Panama - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture [Paperback]

Heloise Crowther (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 14, 2006 | Series: Culture Smart!

Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include


* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken


"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times

Editorial Reviews

Review

Culture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers, Sunday Times Travel - ...the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries, Global Travel - ...full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas, Observer - ...as useful as they are entertaining, Easy Jet Magazine - ...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world, New York Times.

About the Author

HELOISE CROWTHER is a British travel writer who specializes in Central America. Currently based in Costa Rica and London, she writes for guidebooks and English newspapers. She spent five years traveling in Latin America, and lived in Panama for three, during which time she wrote extensively about the country. Heloise was the major specialist contributor to Panama: The Bradt Travel Guide, which won the 2005 Best Guide Book Award from the British Guild of Travel Writers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Kuperard; Reprinted edition edition (November 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185733339X
• ISBN-13: 978-1857333398
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 0.5 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #398,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > Travel > Latin America > Central America > Panama
  • #56 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Etiquette > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great (Quick) Cultural Primer for a Trip to Panama, January 7, 2008

By 

Darrell Snook "Darrell" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panama - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

I read this book on the flight down to Panama for our honeymoon. It covered all of the basics of the customs, culture, history, food, etc. for what turned out to be a very charming country. This book is a must read for anyone that is traveling to Panama and wants to go beyond the boundaries of a guided tour or 4 star hotel stay. If you prefer to get to know the people and culture of Panama choose this quick read to get you started.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You need this book if you're going to Panama, October 24, 2007

By 

G. Haring (Florida) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panama - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

We are so glad we bought this book. Great supplement to the Bradt Travel Guide. These are the ONLY 2 books that have been published recently (our trip is November 2007) and so far don't seem so out of date. Got a lot of ideas & suggestions out of this book & well worth what little it costs.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick reference before travelling, May 9, 2008

By 

N. Hornberger - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panama - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Paperback)

The book is small enough to carry around, quick to read, covers almost all the necessary info. It should however also include some 'less positive' facts about living in Panama for foreigners, who are unfortunately often and also quite easily taken advantage of in many ways they would not naturally think of.