressful than renting a car and having to remember on which side of the road to drive. You won’t have to be responsible for the vehicle’s safety or fret about where the next fuel station is. You can catch a snooze, watch captivating scenery or read a book while being transported to your next location. Public buses are readily available and very affordable in Panama.  Uber is available in Panama City.

    Relax and enjoy yourself!

    Akaishia KaderliBilly and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. In 1991, at the age of 38, they challenged the belief systems of everyone they knew and left the conventional working world to travel the globe. Facing unique challenges and living well on less money, Billy and Akaisha have been helping people achieve their own dreams of financial independence by sharing the wealth of information they have collected over the years on their website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com.

 

Filed Under: Living in Panama Tagged With: driving in Panama, living international, Moving to Panama, retire in panama, retiring in Panama

See Panama Before the International Living Fast-Track Panama Conference

Last Updated on November 25, 2020 - by Panama Relocation Tours

See Panama Before the International Living Fast-Track Panama Conference

International Living has a Fast–Track Panama Conference in Panama every year.   You’ll spend 2 ½ days in a hotel room in Panama City to get an overview of Panama.

Panama Relocation Tours tries to always schedule a 6-day 7-night all-inclusive tour just before or after the International Living Conference so you can actually get to see Panama.  To REALLY get a feel for what your life could be like living in Panama, you need to get out of Panama City to see more of Panama up close and personal.  See Panama with a boots on the ground tour!  SEE OUR TOUR DATES HERE

PanamaRelocationTours.comThat’s where Panama Relocation Tours comes in!  We offer 6-day all-inclusive tours of Panama. You’ll get to visit Gorgona, Coronado, El Valle, Santa Clara, the Azuero Peninsula, Santiago, David, Boquete, Volcan, and Cerro Punta PLUS you’ll get to meet with expats who live in those areas.

Panama Relocation Tours is NOT a real estate tour.  You will see some rental properties in each area but there will be absolutely no sales pitches to try to get you to buy real estate.  We highly recommend that you rent for at least 6 months, 12 months would be better, before you make any buying decisions.

During the Panama Relocation Tour, you’ll learn:
  • Health insurance companies – a little trick to save an extra 30%
  • Private hospitals, Doctors, Dentists, and specialists
  • How to find a rental.. and things to watch out for
  • How to get BIG discounts on many purchases in Panama
  • CPA’s with expat & Panamanian experience
  • Meet with Attorney to learn about visa options and business structures
  • Shipping and moving companies (Tips for saving money, too)
  • What it takes to start a business in Panama.. and which businesses are off-limits.
  • Pet relocation (my step-by-step guide for a smooth transition)
  • Trustworthy real estate agents and property managers (they are hard to find)
  • How to get online orders (Amazon) and mail delivered to you
  • Selling on Amazon  – Without touching products
  • The best way to take title to a property if you decide to buy
  • How to send and receive faxes without using a fax machine
  • Typical budgets in various areas (some or more or less than others)
  • How to get phone calls to/from your country in Panama… for free
  • How to bring a gun into Panama and get a permit (or buy one here)
  • How to ship precious metals into Panama.. tax free!
  • Where to buy precious metals like gold and silver in Panama.
  • Learn How to Fund Your Life Overseas… Little Ways to Make Big Money
  • Step-by-step CHECKLIST of things to do BEFORE you move to Panama
  • Best place to buy or rent a car, and MUCH more.
During a Panama Relocation Tour, you’ll meet an immigration attorney who charges less than HALF what the International Living Panama attorney charges for a Visa.  This alone could pay for your tour!
No one knows more about relocating to Panama than we do!  Since 2010, we’ve been offering Panama Relocation Tours.  We’ve completed 100+ relocation tours.
We’ve helped hundreds of people relocate to Panama!  They made the move without stress because of the information they received during a Panama Relocation Tour plus the ongoing support they receive after the tour.

Panama is the perfect place to live. You have easy access to a cosmopolitan Panama City, 1500 miles of beach, and mountain towns where the weather is spring all like year.  The Panama economy is the strongest in the western hemisphere and their government is a stable democracy.

Boquete Panama
Boquete Panama

In Panama, it is possible to have breakfast next to the Pacific Ocean, lunch in a quaint mountain town, then dinner at a funky restaurant over the Caribbean Sea… all in one day….without getting on an airplane!

Retirees can take advantage of Panama’s Pensionado Program which is considered the #1 retirement program in the world!  You can get a discount of 10% to 50% on everything from restaurants, prescriptions, utility bills, airfare and movie theaters plus more.
Not ready to retire yet?  You’ll love the opportunities available in Panama and the ease of doing business.  Some of our tour clients have been able to get a job working for a multinational company in Panama.  Many have reported that they make more money in Panama than they did in the United States because they pay no, or very low, taxes.
During the tour, you’ll learn how to make money online working from home.  I have several online businesses that more than cover my living expenses in Panama.  You’ll learn how you can do this too!
Tour of Richard Detrich's House
Tour Group at Richard Detrich’s House

You’ll get to meet expats who live in each of the areas we visit.  They will share what their living expenses are like so you can get a general idea of what it cost to live in Panama. You’ll be amazed at how affordable it is to live in Panama.

