IM BACK, and i will be updating this thread when I get some free time. I hope everyone is already booked for Spring Break 2008 and if you have not already joined TripSmarter.com, you better, because its the only place to get up to date acurate information on Panama City Beach Spring Break 2008 Check back later in the week for updated tips and hotel reviews!!!!

Jseales99@

Welcome back!!!

Its been awhile Jseales where you been hiding out at?

Thank you!!! I have been around checking in now an then!!!!!!!!! Hope everyone has had a great off season and is ready for the new year to begin!!! I am getting excited about heading down this year, but I am still not 100%... I may just fly down for a weekend to meet up with my fellow tripsmarts. I had a great time meeting everyone last year and I loved filming that commercial on the beach. Me and Dom had a blast, speaking of that is thier a way to get a hold of that?

You're posts are awesome, and they have me totally excited! Thanks alot, I'm a complete Panama noob but, I have gone to Mexico for the past two years(ACA and CUN) for Spring Break, so I am not a novice SBer! I just had a few questions, before I book my trip to Panama...

Is it a real disadvantage to stay at the smaller hotels/resorts? After researching I noticed that most forum members listed Boardwalk and Summit as their favorite places. If you aren't staying at these hotels will you be allowed in their parties? When I was in Acapulco and Cancun they were very strict about letting outsiders into pool parties and events....but being at the pool during the day was the place to be. Is it worth shelling out the extra cash to stay at these places?

What is the cheapest way to book a hotel? Especially Summit or Boardwalk, I used Orbitz and found them for around 160 a night, is there a cheaper way?(I did like another user said and went directly to the hotels website but, it was actually more expensive)

Is it worth it to buy a party pass? I saw the Panamaniac Card but, I was not too impressed. No offense to anyone that sells it. For those who have had it, is it worth it?

What's the police presence like? Are the cops harsh?

Finally, I noticed that there was a bar crawl, party boat, and some other events...which ones are the best ones to do? Is their like one unifying event that everyone does?(i.e. in Cancun it was the booze cruise, and in Acapulco it was seeing the Devil)

I never knew if i ever want to go to acapulco but now I know..... thanks

Fumus - do the Pub Crawl. Booze cruise here is a joke.

Fumus

Thanks for the complements, I just want everyone to have the same if not better, experience that I was so blessed to have!!!!!!!!!!!
I am going to try to answer the questions the best I can..

First: Is it a real disadvantage to stay at the smaller hotels/resorts? That all depends, there are plus and minuses to staying at cheaper hotels. Number one are the pluses beginning with the room is cheaper!!!!!!!! Also, rules at the cheaper hotels are not going to be as strict as they would be with the more expensive one’s. Places like the boardwalk and the holiday inn sunspree have security every were and it sometimes limits what you can get away with. Were as the Scottish Inn will let you do what ever the hell you want as long as you pay!!! My recommendation is to stay at a hotel close to the super clubs and MTVu village. Places like the Sun bird and Summit are inexpensive, but still have you close to the action. One thing to consider is that if you are not registered at the larger hotels you can not party there unless someone can sneak you a bracelet. Don’t worry about day time pool parties at hotels, no one spends any time there during the day. Everyone is on the beach behind the super clubs and Holiday Inn Sunspree. Also, the best pool party during the day is at Club Lavela ( no cover).

Question 2: What is the cheapest way to book a hotel? I wrote in an earlier thread that you are going to have to do some research to find the best price. Most of the time you will find that the best price will be on the hotels web site, however if you look around you may be able to find a better price. I had to look at about 7 different sites last year before I was able to find the right price.

