Royal Decameron Panamá — Hotel in Coclé

BEWARE ROYAL DECAMERON RESORT PANAMA CENTRAL AMERICA!||||A+++ TO: All waiters, waitresses, drivers, cleaners, bell boys,||cooks, mechanics, bar tenders, maids, life guards, electricians, pool cleaners, beach vendors, ,towel exchangers, cashiers, sanitation workers, admission staff, security guards, restaurant bookers, lawn/grounds workers, police, fridge stockers, telephone operators , even the iguanas all paid a very intricate roll to make our stay enjoyable. They were all outstanding! They were always smiling, helpful and very accommodating! NO COMPLAINTS! ||||Disrespectful, Callous Management!!!!||We'd been promised in emails that we'd receive a special gift for our 23 years of patronage. All we got was aggravation! Every other staff members were wonderful no matter their job or status. ||||We booked our Executive Plus 2 month trip as soon as we returned ||from a month trip there in January-February 2024. We and our travel agent had repeatedly requested the same end room we had just vacated. It was still vacant on our arrival in December 2024, but we were placed in a middle one on the top third floor of a different building. ||||Through no fault of our own, we ended up having 5 different rooms in our first 6 weeks there, in 3 different buildings. We were never offered any compensation not even an apology or a bottle of Champagne for our 23 years or inconvenience! || Room #1: Uninhabitable with a dehumidifier that had to be emptied at least 4 times daily. The “bucket full”” and “clean filter” lights were flashing on our arrival. The filter had to be soaked in our sink overnight to be able to scrub the filth off. The patio door lock and security chain were both broken; the bathroom window was located in the shower up over 6 feet high; the patio couldn't be used, as there was no ceiling and a tree directly in front shed on it constantly the toilet sounded about ready to quit, etc. etc.|| Room #2: Air Conditioner broke and couldn't be repaired.|| Room #3: Water was running out of air conditioner and bathroom flooded from ceiling leaks on arrival.|| Room #4: Safe needed battery changed 3 times in 2 weeks. Then the building had to be evacuated for remodeling!|| Room #5: The perfect room we had requested in the first place! ||||If we'd gotten it on arrival, we'd never have had to move at all!||Twice we had only 1 hour advance notice to pack up our 2 months worth of belongings. One move, we had no notice at all. We found out accidentally on our way to dinner, as that was suppose to be our time to move again.||||During all these moves, my 83 year old sister had a bad case of heat stroke and refused to be hospitalized, as she was a retired R.N. Of 50 years and knew what the treatment was.||||The following are just some of the negativity we endured with Management:|| #1: Mobility handicapped guests being placed on top floors.|| #2: A couple who had been moved 3 times during their 11 day stay.10:|| #3: A drug deal in progress that we reported to security with photos of the transaction, but no follow up.|| #4: Restaurants that were nearly empty turning away guests at the door if they didn't have prior reservations.|| #5: A huge guest in army fatigues molesting and repeatedly trying to drown a woman in a pool he'd just met and had been served too many alcoholic drinks too. When we reported it, the man was finally stopped, frisked and arrested by police.|| #6: 44 rowdy obnoxious behaving weekend only guests were allowed to invade the small bar pool in the upgraded section, all in the pool at one time. Us long-term guests left the area.|| #7: At the same small bar pool, a rowdy group of at least 40 people, from all over the resort, held a noisy birthday party on the pool deck directly behind our chairs with yelling, singing, cake, gifts etc.|| #8: My 83 year old sister got a bad case of heat stroke. She had to be wheeled in a wheel chair to our taxi. The resort wouldn't allow the taxi to come on the resort to drop us off at our nearby building. Instead, she had to be practically carried down the stairs to wait for their own vehicle. Thankfully their driver generously helped her right to the door of our room. || #9: Guests had mutinied the 1st time it was tried, but it happened again with no warning also. We booked our pool chairs at 5 A.M. , a security guard watching and not saying a word to us. After breakfast, when the guests went to the pool to use their reserved chairs, we found all the chairs had been stripped of everyone's belongings and taken to the furthest lobby away. We all mutinied and are never returning to the Decameron. We said only the towels were their property, therefore our belonging were theft. || #10: We gave a generous goodbye tip to a waiter we've known for years. This was not because of his great service, but as a personal thank you, as he always greeted us with a smile, respect and kind words. The restaurant manager followed him and had our gift relinquished to him “to divide among the entire restaurant staff”.|| #11: At one of our last meals, I ordered , as I always do there, an amazing meal that comes with 2 large chicken beasts. The same restaurant manager took the order as usual. Instead, I got 3 dried up burned chicken wings that were inedible. When I complained to him about the discrepancy, the manager replied, “Sometimes the chef has to ration portions”. I told him to tell the chef that this time he was very successful!|| #12: Guests were openly smoking and vaping in full view of the no smoking/no vaping signs undeterred, unless another guest complained.|| #13: Our Christmas turkey dinner reservation was refused on Christmas Day. “This is normally a Buffet restaurant, those with reservations must wait in line with everybody else.” It was raining and the line was enormous, so we were redirected to another restaurant without turkey. We had a hamburger! || #14: The hair and manicure/pedicure salons are still openly advertised in both lobbies, although neither have been in existence for over 2 years. ||||We suggested in person that management should grant us 2 free weeks at a different Royal Decameron because of our 23 years, 5 different rooms, lack of replies to our emails and calls there, no gift as promised and all the inconvenience we endured with their thoughtlessness. Of course, as usual no reply! ||||The 25 year old resort is in dire need of upgrading. Each room should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected that nothing is broken and everything works. There are problems in pathways, multi stairs and concrete gutters that cause handicaps. The routes for transportation vehicles are too narrow and eventually with further tree growth , they would be impassable unless smaller vehicles are used. Also how safe are the 25 year old balconies?||||To management we were garbage. Adios Royal Decameron! ||Lorraine...

