Longer term car options?
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I want to return to Panama to explore more, and for longer - like a month maybe, or longer. The cost of renting a car for this period is probably going to be too much for me. Are there other options? What do people do who live in Panama for maybe a few months each year?
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Hi Richard,
You're right, the cost of renting a car for that long would be prohibitive from a larger outfit like National (which I use here for shorter trips since they have excellent service even if it is pricey with insurances... which people think they can save on but no matter what workaround you think you have, you generally do have to pay the insurance here).
It all depends on where in Panama you're going. If you're in central Panama City, or exploring places like Bocas del Toro, you might not feel you need a car. In Panama City there's uber, and the metro and buses if you don't mind that there are sometimes crowds waiting around rush hour. In Bocas you can do a lot by walking/biking or taking buses/water taxis.
Generally for the Coronado beach region and Azuero peninsula it's nice to have a car, though you can make do without.There are sometimes small regional car rental outfits (like Trinity or Coronado Car Rentalin Coronado) that charge far less than National et al, and many expats are happy to use their services for stays of one or even several months.
Some part-timers keep a car here and pay someone (or trade favors with a neighbor) to care for it.
Some folks who decide they want to test-drive life in Panama for six months will buy a used car and sell it when ready to leave (not from used car lots, as they charge a lot more for used cars than in the US, but rather direct from owner, usually via leads obtained from the expat grapevine... regional expat facebook groups, etc).
Hope this helps and you have a great time in Panama.
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch -
Jess, thank you very much for your detailed response. I will look at the small regional car rental outfits. How about Boquete, can one rely on uber, bikes etc there?
Richard
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Can Uber drivers take you from the airport to Playa del Caracol?
John -
i suggest asking Uber before, but in the app it says that they will take you.
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I have now started planning our trip. I have found car rental prices very reasonable via Expedia, Kayak, etc. A compact for 3 weeks for $50, but $450 once you add on all their insurances. And there are lots of offers like this. So my question is what happens when I say that my Chase Sapphire Credit Card covers all insurance as primary, so just charge me the $50 please?
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I have now started planning our trip. I have found car rental prices very reasonable via Expedia, Kayak, etc. A compact for 3 weeks for $50, but $450 once you add on all their insurances. And there are lots of offers like this. So my question is what happens when I say that my Chase Sapphire Credit Card covers all insurance as primary, so just charge me the $50 please?
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Great question Richard - I am wondering about the same thing. My AmEx has interntional car insurance and I am looking for about a month rental in March. If we individually find something out, let's post it here.
I'm glad to see this IL forum - right now it's a nice small group!
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AI am wondering the same. My Amex Platnium is supposed to cover the international car insurance as well? Im calling Amex for thier thoughts?
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RICHARD.SPARSHATT said:
I have now started planning our trip. I have found car rental prices very reasonable via Expedia, Kayak, etc. A compact for 3 weeks for $50, but $450 once you add on all their insurances. And there are lots of offers like this. So my question is what happens when I say that my Chase Sapphire Credit Card covers all insurance as primary, so just charge me the $50 please? -
WAYNEPAT1 said:
RICHARD.SPARSHATT said:
I have now started planning our trip. I have found car rental prices very reasonable via Expedia, Kayak, etc. A compact for 3 weeks for $50, but $450 once you add on all their insurances. And there are lots of offers like this. So my question is what happens when I say that my Chase Sapphire Credit Card covers all insurance as primary, so just charge me the $50 please? -
I would go to the credit card company and ask. Heresay is just not worth mistakes.