Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about your Panama Yeshiva Week experience

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Panama Yeshiva Week 2026

Quick Answers to Top Questions

  • πŸ“… Dates: January 18-25, 2026 (7 nights)
  • πŸ’° Pricing: Personalized quotes available - pricing varies by room type and occupancy
  • ✈️ Flights: Group rate $499 from NYC (vs. $1,300+ online)
  • 🏨 Hotel: 5-Star Renaissance Panama City
  • 🍽️ Meals: 17 kosher meals included (daily breakfast & lunch + 3 special dinners)
  • πŸ‘Ά Infants: Under 2 stay FREE
  • πŸ’³ Deposit: Required to secure your spot (non-refundable)
  • πŸ‘₯ Singles: Yes! Singles are welcome and will have company
πŸ’° PRICING & COSTS

Our pricing is personalized based on your specific needs:

  • Room type selection (Deluxe Room or Suite)
  • Number of adults, teenagers, and children in your party
  • Single or double occupancy preferences
  • Flight options and departure city

Due to the complexity of our pricing structure with various room types, family configurations, and seasonal adjustments, we provide personalized quotes through our online pricing calculator.

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦ Family-Friendly: Special rates for children and teenagers β€’ Infants under 2 stay FREE
✈️ Add Flights: Group rate $499 per person from NYC

Get Your Quote: Use our pricing calculator to see your exact price based on your specific needs.

Yes! Singles are absolutely welcome. We offer single occupancy rates with a supplement. Many singles attend our trips, ranging from young professionals to mature adults. You'll have plenty of company and won't feel out of place among the families. Many singles form lasting friendships on our trips! Use our pricing calculator to get your personalized single occupancy rate.

Yes! Our pricing system automatically applies group discounts for larger parties. Extended families and groups traveling together will see the discounted rates reflected in their quote. For assistance with group bookings, please contact us.

You'll need to budget for:
  • 4 dinners (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) - kosher restaurants nearby, approximately $40-60 per person per meal
  • Tips/gratuities for tour guides and hotel staff (suggested $70 per person)
  • Personal expenses like spa services, souvenirs, extra drinks
  • Travel insurance (highly recommended)
  • Flights if not booking through us
πŸ’‘ Pro Tip: Budget an extra $500-750 per person for the week to cover dinners and incidentals comfortably.
🍽️ MEALS & DINING

17 gourmet kosher meals included, plus the freedom to explore

Sunday
Jan 18 β€’ Arrival
Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Explore
Monday
Jan 19 β€’ EmberΓ‘
Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Explore
Tuesday
Jan 20 β€’ Kosher Fest
Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Gala Event
Wednesday
Jan 21 β€’ Beach Day
Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Explore
Thursday
Jan 22 β€’ Canal Tour
Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Explore
Friday
Jan 23 β€’ Erev Shabbat
Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Shabbat
Saturday
Jan 24 β€’ Shabbat
Breakfast Included
Lunch Shabbat
Dinner Party Bus
Sunday
Jan 25 β€’ Departure
Breakfast Included
Lunch Travel Day
Dinner Travel Day
Total: 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 3 special dinners = 17 gourmet kosher meals included!

Great news! Panama City has excellent kosher dining options near the hotel, including restaurants and a kosher supermarket with prepared foods.

We handle restaurant reservations for you! One of our most appreciated services is making guaranteed reservations at local kosher restaurants for the nights when dinner isn't included. No need to worry about language barriers or finding availability - we take care of it all. Most families either dine out together (great for socializing!) or grab prepared foods. The hotel rooms have mini-fridges for your convenience.

πŸ’‘ Insider Tip: Many families coordinate group dinners via our trip WhatsApp group - it's more fun and often cheaper!

Yes, everything is strictly kosher! All meals are under the supervision of Shevet Ahim, Panama's leading kosher certification. The mashgiach is on-site for all meal preparations. We maintain the highest standards of kashrut including:
  • Glatt kosher meat
  • Pas Yisroel bread
  • Cholov Yisroel available upon request
  • Separate meat and dairy services
  • Shabbat meals prepared before Shabbat

The local restaurants we recommend are also under Shevet Ahim supervision. You can eat with complete peace of mind!

