Panama City

[QUOTE=GauntMan;2499441]Like the gentleman stated, Habanos as you usually knew it, is not open. Not any bar or club. Another thing that I have noticed, the few freelancers that remained, the better looking ones are sticking to the $100 an hour rate. It might be great to riposte with $80 or nothing, since now the situation is in favor of those with the money in their pockets.[/QUOTE]Thanks for feedback GauntMan. Just a question for you or anyone that does live in Panama City.

When do you realistically see places like Habanos Cafe back to normal or somewhat normal? Are we talking middle of next year? Or later? I know it's hard to predict but just your thoughts.

Just curious to hear from people that live there and know what time frame the government has on letting these businesses get back to business?

Thanks!

[QUOTE=TheRimmer;2499446]Thanks for feedback GauntMan. Just a question for you or anyone that does live in Panama City.

When do you realistically see places like Habanos Cafe back to normal or somewhat normal? Are we talking middle of next year? Or later? I know it's hard to predict but just your thoughts.

Just curious to hear from people that live there and know what time frame the government has on letting these businesses get back to business?

Thanks![/QUOTE]My conservative prediction, at least a year. Taking into account that in Europe they are going back into isolation, and the local health authorities are already expecting a 2nd wave mid November here. Chances are that we might also get into lockdown. The government is also becoming more authoritarian, wants to impose covid tests to EVERYONE.

I'm really starting to struggle moving from day to day. Been unemployed for almost a year, I lost track of how many applications I have sent.

My only partial source of income with my car, driving Indriver, got into a crash back at the end of August. I had to resort to cook lunches for delivery on Fridays, and its been really dreadful trying to make it with $25 - $30 a week. The only expense that I'm trying to pay monthly, is the Internet. It's my only way of trying to get a job.

[QUOTE=GauntMan;2499493]My conservative prediction, at least a year. Taking into account that in Europe they are going back into isolation, and the local health authorities are already expecting a 2nd wave mid November here. Chances are that we might also get into lockdown. The government is also becoming more authoritarian, wants to impose covid tests to EVERYONE.

I'm really starting to struggle moving from day to day. Been unemployed for almost a year, I lost track of how many applications I have sent.

My only partial source of income with my car, driving Indriver, got into a crash back at the end of August. I had to resort to cook lunches for delivery on Fridays, and its been really dreadful trying to make it with $25 - $30 a week. The only expense that I'm trying to pay monthly, is the Internet. It's my only way of trying to get a job.[/QUOTE]Yeah I was starting to think a year also. Crazy.

Sorry to hear about your job situation. That is not good. I assume there are many people in that country going through hard times like that.

Question, what would be the ideal beach if one were to go the renting a house route?

[QUOTE=GauntMan;2496960]I really don't know what is the current state of things with hotels. Only 36% of the hotels opened up when the restrictions were lifted. Due to all bio-protocols, my guess is that every hotel is not chica friendly. Casinos and restaurants are open again, but with limited capacity and observing social distancing. All bars and the like remain closed, with no light at the end of the tunnel for those businesses. All people mobility restrictions were lifted this past Sunday, but a curfew remains in effect from 11 pm thru 5 am. Beaches were also opened this past weekend but with restrictions also, no alcohol allowed on the beach and groups of only 7 people (family trips).

My guess is if that you rent a house at the beach with pool and the like, you might have some decent fun if you are able to arrange with one of the available providers, from which freelancers on the classifieds are the only source of fun right now. This would be a time to enforce the lower rate, since the are very few who can afford mongering due to the economy crash.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=MrRootkit;2499759]Question, what would be the ideal beach if one were to go the renting a house route?[/QUOTE]If you want to go mainstream, go for Decameron. Cheap but populated. Otherwise, try Airbnb, they have pretty good deals. I've rented also thru [URL]orbitz.com[/URL] and have found some decent deals, depending on the time of the year this may vary, but due to the pandemic, I'm pretty sure there are alot of optons. For specific beaches, you can try checking Gorgona Beach (there are several other beaches in the vicinity), Coronado Beach (upscale type, quasi private beach type), Punta Chame, these are the closest to the capital. There are more towards the provinces and might require long drives and 4 x4 rides to reach, some of these later ones target the surfing market, Panama has very good beaches for surfing.

[QUOTE=TheRimmer;2498537]Just wanted to know from anyone that's been to Habanos since it opened.

- do they have a capacity limit? (only so many women and so many men).

- are the women walking around with masks on?

- are there a fair amount of women? I'm sure this will increase over the coming weeks.

Any input would be great on how it is.

Thanks![/QUOTE]As far as I am aware, it is not fully operational. Though will need to recheck if the status has changed.

I just entered Panama City and am currently in it for non-mongering reasons. It's pretty dead.

