Trip Notes:
Electricity:
Same as US. Voltage & plug.
Rental car:
National: charges additional $28 mandatory insurance per day even with Chase Letter of coverage.
Avis: With $10k deposit, $12 per day.
Sim Card:
$30 at airport. In town I got at the convenience store next to the Hilton $7 unlimited data for 7 days. Digicel worked well for us. Phone calls with Google voice free.
From PTY to Hilton:
connect to Airport Wifi, order UBER and exit the airport, meet driver at parking isle row 15/17 in front of the terminal (1 min walk). UBER XL cost about $15-$20
Getting Around: UBER! Average ride is $2 super convenient, fast and secure.
Hotel:
Stayed at Hilton. Master Suite. $240 per night. With 5th night free.
Diamond status did not yield upgrade to presidential suite.
Master suite comes with breakfast, we had it at Executive Lounge. Kosher milk, cereals, Espresso/ Coffee and fruits.
Pool is not heated, too cold to go most days. Jacuzzi is fine.
Shabbos: stairs possible accessible behind the Valet desk, 11 floors to lobby, and 7 more to our room signs are in English, Spanish and Hebrew.. Otherwise staff are aware and will take you to Lobby and then to the room.
I put a sticker in the closet light censor to disable it for shabbos.
The Hilton is within the Eiruv. Crossing Balboa Blvd on shabbos will be next to the bike store. Special police officer will stop traffic for the yidden to cross.
Shuls:
Walked to Ahavat Zion, about 8 min walk, same by uber.
Bring passport/DL for first time verification. Will not let you in with shorts.
Davening time during January (summer break):
Shachris: 6,7,8,9
Mincha/Maariv: 6:10p
Food:
THE KOSHER PTY APP was fast & Convenient, delivery to hotel within 20 min $4 charge. Apeatito24 will do the same for cheaper delivery service.
Trips:
San Blass.
Recommend to leave early at about 6am. We left 10am arrived 12pm.
Rented from Avis Ford explorer 4×4 and drove ourselves:
Waze: Carti Parking and boat terminal.
Driving is not for the average driver. Poor road conditions, extreme uphill and downhill. Must have 4×4 and high road clearance to avoid the endless potholes. Make sure that spare tire is accessible and works.
Bring passport. At the Guna Yala-check point need to show passports of all passengers and pay $20 per adult.
Arrived at port, bargain for a boat driver to take you around. We got it for $120. Bring lots of water as you wont get it there.
One island sold cans of Soda for $8.25. Many islands will charge $3 pp to enter.
Must leave the parking lot before 4pm as they wont let you drive back or it's a suicide drive.
Monkey Islands.
Waze: Gamboa Public Dock. 30min drive. Drove ourselves.
At the dock bargain with many drivers, ended up with a guy name Frank for all of us we paid $80, possible to get cheaper.
2:30hr tour.
Casco Viejo:
Uber about 15min away. $6-$8.
Walked for about 2 hrs.
The Kosher Ice cream "forever yogurt" is permanently closed.
Amador Causeway:
Uber About 20min away $6-7.
Rented a family bike for $10-$15
Miraflores- Panama Canal.
Uber about 25min $8-$10
IMAX was interesting for us all.
Coffee bean fully kosher with Sandwiches/Empanadas/ Coffee.
About $30 per adult for IMAX/Locks/Museum.
