Panama City

[Mfins]

For those who are not afraid of getting their ass kicked by some scrawny panameo taxista:

http://www.transito.gob.pa/tarifa-taxis

Read it and weep for all the times you grossly overpaid!

As I said before, I applaud you on the find. Good work locating the fare sheet but, In most situations especially for a short trip it is not going to be practical to use it.

For instance, walking out of Veneto.

As soon as you exit the doors there are 5 different cabbies asking if you need a taxi. Most are driving the white taxis which are "taxi particulares". I do not believe they are required to stick by the Fare sheet you have since they are "special taxis" and have what amounts to a limo license. A $5 fare is $20-$25 with them unless you negotiate hard. They also work outside the Hardrock and many other nice hotels. So using them is out.

Then you walk across the street and there are generally some yellow cabs over there. They too are yelling " taxi amigo, taxi". Traffic is going by, horns are honking, people are yelling, your half buzzed etc. To stand there and ask each one what the rate is, pull out a Rate map, and negotiate over $1 or $2 and waste 10-15 minutes in the process just isn't practical.

Sometimes there are no Yellow cabs waiting across the street and you have to flag one down that is driving by. When you flag one, they stop you go up to the driver side window and again commence the negotiation process. As they are stopped in the middle of the road, cars and traffic are accumulating behind them. More honking etc. Is someone going to tell them no over $1 or $2 difference and then flag down the next cab that comes by and repeat the process again until one that agrees on the rate is found? Doesn't seem logical.

Then assuming you negotiate a rate, you arrive at your destination, the taxista doesn't stick by what he said and, jumps it up from $2 to $3 are you going to argue with him, cause a scene, stick to your guns and be prepared to have the police come to prove your point? Over a dollar or two? Again It just isn't practical.

I am happy you found the sheet and I think it can be used as a general guide but, it cannot be treated as gospel.

[Dickhead]

For those who are not afraid of getting their ass kicked by some scrawny panameño taxista:

http://www.transito.gob.pa/tarifa-taxis

Read it and weep for all the times you grossly overpaid!

[Dickhead]

Well, if you're afraid of getting your ass kicked by a cab driver, you're probably doing the right thing. You should also pay waiters three times what the meal costs. They might kick your ass otherwise. Also, I'd suggest you run your metro card through the machine twice, just so you don't get your ass kicked.

"The market," my butt. Since these fares were set, the price of gas is down by 30%. The taxistas are doing fine at the established rates. Do any of these panameños you talked to ever actually take cabs? The existence of these fares was communicated to me by a travel agent on my first visit to PTY. It just took me a while to find the actual fare chart.

[Biff Dangler]

Apparently you don't understand. There is no need to negotiate. The fares are set by law.

I understand perfectly well. I was intrigued by the post. I talked to at least 20 people, 75% panamanians and none of them had ever heard of it. The law might be one thing, the market is another. I am not willing to get my ass kicked over a dollar. I'll settle on the fare before I get it.

[Biff Dangler]

Have fun this weekend in Pananama, I will be there the following weekend. Would be great to give me some intel on the current scene at the Veneto, habanos, etc. Last I hear they now charge a 50 dollar fee for each chica you bring to the room. I also heard a lot of Cuban ladies have been making there way as well. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks.

I just got back from Habanos 5 minutes ago. A+. Good quality. I posted earlier about Cubans but did not see them tonight. I don't know if they were at Veneto or not and I don't know the latest on the 50 dollar fee. But Habanos was prime. Good quality and lots of it, just no Cubans as far as I could tell.

[Snipps]

HOw was your experience? Did you see a lot of Cubans?

[Snipps]

Have fun this weekend in Pananama, I will be there the following weekend. Would be great to give me some intel on the current scene at the Veneto, habanos, etc. Last I hear they now charge a 50 dollar fee for each chica you bring to the room. I also heard a lot of Cuban ladies have been making there way as well. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks.

[Dickhead]

Tell them in advance. Negotiate before you get into the cab.

Apparently you don't understand. There is no need to negotiate. The fares are set by law.

[Biff Dangler]

Good Find!. Almost no taxi will stick to this but, It explains why some taxis charge me $5-$7 for a short ride and then some which maybe the same distance or even onger I am charged $2-$3.

Tell them in advance. Negotiate before you get into the cab.

[Biff Dangler]

Hutzesq, There are a ton of massage (i.e. brothel) options, most of which are open during daytime. In addition to what has already been mentioned, they include Hawaii, Relax Oriental, Caribbean Center, Golden Time (nights only), River Club, and Royal Elegance. Miami, a strip club, opens during the afternoon and if memory serves me correctly has rooms on site; selection during afternoons there is poor. I have from time to time run across women in the afternoon at the Veneto, although usually (but not always) walking a block from there to Oasis massage was a better option.

