Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
already covered: some all-risks home insurance policies may cover your possessions while
abroad, and many private medical schemes also apply when overseas. In Canada, provincial
health plans usually provide some cover for medical treatment when out of the country. Some
student insurance packages also include vacation travel. When shopping around for a policy,
bear in mind that what are termed
dangerous sports
, which usually include the likes of scuba
diving and whitewater rafting, sometimes require an additional premium to be paid. Should
you have to seek medical attention, keep all receipts, and if you lose something valuable,
get a police report (
denuncia
). Whatever the situation you will still need to access sufficient
funds to cover such emergencies (hence the usefulness of a credit card) while on your trip,
and apply for reimbursement on your return home.
ROUGH GUIDES TRAVEL INSURANCE
Rough Guides has teamed up with
WorldNomads.com
to offer great
travel insurance
deals. Policies are available to residents of over 150 countries, with cover for a wide range
of
adventure sports
, 24hr emergency assistance, high levels of medical and evacuation
cover and a stream of
travel safety information
.
Roughguides.com
users can take ad-
vantage of their policies online 24/7, from anywhere in the world - even if you're already
travelling. And since plans often change when you're on the road, you can extend your
policy and even claim online.
Roughguides.com
users who buy travel insurance with
WorldNomads.com
can also leave a positive footprint and donate to a community devel-
opment project. For more information, go to
Internet
Cyber cafés
come and go but there are always a sufficient number to make internet access
easy, even in small towns, where the local library usually has a couple of PCs. Rates are gen-
erally $1-2 an hour and note that the “@” sign is usually achieved by pressing ALT, “6” and
“4” keys simultaneously. Almost all hostels and most hotels now offer free wi-fi where inter-
net connectivity is available.
Language
Spanish
is the official language of Panama and the first language of over two million of the
population, though a recorded thirteen other first languages are spoken across the country.
The latter are mainly indigenous but include Panamanian Creole English, preferred by around
100,000 Afro-Antillean Panamanians, primarily resident in Bocas, Colón and Panama City,
and Cantonese or Hakka, spoken by around 60,000 Chinese-Panamanians. While many urb-
an middle-class Panamanians speak
English
, some of whom are bilingual, the “everybody-
speaks-English” myth is easily dispelled. Official estimates reckon around fourteen percent
of the population can communicate in English but in small towns and rural areas you'll find
