Last day I have pills for is December 8.
El Salvador - Arkam Hotel, San Salvador. An okay hotel but only the second one I’ve stayed at that had no windows! Also there was a lot of noise from the restaurant above my room until 10:00pm. This only happens on the weekend. It did have a very good restaurant, and the breakfast buffet, that is served on Saturdays and Sundays, was exceptional. They sell no alcoholic beverages, even for evening meals. Located at the corner of 11 Ave. Norte & 3 Calle Poniente Shafik Handal. So I would come here for breakfast but not to stay.
The guided food tour with David (GYG) was very good which included a good amount of history and cultural information. Two restaurants stand out from the tour: Kuskatán Histórico, Calle Delgado for the excellent pupusas, and Pollo Bonanza, Calle Arce for the excellent chicken cooked on a wood fired grill (asado). The latter is very popular and usually has a lineup to get in, even for takeaway. These are both located in the area around the central square.
Tigo cell service through my eSIM that I bought through Saily was very poor on data. Usually none available and would occasionally connect but spotty. This even though had 3 to 4 bars of signal. I would try Airalo, or the local service Claro which is rated the best.
Panama
Panama City. I stayed at Central Hotel Casco Viejo in the Casco Viejo area of Panama City, considered to be the best area of the city to stay. A taxi from the main airport (PTY) costs USD$40; a taxi to the regional airport (PAC) costs USD$20. A taxi from Panama City center to the main airport (PTY) costs USD$30.
Hotel Riu Plaza Panama is a nice 5* hotel in Panama City. I went there for the excellent buffet breakfast, and it looks like an excellent place to stay. Rooms start at $140 per night. Hotel Riu Plaza Panama, Calle 50 con 53 Este. +507 282 0420.
Boquete
To visit Boquete, fly to David from Panama City airport (note: PAC not PTY), then either drive by rental car, take a taxi (~$40), or take the bus from the Terminale de Transporte de David ($2). The buses are usually white school buses with “David - Boquete” written on the windshield. They are not air conditioned. I did see one that was a new full-sized motor coach which was probably air conditioned but likely more expensive.
Alto Boquete is about 4km from Boquete. The Garden Restaurant (M-F 08:00-18:00) and Sarah’s Place Bakery are in Plaza San Francisco in Alto Boquete. In the same mall are a dentist, a doctor, a veterinarian, and a law firm. Odonto Smile dentist (+507 6068-5138); Clínica Doctores Anguizola; Rivera-González Law Firm.
Hotel Panamonte in Boquete is supposed to be very good, and the pictures on their website look good. It was not available when I was there, so I stayed at Oasis de Boquete in Boquete. Nice hotel, inexpensive but no AC, but has an excellent restaurant and grounds.
There is a flea market every Tuesday in Alto Boquete. I also need to check out the Pinoalto Country Club about 1km from Plaza San Francisco. A woman recommended two restaurants in the area: Nomad and Panamonte (which, I assume, is the restaurant in the hotel noted above.)
Two recommended activities in the area are the Finca Casanga Coffee Farm tour and the Bee and Butterfly tour with honey tasting. Minimum two people required for each of these tours.
David
The bus to David starts in Boquete but can be picked up in Alto Boquete at the bus stop right beside Plaza San Francisco.
I stayed at Aranjuez Hotel in David for one night. It was okay. Ciudad de David Hotel is a very nice looking hotel not far from the bus terminal. I had a nice lunch at the attached Stylo Restaurant which serves a buffet lunch every day from 12:00-15:00 for USD$12.
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| Panama City Metro map |
Montreux & Basel
Montreux
Stayed again at Golf Hotel René Capt. To get there, take the 201 bus to the Bon-port stop; hotel is about a 1 minute walk from there. Any hotel in Montreux will send you a link to the Montreux Riviera card which allows you to take public transportation for free.
Did a day trip to Gruyères and visited the Gruyères Cheese Museum and then toured Gruyeres Castle. Had a nice lunch of green salad and soupe de chalet at Restaurant Le Chalet de Gruyères, Rue du Bourg 53. I had a very good dinner at La Brasserie in Montreux. An good cheese soufflé and pike quenelles for the main, accompanied with a nice Swiss white wine.
Basel
On October 17 I attended the cider festival. It was excellent with about a dozen sellers with 47 ciders to try; I tried 16. The festival is held every year and has been going over 20 years. Some average ciders with a few duds, but Mohl Heimenhofer was one of the best I've ever had. Sampled and then bought a 750ml bottle. Mohl is a large cider maker of basic commercial ciders, but this one was a special one. Also had the 2024 gold medal winner Guillaume Sweet Simplon. It was slightly sweeter than I like but taste was very good. Also tried two quince ciders; one was excellent, one was not. Also did a day trip to Lucerne. Unfortunately it rained most of the day so not great.
Serbia
Belgrade
In Belgrade I stayed at Boutique Hotel Museum Belgrade, located beside the National Museum of Serbia. It was very good and in a good central location. Hotel Moskva looks like an excellent place to stay and only a bout a 5 minute walk from the National Museum.
All public transportation in Belgrade is free.
The National Museum of Serbia was excellent with a history of the area from pre-historic times to the present including Slavic tribes to Roman, Medieval, Ottoman period through Communist era. They also have a large selection of Serbian and European paintings. The GYG historical walking tour was excellent. At Jazz Brasserie I had a good arugula salad and, for the main, a Serbian stew which was very good but had about half a kilo of meat! Very filling. Boutique Cafe has great European style pastries. Located near the National Museum.
