Panama City Beach, FL FAQ & Answers

No meals included.

No, you do not need a passport because Panama City Beach is located in Florida.

Make sure to pack sunscreen!!! The sun is extremely strong even in Florida so bring sun-block and use it! Tan gradually or you will spend the remainder of your vacation in your hotel room, in a doctor’s office with sun poisoning, or extremely red and looking ridiculous.

The nightlife in Panama City tends to follow an “upscale casual” dress code though some clubs can be more strict than others. With the CityPass we do use clubs on a few nights that require a dress code including closed-toed shoes, pants, no cut-off sleeves or hats for men. For the clubs with dress codes the girls can usually get away with anything, except wearing just a bathing suit as a top. Make sure to pack some nice clothes to be on the safe side. Before packing please check the CityPass schedule for the updated themes.

Yes, electrical outlets at our provided hotels are all American since you are not leaving the country.

Panama City Beach is located in the Central Standard Time Zone.

Your cell phones should work, but if not, you can always purchase a calling card and use a pay phone.

The amount of money each person needs onsite is specific to the amount of money you traditionally spend. In general, our experience has been that on average, most students use about an additional $350 for food and activities for a full week.

StudentCity recommends that you bring a combination of both. You will need some cash during travel and upon arrival, however for security reasons we recommend that you keep the bulk of your spending money in the form of travelers' checks. If travelers’ checks are lost or stolen you will be able to get your money back.

All StudentCity travelers are brought to a Welcome Orientation upon arrival into Panama City. StudentCity staff will give you everything you need to know about safety, your location, and most importantly, where the party’s at! They will address the ins and outs of the program, tell you what and what not to do, where and where not to go, as well as provide you all the essential party information! It is important to attend so you are given the specific dates and times of each StudentCity sponsored event, a StudentCity wristband, important medical and emergency contact information, and if you did not purchase the Party Package ahead of time, you can do so before you head to your hotel.

All customer service issues are handled on-site. If you have customer service issues please use the number on your StudentCity wristband and a staff member will assist you. You will also find StudentCity staff at ALL StudentCity hosted events. DO NOT CALL OUR CORPORATE OFFICE IN THE UNITED STATES!

During orientation you will receive a destination guide which will help you know what’s going on, when it’s happening and where. It will provide you a list of do’s and don’ts of Spring Break, emergency numbers, drinking hours. As well, each StudentCity hotel will have a bulletin board posted in the lobby to help update you on emergency numbers, daily and weekly events, flight departure times, transfer pick-ups and any other pertinent information we feel you may find useful during your stay. Check these boards daily for important updates!

Yes! Sorry about the tan lines, but it is very important that you keep your StudentCity wristband on from the moment you receive it until you depart. The wristband helps identify you as a StudentCity traveler so that our on-site staff may assist you and help answer any questions you may have.

You will also be given a hotel wristband to help them determine who their customers are as well. Again it is important to keep both of these wristbands on for identification purposes

If your StudentCity wristband were to come off you can get a replacement by finding a Staff member or going to StudentCity office. Times and location will be given to you at orientation.

If you are to lose your hotel bracelet you will need to ask them if it is possible to get a replacement as there may be a cost associated with it due to hotel specific policies.

The Club La Vela Card and Panamaniac Cards are each $40 for StudentCity travelers. Each of these cards allow you free drinking hours at select places and free cover at select clubs.

Available weeks of March 3rd, March 10th, & March 17th only

You can add the Party Package to your account up to the day before you leave for Panama City by accessing your account on our website, or by simply calling 1-888-777-4642 to speak with any one of StudentCity representatives. If you miss out on the pre-purchase option, you will be given the opportunity to buy it onsite at your welcome orientation, or by speaking with any of the onsite staff members throughout your spring break week.

The drinking age is 21 just like the rest of the United States.

Yes, you will need your ID when going out at night. The drinking age is 21, but most clubs allow 18+ entry. When you arrive at your hotel, please place all of your valuables, IDs and travel documents in the safe provided to you by the hotel.

Taxis are available and the costs will vary by the distance you are going. You can plan to pay anywhere from $2-$5 per person per ride.

Depending on your hotel/location, a lot of places/events you will be attending with StudentCity are within walking distance.

There are many things to do in Panama City if you want to get away from the regular beach scene and try something new. In Panama City the most popular excursions are: Jet Skiing, Banana Boat Rides, and Parasailing. Contact your onsite rep for assistance.

This will vary on the hotel. Most hotels will let you on the hotel grounds during the day but will regulate who is able to go up into the hotel rooms. At night any hotel that has policies of not letting outside guests into the hotel rooms will not be able to enter into the hotel at all.

The answer to this question can vary among hotels and can be combined with the question of whether you can bring outside food into their hotel as well. Most of the time you can bring food/alcohol in, but in the end it is up to the hotel. Alcohol requirements may also include the ability to bring plastic or cans in, but not glass.

If you or any of the people you are traveling with get sick or need medical attention please contact the StudentCity staff right away! You will be able to find them at all StudentCity hosted events, during lobby hours or 24 hours a day by calling the emergency number provided to you on your StudentCity wristband. The staff will assist you in accordance to the level of medical attention you may need.

If you do have to leave the trip early and you booked one of our standard flights it will be your responsibility to find your own flight home. If you purchased the Optional Travel Insurance you may be eligible for a refund but will have pay all costs up front then contact the insurance company upon your arrival home to file a claim. If you have booked the flight lock option you will be able to contact the airline that you traveled on in order to change your flight. (Flight Change fees will vary depending on airline) Please contact the StudentCity staff onsite for help with changing your flight.

Standard hotel check-out times are 11am, but please check. You are responsible for paying any late check out fees. Most of the hotels have a courtesy room for you to keep you luggage until you leave.