FYI - for anyone who has *A miles and has ever wanted to go to Rio for Carnival. YYZ-GRU-YYZ is wide-open for biz rewards (2x biz class seats available each direction) for outbound 2/20, return 2/24 @:-)

+1

I'm looking at end of Feb. Like the 28th to 3/3 or so...I'll be bringing the +1 since I might do the trip as a birthday present to her as hers is 3/4.

By popluar demand (actually just one demand)
 

I am posting my thoughts on PTY. IMHO it is a great place for a MR/Vaca.

The nearest beach resort is the Intercontinental Playa Bonita which is about 20 minutes outside of Panama City. I would actually just stay in Panama City. There are great hotels there and if you have points in Marriott, SPG or IC you will have a lot to choose from. For a weekend I would do a day trip to the Miraflores Visitor Center to see the locks and the museum and then go to Gamboa Rainforest Resort. You can do this in one day but if you want to do it leisurely two days is fine. We always have lunch on the patio overlooking the pool and the lake at Gamboa and then we walk thr grounds. You can purchase a boat tour into the canal and to Monkey Island. We enjoyed that.
I also highly recommend the Casco Viejo (the old city) in combination with shopping along Calle Central (where only locals shop and there are great buys) and then I would rent a bike at Amador and bike the causeway.
There are 3 really good malls and movies are usually $3.00 a person for first run, in English, with subtitles.
For restaurants you cannot go wrong and I always recommend Bistro Ten where all entrees are $10.00.

We rent a car as they are so cheap and the parking at the Marriott is free for guests but cabs are everywhere and will take you cross town for $3.00. Be sure to negotiate before you get in.

People are incredibly friendly and we have actually been approached in stores and in Calle Central and asked if we liked Panama and were thanked for visiting....

Have a great trip.
Cruisr

El Cheapo fare from SAT doesn't look available on weekends in March. 2/7-8 is the cheapest I can find. :(

The rub is I need 8 points. Is that a discount fare, or H?

Carnivale in PTY
 

I just checked as I know that Carnivale is usually the mid-end of Feb. It looks like Ash Wed is Feb 24. SO, if anyone wants to experience Panama City during Mardi Gras the days before Feb 24 would be the time to go. Its completely insane and lots of parades, floats, etc.

You can actually get hotel rooms as business stops during these days and many of the locals go to their beach/mountain properties to get out of the craziness.

Discount. Fly two of them for $326 total, and you'll get 8 points (CLL-IAH-SAT-IAH-CLL flown twice is 8 segments). It sounds cheaper than flying two $288 IAH-SAT H fares for the same amount of segments. You should be able to do it all in one weekend.

Carninval would be the least desirable time to go to Rio, in my opinion. That place is crazy and dangerous enough in the offseason (I like it, though).

Where did you see the deal?

Bingo, I see it now. Starts 11/21. The CLL flight is at 5:35AM! Yikes.

That sure is a cheap flight, but the times make it an all day event.

This is where the "just how nuts am I" portion of the Mileage-Running Calculus comes into the equation. :)

I can't find a hotel in PTY that doesn't look like a rat trap for any of those L fare dates. I'm thinking I have to beg my mother out of the 3 free nights in CUN....the question is what to offer in return.