To and from the airport you can take a bus to the town centre and the train station. Bus 72N (not 72) goes to Republic Square next to the National Museum and the Museum Hotel. Bus 600 goes to the train station. Each takes 30-40 minutes and are free. A train line to the airport is planned for 2027.
There is an overnight train from Belgrade to Podgorica.
Montenegro (Crna Gora, Црнa Гoрa)
Podgorica (Πoдгoрицa)
I stayed at Signum Hotel which is excellent though about 1.5km from town centre. There are two possible hotels to look at closer to town centre and not far from the bus terminal and train station: the higher end Kings Park Hotel, and standard Ramada.
Buses in the city cost €1 and you should have exact change; there is no electronic payment. NLB Banka seems to be the best ATM to use; they charge about €5.95 which is 3.0% on a €200 withdrawal. When looking for a taxi, all legitimate taxies have the taxi light on the roof and their license plate has a TX after the PG which is on all plates.
Voli Hipermarket are a chain of large grocery stores I’ve seen throughout Montenegro.
For a local SIM card see Mtel with 500gb for 15 days for €15. There is also One Montenegro and Crnogorski Telekom.
Tivat
I stayed at Hotel Palma, a nice 4* hotel located right at the waterfront, though they have no laundry service or kettle in the room, and the regular rooms are small at 18m2. Two 5* hotels that I would look at are La Roche and La Fleur. La Roche is also right on the waterfront and room sizes start at 34m2. You have to for the largest suite at Hotel Palma to get 35m2. La Fleur looks very good though it is a block from the waterfront. The Quince Hotel is a new 5* next to the waterfront in Porto Montenegro, Tivat. Autumn rate is €210.
I had a nice lunch at Kōrzo Kitchen. The “bruschetta” was nothing like the standard Italian version. It was a layer of sour cream on toast topped with roasted red pepper and fresh anchovies, and sprinkled with baby spinach. Strange but good. I followed with a hearty five meat soup with sour cream on the side. Very good.
There is an all day tour of the Boka Kotor Bay that leaves from Tivat at 09:00 and returns at 18:00. They also have tours starting in Kotor and Budva. Cost is €25. Lunch is not included in the price but can be purchased onboard. Reservations are required.
Adriatic Plus is a service laundromat located at 11a II Dalmatinske, Tivat, about a 5 minute walk from Hotel Palma or Hotel La Roche. I bought CR2032 replacement batteries for my AirTags at Tehnomax Tivat. Open Mon-Sat, 08:00-21:00. I used Hipotekarna Banka to exchange to Euros, and their rates are quite good (and are posted).
Bar
Try Stara Čaršija Hotel & Spa in Bar, or Radisson Resort Ruza Vjetrova just outside of Bar.
TRANSPORTATION IN BALKANS
There is a bus from Podgorica to Tivat 15 times per day. The first at 00:30, the last at 19:45. The trip takes 2hrs, 15min. When I took it, it left on time and was full.
See Railway Transport of Montenegro for train from Podgorica to Bar. For bus service from Bar to Tivat or Kotor see Bus Croatia.
For buses from Kotor to Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina see Bus Croatia. Best option is the 07:40 bus from Kotor. Buses from Podgorica to Tivat and Kotor leave multiple times per day. MS Tours provides an airport bus from the Podgorica bus terminal 9 times daily for €3.
For bus travel in the Balkans try BusBud. Chose Jadran Ekspres over Globtour.
Dubrovnik
Staying at Palm Hotel.
Florence - See David; need to book tickets at Galleria Accademia Firenze. Book the 72h; it is the best deal for visiting David and the Medici Chapels. On my last visit I stayed at B&B Soggiorno Battistero, Piazsa San Giovani 1, Florence.
Rome - Take ticket for guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistien Chapel.
Egypt - Exodus Egypt Tour from November 6-18 plus an extra day in Cairo for flight from Luxor where the tour ends. Fly back to Cairo and spend one night in Cairo at Le Meridian Hotel.
Arrive at Cairo Airport - Exodus have arranged the airport pickup. They have my flight details and driver will be there for pickup.
See full details of the Egypt; Alexandria to Aswan tour. See also my Egypt page (for more information).
Flight from Cairo to Vienna booked for November 19 on Egypt Air, flight MS797 @ 11:50.
Vienna
Stay at Radisson Blu Style, Herrengasse 12 near Stephansplatz.
Lunch at Trześniewski and/or Zum Schwarzen Kameel, both near Stephansplatz. The lobster spread covered with many baby shrimp which was pretty good at the latter was good. I also tried their brand of Champagne which was quite good but expensive at €16.90 a glass.
Green n Clean - Alsergrund (store #7), Althanstrasse 7-9, is an excellent laundromat. It is the easiest to access from the city centre. Almost no one there in mid-day. Pay with cash or card, and detergent included.
Bosnia & Herzegovina
If staying in Trebinje try Hotel Platani.
Iceland
See complete tour timetable here.
Taking the Metro from Tocumen Airport (PTY) to the city centre.
At Tocumen Airport follow the signs for Metro / Metro Station; you are leaving from Aeropuerto station, take Line 2 toward San Miguelito / Panama City.
Ride Line 2 until San Miguelito then transfer to Line 1.
Take Line 1 in the direction of Albrook (you don't need to exit the Metro system for the transfer) and get off at Cinco(5) de Mayo. This is the Metro station for Casco Viejo.
From Cinco(5) de Mayo, Casco Viejo is roughly a 10–15 minute walk.
