This is the meeting place for Windjammer passengers, who are encouraged to arrive into Panama City on Saturday and spend the night here before departing by bus at 2pm the following day to board the ship. But we stayed at the hotel at the end of our cruise, having come early to explore other parts of Panama.
The location of this American chain hotel is 45 minutes from the airport on the opposite side of the city near Amador's scenic causeway jutting out in the Pacific. Tourists will feel safe walking the three mile paved path and eating at any of the seaside restaurants that line the long narrow causeway.
The hotel has the basic amenities expected of a Country Inn & Suites: gym, whirlpool, gift shop, pool, in-room coffee, newspaper and breakfast buffet. Our standard room had two double beds and a balcony overlooking the massive Bridge of Americas.
But if I didn't look out the window, I could've been in Des Moines, Portland, or Stewartville. It certainly didn't convey the Spanish Colonial feel prevalent in the country, and I missed that. I enjoy experiencing the local flavor of staying in a small hotel, B&B or hostel unique to the region. But it's a matter of personal preference–some like the safety and security that comes with staying in an Americanized hotel away from home. But it was only one night, and our taxi to the airport left at 4:45am the next morning.
The hotel had a restaurant. Not wanting to eat anywhere that served traditional American food, I scoffed at the adjacent TGIF but later ate my words, "I am not eating there!" We'd spent the evening at some kind of festival at Mi Pueblito and ate unidentifiable–but delicious–local foods from vendors set up around the complex amid dancers and musicians.
We returned to the hotel we forced with the unpleasant task of packing, forcing two weeks of souvenirs like palm baskets, hammocks and woven masks into already cramped bags. After hours of dazed organizing we got the munchies and wandered down for a midnight snack at the conveniently located TGIF. We ate on the deck overlooking the pool and yachts beyond preparing for tomorrow's transit through the Panama Canal. It was nice.
Felt great to get out of the room for our last breath of Panama's clean tropical air. Intoxicating, it lessened our logic for sleep. Why bother when we'd have to get up sooo early? The air was warm, relaxing. We could just stay up all night. The pool area looked awfully inviting and was open 24 hours...
Windjammer charges $70 per person to stay here. That's double what you can get on your own. Internet Saver Rate on Country Inns & Suites advertises $70 per standard room/$80 for balcony room. We booked through Panoramic Panama and got this balcony room overlooking the Bridge of Americas for $70.