Casco Viejo - come while you can

As some of you likely know, I was on holiday in Panama earlier this year. I didn't really research Panama much before I came but probably should have... I based my decision to go there on the fact that travellers I had met in Nicaragua a few years back spoke highly of parts of it. Turns out, I need to pay closer attention, but that is for another post.

View towards downtown from Casco Viejo

Like the beginning of pretty much any trip this one starts in the capital city, Panama. With my trusted* Lonely Planet in hand I started trying to figure out where I wanted to stay. If you've ever tried planning where you want to stay when you don't know what you want to see, you'll know that it's a bit of a battle.

I settled on Casco Viejo ("Old Compound") because of numerous reviews of things being referred to as charming, and who doesn't like charming? Well the masses were certainly not mistaken, it definitely is. An area most definitely in transition, crumbling façades with their ornate iron railings barely holding on sit shoulder to shoulder with grandly restored beauties.

Just about every tour you can take in Panama City includes some time here, but I dare say, especially if you are of the hotel staying variety (vs hostel goer) don't stay in a shiny glass tower downtown, spend your dollars here. The President of Panama also happens to live right smack in the middle of Casco Viejo so that means constant police patrols and permanently stationed officers nearby; this keeps the transitional neighbourhood from feeling unsafe. If you are a hostel-goer, there are at least three right in the thick of things, the only drawback for those not on budget that allows for all meals to be eaten out is the lack of a proper supermarket nearby.Casco Viejo is clearly on the upswing and as the remaining buildings are restored I can only imagine that prices will continue to rise, for both accommodation and dining options. I had the opportunity to stay at both Luna's Castle and Magnolia Inn, you can see my Trip Advisor reviews here and here and to sum it up, if you are over 30 and/or enjoy showering on a daily basis, you are probably more of a Magnolia person...

There is very little English spoken in Panama City, which, yes, the language here is Spanish so not really a surprise; it does come as a bit of an adjustment however, after travelling to places like India and Thailand where those in close contact with tourists often have just enough English under their belt to be able to help a hapless mono-linguistic traveller such as myself.

Some costs to consider when planning a trip here: taxi ride from airport ~$35, bus only available during the day and would likely still require a cab ride of a few dollars. Dorm beds $15 and up. Private rooms can be had in a great place, the Magnolia Inn (also a "luxury hostel") for $80 and up.

The importance of your credit card when travelling

Or I should say, the importance of the RIGHT credit card.

I recently arrived in Panama after an almost 18 hour delay, due to my very first flight of the day being an hour late due to the crew requiring rest from delayed flights from the day before.

Thankfully, and I say this without a smidge of sarcasm, the delay happened right in Winnipeg, which meant that I got to deal with a subcontracted United Airlines employee rather than a real one. He sorted me out for onward flights the next day and even made sure that United would put me up in a hotel that night; a fact that seemed to startle the real (read: surly) United employee in Chicago. I was also sent on my way with vouchers that could be used for food, both at the airport and the hotel.

However, had my delay not happened until Chicago and I had been left only with regular United employees who I truly believe would not have done much for me, I would not have been entirely out of options.

Because I charged my full airfare to my CIBC Aerogold Infinite Visa (and no, they are not sponsoring this post - but if someone from CIBC sees this and wants to send some Aeroplan point love my way I will graciously accept) I was eligible for their Flight Delay and Baggage Insurance. This means that if United hadn't ponied up, since it was a covered delay of at least four hours I was eligible for up to $500 to cover my expenses! It is an aggregate limit, so if I'm understanding correctly, if I was part of a family of four with all tickets being eligible, I would still only be covered as a family for a total of $500; which is still a pretty good deal. There is also up to $100 to spend on entertainment while you pass the delay away.

Chances are, if you have a premium credit card of some sort (with an annual fee of around $120+) you have coverage similar to this. It would be well worth checking on the website of your card issuer and printing off the PDF for handy reference - there is going to be at least some hoop jumping to claim this of course and you want to be prepared. Some would argue that this type of insurance is not worth $120 annually, but like any insurance it seems like a waste until you need it. Keep in mind these premium cards often carry other insurances like Trip Interruption, and Collision/Loss insurance for when you rent a car.

Another handy insurance that my card has, that sure could have helped a fellow Winnipegger I met upon arriving at my hostel in Panama - once her luggage had been declared MIA for 6 hours she would have been eligible for up to $500 ($1000 aggregate) to purchase herself some clothes and other necessities; as it was the poor girl wore the same thing for THREE DAYS while Delta fraffed about getting her luggage here. Three days people. In the the clothes she travelled in. There of course could also just be the added advice to always have a change of underwear and maybe an extra shirt in your carry on - that certainly won't stop you from being eligible to make your claim!