Express Inn PTY Aeropuerto Internacional Panama — Hotel in Tocumen

First: I do NOT recommend this place.

A few good things: they offer a free shuttle service: It took around 10 minutes for the drive, which I think was absolutely ok - especially because it was free. it’s close to the airport: I came late and had an early flight the next morning.

But unfortunately that’s it about the good things... the “hotel” is absolutely low budget. But for what it offers, it’s definitely too expensive. interior is cheap, broken and old. the room I was in, was smelly and had mold at the ceiling. internet is only working in the “lobby”, not in the rooms. But the lobby area is basically just a very uncomfortable couch and a few wooden tables with wooden benches. the staff wasn’t very friendly (but also not unfriendly). They seemed to be very bored and unhappy. water costs 1,50$ for 0,5 liter or 3$ for 1,5 liters. Too expensive as I think (but untasted coffee for free). paying with credit card requires a minimum of 6$. Which means you can’t buy a single bottle of water for example (or pay in cash). cockroaches... bed was super soft and uncomfortable, blankets overused (but relatively clean), pillows small and uncomfortable. turning off the working AC was only possible by unplugging it (in the room I was in). communication before the stay was not very well. I asked about the shuttle service and also about the breakfast and dinner options. Only answer I got was about the shuttle service. When I asked again about the food options, I got again the same answer about the shuttle. there is NO option for food close by. At least I haven’t really seen anything. In fact, it’s far away from everything.

I think it’s better to stop here... overall I can not recommend this place. Although it’s pretty close to the airport, next time I rather wake up early and get a better place a bit further away. It’s quite cheap, but for what it offers, I think it’s definitely overpriced. It felt more like a rundown backpackers hostel with single rooms, than a hotel.

The one star (which I have to give) is for the free shuttle service, which was quite easy to find...

Staying at Express Inn PTY was honestly the worst hospitality experience of my life. I would give this hotel negative stars if I could. I stayed at this hotel despite the negative reviews because of the free shuttle service. I called in advance to book the shuttle, and the receptionist told me that the shuttle services end at 11pm, and my flight landed at 1am so I would have to take a taxi. When I got here, I was told that there actually was the free shuttle service, and they refused to refund me for the taxi I took based on the information their receptionist gave me. I spoke to the supervisor, Pablo, about it, and he was horribly rude, aggressive, and unhelpful. Apparently customer service doesn’t matter to these people, because I was treated disgustingly. Here, instead of the customer always being right and trying to make their stay enjoyable, they treat customers like the cockroaches found in the rooms. On top of this issue, the night receptionist didn’t tell me the hours for free breakfast and I missed it by 20 minutes and they wouldn’t give me a piece of toast. Furthermore, the room was horrible, dirty, and stupidly designed. For $40USD a night, I expect there not to be insects and dirt in the room. My pillow fell off the bed and I refused to use it because the floor was so dirty. There was only one electrical outlet in the room, and it was at the bathroom sink. So I had to leave all my electronic devices in the sink over night and pray that I could hear my alarm from a room away, and that I didn’t go to the bathroom during the night and accidentally wash my hands and destroy all my devices. Honestly, I thought I was being economical staying here because I wouldn’t have to pay for taxis. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Stay a bit farther from the airport at a nicer place...

Welcome to hell! What a junk! It is dirty! Full of prostitutes and dirty sheets! I would give negative stars if I could! I've stayed in bad places as backpacker, but this dump beats it all! When coming to my room, I could hear a prostitute moaning on the bedroom beside mine. Going down to buy water later on, there was this one creepy prostitute staring at me at the reception, probably just finished with a client as she was not there before, and coming back up, the one beside my bedroom had just started the theatrical moaning again... Not a family place, avoid it! Prices are one on the website, other in person, they charged me $25/person, but read the reviews here to see how it changes. Minimum to spend on a card is 6 dollars... Beware and change your currency first, as everywhere in Panama is like that. Came there to sleep a few hours awaiting for a connecting flight, and I simply couldn't. Left earlier, so disgusted I was. Had to sleep with my clothes on affraid of fleas or whatever, barely showered with a flip flop on. Plus, the taxi/van drivers trying to steal us, 7 bucks for 800 m distance and 12 if you use card, just make Panama city a terrible headache, as I had heard, but then I saw it, and now I know they weren't exagerating. If you ever want to visit there, get a resort and never leave it. Coming from Brazil, now I know what a third world broke country looks like. I thought Brazil was bad, but not even favelas are like that. It is much worse than inner Paraguay. Simply, no laws, no order. Welcome to hell. Free...