Absolutely! We regularly accommodate:
  • Gluten-free diets
  • Nut allergies
  • Dairy-free options
  • Vegetarian preferences
  • Diabetic meal requirements

Please note your dietary needs when booking, and remind us again 2 weeks before departure. Our chef prepares special meals with the same care and under the same kosher supervision. For severe allergies, we'll work directly with you and the kitchen staff to ensure your safety.

βœ… WHAT'S INCLUDED

Yes! ALL scheduled tours and activities are included:
  • 🚒 Panama Canal Tour - Full day with lunch
  • πŸ’ Monkey Island Adventure - Boat tour and wildlife viewing
  • πŸ–οΈ Beach Day - Transportation and beach access
  • 🌴 EmberΓ‘ Indigenous Village - Cultural experience
  • 🌳 Rainforest Exploration - Guided nature walks
  • 🎭 Kosher Fest Gala - Entertainment and dinner
  • 🚌 All transportation - Luxury air-conditioned buses
  • πŸ‘¨β€πŸ« Expert guides - English-speaking professionals
No hidden fees! All standard activities, entrance fees, and national park permits are included in your package price. Optional add-on tours are available for an additional cost.

Yes! Round-trip airport transfers between Tocumen International Airport (PTY) and the hotel are included in your package, whether you book flights through us or arrange your own transportation. Just let us know your flight details, and we'll coordinate pickup times.

Tips are not included but are customary and appreciated. Suggested amounts:
  • Tour guides: $5-10 per person per tour
  • Bus drivers: $2-3 per person per day
  • Hotel housekeeping: $2-3 per day
  • Restaurant wait staff: 10-15% for dinners on your own

Total suggested budget: $100-150 per person for the entire week. We'll collect group tips for guides and drivers to simplify the process.

✈️ FLIGHTS & TRAVEL

πŸŽ‰ Exclusive Group Rate: $499 round-trip from NYC!

Compare to $1,300+ if you book yourself. Save over $800 per person!

Flight Details:
  • Airline: COPA Airlines (Star Alliance member)
  • Route: JFK/Newark β†’ Panama City (PTY)
  • Duration: Approximately 5.5 hours direct
  • Departure: Sunday, January 18, 2026 (morning)
  • Return: Sunday, January 25, 2026 (afternoon)
  • Baggage: 1 checked bag included per person
⏰ Important: This rate is only available through our group booking and must be reserved with your package. Individual flight prices are significantly higher!

Yes, absolutely! Many guests prefer to:
  • Use airline miles or points
  • Arrive early or extend their stay
  • Fly from cities other than NYC

Just select "I'll Book My Own Flight" when booking. Airport transfers are included even when you book your own flights. We'll send you the recommended arrival and departure times to align with the group schedule.

We can arrange flights from most major US cities! Popular routes include:
  • Miami: Often $399 round-trip
  • Los Angeles: From $599 round-trip
  • Chicago: From $549 round-trip
  • Toronto: From $649 CAD round-trip

Contact us with your departure city for a quote. Group rates from other cities are still typically 30-40% less than booking individually.

🏨 ACCOMMODATIONS

We offer two luxurious room categories at the 5-star Renaissance Panama City:

Deluxe Room
  • Sleeps 2-4 people
  • 350 sq ft
  • City views
  • Perfect for couples and small families
Suite
  • Sleeps 4-6 people
  • 650 sq ft
  • Separate living room
  • Premium views
All rooms feature: Mini-fridge, safe, coffee maker, free WiFi, premium toiletries, and daily housekeeping

Yes! Connecting rooms are available. You can select this option when getting your quote through our pricing calculator. The system will automatically calculate the appropriate pricing for connecting room configurations.

If your preferred connecting room configuration isn't available, we'll work to ensure your rooms are on the same floor and as close together as possible.

πŸ‘₯ FOR SINGLES

Singles are absolutely welcome! You definitely won't be alone.

Typically, 15-20% of our guests are singles. We have singles of all ages attending - from young professionals in their 20s and 30s to mature adults in their 50s and 60s. Many singles tell us they initially worried about being surrounded by families but ended up having an amazing time and making great friends.

What singles love about our trip:

  • Friendly, inclusive atmosphere
  • Organized group activities make it easy to meet people
  • Shared meals create natural social opportunities
  • WhatsApp group helps coordinate with other singles
  • Many return guests who welcome newcomers

While we don't have separate singles-only programming (we believe in an inclusive environment), singles naturally connect through:
  • Shared dining: Singles often coordinate dinner plans for non-included meals
  • Tour seating: We help singles sit together on buses if desired
  • Free time activities: Singles often explore Panama City together
  • Shabbat meals: Mixed seating available for those who prefer

Many lasting friendships (and yes, even some marriages!) have started on our trips!

