Panama City

[QUOTE=MarianoRiv;1720899]Hey thanks, I appreciate the info. Yeah, I hadn't really thought about staying at Trump (or Hard Rock) but for some reason, Trump was cheap on Orbitz one day when I was checking prices and dates. I wish I had booked for later this month. Not only is it sooner rather than later, but the rates at the Trump were $45 per night in May. Weird, huh? Maybe it was a computer glitch, haha. I did go for the deal of $59 per night in August -- it is seven nights for $413, including taxes. But no refunds allowed, so I will not be cancelling this trip.

I was interested and surprised to see that last month, RacShack said that there were a few enterprising chicas working at the Trump Hotel. Good for them for branching out! That should save some time and effort, too, but I'll still try to hit all the hotspots.

I look forward to the taxi stuff, too. The airport taxi strategy upstairs sounds great, and I can't wait to try that. I'm also going to try to not get crushed by the yellow cab drivers to / from the Trump. I just know they are going to ask for 5 or 6 bucks to / from La Bocatorena or Habanos or Veneto or Ashe. But I will try to get them down to 3 or 4 bucks instead.[/QUOTE]I have seen really crazy low rates from time to time and place to place too. I can tell you May and August is slowww time in Panama. So there are plenty of rooms available but, also I think that Orbitz, Expedia etc buy packages themselves or guarantee a certain hotel that they will buy a certain number of rooms per month. They get a cheaper bulk rate and resell the rooms. Most times they make money doing it. Sometimes, rarely if they have a glut of inventory available they will lower the price and blow out the rooms. Figuring something is better than nothing.

[QUOTE=TellAll;1721224]I look forward to your reports and comparisons. Maybe I missed something my last time in Panama because I have no desire to go back.[/QUOTE]Panama (Habanos, Veneto, Ashe) can be really hit or miss sometimes. Of Course Holiday times its dead but, even night to night it can go from wild and crazy to almost nothing.

I usually go Friday-Sunday. Seems Fridays are very good and then Sat its much slower. Maybe its Date night and the girls already have things lined up or maybe they rest Sat-Sun from working Mon-Fri when the business men are in town and there is more money to be had.

Also, Not sure if this has happened lately but, Police / immigration raids were going on quite frequently. If there was even a rumor in the air that there might be a raid, the girls did not go out and Habanos and Veneto were dead.

I have had some of the best times of my life in Panama and then the next trip been quite bored and disapointed.

Panamá City, to me, is not a place I would go to monger. It's a place where, when I'm there, I usually monger because it's not particularly interesting otherwise. I lived in Panamá (the country) twice for about eight months total, but would [B]never[/B] live in Panamá City, primarily because I can't take the heat and humidity. Panamá City is just the best place to move between continents.

Having said all that, Panamá as a country has some definite advantages. It is probably the most efficient country in Central America (although that is not saying much, at all). It is one of the two safest countries in Central America (along with Costa Rica). Not having to change money and not having to do conversion math is actually kind of nice. Prices are reasonable; although rents in Panamá City are not cheap, prices in the large grocery stores for food and booze certainly are.

Chica-wise, I don't find panameñas overall to be as attractive as ticas or chavas (guatemaltecas), and the preponderance of artificially inflated colombianas is a definite minus in my book. It is funny to me how some posters say they either have a great time or a lousy time. I mostly have sort of run-of-the-mill, non-memorable experiences in Panamá. I would also say that panameños are the least friendly people in Central America. Maybe that is because historically it is South America, or maybe it is because it is a very young country that has not developed its own personality. Maybe it is the US influence. As you go further north they become more friendly but they still don't approach the level of friendliness of chapines, nicas, or even ticos who are only moderately friendly. México is obviously not Central America but méxicans are more friendly than panameños in my opinion. Basically Panamá ranks just right in the middle of all the countries I've been to in terms of how I like it overall.

[QUOTE=Dickhead;1721243]I'm a CPA and I can smell bankruptcy and two weeks ago when I walked through it, the stench of bankruptcy was definitely hanging in the air. I wonder if mid- to upper-level management was stealing.[/QUOTE]It's Panama. They were stealing.

But that being said you can't go from charging 200 bucks a night to 60 without taking a hit.

[QUOTE=ElPatron24;1721184]I am staying next Thursday at the Veneto and then another night a week later. I will let everyone know if there are any changes for guests since the takeover. I have stayed there several times since 2010 and the conditions have continually deteriorated.

I am also renting an AirBnB for several days in Casco at the end of the month. I will let you know if I have any issues taking girls to this specific apartment. This is a private residence, as AirBnB does have room sharing. I plan on bringing girls out of Boca and taking them to the apartment.

I will be meeting up with Biff Dangler, a Panama resident / business owner and monger expert. Between my days in Panama City we are going to fly down to Barranquilla, Colombia and then bus to Cartagena. Should be a hell of a smashing-P-fest.