We have been going to this Decameron here and there since 2007. I can tell you it has changed a lot! We arrived around 2:30 pm. Did our check in and patiently waited for our 4 rooms. We did to get the wrist bands to go eat or get drinks. They used to provide the wrist bands to allow us to get food while waiting. Only gave us a #4 ticket to hold on to for drinks at Lobby 3. There was a pitcher of water (very much warm, no ice) and there were no clean cups once the cups were used. So warm water that no one could even try to drink. After 4;30 pm we got 2 of the 4 rooms! Like here you go hang out there until we get you the rest. Neither one had the drinks or chocolates (that you so much advertise!) and in one of the rooms the fridge was filthy with a dirty towel inside. It was not until 4:55 pm that we were told the other 2 rooms were suposedly ready. Right before 5 pm (your own cut off time)! One of the two rooms was just the way the previous guest left it. Towels on the floor, fridge empty and dirty, bed were not made and still with dirty sheets..it was such a mess! I was tired, disappointed and even embarrassed I recommended this place to our family and friends. One of the rooms, the bathroom outlets did not even work. We went back to front desk. We did not get the last room ready until 5:25 pm. Ridiculous!!! And did NOT get any compensation for it they said we were entitle to. Front desk was not helpful at all. They said they had no control over the housekeeping. Told us to talk to guest services. Front desk put all our 4 rooms in different floors and they were NOT all ready until well after 5 pm! At time of check out the gentleman was rude and we were not given the opportunity to eat lunch (like they used to and specially after all the mess that took place at check in and rooms not ready!). The Cowboys breakfast (EXCLUSIVE FOR PLUS PAYING GUESTS!) was a joke. No drinks waitress or drinks to welcome us, fruit trays and ham/cheese trays at the bar were empty. I brought it up to the one "in charge" (because they no longer have Captains in charge during the day time) and 30 minutes went by, still NO drinks, NO food at the bar. I had to go across to the Pacifik buffet to get another person in charge from the buffet restaurant to help us get drinks and food. Her name is Dieta. She went to Cowboys with me and got us drinks, and made sure the buffet was filled up so we could actually get something to eat while we waited for our orders to be taken, to then finally eat. She was very attentive and did a great job every time we went to the buffet she was at. We have dinner reservations (those were good). Then there is Dorindo,The Captain Dorindo of La Esquina Asiatica is a great person and Captain. Always making sure to take care of the guest. He took care of our little girl back in 2007 when she was really sick. He was in charge of one of the buffet restaurants back then. And we saw him again, and he still has the same good attention to guest and charisma. The activities on the day time are nothing like they used to be. There would be games for all ages back then, and beach volleyball, soccer ball with blow up balls you would get inside. Ping Pong and dart competitions. There used to be canoe competitions and also eaten pineapple competition. They used to give certificate for the games you won too. Decameron used to have water polo games every day, etc...Now you only have aqua aerobics and swimming for dominoes competition. Very boring and to pay more money for supposedly better service, and not get that service is a profesional way of stealing from people. It's false advertisement. Oh and after the show, they close the BARS! You only have one inside the club (and not everyone wants to be inclosed with music and tons of people). The other bar opened was inside a buffet restaurant along with people trying to eat night snacks. NO water stations (like other hotels have) anywhere to serve yourself. The line at the bar was long just to get water and only ONE bar tender! Again, ridiculous. Decameron used to have the one by the beach open and it is bigger and right by the water. The Canal was open for breakfast Saturday but we did not know. We found out by the lady that helped from the buffet. We went Sunday and it was great service and good food. But, it was closed on Monday. There is NO consistency, the people are supper slow, the shows are nothing like they used to. Not even the Decameron King show and we have been going since 2007! Internet was low specially for PLUS guests. Bottom line Decameron has a lot to work on to even become a 3 STAR! They are not even at a 3 Star and we have been to many countries and many All Inclusive Resorts, and I can honestly say Decameron has a lot of room for improvement. Unfortunately it is not what it used to be. The amount you charge is...

