Customer Reviews

CHOOSE PANAMA...the PERFECT RETIREMENT HAVEN

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First a disclaimer, I lived in Panama, went to high school and college in the old Canal Zone. I have nothing but pleasant memories. In part because I left before Noriega came to power. His dictatorship was a horrible period for both countries. This well-written, up to date book points out what so many Zonians knew for generations: Panama is a lovely place to live. It has beaches, hot steamy rain forests, cool valley's, historical sites and even very chilly coffee producing mountains. Its two large major cities at both ends of the canal are very cosmopolitan. They are modern, have good medical facilities, etc. A tourist mecca for sure.
As the book points out, what is new -- since Noriega, is that the government is trying hard to entice foreigners to live there, to work there and most assuredly to retire there. It's a smart move on their part. This book carefully points out the benefits and the pitfalls. It should help those seeking a retirement haven. Nevertheless, visit before you move; rent before you buy.

My wife and I are going to retire in Altos del Maria, Panama in the next few years. I bought this book to add to the library and see what the author had to say. It is a great first book or an add-on to a collection. With nearly four years of research and visits to Panama, I found few things I would disagree with and a few new items which I didn't know. The hotel and resturants section is nice although guessing prices is a moving target. At times, the author seems to become a cheerleader and promoter, but, that may be because the subject is truly exciting. I would recommend this purchase to anyone for pre-visit/dreaming of retirement fare. Pay attention to the social and cultural sections; they are right on. And, IN CAPITAL LETTERS, take his advice on getting a lawyer for any official business regarding property purchase or obtaining a Visa.

A very entertaining read. The author persuades that Panama is an inviting place to retire -- even on Social Security income alone. He describes the possible retirement addresses: an island off Panama's Caribbean or Pacific coasts, or a mountain village like Bouquete, or a city like Panama City. Homesickness not a problem, with the meetings and potlucks the American expatriate communities afford. And Miami is, after all, only a short flight away.

Recent personal interviews of Americans now living in Panama were valuable, adding authenticity. A couple can rent a small two bedroom house, furnished, with water and gardener included in the rent, for $295.00 a month. Hutchings shares the "inside skinny" on government stability (rated "safe" by Pinkerton Global Protection Agency), neighborhoods to avoid, cultural missteps to avoid, etc. The cover photos hint at Panama's many facets--its lovely shoreline, its pastoral country roads, and its exciting cityscapes. He gives straight talk on cost of living, housing, medical care, and the U.S. dollar as the currency. Panama has never had a hurricane. Panama is not a jungle filled with crocodiles. Hutchings' book reveals Panama, instead, as a very enticing retirement possibility.

As a resident of Boquete, Panama, for the past four years, I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Hutchings when he was researching his first edition of "Choose Panama." And as a longtime editor, I was impressed with the fact that this is a writer who understands that a book on retiring in another country is quite different from a book on simply traveling in that country.
The second edition of "Choose Panama" is even better than the first. Millions of baby boomers will retire in the coming decades and with the uncertainty of retirement benefits, including Social Security, many will think about retiring overseas. Hutchings points out that Panama deserves serious consideration. Low cost of living, "choose your climate" options, stable government, low crime rate, proximity to the U.S.--all these and more make Panama an excellent choice. Read all the available books. I have found Hutchings' work the best of the lot.

After retiring a few years ago and living in the Colorado rockies, I'm now ready for a warm climate, and my budget absolutely demands a low cost of living. After reading Choose Panama the Perfect Retirement Haven (second edition), I discovered a country I hadn't even considered. I had no idea Panama was such a find for retirees.

This book is well organized and easy to read. It's full of facts, not just about the nice places to live, but all the other things a retiree needs to know like housing costs, climate, cost of living, medical insurance and medical care. Also, the author walks you through the immigration options offered by the government of Panama. I give it five stars.