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦ FAMILIES & CHILDREN

We offer special family-friendly pricing with reduced rates for children and teenagers. Infants under 2 stay free!

Use our pricing calculator to see your family's personalized rate based on the ages of all travelers.

Note: Ages are calculated as of January 18, 2026 (trip start date).

Most activities are family-friendly! Here's what works for different ages: Great for all ages (including toddlers):
  • Beach day - shallow water, sand play
  • Monkey Island - boat ride, animal viewing
  • Hotel pool and amenities
Better for ages 5+:
  • Panama Canal tour (full day, some walking)
  • Rainforest walks (uneven terrain)
  • EmberΓ‘ Village (boat ride can be bumpy)

Childcare option: The hotel can arrange babysitting services ($15-20/hour) if you want to enjoy adult activities. Several families often share a babysitter to reduce costs.

πŸ•―οΈ SHABBAT & RELIGIOUS

Yes, absolutely! We maintain complete Shabbat observance:
  • No tours or organized activities on Shabbat
  • Shabbat elevator available in hotel
  • Hot water urns and warming plates provided
  • Kiddush after morning services
  • All meals prepared before Shabbat
  • Room keys can be left at front desk

The hotel staff is familiar with Shabbat observance and very accommodating to our needs.

Multiple minyanim available!
  • In hotel: We organize Shabbat services in a dedicated ballroom
  • Main minyan: Ashkenazi nusach, moderate pace
  • Early minyan: Available if 10+ people request
  • Local shul: 20-minute walk for those who prefer

We'll have Torah readings, and services are family-friendly with youth participation encouraged.

πŸ’³ PAYMENT & BOOKING

Payment information:
  • A deposit is required to secure your spot (non-refundable)
  • Final payment is due by December 1, 2025
  • Specific payment amounts will be provided with your personalized quote
Payment methods accepted:
  • Credit card - 3.5% processing fee
  • Zelle/ACH transfer - No fee

Payment plans available. Contact us for details.

Cancellation policies will be provided at the time of booking. Please note that deposits are typically non-refundable.

For specific cancellation terms and conditions, please contact us directly.

πŸ’‘ Protect yourself: We strongly recommend travel insurance! It can cover cancellation for covered reasons, medical emergencies, and trip interruption. We can recommend providers upon request.
❓ GENERAL QUESTIONS

Yes, Panama is very safe for tourists! Panama City is one of the safest capitals in Central America.
  • Modern, developed city with excellent infrastructure
  • Tourist areas are well-policed and secure
  • US dollar is the official currency
  • Many American expats live there year-round
  • We only visit safe, tourist-friendly areas
  • Professional guides with us at all times

Renaissance Panama City is in the safe, upscale financial district. Thousands of Jewish travelers visit Panama annually without incident.

Perfect weather - it's dry season!
  • Temperature: 75-88Β°F (24-31Β°C) daily
  • Humidity: Moderate (much better than summer)
  • Rain: Very unlikely - January is the driest month
  • Sunshine: 8-9 hours daily
What to pack:
  • Light, breathable clothing
  • Sunscreen and hat (sun is strong)
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Swimwear for beach and pool
  • Light jacket for air-conditioned spaces
  • Modest clothing for religious sites

Partial packages: Please contact us to discuss options for partial stay arrangements.

Extending your stay: Yes! Many guests add days before or after. We can help arrange:

  • Extra nights at the Renaissance (approximately $150/night)
  • Side trips to Bocas del Toro (Caribbean islands)
  • Visit to Costa Rica (2 hours away)
  • Additional Panama City exploration

Let us know when booking if you'd like to extend. We'll help with hotel and kosher food arrangements.

We typically host 300-400 guests, creating a wonderful community atmosphere. The diverse group includes families with children, couples, multi-generational families, and singles.

Guests come primarily from the NY/NJ area, but we also have participants from various locations. It's a diverse, friendly group where everyone feels welcome!

Still Have Questions?

We're here to help! Our team is ready to assist you with any questions about Panama Yeshiva Week.

Contact Us WhatsApp, email, or contact form
Get Your Quote Personalized pricing