Enough BS about Panama! False info exposed + how to avoid BS advice & info on YouTube & Facebook

Prompted by seeing yet another misleading video about El Cangrejo, Bella Vista neighbourhood, Panama, and all kinds of wrong information being given by expats or people on social media, we decided to give some advice on how to judge reliable sources of information and gove a few examples to show just how wrong or misleading some of the information about Panama is. Some people have little experience but want to seem as if they do; others are afraid to say anything that might be interpreted by anyone as negative; others have an interest in promoting property or other business and are overly positive or leave out the cons or the darker side of Panama; others just want to be know-alls. Ultimately anyone can make mistakes, but we are talking about those who mislead by not being reasonably thorough and/or could care less about painting the full picture of what it is like in Panama.
Please note that now the Veneto is open under different management and the video refers to it not being mentioned in the videos made in the period prior to its recent opening.
We hope this video is useful to help you better judge who you ask, or who is telling you something, who you watch, where you look for information and how much you believe anyone.

[@Mostopinionatedmanofalltime]

This was a very long time ago, but I stayed at a hotel right across the street from the Veneto in 2005. I didn’t see any prostitutes hanging around the entrance to the hotel. But I guess it got a little crazier as time passed.😊

[@atifbenkhalil]

Hi I’m from Chad living in Bolivia do I need a transit visa if my flight stop for 2 hours in Panama

[@Mostopinionatedmanofalltime]

It’s ironic, but the biggest scammers that I ever encountered in Panama weren’t Panamanians, but British and American ex pats.😅

[@EverythingPanama]

There is big competition from many nations, believe me, lol. Ultimately, if you are not involved with expats and live as a Panamanian you will find numerous individuals from two other nationalities are scamming all the time. Which has, year after year of experience for Panamanians, damaged their reputation in Panama, which is unfortunate for the good people of those countries.

[@DerPanamaKanal]

I like your videos but this one is weird. I know El Cangrejo well and very recently they opened the old Veneto hotel again. It is now called "Waymore". They remodeled the entire building and there are now shops in front of it. The "Se Vende" banner that you show in your photos was removed at least one year ago. At the corner across the street is now a 5 star hotel. Moreover, you exaggerated the situation with the prostitutes. Yes, you might see some at certain corners but they never harassed me. It is weird to make a video about misinformation and spread misinformation in the same video.

[@EverythingPanama]

Glad you like the other videos, and thanks for the comments on this one. I will reply one by one. “but they never harassed me” I am glad it has never happened to you. this is exactly one of the problems I try to explain in the video. In this video I talk about probability: I hoped that it is clear in the video when I say words about the low probability of anything happening. I do not say things like “you can’t walk down the street without be harassed” because it’s not true, as you demonstrate. The theft technique they use in Cinco de Mayo and El Cangrejo etc., is used all over the world by “workers” and it can be seen happening Panama’s community/police videos if you would like hard evidence, if you do not wish to believe me, or ask any police. I am not sure why you would dismiss what the police say and others over anecdotal. The police approached me and offered me only to offer this specific information on their own initiative - this was in the last 6 months. Myself, I have walked past hustlers many times in El C with no problem, just like you. I walk a lot. I never have had a car in Panama myself. So in many years, once in El C and twice in CDM and around it has been attempted. In the latter there aren’t really any choke points they can hem you in, so they move to you, following you down the street, trying to distract you to rob, but in El Cangrejo I saw well in advance what they were doing and was ready and had to gently physically take action as I passed this point, because I could’ve only waited for a lull in the traffic and walked in the road, or passed their little game. However in El C a Panamanian lady I know well had girls swarm her and pretend to harass as she walked home, as if to move her away from where they were working as if she is competition. Of course she was walking and would’ve been gone in a few seconds, but they were really trying to rob her and they tried to get their hands on her property. My video hopefully made it clear this happens, fact, but it is not happening all the time, also fact. Veneto: my video took as an example of BS the many videos made during its closure. I think you have a good point that it doesn’t make it clear it is now open. But the video was about those videos which were BS at the time. I do say the “people” are still “around” which they still definitely are. I did actually film in El C in June but had so much video I had to made some choices about deleting some, otherwise you would see hustlers in the street in daylight in the vid in June 2023.

[@EverythingPanama]

Something I’d long forgotten came to mind, that also might be worth sharing. There was a time when I was opposite the Novotel and passing it coming from Via Argentina direction was a “worker” and a man perusing her asking for his valuables back. And he had taken her phone as she was trying to call some of her criminal buddies/pimp for backup/escape. So all this was verbalised as they went down the street. I alerted the police man who was on duty at Novotel as security for them, and he went down the street and took care of it. Again, this doesn’t happen every day, to everyone but it is going on to some, at times, and it’s not just 3 or 4 people a year. Anyway, I hope my next video will impress you more and thanks for the feedback, I certainly could’ve made it clearer the hotel casino is now open again.

[@user-nq3yt7ie4x]

Wow, now I’m concerned because we booked Torres de Alba apt in new year. Should we move areas?

[@EverythingPanama]

Only you can decide that, based in what you’re going to be doing, and what your and anyone you’re with preferences are. Are you driving? On foot? What exactly is your main concern? I can only provide information to help you decide. if you intend to walk around El Cangrejo after say 5pm, AND you can’t tolerate that there may be (it is legal as an individual in Panama) “workers” in the street, and It’s not necessarily in the street of your apartment, but it can change. Generally, they are further to the east of the area. And not on Via Espana which is where you can walk to the Metro or the Fast food chains and Rey supermarket. You can also check trip advisor and google reviews to see other’s experiences in those particular apartments in recent times.

[@user-nq3yt7ie4x]

Appreciate your thoughts and video thank you

[@BrigitteBetzy]

This is a pretty safe area to stay. I never have been afraid of walking at night. On the contrary, there are many cozy restaurants, bars and shops in the area. And a good access to public transportation, taxi, uber and the subway station is near.