subject: How To Safely Enjoy The Excitement Of Panama City [print this page] Located a short trip by plane from important US cities, Panama is truly a tourist destination. The country is famous for the Panama Canal and this is to be expected, since this engineering wonder made traveling from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean much easier. Still, this is not the only thing Panama is famous for, and there are plenty of other things to do there.
A great advantage for US travelers is that Panama uses US dollars as currency, so there is no need to go through the hassles of exchange rates. Also, Panama City, the capital of Panama, is famous for its very low prices charged for about everything, from clothes and food to guided tours for travelers. Traveling to Panama City will not require a visa, since tourist cards are sold for $5, and they are valid for 2 months.
However, if you really want to have a great time in Panama City, do not forget a few simple rules. Since tourists are sometimes targeted by thieves and other petty criminals, make sure that you do not stand out from the crowd as the rich type of tourist. Also, it is quite wise to avoid carrying cash around, as pickpocketing happens a lot in certain areas. Some neighborhoods are even considered to be ill famed, so make sure not to stray off the usual tourist routes. Such neighborhoods include San Joaquin, San Miguel, San Miguelito, El Chorrillo and many others.
There are other things you need to take into consideration if you want to enjoy a safe journey while in Panama City. It is strongly recommended to avoid talking to strangers while on the streets as criminality is quite high. In order to get to places, it is best to ask a representative of the hotel staff to get you a cab, or give you directions, as, when you stop a stranger on the street to ask for guidance, you may find yourself in a dangerous situation. Also, here is another piece of advice. Before you reach your destination, ask the taxi driver how much it will cost. This way, you will avoid getting robbed of your money.
In order to avoid attracting unwanted attention, make sure to carry small bills. This way, it will be easier to pay for many things, as prices are quite low for about everything. For instance, if you want to travel inside the city, using mass transportation, the usual fare is $2, but you will soon discover that most of the time they cannot give you change for more than $10 bills.
Traffic can be quite demanding, even for an experienced driver. If you choose to travel by car, you will soon find what a traffic jam is, if you have never experienced it in your life. As there is not much you can do about that, make sure to stay put during the rush hours squeeze which is when people go and return from work.
