Thread: Need advice on Panama City Hotels

We're coming to Panama mid May for ten days and need some advice about where to stay in Panama City for two nights (coming and going). So far, the following hotels have been recommended:

Nueva Venecia
Baru Lodge
Country Inn & Suites
Veneto Hotel
Crown Plaza Panama
Hotel Inn at the City of Knowledge
Intercontinental Miramar Panama
Radisson Decapolis

I would very much appreciate any feedback on any of the above as well as whether it just makes more sense to stay by the airport.

Thanks,
Doc

Originally Posted by Doc Holliday

We're coming to Panama mid May for ten days and need some advice about where to stay in Panama City for two nights (coming and going). So far, the following hotels have been recommended:

Nueva Venecia
Baru Lodge
Country Inn & Suites
Veneto Hotel
Crown Plaza Panama
Hotel Inn at the City of Knowledge
Intercontinental Miramar Panama
Radisson Decapolis

I would very much appreciate any feedback on any of the above as well as whether it just makes more sense to stay by the airport.

Thanks,
Doc

You have posted lots of choices, I have stayed at a couple of them also you are quite spread out with your choices, where do you want to be in PC what are you thinking of doing in the couple of days, does we mean family or single guys.

Veneto is the casino hotel, practically lived here some times hotel nice ,staff slow nearly stupid at night the casino is full of working girls
Crown plaza just around the corner ok hotel better staff 7 out of 10 in my opinion
Intercontinenetal on balboa avenue the best hotel in you pick expensive great view but on a busy road close to calle uruagy great restaurants,the market,la posta
Radisson infront of majestic casino 8 out 10 for me couple of nice food places inside also close to luna another nice restaurant
If you are looking at these type of hotels then budget is not prority also try the marriot or the meridian opposite the continental also for a great pool and location the el panama,for real luxury try the bristol

Thanks for the response. We received input from two different sources, hence the spread in area and budgets. Budgets are a concern, but we do have some flexibility.

Just the wife and I this time. We've been to Panama City before, but did not stay there overnight. On our first night there, we'll really just looking for a clean comfortable bed after a long day of traveling and an early next morning getting on the road. We'll maybe have half a day back in Panama City on our next to last day before an early flight back the next morning. Definitely not interested in casino/working girls atmosphere.

Ok if budget is an issue the meridian,marriot,continental,bristol well over priced for what they offer

Have a look at my favourite hotel torres de alba for less than a 100 you get a good size suite,a safe , good breakfast,gym, pool,safe parking, good location (opposite the venneto) great restaurant opposite (pomadora) cabs always around.
Also the El Panama great pool behind the venneto around a 120 i think??

lots to look at, if you are only in and out think of the traffic as well

If you want a clean place in the middle of the action with a budget price try the Hotel Milan. I had ( I thought) reservations at the hotel Las Vegas. When they claimed to be full and not have a reservation the cab driver took me to the Milan. Large rooms with color tv, Safe and A/C. No internet in room but a free computer in the lobby. They have a free parking garage and a small cafe on site. The coffee was good and the food was just so so. For $57 a night including tax it is a real bargain. The veneto is a block away and El Rey supermarket is about 2.5 blocks away. Really a safe area in El Cangrejo and is located on calle Esubio Morales (sp). I wanted to stay at the Torres de Alba but they never answer emails and the phone rang forever on the two occasions I tried to call them. So I booked (I thought) at the Las Vegas across the street. If you are on a budget saving $60 a night on a hotel is money that could be better spent elswhere. I currently stay at a friends apts when in the city but alway's tell the customs troll at the airport that I am staying at the Milan when they ask Lol.

Doc, to my knowledge, Hotel Riande Continental Aeropuerto is the only hotel within a few kilometers of the airport. Believe me, I scoured Google Maps for hotels. Get a room far from the lounge.

Fleeted, I didn't stay at the Milan, but based on my obsessive research, it does seem like a bargain. I even made reservations there but missed my flight from the U.S. and then spent more time in the interior and less in PC than expected so never even saw the place. They're easy to deal with by English-language e-mail. They earned my goodwill when they didn't charge me as a "no-show" when I missed my flight. Said it "happens frequently." I believe they quoted me a rate of $77 last month, but that could be a high-season, low-season thing.

In May There is a new hotel opening next to MetroMall : Courtyard Marriott. Its a little bit farther away from the airport than Riande but still not too far.

We ended up staying at the Hotel Riande Continental Aeropuerto on our inbound leg and got a great room overlooking the pool for $115, including breakfast. We booked through Orbitz and saved over $20 over what the hotel said was available.

We took the recommendation of another B&B operator and stayed at Posada Nuevo Venecia. Big mistake. Crappy, dirty room in a crappy dirty hotel in a crappy dirty neighborhood.

Hey all -

I'm going to take this opportunity to plug my project. I'm running a guesthouse for 4x4 and moto travelers in Ancon. We primarily cater to the adventure travelers who have their own transport - which is why we're located out of the action.

Our property is clean, nice, well appointed, has 2 clean bathrooms with hot water, a communal kitchen and a safe gated property in a safe neighborhood.

We charge $40 for a private room and $20 for a bed in a shared room. My guests are all long time travelers - much more mature than the typical backpacker. Check out our guestbook to get an idea of the kids of people we get.

Panama Passage | Overlander Resource Center in Panama City

Thought I would include this as an option to a more budget minded traveler.

Best
Shaun