Frequently asked Questions

THE AREA Saigon Bay is a quickly developing area comprised of a mixture of well built homes and locals who are living in typical poor Caribbean style. Currently there is no sewer in the area but it's on the way, and trash service has also recently begun. We have done our best to provide western conveniences inside the home, but keep in mind that the locals live at a third world standard, and that is the culture. THE HOME Comprised of five bedrooms containing four queen sized beds and one king. Each room has its own individual bathroom and shower. One room is air-conditioned while the other four are fan cooled. AMENITIES The home is fully equipped with bedding, linens and towels, and cooking supplies. Satellite television and internet are also provided for your convenience. Maid service is provided weekly, but can be requested at anytime for a small fee. Please inquire with our manager WEATHER The Lonely Planet gives average rainfall and temperatures in Bocas. The weather here is highly variable and one December can be very wet and the next quite dry. It mostly rains more at night than in the day. The sky can open up and deliver more water than you thought possible, sometimes with very dramatic lightning and thunder, all part of the tropics experience. RESTAURANTS There are a wide variety of excellent restaurants in Bocas and on the surrounding islands. Fare of nearly every kind can be found, including Italian, seafood, steaks, Caribbean chicken, Thai and Indian. TRANSPORTATION Town is located five minutes by taxi or a fifteen minute walk. You can easily walk anywhere you want to go in town. The only roads are on Isla Colon and in Bocas town. Prices are very reasonable. Bocas has been called "the Venice of Central America", as most transportation is on the water. Commercial water taxi companies are easily found on the waterfront, and can be arranged to pick you up from Bahia del Sol. The water ride between the home and town is one of the best. FOR RENTALS OF ONE MONTH OR LESS A $300 security deposit is required. If paying by check, the entire rental fee must be received 15 days before the start of rental. If paying by credit card through PayPal, the payment must clear before the rental date. Once the check or credit card payment has cleared we will e-mail you information on how to get the keys for the house, our property manager info and rental agreement. After inspection, the deposit will be returned less any damages and a $40 per week cleaning fee. FOR LONG-TERM RENTALS For rentals longer than one month, our rental agreement, the first month's rent, and a security deposit of $500 are due 30 days before planned arrival date. Additional rental fees will be billed monthly. Once your check has cleared we will email you details on how to get the keys, property manager and other details of the property. PAYMENT OPTIONS You may pay by check or credit card. Payment by check will need to be sent to our address in the U.S. If you prefer to pay by credit card, you can pay immediately through a secure PayPal site. If there is less than 15 days before your arrival, we require you pay using the Paypal credit card option. UTILITIES We pay all utilities for short-term rentals of one month or less including water, garbage disposal, electric and propane. Long-term rentals of more than one month are required to pay for all utilities. BEACH A beach for swimming is located 100 meters from the house. Beaches for surfing are 20 minutes away. For further surf details and wave desciptions check out Panama Surf Tours. CURRENCY US dollars. The island has two ATM machines that give credit card advances. Traveller's checques can be cashed at the local bank. MEDICAL CARE The hospital is located 500 meters from the house. All people are admitted at no or very minimal cost. The hospitals are based on US standards and are equipped to handle most health related issues. VEHICLE RENTALS Locally available to rent are bicycles, cars, motorcycles and boats. TOURS Local area and nearby islands tours are offered by a variety of local businesses. Please refer to our "Things To Do" page for more information, and check out Bocas.com

Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions. For more information, contact us.

The Area ~ About the House ~ Amenities/Maid ~ Climate ~ Restaurants ~ Transportation ~ Security Deposit ~

Payment Options ~ Utilities ~ Surfing/Swimming ~ Currency ~ Medical Care ~ Vehicle Rentals ~ Tours and Links~