Mfins, respectfully, I've enjoyed your reports and so don't want to be insulting. However, $5 to $7 for a short ride is right up there with having a large stick rammed up your ass. I will pay $2 or $3, which is exceptionally generous compared to what locals pay. Dickhead's description below about the taxi fare map is enlightening, much more so than his discussions elsewhere of corporate income taxation.

Two things:

1. River Club is night only. I'm positive about this.

2. I have not gone to Club Miami in two years or so (it was my favorite place in 2008-2009) but last few times it was dead dead dead until like 11 pm or later.

[Mfins]

Hutzesq, There are a ton of massage (i.e. brothel) options, most of which are open during daytime. In addition to what has already been mentioned, they include Hawaii, Relax Oriental, Caribbean Center, Golden Time (nights only), River Club, and Royal Elegance. Miami, a strip club, opens during the afternoon and if memory serves me correctly has rooms on site; selection during afternoons there is poor. I have from time to time run across women in the afternoon at the Veneto, although usually (but not always) walking a block from there to Oasis massage was a better option.

Mfins, respectfully, I've enjoyed your reports and so don't want to be insulting. However, $5 to $7 for a short ride is right up there with having a large stick rammed up your ass. I will pay $2 or $3, which is exceptionally generous compared to what locals pay. Dickhead's description below about the taxi fare map is enlightening, much more so than his discussions elsewhere of corporate income taxation.

I agree, But sometimes a Large Stick can be fun. Haha.

[Mr HC]

Hello,

I am seeking a nice / luxury hotel or condominium that is chica friendly. Would like something close to the action or with action on site. I have been told that many places have a $50 chica fee. Is this correct?

I am also looking for a spot that can be counted upon to have a high number of higher quality chicas on a consistent basis. For those of you familiar with Costa Rica I am thinking about a place like the Cocal in Jaco or the way the Del Rey in San Jose used to be.

Price is not an issue since where ever I go will be much cheaper than home.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Dickhead]

[QUOTE=Mfins;1668378]Good Find!. Almost no taxi will stick to this[ / be].

Tell the taxista where you want to go. Get in the cab. Don't say anything. Get out of the cab. Don't say anything. Hand him $2 and walk away. Have the zone map in your pocket in case he wants to call the cops, but he's not going to do that because he would not have a leg to stand on, and you actually tipped him since most likely the fare is 1,35 or at most 1,70. For example, Albrook is Zone 3 and Veneto et al are Zone 4 so that would be 1,35.

Fuck paying gringo taxes.

[Hutzesq]

Hutzesq, There are a ton of massage options. In addition to what has already been mentioned, they include Hawaii, Relax Oriental, Caribbean Center, Golden Time (nights only), River Club, Oasis and Royal Elegance. Miami, a strip club, opens early afternoon and if memory serves me correctly has rooms on site.

Mfins, respectfully, I've enjoyed your reports and so don't want to be insulting. However, $5 to $7 for a short ride is right up there with having a large stick rammed up your ass. I will pay $2 or $3, which is exceptionally generous compared to what locals pay. Dickhead's discussion below about the official rates is enlightening.

Tiny. Thanks to you and all others who have provided great information, I really appreciate it. I walked around some of the venues mentioned yesterday (Oasis, Habanos, Veneto) yesterday (Sunday) about 5 pm and they were either closed (Oasis, Habanos) or empty (Veneto) and the rest of the city seemed really sleepy, so I suspect that is just how Sunday is here. Hope to explore more as it seems like the city has woken up today.

[Tiny 12]

Hutzesq, There are a ton of massage (i.e. brothel) options, most of which are open during daytime. In addition to what has already been mentioned, they include Hawaii, Relax Oriental, Caribbean Center, Golden Time (nights only), River Club, and Royal Elegance. Miami, a strip club, opens during the afternoon and if memory serves me correctly has rooms on site; selection during afternoons there is poor. I have from time to time run across women in the afternoon at the Veneto, although usually (but not always) walking a block from there to Oasis massage was a better option.

Mfins, respectfully, I've enjoyed your reports and so don't want to be insulting. However, $5 to $7 for a short ride is right up there with having a large stick rammed up your ass. I will pay $2 or $3, which is exceptionally generous compared to what locals pay. Dickhead's description below about the taxi fare map is enlightening, much more so than his discussions elsewhere of corporate income taxation.