During the Panama Relocation Tour, you’ll get ALL the information you need to make your move to Panama stress-free. You will even receive a checklist of exactly what you need to do and when.

If you’re thinking about attending an International Living Fast–Track Panama Conference, be sure to stay an extra week to come on a Panama Relocation Tour to actually get to SEE Panama.  A Panama Relocation Tour begins in Panama City.  It will end in Boquete.  Your tour fee includes a flight back to Panama City so you can catch your international flight.

Plus, when you come on a Panama Relocation Tour before or after an International Living Conference, you can take advantage of our super affordable rate at the hotel where we stay in Panama City. It’s much more affordable than the rate at their conference.

When you compare the two opportunities, you may discover that an all-inclusive 6-day 7-night Panama Relocation Tours is a better fit for what you need to learn to be able to relocate to Panama. To make an informed decision about relocating to Panama, you really need to SEE more of the country than you’ll see sitting in a hotel room in Panama City.  By the end of the tour, you’ll know if Panama is right for you and if it is, you’ll be able to pick out your ideal location.

Check out our testimonials:

On our website
On YouTube (including interviews with people who took the tour then relocated to Panama)
On Facebook

LEARN MORE about our Panama Relocation Tours.  If you have any questions, email info@PanamaRelocationTours.com
To a BETTER Life in Panama,
Jackie Lange
Boquete, Panama
PanamaRelocationTours.com
Here’s what some of our previous tour clients have to say:
STRESS-FREE ITINERARY WHICH TOTALLY SURPASSED OUR EXPECTATIONS

Thanks Panama Relocation Tours for putting together a stress-free itinerary which totally surpassed our expectations.

For anyone considering an exploratory trip to Panama, Jackie Lange’s Panama Relocation Tour is a must!  The 6 day trip took us through so many different living environments from expat communities in Coronado, to homes in Las Tablas and David to our final stopping point in Boquete and Volcan.

On the trip you get a chance to experience what to expect living in different regions of Panama sampling weather, costs and variety of food, typical shopping experiences and housing offerings. The tour is comprehensive encompassing everything from the nuts-and-bolts to moving to Panama, tax considerations, how and why to hire an attorney, insurance considerations, opportunities for expats and so much, much more.  Tour recipients leave with plenty of great documentation to refer to after the trip.

This is so much more than a bus trip with stops in different parts Panama.  It’s an experience that convinced us that the people and the country of Panama is a place that my wife and I will return to again for a much longer stay (if not permanently)!

I wouldn’t hesitate recommending this trip to anyone who’d like to explore the possibility of relocating to Panama. Panama Relocation Tours has it all and more!
David and Rhonda Grover
Austin, Texas
April 2014 Tour
MEETING THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE TOUR WAS SUCH FUN!

Bob and I would like to say THANK YOU for a wonderful tour.  We had a great time and really enjoyed seeing the different parts of the country.  From what we saw, we feel that the Boquete area would be the spot for us.

Although we have some “moving parts” that will have to be worked out, we do hope that it is going to be possible for us to relocate in the next year or so.

Meeting the other people on the tour was such fun.  We feel like we have made some new friends, and – hopefully – we will be seeing them again in Panama!!

Jackie, your knowledge of most things Panamanian is invaluable.  Melissa — I so appreciated your assistance with all of my questions, and your amazing coordination.  All of our before and after plans went smoothly!

Carol and Bob Hanft
October 2016 Tour
Patti and Frank on PanamaRelocationTours.comON A SCALE OF 1-10 OUR EXPERIENCE WAS AN ABSOLUTE 10 AND WORTH EVERY PENNY

Patti and I went on the Panama Relocation Tour with an open mind, but hoping everything we read about the tour was true.

The tour with Jackie Lange was more then we could hope for, it was informative and comfortable.  Jackie was an excellent host and a wealth of information.  We got a realistic view of what to expect if we decide to work or retire in Panama.  We stayed in very good hotels and had more then enough to eat (the meals were very good and plentiful).

We had the opportunity to see how fellow expats live and hear them share their experiences.

Me and my wife have decided to take the plunge and give Panama a try after my retirement and are in the process of applying for the Friendly Nations VISA (416 VISA).

We were looking for a place to live with cooler temperatures then we are currently suffering in Tampa, Florida.  And we believe that Boguete would be a great place to start this adventure in our new life and explore the surrounding areas.

I must not to forget to acknowledge Melissa Lange as well, she guided us through the process so that the experience was pleasant and enjoyable.

On a scale of 1 to 10 our experience was an absolute 10 and worth every penny.

