Country Archive

Panama: Convenient, Comfortable, and Cheap

In Panama, the lifestyle is more convenient and comfortable than ever. Nowadays, because of a new coastal road, I need not sit in traffic for an hour to visit a bank in the busy financial sector. It’s easier to get to Casco Viejo, too…and when I have lunch in that historic district, I notice everyone has a BlackBerry. The city skyline, one of Panama’s best-known features, is more Hong Kong-esque than ever. And the cultural offerings are staggering…from flamenco to opera to theater.

The combination of mountains, oceans, and lots of water makes kayaking in Panama an exceptional experience.

With so many hotels in Panama to choose from, how do you decide? Consult this short list for a Panama Insider's preferred Panama hotels.

The inside scoop for potential expats on the prowl: top five Panama beach restaurants chosen by Panama Insider Jessica Ramesch.

The top five Panama restaurants chosen by Panama Insider Jessica Ramesch, especially for potential expats.

How to Get Celebrity Status in Panama, Courtesy of the Pensionado Program

Panama comes in third position overall in our 2009 Global Retirement Index. In the Special Benefits for Retirees category however, it comes in top position. That’s because, without question, Panama has one of the best retiree programs in the world.

Panama Properties for under $100,000

Many years ago, I was editor of a publication called Pocket Money Real Estate. The idea was simple: Great properties, low prices. The readers favored big city apartments and lush mountain retreats, and hated to spend more than $100,000. So, that's what we found for them.

It was a great publication and a lot of fun to run. But frankly, it was tough to find a constant supply of high-quality properties with a tiny price tag…week after week.

Back then, I didn’t know Jessica Ramesch…some people call her the "Panama Insider." Jessica lives and works in Panama City. She speaks Spanish—the kind that can open doors in Panama—fluently. And has the kind of contacts on speed dial that most businessmen and expats would pay handsomely for.

If I had known Jessica in my Pocket Money Real Estate days, she could have filled up the Panama pages easily every time. In fact, that was the theme of a presentation she made a few weeks ago to a group of IL readers: Properties for under $100,000. I asked her to share a few of her secrets with us today. She kindly agreed.

Jessica, take it away…

Mandated by Law—High Quality, Low Cost Health Care

You don’t have to be a conservative, a liberal, or anything at all to understand that the health care system in the United States is in trouble.

It doesn't matter which figures you like the sound of—the health system in the U.S. is about numbers…big numbers. Like $2.5 trillion—that's how much will be spent on health care this year. That's more than $8,000 for every man, woman, and child living in the U.S. right now…almost twice what Canada spends.

Despite the big numbers being pumped into U.S. healthcare (more than any other country), the World Health Organization says 36 other countries are ahead of the U.S. in the rankings for "best health system".

Whether you use Medicare or Medicaid…whatever your plan…whoever is your private insurance provider…your healthcare is ultimately run by an accountant, not a doctor. We're all part of the numbers game.

Nothing against accountants…but if my sink leaks, I call a plumber. If I see smoke, I call the fire department. And if I get sick, I want decisions about my care to be made exclusively by a doctor or some other health care professional.

These days, that can be a challenge, no matter what health plan you have. Unless you use "Law No. 9"...