Panama On The Cheap
June 3, 2009 |
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Dear Panama E-Letter Subscribers: Panama On The Cheap By Matt Atlee Any expat wants to save money during economic hard times. Here is a rough guide to Panama on the cheap.
You may be better to take the bus for 25 cents rather than a taxi which varies from $1 – $5. In Panama, you pay when you enter the bus not when you exit. The buses to the interior (ie. countryside) in Panama are excellent and inexpensive; and you can drink alcohol on the buses to the interior. Bus fares to the countryside run about $1.50 per hour of driving time. Panama’s taxis don’t have meters; the code of how much you pay is laid out on a map of the city which has different neighborhoods shaded, each color is a different fare. As you pass through shaded areas the fare has to be added up according to the different shades the taxi crosses. A destination in the old Canal Zone is expensive to get to in a taxi ($5+). Fares in the center of the city are low ($1-$2).
On Avenida Central you can buy a pair of pants for a dollar. My better side comes back from shopping trips to Avenida Central with tons of clothes for nothing. Women’s shoes which go for $80 in the U.S. are sold for $15 or less on Avenida Central. Stores like Saks, Titan, Titanic have cheap stylish clothes. You need to go and dig around to get a good buy. Dorian’s in the Albrook Mall is also a good shop to find quality clothes for cheap. Panama has great stores you just need to know how to find them. You won’t find bargains at the high-end shops but if you shop in the cheap local shops you’ll find very affordable, quality stuff. Food Eat local food. Panamanian food is very good but you need to know where to find it. The local food is cheap and healthier for you than global chain restaurants. The best options are where local professionals who are tight on cash go to have their lunch; that’s where you’ll find good typical Panamanian food. A very good plate of Panamanian food consists of small portions of chicken, beef, fish or pork with rice, often accompanied by beans and salad. Add a glass of water or chicha (juice) to wash it down. El Trapiche is a good traditional Panamanian restaurant, located on Via Argentina, serving great breakfast and the traditional Tamal de Olla (a delicious baked cornmeal pudding with chicken and vegetables). There are local fruit and vegetable markets that are inexpensive: one is located right on the border between the old U.S. Canal Zone and Panama. Prices are much better at the local markets than in supermarkets. The fresh Fish Market is not that cheap, but probably the best place for the money to buy fish in Panama City. The fish market is located at the entrance to Casco Viejo, right next to the public pier. Super 99 is a very popular supermarket chain with very reasonable prices. Other grocers include El Rey and Riba Smith. Riba Smith carries more imported goods, fine cheeses, olives, mustards and other treats. Entertainment The place to go for cheap entertainment, I’m told, is the casinos. If you don’t gamble too much, you’ll get a lot of free drinks and you might even win on the odd occassion. Some of the most popular casinos are:
If you don’t like gambling you can find deals at other dens of diversion. For example, the Albrook Mall bowling alley has good specials on Friday nights: open bar and pizza and 3 hours of bowling for $9.99. Swimming pools in Panama are affordable: $1 or $2, The Adan Gordon pool is located between Av Cuba and Av Justo Arosemena. Another way to pass time is to go to the public events at Atlapa, the big convention center in Panama City. This year (2009) there are three fairs taking place from September 24th to September 27th (Tourism, Industrial and Commercial Fair) and an International fair starting on October 8th. Book conventions, artisan shows and shows for kids are very affordable and a good place to meet people. Keep an eye on what is going on in Atlapa (see their calendar of events). The art scene in Panama is also affordable. Galleries have public openings that are announced. You can check Arteplus.net located on Ricardo J. Alfaro, Century Tower, Panama City. Healthcare You can save money in Panama if you go to local clinics for your blood work, eye exams or regular check ups; their services are affordable. $10 to $20 per visit. The hospitals also offer medical services which are also inexpensive. The two main hospitals in Panama City are:
Pharmacies in Panama pretty much have the same prices alhough what drugs they have varies from pharmacy to pharmacy. Two of the most popular pharmacies are:
Where To Drink The bars in Panama reflect the people who go to them. So price really depends on what kind of people go to that bar: young and rich people will go to the Decapolis Sushi Bar and Martini Lounge at the Decapolis Hotel on Avenida Balboa. A margharita here will set you back $4.25. Working class people will go to the Bohios Alegres in Transismica where you can get alarge plastic cup of beer for 65 cents or a bottle of Atlas or Balboa for 50 cents.. Beer in the bars outside the main tourist destinations is cheap and good. Even In the less expensive bars, the interior is usually air-conditioned.
During tough times it always helped that most of my good friends in Panama were in the same tough spot; no one ever dropped a friend because they were in dire straits. And when the good times returned people would talk about how tough the bad times had been. Crazy stories of huge debt, impossible situations, divorces, splits, broken friendships; all told in hindsight with great enthusiasm and insight. Written By Matt Atlee
** 3 Day Panama City and Pacific Beach Real Estate Tour – $699 (1-2 person) ** 3 Day Chiriqui Real Estate Tour – $699 (1-2 person) – includes Boquete, Volcan, David and La Barqueta beach ** 3 Day Panama City and Highland Real Estate Tour – $699 (1-2 person) |
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Hard economic times end and then you find yourself back to where you were during the last good times. The pendulum swings back and forth no matter who you are. When the bad times end you feel a little wiser and more perplexed about how the world unfolds.