My Move To Panama
Ask About Our
​White Glove Service
US: (214) 431-5235
​Panama: +(507) 6270-4333
  • Home
  • Buy
    • Condos for Sale in Casa Bonita, Playa Bonita Resort >
      • Playa Bonita Resort
      • 23N Casa Bonita Penthouse for Sale
      • 23M Casa Bonita Penthouse for Sale
      • 21P Casa Bonita Penthouse for Sale
      • 20-o Casa Bonita Penthouse for sale
      • 19L 2 Bedroom Condo at Casa Bonita High Floor
      • 18G 2 Bedroom at Casa Bonita
      • 18A Stunning view of the ocean at High Floor
      • 16L Large Condo with Sweeping Ocean Views
      • 9i Casa Bonita 1 Bedroom
      • 10i Casa Bonita for Sale
      • 7e Casa Bonita 1 Bedroom for Sale
      • 6F Casa Bonita Large 2 bedroom
      • Casa Bonita New Apartments
    • Condos for Sale in Panama City >
      • La Maison Fendi Casa Panama
      • Matisse Costa del Este Panama
      • Armani Nuovo Luxury Apartment >
        • Nuovo Armani Casa
      • Hyde by Wanders and Yoo
      • Vista Marina
      • Winston Churchill 3 Bedroom Paitilla
      • Seawaves apartment at the heart of Panama City
      • Amador 2 bedroom
      • Vista del Mar 1 bedroom
    • Condos for Sale in Coronado >
      • Royal Palm, Gorgona, Panama
      • Coronado Golf Tower >
        • Coronado Golf 14th floor
        • Coronado Golf Tower 1-Bedroom
      • Casamar Beach Community >
        • Perlamar at Casamar - 1 and 2-bedroom condos
        • Altamar at Casamar - 3 bedroom condos
      • Bahia Resort, Nueva Gorgona, Panama >
        • Bahia Resort 1 Bedroom
    • Priced-to-Sell Beach Properties >
      • Las Islas, Punta Barco-Panama
    • Houses for Sale >
      • Penthouse in Amador (30% discount)
      • Villamar at Casamar
      • Villamar 14
      • Marinazul at Casamar >
        • Marinazul Masterplan
        • Marinazul #4
      • Vista Mar Villa
      • Costa del Este House
      • Oceanfront Home in Majagual, Panama
      • Oceanfront Home in Malibu Beach, Panama
      • Coronado Farm $1.2 MM
    • Land for Sale >
      • Boquete House Plus 10 Hectares
      • Absolute Beachfront Lots Pedasi
      • Farm Land for Sale
  • Rent
    • Rental Book
    • Penthouses at Casa Bonita >
      • FAQs About Renting at Casa Bonita
      • 10KL 3 Bedroom Condo at Casa Bonita High Floor
      • Casa Bonita 21P Penthouse
      • Casa Bonita 22M Penthouse
      • 23N Casa Bonita Penthouse for Sale
      • Casa Bonita 23o Penthouse
      • Casa Bonita 24N Penthouse
      • Casa Bonita 24o Penthouse
      • Casa Bonita 24P Penthouse
    • Two Bedrooms at Casa Bonita >
      • Casa Bonita 6F
      • Casa Bonita 7D
      • Casa Bonita 7F
      • Casa Bonita 7i
      • Casa Bonita 8A
      • Casa Bonita 8B
      • Casa Bonita 10i
      • Casa Bonita 14J
      • Casa Bonita 15B
      • Casa Bonita 17J
      • Casa Bonita 18A
      • Casa Bonita 18F
      • Casa Bonita 18G
      • Casa Bonita 18e
      • Casa Bonita 19D
      • Casa Bonita 19K 2 bedroom apartment
      • Casa Bonita 19L
    • 1 Bedrooms at Casa Bonita >
      • Playa Bonita Resort
      • Casa Bonita 6e 1 bedroom
      • Casa Bonita 7e 1 bedroom
      • Casa Bonita 8K
      • Casa Bonita 9b 1 bedroom
      • Casa Bonita 9e 1 bed
      • Casa Bonita 12H
      • Casa Bonita 13B 1 Bedroom
      • Casa Bonita 14B 1 Bed
    • Renting in Panama City >
      • Nuovo by Armani Casa Luxury Apartment
      • Winston Churchill 3 Bedroom Paitilla
      • Parque Urraca 2 Bedroom Rental Apartment
      • Solaris 3 Bedroom Rental Apartment
      • Vista del Mar 1 bedroom
      • Villa del Mar 2 bedroom apartment
      • Rental Book City Apartments
    • Renting in Coronado >
      • Coronado Golf 1-Bedroom Golf Course View
      • Coronado Golf 2-Bedroom
      • FAQs About Renting at Coronado Golf
      • About Coronado Golf Tower
    • Rental Terms & Conditions
    • Fun Facts About Panama
    • Resources for Renters >
      • Terms and Conditions
  • Visit
    • Why Panama?
    • Things to Do in Panama >
      • Monkey Island Panama
      • Fish Market Panama
      • Best Restaurants in Panama City, Panama
    • Areas to Visit >
      • Amador Causeway
    • Foodie Tour
    • Gift Videos
    • French People Moving to Panama >
      • Porquoi les Français s'installent-ils au Panama
  • Concierge
    • Premium Services >
      • In Home Chef
    • Property Management
    • Moving to Panama >
      • How to Buy Property in Panama
      • Getting Money into Panama
      • Opening a Bank Account in Panama
      • Getting a Bank Mortgage in Panama
      • Bringing Pets to Panama
      • Checklist for Bringing Your Dogs & Cats to Panama from the US
      • Schools in Panama City Panama
    • Testimonials
    • What Do Renovations Cost in Panama?
    • Condo Remodeling >
      • Remodeling - Panama Penthouse
      • Renovations in Panama-Double Apt
      • Redecorating in Panama 1 Bedroom City
      • Redecorating in Panama Amador Causeway
  • Books
    • The Panama Affair
    • FREE Book >
      • Book Download
    • The Expat Files Panama >
      • Meet the Characters of The Expat Files >
        • Jessica James
        • Savannah Grant
        • Jack Sharrone
        • Benicio Braga
  • Contact
    • About Us
    • Client Registration
  • Blog

