- Thread starter mofongoloco
- Start date
DR vs. Panama Vs. Colombia
I haven't been to Panama yet. I love the DR. That being said, I enjoy Colombia more because its bigger and there are more things to do, IMO. Colombia is also more developed than the DR. I just got back from La Feria de Cali last week, and for those interested here are some images from my trip:
[video=youtube;a782QuK7Kg4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a782QuK7Kg4 [/video]
[video=youtube;a782QuK7Kg4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a782QuK7Kg4 [/video]
That's true.. My Colombian friends tell me don't go to Cali.. Go to Medellin or Cartagena instead.. and that people from the coast dislike people from Bogota may also have to do with skincolor.. Same as people from Bogota prefer to go to Miami and not Cartagena for holidays..
Panama City indeed has a serious traffic problem.. and its humid and it rains a lot but it very modern.. Also when you get stopped by cops (happened a few times) they did not ask me for money etc..
Hmmm. After perusing the comments from the beginning of this thread, I find it odd that no one mentions the fact that in the DR, there are prices for the locals and (higher) prices for everyone else. From taxi's to the Metro. It was my first visit to DR (2 weeks in the country) and I admit that my Spanish is lacking, but I quickly became frustrated about the hustle/con that seemingly everyone supports... An example is that at the Metro in Santo Domingo, it is posted that a 'Passe Dia' is $RD80.00, yet for non-Dominicans you are charged $RD95.00. If you hail a taxi, you are charged double that of a Dominican.
Since the topic is on best places to retire, I see that DR did not make the top ten list (if on the list at all), and although I love the island country for all it has to offer, I emphatically dislike the sanctioned trickery and overcharging of non-locals. So, for those considering retiring in the DR, you should take into consideration, the real cost of living in DR, when perceived as a tourist.
Also, you had better be very fluent in Spanish (if say you are an English speaker). Dominicans are not very courteous for non-Spanish speakers and English is not a second language for Dominicans. Not being fluent in the language is probably the bullseye that everyone sees and fires away with every amount of trickery to relieve you of your money.
I guess I had better check out the Panama and Columbia.
Since the topic is on best places to retire, I see that DR did not make the top ten list (if on the list at all), and although I love the island country for all it has to offer, I emphatically dislike the sanctioned trickery and overcharging of non-locals. So, for those considering retiring in the DR, you should take into consideration, the real cost of living in DR, when perceived as a tourist.
Also, you had better be very fluent in Spanish (if say you are an English speaker). Dominicans are not very courteous for non-Spanish speakers and English is not a second language for Dominicans. Not being fluent in the language is probably the bullseye that everyone sees and fires away with every amount of trickery to relieve you of your money.
I guess I had better check out the Panama and Columbia.
Surprised Spain is so high on the list. Economy there is shaky and living in Europe cannot be cheap.
Is "Special Benefits" a euphemism for chicas?
What the DR really has over other countries is convenience to the mainland.
What the DR really has over other countries is convenience to the mainland.
I've never been to the DR or Panama but I can tell a thing or two about Colombia especially medellin.
As far as beauty of women, Colombia May offer wider rainbow of colors than DR and Panama. I find the women of the "morena Clara", "canela" and "trige?a" colors the most appealing. I also noticed that Colombian women have the best natural hip-to-waist ratio for my taste. They are however more in tune with American pop culture so it is hard to find real innocence unfortunately. Something I hope I can find in Dominicanas when I go there.
Colombia also is very diverse in terrain and climate. Although medellin has the best weather I've experienced in all of my travels. If you like an active life style and prefer to replace the stress of driving for walking and using public transports then the weather in medellin is perfect for you. They don't call it the city of eternal spring for no reason!
Cost of living in Colombia is less than panama based on what a lot of my Colombian friends/acquaintants tell me. I know a lot like to work there if they could.
I have visited in Colombia numerous times and the longest I've lived there in a single visit was 6 months. Healthcare is great. I always saw a family doctor within a day or two and a specialist within a 2-4 days. The family doctor cost me around 11-15usd and the specialist around 35usd. I did a couple of MRI and each cost 150usd with radiologist interpretation. All private of course. If you become a long time resident you can subscribe to a private health insurance and that is very low cost and some come with special family recreational parks and health gyms discounts.
As far as Cali, just be carefull! Cali now is going through the a similar violent outburst like the one medellin went through in the 80s-90s. And I heard it's too hot there!
Sorry if this was too much info. I am really considering Colombia as a final retirement home. But not before I spend a good amount of time in the DR
Hope this helps someone.
As far as beauty of women, Colombia May offer wider rainbow of colors than DR and Panama. I find the women of the "morena Clara", "canela" and "trige?a" colors the most appealing. I also noticed that Colombian women have the best natural hip-to-waist ratio for my taste. They are however more in tune with American pop culture so it is hard to find real innocence unfortunately. Something I hope I can find in Dominicanas when I go there.
Colombia also is very diverse in terrain and climate. Although medellin has the best weather I've experienced in all of my travels. If you like an active life style and prefer to replace the stress of driving for walking and using public transports then the weather in medellin is perfect for you. They don't call it the city of eternal spring for no reason!
Cost of living in Colombia is less than panama based on what a lot of my Colombian friends/acquaintants tell me. I know a lot like to work there if they could.
I have visited in Colombia numerous times and the longest I've lived there in a single visit was 6 months. Healthcare is great. I always saw a family doctor within a day or two and a specialist within a 2-4 days. The family doctor cost me around 11-15usd and the specialist around 35usd. I did a couple of MRI and each cost 150usd with radiologist interpretation. All private of course. If you become a long time resident you can subscribe to a private health insurance and that is very low cost and some come with special family recreational parks and health gyms discounts.
As far as Cali, just be carefull! Cali now is going through the a similar violent outburst like the one medellin went through in the 80s-90s. And I heard it's too hot there!
Sorry if this was too much info. I am really considering Colombia as a final retirement home. But not before I spend a good amount of time in the DR
Hope this helps someone.
There is more to a country than a subjective view of what the people of the opposite sex look like. There are attractive (however you define that) women in a lot of countries.
Mexico is a big country. Some parts are safer than other parts.
I'm sure there are many that think Colombian women are more attractive than Dominicans.
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If they are more developed, then why it has been consistently rated higher than the DR in the Failed State Index of the last couple of years? (The higher the place in the listing, the more failed the state is)
Colombia once again ranked happiest country in the world: survey
Colombia once again ranked happiest country in the world: survey Colombia News | Colombia Reports - Colombia News | Colombia Reports
Colombia once again ranked happiest country in the world: survey Colombia News | Colombia Reports - Colombia News | Colombia Reports
