Last night I was flipping through the channels trying to find something to watch. As usual, Friday night programming is sorely lacking in variety, especially with Monk and Psych on hiatus. I eventually settled on watching a rerun of House Hunters International on HGTV. While I was watching the couple search for a vacation home in Latin America, I was reminded of the fact that it has been a really long time since I have had a vacation, so long, in fact, that I cannot remember the last time that I actually went somewhere. Sure, I went to my mother's house earlier this year to lay by the pool, but South Georgia really isn't what I consider a vacation destination.
The more I watched House Hunters International last night, the more I wanted to go on vacation, somewhere other than South Georgia or the Florida Gulf Coast. I suddenly wanted to travel, to see the world, and to actually put real people and real places behind all that stuff that I read in college when I was working on my International Relations major. Then the show went off, and I remembered why I haven't done so already. I'm broke, and I need a job.
One day when I am gainfully employed again, I hope to be able to put some money away so I can do what those two guys were doing last night on House Hunters International--buy a nice little getaway in a beautiful locale. While the men last night were house hunting in Costa Rica, I have become partial to Panama City, Panama, thanks to what I have learned about a hotel that is being renovated there, the Hotel Casco Antiguo.
If you are looking for your own Latin American seaside retreat, as well as a smart investment, consider buying a condo in the Hotel Casco Antiguo. The hotel is located in a historic part of Panama City, Panama known as Casco Antiguo. Situated on a small peninsula in the southwestern part of the city, Casco Antiguo was once the home to the French officials in charge of building the Panama Canal. Their presence in the area left behind an interesting mix of both Spanish Colonial and French Provincial architecture that can still be seen today. For instance, the Presidential Palace, the Golden Altar of the Church of San Jose, the National Theater, and the Colonial Catholic Cathedral all exhibit this unique blend of French and Spanish heritage.
The hotel, when renovations are completed, will maintain that unique heritage while offering modern amenities. The Hotel Casco Antinguo will have 34 suites, most with balconies overlooking Casco Viejo--an area of Panama City similar to New Orleans' French Quarter--or the hotel's courtyard. Each suite will also have hardwood floors, plasma televisions, Internet access, and iPod chargers. The hotel itself will have a rooftop pool and open air terrace with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Panama City, and the Panama Canal; a rooftop bar and grill; an in house restaurant; a lounge; a library; a business center; a rooftop spa; and 24-hour concierge service.
When you invest in Hotel Casco Antiguo, you do so by purchasing one of the 34 suites. The suites are then placed in a pool and rented throughout the year. However, as owner of the suite, you are allowed to use it 30 days out of the year for your own personal use. For more information on purchasing a suite, you can visit the hotel's web site, www.hotelcascoantiguo.com, or Register for an eBrochure Here.
