Panama City

[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.

[Mfins]

I see tons of talk about hotel issues on this board. Lots of the hotels are not GF friendly but there are some that are. I find it a lot easier just to book one of the many apartments that are available. This alleviates the guessing game weather a hotel will be GF or not. Some hotels change their policies and it really will put a damper on your trip if that policy changes just prior to your arrival. Airbnb has plenty of apartment options.

Agreed, There are some countries where it just isn't worth messing with Hotels and wondering whether a particular hotel is Girl Friendly or not. It causes a huge hassle at the end of the night when they are demanding a guest fee or flat out refusing a guest to enter.

Many of the hotels that are girl friendly change there policy. Also some receptionists follow different rules.

Unfortunately Panama is such a business destination for many that the employer is paying and / or booking the accomadations.

However, Panama is definitely a country where an APT rental is recommended whenever possible.

[Mfins]

I arrived today and I went upstairs to Llegadas (Arrivals) and got a taxi into town for $15. Two turned me down at that price but it still only took 3 minutes to find one to say yes. I also downloaded the taxi zone fare map and the flag drop is $1 and then it is 35 cents for every zone you cross. So basically any taxista should be happy with $2 including tip for short rides. There is, in fact, an extra charge after 2200 until 0500, but it is a whopping 25 cents. It is 40 cents for an extra passenger and not two dollars like they tried to tell this German guy today. Somebody got on my case last year about being cheap with the taxistas, but if you look at the actual, official rates, I was way overgenerous.

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.

[Jlalo]

Just stayed some nights in this newly opened hotel. It is very close to the metro station (Iglesia del Carmen) and Veneto and Habanos (each 5-7 minutes walking distance).

Booked a double room and checked in alone.

I asked the reception guys if I can bring in a girl and the answer was yes, for an extra 30 USD". So I pointed on my reservation for two persons. So they said, OK, they would register the girl to my room and then it wouldn't cost anything. But then the girl has to be every day the same girl. WTF. So from my second night on I always had to pay the 30 bucks.

So next time I'm looking for another hotel option (hopefully GF). Any ideas?

Cheers,

DV

I see tons of talk about hotel issues on this board. Lots of the hotels are not GF friendly but there are some that are. I find it a lot easier just to book one of the many apartments that are available. This alleviates the guessing game weather a hotel will be GF or not. Some hotels change their policies and it really will put a damper on your trip if that policy changes just prior to your arrival. Airbnb has plenty of apartment options.

[JayHighFive]

Oasis massage parlor is open during the day and Gold Fingers opens at 1 pm.

Veneto is open for gambling but most of the chicas do not start coming in till around 8 pm and after. You may encounter a couple between the hours of 2 -4. Your better off meeting a girl the night before for daytime action or trying one of the massage spots.

[Jlalo]

Thanks for your advice, it is greatly appreciated. A few more questions if I may, are Habanos and Veneto just evening venues or are they active during the day (like 2-4 pm? If these aren't good daytime options, can anyone recommend such an option?

Thank you again for the helpful responses to this noob.

Veneto is open for gambling but most of the chicas do not start coming in till around 8 pm and after. You may encounter a couple between the hours of 2 -4. Your better off meeting a girl the night before for daytime action or trying one of the massage spots.

[Dars Veider]

Just stayed some nights in this newly opened hotel. It is very close to the metro station (Iglesia del Carmen) and Veneto and Habanos (each 5-7 minutes walking distance).

Booked a double room and checked in alone.

I asked the reception guys if I can bring in a girl and the answer was „yes, for an extra 30 USD". So I pointed on my reservation for two persons. So they said, OK, they would register the girl to my room and then it wouldn't cost anything. But then the girl has to be every day the same girl. WTF. So from my second night on I always had to pay the 30 bucks.

So next time I'm looking for another hotel option (hopefully GF). Any ideas?

Cheers,

DV

[Dickhead]

Can't speak for Veneto but Hábanos is closed during the day.