Me and Biff went to Medellin over last Thanksgiving. Ill try to break down the differences between mongering in PTY vs Medellin vs Barranquilla vs Cartagena later on.[/QUOTE]Amen, Brother.

I'm staying at the Veneto, having arrived on Thursday night. It is may sad duty to report that they have instituted a new chica fee. The Veneto is charging $40 ($42.80 after taxes) for every girl that you bring to your room. I was told by a few chicas that this started a few days ago. They are no longer charging the girls the $25 entrance fee. The quantity and quality of chicas has declined substantially. Veneto was once a great place to visit but, sadly, no longer.

For those to whom the Cubanas were the cream of the crop, my deepest sympathy. .

The Cubanas have been barred from entering.

Reason stated is that they were only thinking in getting you to close the deal, as fast as possible, therefore stopping you from enjoying the booze on offer from the bar.

Bad business for the owners.

Understanding Habanos is first a bar, not a brothel. No comision to the owners for the business trafic.

Mellow.

[QUOTE=Mellowg;1721698]For those to whom the Cubanas were the cream of the crop, my deepest sympathy. .

The Cubanas have been barred from entering.

Reason stated is that they were only thinking in getting you to close the deal, as fast as possible, therefore stopping you from enjoying the booze on offer from the bar.

Bad business for the owners.

Understanding Habanos is first a bar, not a brothel. No comision to the owners for the business trafic.

Mellow.[/QUOTE]No Cubanas at Habanos, bet the Colombianas had something to do with that. Chica fees at Veneto. What possible reason would anyone have for trying to monger in that shithole Panama City.

[QUOTE=Mellowg;1721698]For those to whom the Cubanas were the cream of the crop, my deepest sympathy. .

The Cubanas have been barred from entering.

Reason stated is that they were only thinking in getting you to close the deal, as fast as possible, therefore stopping you from enjoying the booze on offer from the bar.

Bad business for the owners.

Understanding Habanos is first a bar, not a brothel. No comision to the owners for the business trafic.

Mellow.[/QUOTE]And where did they go? That is the question. They are available somewhere for 40 bucks. I will lead this noble quest. Who amongst you will join me?

[QUOTE=TellAll;1721712]No Cubanas at Habanos, bet the Colombianas had something to do with that. Chica fees at Veneto. What possible reason would anyone have for trying to monger in that shithole Panama City.[/QUOTE]When I went a few weeks ago there was NO Chica fee at Veneto and the quality of ladies was around 7 (on a 10 scale). Nothing super spectacular but very convenient. With the $40 fee it is now costing you $140 (min.) per girl and I am sorry to say but that would force me to go elsewhere. Also Habanos was chock full of Cubans that were really hot a few weeks back. Oh well. I'm sure I will make it to PTY again but just not near term. Too many other great mongering destinations. Peace! H1.

I'm very interested in seeing how the Veneto ends up. It's pretty much ground zero for sex tourism in Panama City and now that the government has taken over we could see it flourish. The chica fee is unfortunate but if it was lowered to something like 20-25 USD per chica I could see myself being OK with it.

Fix up the rooms. Keep the prices reasonable. Keep room service in. Keep the AC running. Keep the chicas coming in. Do that and I could go back for a visit.

I'm going to assume with the government stepping in they will have a longer view of things and try to recoup their lost tax revenue over a number of years.

Biff,

You know I'm down to find the Cubanas. They may be in Bocatoreno or somewhere like that.

The Veneto chica fee is beatable, by being really sneaky. But what a pain in the ass. Glad I only booked two nights there.

[QUOTE=Mellowg;1721698]For those to whom the Cubanas were the cream of the crop, my deepest sympathy. .

The Cubanas have been barred from entering.

Reason stated is that they were only thinking in getting you to close the deal, as fast as possible, therefore stopping you from enjoying the booze on offer from the bar.

Bad business for the owners.

Understanding Habanos is first a bar, not a brothel. No comision to the owners for the business trafic.

Mellow.[/QUOTE]Interesting they can stereotype and keep out a whole group of people. As another poster said I am certain the colombianas had something to do with this. Funny that the bar doesn't want the cubans there because they want to leave with the clients so quickly.

[QUOTE=Mfins;1718920]Your welcome, try VRBO. They have short term condo rentals. You rent directly from the owner. The condo you rent is yours to do as you wish during your stay. Bringing girls back won't be an issue at all.[/QUOTE]Do you know if any of their condos are in locations where you don't need a rental car?

I know that there are 2 and 3 star hotels in Panama City that are Chica Friendly. I really would rather stay at a 4 or 5 star place. Are any of the below listed hotels Chica friendly? Even the one's that charge a fee is fine as long as they allow a female to join you.

San Francisco Apartments.

Trump.

Hilton.

Courtyard.

Best Western Plus.

Continental.

Holiday Inn Express.

Riu Plaza.

Clarion.

Or any other 4 or 5 star hotels that allow a female to join you.