Destination Comparison
Panama City Beach vs Kona
Which destination has more documented tourist scam activity? Side-by-side comparison based on verified reports.
30
Total scams compared
Panama City Beach
13 warnings
Kona
17 warnings
Overall Risk Assessment
Panama City Beach
Higher documented risk
Kona has a lower overall scam risk score. Based on weighted frequency scoring across 30 documented reports. Both destinations are safe with preparation.
Side-by-Side Breakdown
Panama City Beach
Higher riskUSA · North America
Total documented scams13
Severity
High
3
Medium
9
Low
1
Scam types
Top scams
- Spring Break Vacation Rental Fraud
- Vacation Rental Fraud
- Drink Spiking in Spring Break Clubs
- Jet Ski and Watersport Rental Damage Shakedown
Kona
Lower riskUSA · North America
Total documented scams17
Severity
High
0
Medium
14
Low
3
Scam types
Top scams
- Timeshare Activity Kiosk Bait
- Fake "100% Kona Coffee" Product Fraud
- Rental Car Pre-Existing Damage Fraud
- Resort Hidden Fee Shock
Overlapping Risk
Scam Types Found in Both Destinations
These categories appear in both Panama City Beach and Kona. If you're visiting both on the same trip, these are the patterns to study first.
Taxi & Transport
See all Taxi & Transport Scams worldwide →Panama City Beach1 reportsKona2 reports
Street Scams
See all Street Scams worldwide →Panama City Beach2 reportsKona2 reports
Restaurant Scams
See all Restaurant Scams worldwide →Panama City Beach1 reportsKona1 reports
Accommodation Scams
See all Accommodation Scams worldwide →Panama City Beach2 reportsKona2 reports
Online Scams
See all Online Scams worldwide →Panama City Beach1 reportsKona2 reports
Tour & Activities
See all Tour & Activity Scams worldwide →Panama City Beach3 reportsKona5 reports
Money & ATM Scams
See all Money & ATM Scams worldwide →Panama City Beach2 reportsKona2 reports
Other Scams
See all Other Tourist Scams worldwide →Panama City Beach1 reportsKona1 reports
Common Questions
Panama City Beach vs Kona — Common Questions
Is Panama City Beach or Kona safer for tourists?
Based on documented scam data, Kona has a lower overall risk score. Panama City Beach has 13 documented warnings (3 high severity) vs 17 in Kona (0 high severity). Both are popular tourist destinations visited safely by millions each year — preparation matters more than the destination itself.
What scams should I watch for in both Panama City Beach and Kona?
Both cities have documented activity in: Taxi & Transport, Street Scams, Restaurant Scams, Accommodation Scams, Online Scams, Tour & Activities, Money & ATM Scams, Other Scams. If you're visiting both, these are the scam types to review first since the same tactics are used in each city.
Which city has more high-severity tourist scams?
Panama City Beach has 3 high-severity documented scams vs 0 in Kona. High-severity scams carry significant financial or safety risk and should be reviewed carefully before travel regardless of which destination you choose.