Panama Master Thread

[AJK]

I would definitely not take a 3 and 6 yr old on ancon Hill.

[efflpetzel]

We are heading to Panama for Yeshiva week and I had a couple of quetions.

Looking for recommendations for shabbas meals. I saw Beth El and Chabad do meals on Gokosherpanama. Any experiences with them?

Is the hike at Ancon Hill too hard for young kids to do (3 and 6 year old)?

I was at Bet El for Shabbos day meal, food was good & meal went by pretty fast,
word is that food is better at Bet El but atmosphere is better at Chabad


I went up Ancon Hill with that age kids, load up on Deet & take a stroller

[Redbull3]

Thoughts on this potential itin (with a three-month old):

Monday Night
Dinner = Blame Kiki

Tuesday
Breakfast: Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Activities: Miraflores Locks
Lunch: Lula
Activities: Amador Causeway (family bikes, ice cream, Smithsonian research center) and Old city (casco Viejo)
Dinner: Aria

Wednesday
Breakfast: Jeffrey's
Activities: Contadora Island
Dinner: Kava

Thursday
Breakfast: Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Activities: Massages in the AM
Lunch: Yoss Burger
Activities: Ancon Hill

(As planned, skipping Monkey Island because 1) we've been to monkey forest in Bali, and 2) will have three-month old with us (and not older kids.)

Not sure if u already went by now but imo jeffrey's is very skippable. The rest of your food choices are all on point. Lula's was just ok, but the area was very cool to walk/explore before or after you eat so that adds to it

[Mareh Makom]

Thoughts on this potential itin (with a three-month old):

Monday Night
Dinner = Blame Kiki

Tuesday
Breakfast: Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Activities: Miraflores Locks
Lunch: Lula
Activities: Amador Causeway (family bikes, ice cream, Smithsonian research center) and Old city (casco Viejo)
Dinner: Aria

Wednesday
Breakfast: Jeffrey's
Activities: Contadora Island
Dinner: Kava

Thursday
Breakfast: Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Activities: Massages in the AM
Lunch: Yoss Burger
Activities: Ancon Hill

(As planned, skipping Monkey Island because 1) we've been to monkey forest in Bali, and 2) will have three-month old with us (and not older kids.)

I would definitely skip ancon hill, its literally a walk up a hill with a sub par view. Yes i diid see a sloth and toucans, but nunu. Monkey island was hands down the best activity we did in panama. The locks are mamash nothing to see, but you gotta go once your there just because your there.
     

[tzifanya54]

Not sure if u already went by now but imo jeffrey's is very skippable. The rest of your food choices are all on point. Lula's was just ok, but the area was very cool to walk/explore before or after you eat so that adds to it

Agree on both.

[PBaruch]

Jeffreys opens early and is a good place to grab breakfast or some pastries before you run out for the day. 

[tzifanya54]

Jeffreys opens early and is a good place to grab breakfast or some pastries before you run out for the day.

Yes, but i feel like it been a bit overhyped in this thread. I tasted most of their menu that was cholov yisroel, and while all very good, nothing stood out as exceptional. Maybe its the non CY items that are.

[Ysturmwind]

I was at Bet El for Shabbos day meal, food was good & meal went by pretty fast,
word is that food is better at Bet El but atmosphere is better at Chabad


I went up Ancon Hill with that age kids, load up on Deet & take a stroller

Appreciate both your and AJK's insights. Is Ancon Hill mostly a walking path that you can push a stroller up?

[efflpetzel]

Appreciate both your and AJK's insights. Is Ancon Hill mostly a walking path that you can push a stroller up?

