Choose Panama . . . the Perfect Retirement Haven (Second Edition) Review
A good source of general information for travel to Panama, or of course for those considering living there. For example, I didn't know that 0 bills are not real welcome there.
Choose Panama . . . the Perfect Retirement Haven (Second Edition) Overview
Panama is a desireable and affordable retirement option for the 76,000,000 people in he U.S. who will be retireing in the next five years. Choose Panama gives details on visiting Panama (transportation, lodging, places to visit, immigration, recreation, cost of living, currency, housing, etc.) - as well as details on customs, people, andaffordable housing.
Available at Amazon Check Price Now!
Related Products
- How to Retire Overseas: Everything You Need to Know to Live Well (for Less) Abroad
- Retirement Without Borders: How to Retire Abroad--in Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, Panama, and Other Sunny, Foreign Places (And the Secret to Making It Happen Without Stress)
- Panama AdventureMap (National Geographic)
- Moon Living Abroad in Panama
- Panama - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture
Customer Reviews
Choose Panama The Perfect Retirement Haven - Kate Chilton - Plattsburgh, New York, US
A quick read - A good book for a basic overview of retiring to Panama.
Limited perspective - D. Wilder - Minneapolis
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.
The book has little value - B. Enlow - Olympia WA USA
This book has 170 pages but if you take away the extra line spaces and pictures you could have saved at least 100 pages. The book contains very little useful information and I would be very surprised if the author actually resides in Panama. If you are looking for a very basic book with little information then this is the book for you. My suggestion is go to the web and save your money for something useful.
Only average or so - M T Pockets - Brenham, TX United States
Nothing unique in the way of information. Poorly edited. I hate reading a book with spelling and grammatical errors. Cheap paper. A bit pricey for what it was, IMHO.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 02, 2010 20:20:06
No comments:
Post a Comment