For context, we flew here with Air Transat and stayed in an ocean front room.||Overall||I would recommend this resort with a few caveats to consider. ||1- Resort is on a hill. Gardenview rooms are on top of hill and Oceanview are on the bottom of the hill. Most restaurants and pools are at the bottom of the hill as is the beach. Being in an ocean view room, you’ll avoid the hills for the most part (minus going to the lobby and some restaurants). It’s about 70 steps from bottom of the hill to the top. Might not be the best resort if you have mobility issues although the resort does its best to overcome them. ||2- Language barrier. Staff speak mostly Spanish. Some have basic understanding of French and English. Most menus are translated in English. Si vous parlez seulement en Français, ça risque d’être compliqué. As a bonus, the timeshare people (yes they have some, dressed in kakis and white shirts) only speak Spanish and tend to leave us non Spanish people alone :). ||3- Location. The resort is huge and at the base of the airport. If your are flying Sunwing or Transat, it takes less than 10 minutes from the hotel. You’ll have planes land over your head all day long. Luckily most are small aircraft’s. Sunwing and Transat only fly in a few time a week and you get the Sint Marten (Maho beach) vibe when they land. Otherwise, you are 2 hours drive from most excursions (like the Panama Canal). Small nearby village has a few restaurants, a convenience store and a gift shop. That’s about it. ||4- Availability of entire resort activities. Resort was about 50% full when we were here (March 2025) and not all restaurants or pools were open. Some staff were aware others had no clue as to why. Some guest expressed disappointment to Transat representatives as they specially requested a room near some of the resort amenities which were closed. ||5- Weekenders flock this place. Resort fills up over the weekend with locals. Expect delays at bars and restaurants. Most only stay the Friday night so Sunday seems quieter. ||Pros of resort.||1- Service. Overall really good. Very quick and attentive staff, minus language barrier. Reception can be slow at check-in but they pre-check you in upon arrival at airport. Bar staff very good. Will adjust alcohol amount based on your preference. They won’t just dump a bunch of booze and next to no mix. ||2- Unlimited a la carte restaurant. Resort has 7 a la cartes. Reservations were easily obtained. Food was ok at some better at others. ||3- Ample chairs around pools or beach. Same with beach parasols. Very few beach parasols around pools. ||4- Water is drinkable. A nice luxury to have that most resorts in the Caribbean do not offer ( think Cuba or DR). ||5- Lush greenery of site. Lots of trees and vegetation. ||6- Most pools are open until 8pm. A bonus because most pools close at 6pm at other resorts. ||Cons of resorts ||1- Resort showing its age. Rooms ok, everything works, and it’s clean. Can heard noise in adjoining rooms. That’s about it. Could use an upgrade. ||2 - The birds. You read that right. Resort has birds everywhere including in the restaurant. Watch your plate. Birds also get crazy loud at dawn and dusk. If you are light sleeper, they will wake you up. ||3- Beach sellers, they literally hang out at the resort. Some move around, others will stay there in front of you (near pool areas) for minutes on end. Generally move on when you say no. ||4- No minibar or coffee maker in room. Not a big deal for me. But some Transat customers were livid about it. They will leave you a 1L bottle of water per day. Minibar with plus guest. ||Plus versus oceanfront. ||- A few perks with going with plus room, stocked minibar, private pools and 2 private restaurants. In speaking with plus guests, not worth the upgrade. |- Real upgrade seems to be going from gardenview to oceanfront room. ||Tips ||- Go with Oceanfront but skip the plus. Try to get a room with an adjoining door. |- Bring a thermos for your pool drinks (Iike a Yeti or Bubba). Paper cups ( served at bar) aren’t allowed in pool area. |- Bring extra sunscreen and after sun cream. Sun is hotter than Dominican Republic, Cuba or Mexico. |- Bring face clothes of that’s something you need.|- Bring small USD bills if you want to tip for service. |- Airport (Riu Hato) is very small with no services past security. Bring your food and drinks (security allows it). Also, no duty free so buy your duty free in Panama City or elsewhere. ||In conclusion, we enjoyed our time here. It compared to a solid 3.5 in the Dominican Republic or a 4 in Cuba (with better food in Panama). But having travelled to several other Caribbean destinations before, not sure I would come back to this resort. Panama is a great country worth exploring and would consider returning but would...