AboutLorena Milanes Expertise I can answer questions regarding Panama, its people, culture, places to visit, places to watch out for, hotels to stay, how much your taxi fare should be... specific information on getting around on a safe manner.
Experience I was born and raised in Panama, educated in American schools. Since I enjoy all related to Panama history, I try to keep myself updated on local happenings in the subject. I also enjoy traveling and the internet seems a wonderful tool to use, specially when you are your own guide (which I usually am)- so I am just willing to give some of the help I have received back.
Publications Article - La Prensa Newspaper
Education/Credentials Bachelor's Degree - Marketing and Advertisting
MBA - Emphasys in Management
Question QUESTION: lorena, i have read several of your answers, you seem to be very honest and straight forward. for example, the drug and crime "at your front door", which is a major problem in some if not most of the large US cities. i dont wish to live in the middle of a large over crowded city here or there, but i would like to live outside the city in panama. bottom line, is it safe, clean and a good enviornment to raise two very young children in (3 and 5 year old)? income is not an issue as to where we live. thanks
ANSWER: Hi Alan,
Thank you for your email.
I try to tell people the things the way are, because if it was me asking, I would like to know :) I always tell people to also check the Panama newspapers, for example www.prensa.com so you can get a glimpse of whatīs going on.
Right now, I would recommend, if you have children and would like to live in a house in the city (not in the middle of it), in a nice green area ...Albrook and Clayton residential areas - these are next to each other.
These two use to be U.S. Bases which have now been developed into nice residential areas.
Another option (with less green) is Costa del Este, a residential area developed where there use to be the city dumpster.
If you want to check houses in those areas try the www.compreoalquile.com and you can see what type of housing you can find in the area.
The 3 mentioned areas have good schools, which is a plus.
Let me know if you need any more information.
All the best-
Lorena
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QUESTION: what about the overall safety for my children, also, the usa, although we try to deny it, in most cities is full of racisim. how well are americans recieved in general. last but not least, most sites say that one can live really well with 2000 income per month, but to be in a nice area, with family of 4, private schools and etc. what would your estimation of cost of living be? thanks again.
ANSWER: Hi Alan,
In regards to racism towards tourists or people coming from the U.S. I perceive it as none existant. Other nationalities are not in this same situation.
Answering your question of living with a 2000 income a month, iīts possible but with your basics.
Iīll give you a rough month estimate:
Housing (rent) for a 3 bedroom home/apartment 1,000.00 USD (minimum)
Electricity add 100.00 USD,phone, 30.00 USD, maid 150.00 USD, Groceries 300.00 USD... adds to 1,580.00 USD this leaving out Transportation costs, insurance and school tuition for your children.
Now, there are other places in the city where you can rent a home for less but it will be farther away from the city (remember gas prices, here itīs almost 5.00 USD a gallon).. maybe a home in Brisas del Golf could suit your needs (check out the homes available in the site I gave you before) so you can look at what the area offers.
Hopefuly this gives you a better idea, let me know if you have any other questions.
Regards,
Lorena
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QUESTION: i hate to keep bothering you, but you have been a good help to me. i don't really want to live very close to the city. also, i plan on purchasing a home not renting so that would greatly diminish my monthly expenses. as far as private schools, what should i expect to pay for a real good school. i would love for my children to grow up and be bi lingual and to have seen other cultures apart for their own. on another note, in my research i have came across an article that really scares me. its the manu cron article from the escape artist web site, this single article, if accurate, would scare even the best of us. it really paints a bleak outlook for those considering the move to panama. can you comment on this.....is this another "wako" trying to skew the data to make their point or is there some truth in it? thanks again.....
Answer Hi Alan,
No need to worry, you can ask all you need to know, Iīll do my best to point you in the right direction.
I had not read the Escape Artist Website article, but, I looked it up and I just read it.
Honestly, YES things have been getting tougher (not to say worst) in Panama and itīs visible.
I was born in the 70īs and as I have said before this is not the country I was born in.
Crime rate has increased tremendously, government is corrupt, prices are up as they ever have been and the construction is out of control.
So I cannot say that what this article says is not true.
You canīt even trust the laws anymore, because they will change overnight...no questions asked.
For example the area I live in is residential... it has been since the 30īs.
Now, in my street I have over 15 bars, people parking in my driveway, drunks and drug dealers...my apartment building which has 24 hour security has been broken into twice in the last 3 months. Besides the bars there are over 10 constructions going on, they work late at night and even un Sundays... I donīt get that much sleep...I live a block away from the Balboa Avenue they advertise so much.. Happens now that all that live close to the Balboa Avenue are going to have to pay more taxes..this just came out last week, itīs a tax in addition to the property taxes we already pay.
We have gone to the authorities, I have written articles for local newspapers, written letters and gotten neighborsī signatures and nothing has happened. Itīs painfully helpless.
I do not mean to be negative and emulate the writer from the Escape Artist site, but as I mentioned I cannot tell you that what he writes is false.
If you had asked me 5 years ago if Panama was a good option, I would have said YES! without a blink, now THAT- I cannot do.
As the article mentions, the real state sector is selling Panama as something it is not...
I continue to suggest you check local newspapers (La Prensa, La Estrella de Panama, El Siglo, La Critica), local news are live in tvn-2.com to come to your own conclusions.
Hopefully I have given you some lights.
All the best,
Lorena