Frank and Patti Major
Tampa Florida
August 2016 Tour
JACKIE’S ADVICE ALLOWED US TO ACCOMPLISH IN A FEW DAYS WHAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN MONTHS OR MAYBE YEARS ON OUR OWN
PanamaRelocationTours.com
Warren and Kim

My husband and I just returned from a visit to our future home in Boquete, Panama. It has been our intention for years to spend retirement overseas and have thoroughly researched many countries. When we narrowed our search to Panama we discovered Jackie Lange’s PRT.  Our Panama adventure began in Panama City and ended in Boquete. We were able to sample life on the coast, mountains and everything In between.  We were introduced to expats currently living their dream in Panama as well as journey with others like us beginning their pursuit. We met an attorney who will help us with legal issues in regard to our move, we opened a bank account and enrolled with a shipping company. Jackie’s experience and advice allowed us to accomplish in a few days what would have taken months or maybe years on our own. We returned back to Mississippi to find a buyer for our home, cars and other possessions in order for us to begin our new life in Boquete, Panama sometime in 2017, if not before.  If cool breezes, milder temperatures and an affordable way of living sounds enticing to you, contact Jackie and plan to be a part of one of her future tours.

Warren and Kim Doherty
McComb, Mississippi

September 2016 Tour

I’M SO HAPPY I TOOK THIS TOUR…

I’m so happy I took this tour, my first ever! I met a lot of nice people and fellow solo travelers too. Thank you Jackie & Melissa for the invaluable information provided in six days that would take me months if not years to gather.

Loved the down to earth, no hustle approach. I felt Jackie wanted to show me why and what she loves about her adopted country, “if you like what you see, welcome neighbor and if it’s not for you, that’s okay too”.

You’ve got a great team Jackie. Melissa was always there with a quick response to my questions and requests. Your attorney was so helpful, reasonable and accommodating. Jorge is a pro driver; I felt safe and Luis took care of wherever I needed to go in Panama City.

Muchas gracias,
Dawnette
Thailand
July 2016 Tour
HAD A BLAST
First, I would like to thank you Melissa for doing such a fantastic job getting my wife and I set up for the tour.  You were so thorough and fun to work with for the process of generating all the paperwork required to make the trip.  And Jackie, you were such a pleasure to spend 6 days with.  Everything was amazingly orchestrated for visiting the different cities.  From the housing tours to the lunch breaks and the hotels.  I especially appreciated your candid conversations about life in Panama and what to expect moving there.  Everything was Fabulous!
John & Maria Litland
July 2016 Tours
A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!
Our July 2016 Panama Relocation Tour was wonderful from the beginning to the end.

Every step was planned for and well organized. Each day in Panama was a treasure.  It was like opening up a gift each morning.

Jackie and Melissa could not have been any more terrific. Jackie shared her years of experience gained living in Panama.

She gave us invaluable, boots on the ground information.  We got the good and the bad.  Jackie is a walking encyclopedia of all things Panama.  If she doesn’t know it, she will find out.

We are planning a return trip very soon.

Hopefully a new life in Panama is in our future.
Shawn and Virginia
Las Vegas, NV
July 2016 Tour
 WATCH VIDEOS and Read more testimonials here

Filed Under: Living in Panama Tagged With: living international, move to Panama, retire in panama

No Hurricanes in Panama

Last Updated on August 25, 2020 - by Panama Relocation Tours

No Hurricanes in Panama

Panama Tropical Paradise www.PanamaRelocationTours.comIf you’ve always dreamed of living in a tropical paradise but the thought of hurricanes held you back, there is a fantastic solution!  Panama!

Panama, at just 9 degrees latitude, is too far south for hurricanes.   Panama does get a tropical storm once in awhile, mostly on the Caribbean side.  Panama is blessed by nature, unlike the rest of her Central American neighbors, with no hurricanes – amazingly it’s in a special climate area that is hurricane-free. Panama also has no major earthquakes and no active volcanoes.  Panama is the ideal place to live!

After several hurricanes in the United States, insurance rates went through the roof.  But because Panama has no hurricanes, real estate insurance rates are super low.  I just got my annual house insurance renewal bill for $205.70 PER YEAR!

Hurricanes are essentially a tropical phenomenon, that are driven by the evaporation of a large pool of very warm water somewhere not too far from a shoreline. Local geographic conditions may cause them to strike in non-tropical locations, e.g. Florida, Louisiana, Atlantic coast, as well as Japan or Taiwan (where they are called typhoons). Hurricanes can strike the Pacific coast, but less commonly than the Caribbean, typically between about Acapulco and Panama.

Wikipedia’s entry on hurricanes has a graphic which depicts the tracks of all hurricanes between 1985-2005, shows that, in the Western hemisphere, hurricanes never form below about 8 degrees north and always move west or northwest.

No Hurricanes in Panama

 

Your home or property investments will be safer in Panama because you don’t have to worry about them being damaged or destroyed by a hurricane.

You can enjoy year-round SAFE weather with no worry of hurricanes in Panama. Panama does have tropical storms which can produce a lot of rain but no property damage like a hurricane.

Come see how you can live BETTER for less in Panama, and never have to worry about a hurricane.

Panama Relocation GuideYou can learn about how to relocate to Panama with our Online Panama Relocation Guide.  It has the same information that you’d get on a 7-day Panama Relocation Tour including our rolodex of reliable contacts for immigration lawyers, real estate agents, where to get health insurance regardless of your age, and much more.

 

 

Filed Under: Living in Panama, safety, weather Tagged With: cost of living in Panama, living in panama, living international, no hurricanes in Panama, retire in panama, weather in Panama

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