Airfare to Panama City, Panama

Panama's largest city and namesake capital is the entry point for most visitors to the country. While in the country, make sure you visit the famous canal and shop at the Balboa and Panama Viejo markets. Casco Antiguo and ruins are other popular attractions.

Airfare to Panama City will be the cheapest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday. Mondays are popular with business travellers and weekends are key dates for holidaymakers wanting the longest trips possible - avoid these dates.

Also consider flights into San Jose, Costa Rica. To get between the cities, you can grab a spot on a train, bus or flight. Look for cheap flights on no frills airlines. Although it will take longer to reach your destination, a bus or train could save you enough cash to make it worth your while.

Another possible money-saving tip is to look for flights that go through San Jose, Costa Rica, or another major gateway city instead of flying direct. Because there are more flights - and competition - from these cities on low budget airlines, you can save some cash over flying non-stop to your destination. It is very common to layover in one of these main cities.

Finally, consider traveling on a lesser-known carrier. Copa Airlines is the national airline. However, Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines and other airlines also stop in Panama City.

The most expensive air tickets to Panama City are found during peak holiday travel times, such as the New Year. Also be aware of national events or festivals, which can also cause ticket prices to rise.

Summary of Money Saving Tips:

• Fly mid-week
• Book your holiday during the off-peak season
• Consider flying into San Jose, Costa Rica and traveling overland to Panama City via train or bus
• Look for flights that go through large cities, with many flights
• Check out carriers besides the national airline - they may undercut the monopolistic competition

For more information on Panama City, check out BootsnAll's Panama City Travel Guide.