El Panama Hotel- Cockroaches and disappointment!!! Hotel is in MAJOR DISREPAIR! Spend the extra money and go elsewhere if you want a comfortable stay. Only stay here if you’re in a pinch and have no other choice.

The employees below really stood out for their unrelenting service and care during our stay: Taymara- Breakfast Buffet attendant, excellent person and really gave us wonderful service and attention. Frequently conversed with us and was such a lovely part of our morning. Jack – Valet, who genuinely cared about our experience and gave us recommendations. Remembered us, took an interest and asked how our days went anytime we saw him. Rachel - Manager on duty that helped us get settled in decent rooms. Christopher - Room attendant, who stopped in the middle of what he was doing to bring me towels that our room attendant forgot to provide, at 10:30pm at night.

We chose to stay here since my family stayed here back in 2000. We were familiar with the location and had a wonderful time. I remember the hotel as a very beautiful and luxurious property. We were visiting Panama on a family vacation and chose the property due to its proximity to major city attractions and the price was reasonable. Now I regret staying here.

First red flag was when the hotel changed my room category 1 week before arrival. I reserved premium City View rooms and the hotel changed them to Cabana rooms. I had called weeks before the stay to ensure our rooms were adequate and CLEAN, the staff assured me that all was squared away. My family arrived at 11pm and their first impression upon check in was abysmal. When they checked in, their rooms were cabana’s, which were okay, except the bathroom doors where completely see through and open at the top. Meaning no privacy at all. NOT ideal when family members are sharing a room. The front desk agent on duty did their best to help us, and changed our rooms 5 times before my family gave up, as it was already 3am and chose to sleep in grimy rooms with their travel clothes on. The following day, Rachel, the Manager on Duty helped us get settled in rooms that were in better condition.

After staying at this hotel for a week, here’s what we found….

• Cockroaches and disappointment!!! We spotted roaches frequently in our room and throughout our stay. • Hotel is in MAJOR DISREPAIR and is evident many common areas. Entire hotel needs a revamp. Shame since it has the potential to be a very beautiful property offering a unique combination of space for a resort style stay and conventions. • Service is not consistent. Unfortunately, most other employees really didn’t engage or even bother to say good morning/good afternoon when they passed us by. This applies to valets, room attendants, restaurant workers. Front desk agents usually were engaging and greeted clients. • No towels - Room attendants kept forgetting to give us towels the last 2 days of our stay. • The breakfast was adequate but don’t have high expectations. Could do with more variety. • The redeeming factor was the few hotel employees that stood out for their kindness and care during our stay, mentioned above. • My impression, the hotel workers/management are doing their best with what they have and owners refuse to address the serious issue of the putrid disrepair of the resort, which in turn is hurting the team morale. It is apparent in the service. • Looks like the hotel's focus is catering to large groups/conventions and that’s what’s keeping them afloat. They don’t generally care about individual families visiting the hotel.