9 Tips to a Happy Life in Panama

5/23/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
People are Panama-curious. There's a lot of information you can glean from the Internet, but much of the online info is out of date. It's not uncommon to get contradictory information as things in Panama changes and websites aren't updated. Rather than being confused, book a visit and see for yourself.

Once you come to Panama, chances are pretty good that you will fall madly in love with this stunningly beautiful land. Here are 10 tips to making sure Panama is right for you. 

  1. Keep an Open Mind. Panama may seem like a mini-me America, but it's still Latin America. Things are different here. Instead of getting upset about what's different, understand that this is their country. With that comes a different set of customs, traditions and way of life.
  2. Learn to Laugh. There are some things that are so ridiculous that you just have to laugh. For example, my fiance went to the biggest bank in Panama to make 5 separate deposits. After processing three deposits, the bank teller told Kleriston that he was going to lunch, and that Kleriston would need to finish the deposits with another teller. WTH??? Being Latin himself, my sweetheart pushed back and the teller reluctantly finished the deposits himself. I would have dutifully gone to a different teller. Crazy, but true. And instead of getting upset, we now get to laugh about it every single time we tell this outrageous story.
  3. Explore Panama. There are so many micro-climates here that you can have a variety of different experiences without ever leaving the country. Try things you never thought you'd try before. Go kayaking in the ocean, zip lining in the jungle canopy, hiking to a waterfall, bicycling on Amador, coffee tasting in Boquete, whale watching in the Pacific, or try taking a culinary class from the variety of chefs who call Panama home. There are so many different new things you can experience with just one passport stamp.
  4. Accept the Slower Pace. Everything is slower here. Service is rarely quick. Fast food isn't served fast. People even walk slower. If you bring your Western impatience, you'll become frustrated very quickly. 
  5. Learn Spanish. You don't need to become fluent (unless you want to), but learning some key phrases will help you ask for directions, buy things you want at the grocery store, and hire domestic help.
  6. Buy a Hammock. My hammock is one of the things I love best about Panama. The weather here is good year-round, which makes lolling in the hammock a daily activity. It's an inexpensive way to have a daily dose of good old fashioned relaxation. Forget the hammocks made of rope. Hammocks are sold all over Panama, so buy one that's made of a thick cotton fabric, and you'll see what real comfort feels like. 
  7. Plug Yourself in with Other Expats. There are three main expat regions in Panama--Panama City, the Coronado Beach Area, and Boquete. If you live in one of these areas, it's easy to connect with other expats who can help you get settled by answering questions about daily living in Panama.
  8. Take Time to Enjoy Panama. It didn't take me long to get so embroiled with my life in Panama, that I stopped doing many of the things I love to do. One day I woke up and gave myself a martini-like shake. Being busy is great, but walking on the beach, buying ultra-fresh fish at the fish market, and spending a lazy afternoon in my hammock are the reasons I moved here. Once I put those enjoyment items back into my daily routine, I realized why I'd moved to Panama in the first place.
  9. Try Something New. A new country is the perfect opportunity to try out a new hobby or two. If you've never been an avid golfer, now is the time to learn. If you've always wanted to get involved with a charity, there are a lot of hungry kids and stray dogs that could your help.


If you're on the fence about Panama, come spend a month. Perhaps Panama is for. With these 9 sure-fire tips, you're certain to have a happy life.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Melissa Darnay is a marketer, a serial entrepreneur, and a relocation concierge in Panama. Learn more... 

    Archives

    July 2021
    July 2020
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    August 2017
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright 2015-2022 Choose Panama Inc. All Rights Reserved.