Panama City Hotel Info

[hawkerjet]

Does anybody have any good recommendations for hotels in Panama City, Panama? I haven't been there in over a decade and would like the skinny from some with a little more recency. I typically stay a JW Marriotts Domestically and prefer non US hotels when travelling abroad. I like the difference every once in a while.

 

[Southbound]

Used to live there but an currently out of the loop, check this out if you haven't already.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g294480-Panama_City-Hotels.html

 

[hawkerjet]

Thanks, I have been internet searching. One more question for ya..
Are there any non polluted beaches around PC? Which one would you swim at?

 

[Southbound]

To be honest....none of the beaches in/near town are swim worthy. Sewage, garbage, nastiness of third world proportions. I lived there in 1999 and things have really changed since the Canal was turned over to the Panamanians. Many parts of the old city were being redone so maybe the beaches have been cleaned up a bit. The ones right in town are rocky anyway. There is a beach out near the old Howard AirForce base that was OK if you need something close to get your beach fix, however the sand fleas were horrible when I was there.
The best things about "outdoor" Panama require a bit of travel, though all are worth it. Depending on how much time you have you can either charter a boat and go out to Taboga or Contadora, fly a metroliner over to Bocas del Toro which is great, drive up to the Caribbean town of Portobello. It's an old Spanish fort. From there you can take a water taxi out to Isla Grande I believe it's called. I learned to scuba near there. Many Panama City locals used to go to San Carlos which is west of the city on the Pacific. Think there is some surfing and stuff there and the beach is supposed to be quite nice. The nightlife in town is not to miss....esp if you are single. I miss the place. Take me!!!

 

[Otter]

The Ceaser Park (if my feeble memory serves) was a reasonable hotel, I recall the 14th floor being the exec floor with a great breakfast on it.