Two Weeks in Panama

The beach at the Royal Decameron was very good. We drove up to El Valle one day, and it was well worth the trip.

The Gamboa RainForest Resort was excellent, as were all of the activities at the resort. The exhibits at Gamboa were good, the aerial tram was great, the spa was great, and the Monkey Island tour and fishing tour were super.

We drove to Portobelo and Isla Grande one day, which was worth the trip. We visited the Miraflores Locks, which was very good, and drove into Panama City one day and visited Casja Veijo and the Amador Causeway, which were also great. Overall, we had a wonderful trip.

Quick Tips:

I would suggest renting a car if you are not afraid of driving in a foreign country; the roads were very good and you get to see a lot more. The police were very helpful; do not be afraid to ask them for directions. Gas can be hard to find near the Gamboa. Buy snacks, liquor, etc., at a local store, as the prices are very reasonable.

Best Way To Get Around:

We rented a car and had no problems. The maps of Panama are poor, but the roads are very good in most areas. The Pan-American Highway is excellent. We did not use public transportation.

Best Things Nearby:
The beach, the golf course, and El Valle were the best things.

Best Things About the Resort:
The beach was wonderful; the all-inclusive deal was quite good considering the price; and the pool and grounds were great.

Resort Experience:
The Royal Decameron is about 80 miles from Panama City. It is on the beach at Playa Blanca. The beach is a great beach. The resort is quite huge, with five restaurants, several bars, a casino, an activity center, a spa, and a huge pool. There are numerous buildings, which are mostly three stories tall. Most units face the beach and have a balcony. The units are hotel rooms, and the resort has an all-inclusive deal that costs an extra $30 per person per day.

The resort staff was excellent. The food was fairly good for an all-inclusive. There were five restaurants (Japanese, steak, seafood, Thai and Mediterranean) in addition to two buffet restaurants.

There was a relatively small casino and a gold course next to the resort. The golf course is new and has only nine holes completed. It will be quite nice when it is completed, but that will be several years away.

The only complaint I had concerned the activities. There were numerous ones offered, but they never seemed to happen because the boat was broken down. There was a Vegas-type show in the every evening, which was okay, and they had a small band playing at one of the bars. This band was super.

• Unit Type: Other
• Activities: Poor
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good

Best Things Nearby:
Rainforest, exhibits, an aerial tram, the summit gardens, Panama Canal, and Panama City are nearby.

Best Things About the Resort:
It is a wonderful resort, with a great pool, great service, nice exhibits, great activities, nice rooms, and good food. It is very scenic.

Resort Experience:
The resort is about 50 miles from Panama City and is located in the rain forest on Lake Gatun. It is made up of two areas, the main resort and the historical villas. The resort has huge windows overlooking Lake Gatun and the rainforest.

The rooms are great. We stayed in a hotel room but could have stayed in the historic villas, which were a short walk away. Both were nice, but my friend liked the hotel rooms better.

There are three restaurants, which served very good food. The food wasn't cheap, but RCI members received a 20% discount on food and drinks. The tours, exhibits, and activities were great.

• Unit Type: Other
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good