Travel Tips to Panama

Logistics
(The following information is to inform those who are looking to go to Panama for stem cell therapy.)

The Stem Cell Institute, where Phil will be treated, is in Panama City. There are some things no one will tell you about the process - not the travel agent/concierge, the institute or other places on the internet -- until now.

(1) If a person is given "VIP" status, once they deplane, they are taken to a VIP room where immigration and customs is handled for them while they wait. They DO NOT exit through the normal exit after passing through customs.

(2) If you ask the travel agent/concierge for the address of the condo you are staying at, make sure you ask him the exact address and name on the building, even if he gives you the address. Why? When I finally gave up waiting at the airport for my brother for three hours, I had to take a taxi -- luckily the driver offered on the spot $28 for a taxi -- which I agreed to and gave him the address. He immediately asked what the street number is. No street number? That's the address the concierge gave me when I asked him what the address was. After an hour of driving through Panama City, I gave up. It was impossible to find the building -- no street number, no name on the building so I had the driver drop me off at the Marriott. Later, I finally got in touch with the concierge/travel agent and got a ride to the condo.

(3) Before you book your condo/apartment/hotel, ask about water, internet and air conditioning. All three of these things have been cutting in and out throughout the day so far. It is EXTREMELY inconvenient to not have water when you need it. Apparently, construction is always going on in Panama, so make sure to have the concierge/travel agent notify you if this is going to be an issue.

(4) Panama is not like the States. There are similar aspects -- the currency is US Dollars -- and so prices are also the same here in Panama City as they are in the States. That means: $3.19 for a medium sized bag of Lays potato chips, $1.99 for a 2-liter bottle of Coke, $7.99 for a bag of Panamanian ground coffee, etc. There's nothing you can't get in the States that's in Panama because of globalization -- and so the novelty of "Panamanian goods" is limited to the little home-made nick-knacks that will clutter your shelves and you will eventually throw out because you realize your three year old makes these at school.

(5) Another reason why Panama is not like the States is because it is a second world country -- meaning, they have luxuries of the first world, but the infrastructure is still growing so that the pace of luxury goods are ahead of what the country can physically support. Construction is constant, roads are poorly maintained, sanitation is poorly maintained, graffiti markings are abundant, and the basic first world luxuries of air conditioning, water and internet can be inconsistent.

(6) Panamanian food is like any food you can find in a "central american-themed" restaurant in the States. Menus are similar -- eggs, omlettes, french toast, steaks for breakfast, etc. There are some chains such as KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Subway, Burger King, etc. here as well.

(7) Outside of the stem cell institute, people speak very little English here. You would think that they would speak more -- because of American involvement in the country for the past 70 years (eg, Canal, ties to US Currency, etc.), but they don't. Just a little. So you need a little knowledge of Spanish to order from a menu and read the menu. Just some basics like words for beef, chicken and fish so you can tell the difference (basically how food is categorized around the world not just Panama). It's basically like going to a Mexican restaurant in the States except the menu is in Spanish and the waiters only speak Spanish (well, sometimes the States is like that too).

(8) People at the stem cell institute are kind, informative and hospitable. They're like the country's ambassadors and travel welcoming committee -- outside the institute the Panamanians are all different. Some are nice, some are indifferent and some are everything else and in-between. Those that work in the hospitality industry are mostly all hospitable. Those that don't (eg, those that work at Reye's Supermarket) aren't so inclined to treat you differently than they do other Panamanians -- meaning, you won't get special treatment. But, sometimes, a waiter will shake your hand for you just being good old American you. Even if you're a Korean living in America, not unlike some people I know.

(9) Outlets are the same as in the States so no problem plugging in. Cable is also the same as the States -- HBO, HBO2, etc. Just not as many channels it seems (depending on the service you have, presumably).

(10) The air is humid and hot. Tropical. Places inside are mostly air conditioned 24/7 -- well, when the a/c works that is.

(11) Traffic is bad. See above for the pace of luxury goods being faster than country infrastructure.