Question 3: Is it worth it to buy a party pass? Well since it is your first time down and don’t know the party spots then I would say yes, But remember, you have to follow a schedule and if you want to go somewhere else you have to pay. I always tell people that if you want to save money don’t buy the cards, but you are going to have to go to the clubs around 7 pm and get your hand stamped. My group usually goes to LaVela at 7 pay the $5 to get in, go to Spinnakers pay $5 and then run over you Hammer head freds pay $5 and then go back to the hotels and relax till about 10-11pm. We then find out what club has the best party that night and hang out there. If it gets dead we jump to the next one. You will only pay $15 for three clubs and if you stay at 7 then you usually get free beer till 9pm.

Question 4: What's the police presence like? Are the cops harsh? The cops are really bad at night, but during the day as long as your not fighting or drinking and driving you should be cool.

Question 5: Bar crawl, party boat, and some other events...which ones are the best ones to do? Well I think that the party boats are ok, but not something I would say, AWWW man you have to do this. It’s nice, but it is nothing like the bar crawl. I would recommend doing the Bar Crawl, you get to see a good amount of the clubs in one night, plus you get to meet people that you will wind up chilling with the rest of your trip!!!!!! It is a great experience and you should def do it. However, if you want to go get your tickets early and I mean early, because they go fast!!!!

I hope I helped answer all your questions. If anything else comes up let me know. Hope you enjoy Spring Break, It may not be Mexico, but you will never want to stop coming back!!!!!!!!! See ya there

If anyone has questions this is the forum to ask them.... I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. It may help other Spring Breakers have a better trip so don't be shy!!!!!!!

No problem, I think it's awesome that you are willing to share all this knowledge with me. Ya know I wasn't sure what I was going to do for SB this year and friends of mine cut out on me at the last minute so another big trip to Mexico was out of the question. (Plus the fact I vowed never to go back again, lol) Reading your posts actually made me make up my mind to go to PCB. You are a credit to this forum, and tripsmarter!

Ahh. See that was what I was wondering, alright so even during the week of the 22-29 you think everyone will still behind the super clubs? So what are the advantages of staying at an expensive place?


But if you are spening $15 a night on those clubs doesn't that add up to $40 in a few nights? Is the pub crawl included with the card, I saw it listed...if not where do you buy your ticket for the pub crawl or party boat? You said they are selling fast... The Official Party Card of Panama City Beach Spring Break 2008

Yea, what do you mean they are really bad? Are they throwing you in jail for anything? Whatever they are like it can't be as bad as Mexico.

Yea, I don't want Mexico anymore. Their are some real advantages to having a working cell phone, drinkable water, police that aren't uber-corrupt and being in America for Spring Break!!

okay, so the only thing i'm doing in my hotel is sleep, changing, and showering.. and so I'm not looking for the big party hotels or what not, but I don't want to have to drive 20 minutes to get to the beach or to the clubs. I do know I'll have to drive somewhat if I'm not staying in the middle of everything, but I'd rather not have to waste all my gas on driving to and from the beach 4 times a day...

Especially since i've seen those pictures of the strip that ya'll posted... and Idk about parking, I never tend to get lucky enough to find a parking spot so is there ANY hotel that you guys would suggest?

I'm still not booked for anything, because my friends are kinda lame and wont give me a final yes or no! So I'm trying to find out as much about PCB before I decide on where to book at..

Just about anywhere you stay, you'll have parking passes where only people who are staying at the hotel can park, so parking shouldn't be a big issue. The strip gets pretty crowded but people let you in and stuff, so its no big deal.

As far as your friends go, tell them you need their money if they are going by a certain date(sometime soon), and you'll be giving no refunds b/c that'll mess everything up. That way they'll have to make a decision and if anyone backs out, you'll still have the money to cover it and others won't be forced to pitch in extra money.

sounds like a good idea ... thanks!!

For the hotels, most charge a security deposit right? I am pretty sure I want to stay at the Chateau, also how do they charge? When you make your reservation is it all put on your card at once or, like is it only when u get there that they charge you or what? Cuz I saw that my number 2 choice the sunspree wanted a two day non-refundable deposit deposit.

To reserve at the Chateau they will charge the first night to your credit card. You pay the rest on arrival.