Whether you are relocating to Panama or just coming for a visit, here are some things you should do to make your trip a lot smoother.
LEARN SOME SPANISH
I must admit that I am not fluent in Spanish but I know enough to get by comfortably.
Some towns in Panama have a high concentration of expats. In those towns, much more English is spoken. But you cannot always count on every Panamanian you come in contact with knowing Spanish, so keep Google Translate on your smartphone handy just in case you need a quick translation.
PANAMA CELL PHONE
MUST HAVE APPS FOR PANAMA
It’s a good idea to bring a smartphone to Panama so you can use some free apps to help you get around or buy a Panama cell phone when you arrive. Load these apps on your phone:
Always ensure that you have a secure VPN app installed (I use NordVPN) on your mobile device to protect your data and privacy while using public Wi-Fi networks.
Before traveling, double-check the availability and reliability of these apps, read recent reviews, and download any offline maps or guides you may need during your stay in Panama.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
When you go to a restaurant, they will not bring your bill until you ask for it. “La Cuenta, Por Favor” By the way, a 10% tip is customary for meals in restaurants in Panama.
At stores, the salespeople will follow you around, but they will not ask if you need help until you ask them to come over to help you.
Panamanians love to party – hardy – with loud music and dancing until the wee hours of the morning, especially during Panamanian holidays. When you are looking for a place to live, if Panamanians live next door, you will likely get invited to all the parties. But if you’re not a party animal, who enjoys loud music, you may need to find a different house to move to.
PANAMA WEATHER
WORK WITH A PANAMA RELOCATION EXPERT
Since 2010, we have helped thousands of people have a smooth, hassle-free move to Panama.
We have the experience you can trust!
We can help you with your exploratory trip to Panama during our 6-day all-inclusive tour. Our driver will meet you at the airport and take you to our group hotel in Panama City. Then we’ll spend six days showing you popular areas all over Panama, and introduce you to expats who have already moved to Panama. You’ll meet an immigration lawyer who will explain the various Visa options. You’ll get our list of trustworthy contacts to help you find a rental, buy health insurance, buy a car, get pets into Panama, and more. Plus, you’ll learn:
• How to find a rental.. and things to watch out for
• Health insurance companies – little tricks to save you 30% or more
• 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 other mail delivered to you
• Selling on Amazon – Without touching products
• The best way to take title to a property if you decide to buy
• International Schools – things you need to know
• How to send and receive faxes without using a fax machine
• Typical costs and budgets in various areas (there’s a big difference)
• 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)
• 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.
All this and NO SALES PITCHES! We do not sell real estate, so you don’t have to worry about high-pressure sales tactics. In fact, we highly recommend that you rent for at least 6-12 months before you even consider buying real estate in Panama.
LEARN ABOUT PANAMA RELOCATION TOURS HERE
We don’t sugar-coat living in Panama, either. During the tour, you’ll learn the good and the not-so-good so you can make an intelligent decision about relocating to Panama.
Our #1 objective is to help make your relocation to Panama as stress-free and smooth as possible… with no surprises when you make the move.
NO ONE knows more about Panama than we do!
During our 6-day Panama Relocation Tour, you’ll learn what you need to know to transition smoothly to Panama. You’ll learn to improve your lifestyle with less expense and stress! And, by the end of the tour, you’ll know if Panama is right for you.. or not.
Not a tour group kind of person? We also offer our Online Panama Relocation Guide, which has the same information that you’d get on a tour, but for a fraction of the costs. It even includes our rolodex of reliable contacts for immigration lawyers, honest real estate agents, where to buy health insurance, international movers, and much more.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PANAMA RELOCATION TOURS
Don’t take our word for it, read what previous tour clients have to say:
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!
I just returned from Jackie’s September Tour and it far exceeded my expectations! She is so down to earth, informative, and knowledgeable for people wishing to relocate, visit, begin a business, or simply invest in Panama. Jackie speaks from experience. She has done everything she recommends. Her classroom is a tour bus, hotel lobbies, restaurants eating chips and salsa, coffee houses, and chatting with others. I learned so much about life, investing, living, and streamlining my life. I was walking in Boquete (Panama) looking to get my teeth cleaned, she pulled up in her car and said “hop in I’ll take you there!” She didn’t have to do that. It is just the way she is. The tour inspired me to write a book, hire a virtual assistant, expand my businesses, and rent some new places in Panama to get started! Jackie is a resource who will be by your side every step of the way. Her help doesn’t stop when the tour ends, it will last as long as her clients need to get started in Panama. Jackie is a mentor and a role model for me. Thanks, Jackie, for all you do.
Steve S.
Please send information regarding your relocation tours