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All-Inclusive or NOT??

Brampton
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181 posts
2 reviews
32 helpful votes
All-Inclusive or NOT??
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Hi everyone

Need LOTS and LOTS of advice

My husband and I (both in our early 50's) are planning our first trip to Panama next year (2009)

Do you suggest All-inclusive or not...?

If yes - which resort (we are definately beach people)

If no - which hotel / area?

Also, what would be the best time of year to visit

Panama - we definately like it sunny and hot!

Thanks for any other info that you can give me...

Florence, Oregon
Level Contributor
887 posts
12 reviews
3 helpful votes
1. Re: All-Inclusive or NOT??
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First, buy the latest Moon Guide to Panama (the one with the ocelot on the cover).

Toronto, Canada
Level Contributor
2,789 posts
222 reviews
111 helpful votes
2. Re: All-Inclusive or NOT??
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We're planning our first trip to Panama for February. We're in more or less the same age bracket as you (a little older), but we're definitely not going all inclusive. I know that you can get some reasonably priced packages to Panama, but you're stuck at 1 resort. You definitely won't be able to see much of the country.

I agree with the previous poster - buy the Moon guide - it's the new edition and I ordered it from amazon.ca. It came in just a couple of days.

We got a flight with Continental (booked through expedia.ca) so we'll start out in PC. We have planned 3 nights there, then we're going to Yandup in the San Blas for 2 nights. Then we'll spend 4 nights in Boquete and 4 nights in Bocas del Toro. We'll then fly back to PC for our last night. It's been very easy to make our arrangements. I've booked a car while we're in Boquete, but we'll be flying around the country. (I looked at taking buses, etc., but it would take up too much time.)

We like the beach (my husband more than me), but we also want to see more of the country than the beach. That's why we're going to Boquete and spending a few days in PC. I guess that San Blas is also on the water, but it's definitely not a resort type experience.

If you want to send me a PM, please do.

We're really excited about our trip!

CDY
La Pintada, Colombia
Destination Expert
for Medellin
Level Contributor
4,539 posts
106 reviews
95 helpful votes
3. Re: All-Inclusive or NOT??
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Listen to SBJE, good advice, stay away from the AI's,

there are only two anyway and they are a bit isolated, for a night or two it would be OK but no more.

Bocas can be wet during the rainy season, Boquete can be cool and damp also.

I woould base myself in PC and make a few ovrnight trips and a bunch of day trips.

You might like San Blas but it is very rustic, more like camping.

Brampton
Level Contributor
181 posts
2 reviews
32 helpful votes
4. Re: All-Inclusive or NOT??
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Thanks for the info everyone

Just getting started with my research and your

help is much appreciated

If we DID go all-inclusive (our friends would

prefer this) how far out are the resort(s) and

is it very expensive to get taxi(s)/transportation

into Panama City

We usually travel A-1, (*Cuba / Dominican / Jamaica / Margarita Island) and only use the resort as our BASE. We then try and do day trips each day

Are the resort(s) far away from the "action"?

Austin
Level Contributor
933 posts
12 reviews
34 helpful votes
5. Re: All-Inclusive or NOT??
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I agree with the previous posters about staying away from AIs. You will not be able to see much of Panama except the swim-up pool bar and the buffet table. Fab, of course, in their own ways, but not really Panama.

We stayed at AI Playa Blanca as a vacation from our vacation with our Panamanian friends. The taxi ride back to our friends in Panama City was $80. The resort is at least a three-hour round-trip from Panama City. It will be difficult to do a canal transit or visit an Embera Indian Village (two of our highlights), among other things, from Playa Blanca.

We did like Playa Blanca for what it is. The water has strong riptides, though. But in looking back at the highlights of our trip, it didn't rank in the top 10. Too much else going on in Panama. Boquete was definitely a highlight.

CDY
La Pintada, Colombia
Destination Expert
for Medellin
Level Contributor
4,539 posts
106 reviews
95 helpful votes
6. Re: All-Inclusive or NOT??
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About 1.5 to 2 hours back to PC from Decameron or Playa Blanca which are next to one another.

If you are stuck on AI look into decameron I beleive they have an option to stay a couple of nights at the decapolis(the radisson) in PC. Good party hotel, cool bar close to everything.

A taxi back to PC would be very expensive, you could rent a car, drive into PC, park it and then take a cab to get around the city.

Playa Blanca vs Decameron, depends if you want big vs small, Decameron is much bigger, has a hopping outdoor nightclub, lots more restaurants and pools.

It has a small casino but it sucks, save the casino action for PC, if you are into that sort of thing.

Early 50's, good age to have fun in Panama, no kids to drag around, but still young enough party hard.

7. Re: All-Inclusive or NOT??

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