Ray Larson
Crestone, CO

As well as reading all the books you can get your hands on about retiring to Panama, it is critically important to visit at different times of year over a couple of years before you commit. Nothing beats first hand experience. Visit different parts of the country and keep a log of gut reactions and details you will soon otherwise forget. My written log [could also be camcorder photographic or audio recording],has proved invaluable to us, to be able to keep contact with people we met and remember all sorts of places and what each particular region was like. That said, we haven't come across a 'dud' book amongst the reviews and descriptions of Panama for the traveller or the retiree. Each author brings different points of view to provide a three dimensional feel and to flesh out our own real travel experiences. Yes, you do need a lawyer for visa applications and business and property deals. Yes, it really is wise / prudent to learn Spanish ahead of time, the more the merrier! Go full spanish language immersion in Panama as soon as you arrive - one of the best investments in your happy future in Panama. English is widely spoken but its great to understand and be understood in the main language. We are Brits at a stage in our expatriate lives where we can confidently move on to our next Central American adventure. Temporarily storing our stuff and travelling with a couple of suitcases will will find another base - perhaps Panama is the place. The books we've read will be recommended to our friends and relatives to prepare them for their visits to us in our new home. Keep writing authors - keep us informed about Panama. The world is changing so fast we need to be kept up to date.

I bought this book upon my return from my first trip to Panama, hoping to find out the pros and cons of living in Panama, factors that seem important to the success or failure of North Americans' relocating to Panama, and nuts and bolts requirements like costs, visa options, social opportunities/limitations, earning opportunities and regulations, etc. The book does a decent job of outlining visa types and employment information, and it gives some information on several parts of the country that North Americans have found attractive. What it lacks is information about the day-to-day "feel" of life in Panama across a variety of lifestyle choices.

The author states his belief in the importance of community and activities for Panama retirees, and this is probably why the only housing he reports on is of the gated-community, golf-course and/or beach type. So if you're thinking about growing some fruits and veggies, raising some chickens, and/or making a few acres into a garden that attracts some of the 976 bird species recorded in Panama, this book is not going to tell you a thing about land availability, cost, and use regulations -- other than the general, and very important, caveat to consult an attorney for necessary legal information.

It's also not going to tell you about social relationships outside the expat community. The author doesn't talk about social relationships with native Panamanians, which may not seem so important in a gated expat community -- though he does note that proficiency in Spanish is necessary for anything more than superficial interactions with most Panamanians. It would be good to know how North Americans, particularly of U.S.A. origin, are viewed by the local citizenry, and how or if expats fit into Panamanian society.

Additionally, my index of suspicion is raised by the lack of ANY negative information, other than the warning to watch out for pickpockets in Colon. Granted, with a title like "Choose Panama," I'd expect a positive view of the country, and there are indeed many positive aspects to report. Everything has a down side, though, even if it seems trivial -- in a different book, one expat in Panama reports missing easy access to good ice cream. While Panama enjoys relative wealth among Central American countries, thanks to the Canal, the country is not free of unemployment, poverty, and exploitation/displacement of indigenous peoples, with the same unhappy effects seen in other societies. My point here is not to argue against Panama as a retirement choice, but to observe that this book provides little information about living in a Panamanian world, as opposed to a walled-off Gringolandia on Panamanian soil.

I'm a baby boomer and actively looking for a warm, hospitable place to retire. My budget limits the choices, and I don't want to work for Wal-Mart or someone else to supplement my retirement benefits. I've been hesitant to look at foreign countries as a place to begin my next chapter in life, but this book has convinced me to look at Panama.

In this book, I learned Panama welcomes retirees with financial incentives, and I was surprised to learn the currency is the US dollar. The information in this book is well organized and full of facts about recreation (I'm a golfer and fisherman), medical care, and insurance. The moderate housing costs, wonderful climate in the highlands, and the detailed immigration requirements made me appreciate the prospects of actually living in Panama. I am planning to visit the country soon to determine first hand if this is the place to begin that next chapter.

In a review I made for this book a few years back I gave it five stars. However, some of the information is now out of date. A more recent book on the topic (Living abroad in Panama) has a more detailed, straight forward approach & keeps more with the changes this nation is going through. Still is a good book as an overview. I notice the author covers a bit more on Boquete...and maybe a bit bias about it...but the other regions of the country are well covered also. Also the interviews with residents adds authenticity to the book. It's a good read but not anymore as your only source. Websites like [... ] will help you to keep up to date with what's going on in the country.

"Choose Panama" is a great introduction to the country for people who are considering moving to the country or establish a vacation home there. There is well-researched info on social customs, housing, governmental issues, immigration data, etc. If you are interested in moving, this book will cause you to do additional research, not because it is incomplete, but because it whets your appetite for more. This is the book to start with.