Hotel Baluarte Boutique Panamá — Hotel in San Felipe

Considering I have never written a bad review ever, you can only imagine how bad this was. This one star is hone star too many. It all started off with us trying to find a restaurant on a rooftop. 2 workers of Gatto Blanco tried to get us to eat in the restaurant, but we asked two questions (in Spanish) first: Can we eat at the rooftop and do you also have vegetarian burgers? They positively confirmed both of those things, we even asked it multiple times to be sure. So we went to the rooftop, where the music was very loud (as we expected) but the view was good. When we wanted the food menu, they gave us a menu with a couple of starters. We told them that we wanted the full menu, because the boys downstairs told that us we could eat from that menu on the rooftop. This was EXTREMELY complicated, and they said no. This is why we left the table, because we wanted to eat. All of a sudden, the waitress told us it was possible to eat from the menu, so we sat down again. We chose to order two vegetarian burgers (because of the guys downstairs) a salad and a regular burger. Everything took so long, there were only 2 tables besides us occupied but it still took 15 minutes to get a bottle of beer opened. The mixed drinks were poorly made; the Limonada Libanesa was too sour to drink and the Aperol Spritz contained barely any Aperol. After approximately half an hour, the waitress came back and told us, without any apologies, that they did not have any vegetarian burgers... So that is why two vegetarians had to choose other things from a menu that barely contained anything vegetarian, they did not offer to make something else. So we ordered some other things and waited, and waited.... 2 plates came at the same time and the other one 10 minutes later, and the last one 15 minutes after that. The plates (even the first two) were cold upon arrival, which was a disappointment. We had to ask for cutlery and napkins, that was VERY complicated, but in the end we still got it. The meals themselves were really not too bad, the fries, wrap and the burger were good, but cold. The Caprese salad consisted however of a couple slices of tomatoes and some pieces of mozzarella, and that was it. Nevertheless, we did not want to complain, since communicating with these people in both English and Spanish is a mission impossible. We also felt like the bill was way too high (downstairs we had to pay extra for the drinks), but we just paid it and left because we did not want to be there anymore. Not once did they apologize for any inconvenience, let alone offer something. As the cherry on top, I went to the women’s bathroom and stumbled upon this utterly beautiful toilet (see picture). The rest of the bathroom area was also not looked after. Conclusion: the kitchen and the rooftop is not too bad, but the staff is horrible, unprofessional, and in desperate need of a course in basic...

I have reserved a room with view via booking.com. At my arrival they asked me to pay first. Once I got the keys I discovered an hotel which is not one. The entrance is a restaurant ( that doesnt event serve the breakfast that is in a bar outside). The floors with the rooms are very badly made and cheaply conceived. It looks more like a dorm than an hotel. My room was without a real window but a window on the internal of the hotel. I protested. They changed me for a room with a window and a balcony. They appeared like they were giving me a presidential suite. Then I discovered the new room. the peint on the walls is dirty, the sheets has ink stains on it and all appeared to be extremely cheap. The toilet has no door and there was no hot water. After 8 hours bus in Panama a hot shower was the barely minimum for me, even more in a hotel. I called the reception. They came and told the water was hot which It was not an opinion. It was warm at the best. I guess around 28°-30° maximum. When hot is over the human body temperature. at least 40°. Without using the room I reply that I wanted a refund cause plus to the shower issue the room was very noisy. The sound proof is inexistent and the street, and the music and the noises are very very present. The whole team was very unpleaseant. they refused to refund me the cost of the room that I wanted to leave event knowing that I paid in Cash. So no fees for booking were applied. I felt that the only think they were insterested in was take my money and once it was done all the rest was just a detail. ZERO SERVICE. ZERO CLIENT TREATEMENT. So I left the hotel and my money there and went to Hotel Casa Panama which was much much better for the way I was treated, the energy and the room.||If you are going to stay in the Casco Viejo, I deeply suggest to go...

First the positive aspect: The roof top restaurant for their pizzas is top, but the hotel talanto roof top restaurant is even better for the view but also for the menu. The hotel room in the Gatto Blanco was a disaster: Cold and frey on selfmade recycling furniture is one thing, but the electrity light switches in each corner 7 of it - confusion total and then 5 lamps but only 2 lamps working. AC on and off outomatically. Room had know curtains and I could easely see my neighbour coming out of the shower - I didn't mind this, but maybe she did... The mattress was a cheap one and after I saw long black woman hair in the shower from the previous guest, I didn't feel comfortable sleeping in this bed. Plus the shower was cold water only! I called the reception and they wanted to take care of it immediately. After more than 30 minutes I called again and I was told that they would remembourse me, if I am not happy! Not really service oriented - it was already dark outside and it was my first night in Panama and they knew I won't find a hotel as it was already late and of course they didn't have another room. So after a serious talk with the manager, somebody came and brought me two additional lamps and did the most necessary thing. This all for USD 84.00 per night without breakfast. Excuses for the...