Retire To Panama
June 8, 2009
"Kathleen, I just wanted to thank you for passing on my request for Panama City rental information to Guilia Gonzalez.
"Giulia gave me a thorough breakdown on rents for both furnished and unfurnished condos, some extra background information, and did it all in a very timely and professional manner. When you see her next, please extend to her my full appreciation.
"Thank you again for all your help and consideration. Keep up the great work!"
-- Larry K., United States
Giulia Gonzalez has been helping us shop for real estate, both to buy and to rent, in Panama for the past five years. You can reach her here: GGonzalez@LiveandInvestOverseas.com
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I am a religious reader of your daily e-newsletter. My ex-husband/best friend and I and our 8-year-old granddaughter will be relocating to Panama within six to nine months. We will be looking for semi-secluded beachfront property, a rental at first. We each want to open a small business. I'm thinking dive shop or souvenir/T-shirt/bicycle rental shop; he's thinking small coffee shop/restaurant.
"We realize, though, that we must have a good school system and friends for my then 9-year-old granddaughter to play with.
"At first, we thought Belize. But I think it's become too expensive, and maybe not what we want in raising a child. Panama sounds perfect for us. I want her to be exposed to another culture."
-- Saralyn L., United States
Frankly, international-standard education for a 9-year-old child is going to be difficult to find in a beach setting. Certainly, Panama offers top elementary- and secondary-level education choices, in English, Spanish, and French, but these are mostly in Panama City.
There is an international school, where the classes are taught in English and Spanish, in Santiago, in the Veraguas province. This could be a nice place to raise a child, but it's not on the coast.
You could live on the beach just outside Panama City, but the daily commute to school would be a challenge.
I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'd say that your choices outside the United States for international-standard education in English at the beach are limited. In fact, I can't think of anyplace where that'd be an option.
I'd suggest you stick with Panama. Depending on your budget, base yourself in Panama City (more expensive) or Santiago (very affordable). Either place could work for a coffee house or restaurant. (Santiago desperately needs good options in both cases.) Live in the city during the week, then escape to a beach house on the weekends, as the Panamanians do. From Santiago, ultra-affordable beach getaway choices can be less than a half-hour away.
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