Yes, Its a paved road but very steep

[AJK]

This is what we ended up doing:

Monday Night:
Dinner: Blame Kiki (Service/Drinks/Dessert = excellent)
Night = W Panama in Marvelous Suite

Tuesday:
Late start
Lunch = Kava (ceviche, nagiri, and pistachio calzone dessert = 10)
Walk around Old City (skippable)
Massages at W
Rented Polaris ATV and drove Amador Causeway and Panama Sign (must do for pic)
Dinner = Aria (rissotto/drinks/churros/crispy sushi, aria ribeye = 10)
Night = Waldorf in CONDO STE OCEAN VIEW - 1BEDROOM -1KING BED

Wednesday:
Shachris at Beth El (need to pass security check days in advance, cannot just show up)
Pickup brekkie at Coffee Bean
Tour: Monkey Island, Gamboa, Miraflores Locks (there's Coffee Bean there). We very much enjoyed Monkey Island and Miraflores. Found the IMAX with Morgan Freeman to be excellnet.
Dinner: Yoss Burger (excellent; best chicken sammie ever)

Thursday:
Shachris at Beth El
Hike up Ancon Hill, can bring stroller as it's paved (we did), but it's very steep
Massages at Waldorf
Order in from Kava
Fly Home in Copa lie flat J

[Abey]

This is what we ended up doing:

Monday Night:
Dinner: Blame Kiki (Service/Drinks/Dessert = excellent)
Night = W Panama in Marvelous Suite

Tuesday:
Late start
Lunch = Kava (ceviche, nagiri, and pistachio calzone dessert = 10)
Walk around Old City (skippable)
Massages at W
Rented Polaris ATV and drove Amador Causeway and Panama Sign (must do for pic)
Dinner = Aria (rissotto/drinks/churros/crispy sushi, aria ribeye = 10)
Night = Waldorf in CONDO STE OCEAN VIEW - 1BEDROOM -1KING BED

Wednesday:
Shachris at Beth El (need to pass security check days in advance, cannot just show up)
Pickup brekkie at Coffee Bean
Tour: Monkey Island, Gamboa, Miraflores Locks (there's Coffee Bean there). We very much enjoyed Monkey Island and Miraflores. Found the IMAX with Morgan Freeman to be excellnet.
Dinner: Yoss Burger (excellent; best chicken sammie ever)

Thursday:
Shachris at Beth El
Hike up Ancon Hill, can bring stroller as it's paved (we did), but it's very steep
Massages at Waldorf
Order in from Kava
Fly Home in Copa lie flat J

only copa 737 max have lie flat correct? Which flight did you take ?
How quick can do monkey island, doable to be back for 6:15 flight including a stop to grab food ? (No luggage check)

[efflpetzel]

only copa 737 max have lie flat correct? Which flight did you take ?
How quick can do monkey island, doable to be back for 6:15 flight including a stop to grab food ? (No luggage check)

our guide told us the best time to do Monkey Island is early Morning, which will give you plenty time for your flight

[jacman456]

Does anyone know if you need to reserve any of these restaurants in advance ?

Yoss Burger (assume not)
Kava, Aroma, La Spezia and Blame Kiki.

[gubevo18]

Does anyone know if you need to reserve any of these restaurants in advance ?

Yoss Burger (assume not)
Kava, Aroma, La Spezia and Blame Kiki.

if you are going during busy season, id recommend making reservations everywhere.

[Redbull3]

Does anyone know if you need to reserve any of these restaurants in advance ?

Yoss Burger (assume not)
Kava, Aroma, La Spezia and Blame Kiki.

Blame Kiki I think you have to to be safe. You prob are ok if you don't at Yoss, Kava, Aroma. But I would err on the side of caution and just do it if you can.

[ckmk47]

United vs Copa
Is either one better in coach?
In Premium economy?
No lie flat, so business isn't worth it.

[Spoon]

Copa has one lie flat flight iinm. Also they don't provide ksml in Y.

[ckmk47]

Was The Residence by Marriot Shabbos friendly?
What floors? Electronic keys? electric doors into the hotel?

[PBaruch]

Was The Residence by Marriot Shabbos friendly?
What floors? Electronic keys? electric doors into the hotel?

I don't remember what floor but am pretty sure there were electronic keys.  They left the lobby door to the stairs open on Shabbos so we could walk up. 

[JudahMcB]

Was The Residence by Marriot Shabbos friendly?
What floors? Electronic keys? electric doors into the hotel?

The hotel is connected to the Pacific Center mall. If you enter from the street level Pacific Center main entrance there are manual doors on the sides you can use on Shabbat. The electronic doors between the Residence Inn and the mall stay open on Shabbat.

If you walk up the stairs the first 4 floors are very tall (probably like 8 floors in reality) but 5 and up are normal.

Bring tape for the room door.