Upon arriving, I signed a sworn declaration (after giving a negative COVID result) that talked about an obligatory 14-day self-quarantine in a place of my choosing. This 14-day quarantine is completely contrary to everything I heard about Panama being open to tourists.

Nothing is being enforced with respect to the obligatory self-quarantine. But I'd like to know what happens if I go to my return flight. Are they just going to let me leave, or will I be in trouble at the airport?

Has anybody else visited Panama and left after a few days?

[QUOTE=Ryouko;2502565]Are they just going to let me leave, or will I be in trouble at the airport?[/QUOTE]I haven't left Panama like you ask, but after living there for a long time, I can't imagine you'll have any problem.

[QUOTE=Ryouko;2502565]I just entered Panama City and am currently in it for non-mongering reasons. It's pretty dead.

Upon arriving, I signed a sworn declaration (after giving a negative COVID result) that talked about an obligatory 14-day self-quarantine in a place of my choosing. This 14-day quarantine is completely contrary to everything I heard about Panama being open to tourists.

Nothing is being enforced with respect to the obligatory self-quarantine. But I'd like to know what happens if I go to my return flight. Are they just going to let me leave, or will I be in trouble at the airport?

Has anybody else visited Panama and left after a few days?[/QUOTE]Ryuoko had a valid concern with this, let me explain. It is one of those customs declarations like:

"I hereby declared under oath that I don't x or why thing".

Ryuoko brought this to my attention and wasnt aware that you had to sign a form like this one. If you have your negative test from your departing destination, you should be good. That quarantine that is mentioned, if you don't have a test, you will have to take one at the airport, costs $50 and you have to cover it. If you are positive, you will be taken to a quarantine hotel. In 7 days another test will be applied (not sure if you will be charged) and if you test negative, you are out, otherwise you will have to stay the full remaining days.

[QUOTE=Eldo5;2502335]As far as I am aware, it is not fully operational. Though will need to recheck if the status has changed.[/QUOTE]Habanos as you knew IS CLOSED. It is only operating as a cigar shop. No bar or girls. This will not change anytime soon. No bars or clubs at all are open.

I have left Panama without any issues. Looks like a false alarm.

[QUOTE=Ryouko;2502565]I just entered Panama City and am currently in it for non-mongering reasons. It's pretty dead.

Upon arriving, I signed a sworn declaration (after giving a negative COVID result) that talked about an obligatory 14-day self-quarantine in a place of my choosing. This 14-day quarantine is completely contrary to everything I heard about Panama being open to tourists.

Nothing is being enforced with respect to the obligatory self-quarantine. But I'd like to know what happens if I go to my return flight. Are they just going to let me leave, or will I be in trouble at the airport?

Has anybody else visited Panama and left after a few days?[/QUOTE]Hi Ryouko,

Even though you said you were not there for mongering and what you saw. Would you suggest staying away from Panama at this time for mongering? You even said the town seemed really dead.

I'm just trying to decide if it's worth going in December? Or should I be waiting until next year and until the bars open up? I'm not into finding girls online and it seems that's probably the only option at this time?

Any feed back would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[QUOTE=TheRimmer;2503808]Hi Ryouko,

Even though you said you were not there for mongering and what you saw. Would you suggest staying away from Panama at this time for mongering? You even said the town seemed really dead.

I'm just trying to decide if it's worth going in December? Or should I be waiting until next year and until the bars open up? I'm not into finding girls online and it seems that's probably the only option at this time?

Any feed back would be much appreciated.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]I wouldn't recommend going to PC in December even when everything opens up. A lot of the working girls go back home to Colombia.

[QUOTE=TheRimmer;2503808]Hi Ryouko,

Even though you said you were not there for mongering and what you saw. Would you suggest staying away from Panama at this time for mongering? You even said the town seemed really dead.

I'm just trying to decide if it's worth going in December? Or should I be waiting until next year and until the bars open up? I'm not into finding girls online and it seems that's probably the only option at this time?

Any feed back would be much appreciated.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]I live here and I don't recommend it. I don't even recommend Colombia during December and I speak with experience. I spent last December till Jan 7th and I was fortunate to have met a nice ecuadorian girl staying at a backpacker place and I invited her to stay with me until I left in exchange for attention. Total jackpot.

Local providers mostly spend the holidays, specifically the 24th and new year's eve with their families and they might not do any kind of services. If you have a solid companion, then you should be fine.

[QUOTE=GauntMan;2504249]I live here and I don't recommend it. I don't even recommend Colombia during December and I speak with experience. I spent last December till Jan 7th and I was fortunate to have met a nice ecuadorian girl staying at a backpacker place and I invited her to stay with me until I left in exchange for attention. Total jackpot.

Local providers mostly spend the holidays, specifically the 24th and new year's eve with their families and they might not do any kind of services. If you have a solid companion, then you should be fine.[/QUOTE]Thanks GauntMan and YippieKayay. Good to know!