Juan Diaz Hotels & Accommodations

We stayed here for 5 nights to be able to acclimatise to the weather in Panama. We got a room with windows to the floor, which gives a nice touch for the view over the city. The room is ok, spacious, but worn out. Specially the bathroom is in need of a make-over. The beds were mixed, one had a good mattress the other a soft one with a dent in it. Wifi worked very well. Very friendly staff. My main reason for 3 starts is that this hotel advertises itself as adhering to Planet 21, (link to Accor Planet 21 site removed  ) meaning amongst others that they are reducing food waste. Well, have a look at the pictures here and you'll see that a small portion of jelly is in a plastic cup, the abricot jam is in plastic, the butter is in plastic, and the youghurt as well. The third picture shows you the waste after having had breakfast... I know I have a sweet tooth ;) So, not really planet 21...

Excellent choice in Panama City, the rooms are perfect, neighbourhood is great with endless number of restaurants. Continental breakfast is amazing. We stayed here for 10 days, however 1 single issue did confuse & upset us: Here was the scenario explained to them: - 10 nights of stay - guest A&B stayed for the first 6 days. - guest A alone 7th day - guest A&C the last 3 nights. Told them upfront that 1 guest leaves & another will join later. They charged $27.5/day, admin fee to change a guest name!? This was after suggesting that we cancel with Trip.com & rebook again with the correct names. We told them it doesn’t make sense to do that & it was disappointing that they couldn’t offer any solution to a customer who just gave them 10 days of business & being a Riu Class member loyal to this chain.

With a stay at The Balboa Inn in Panama City (Balboa), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Albrook Shopping Mall and Avenida Balboa. This bed & breakfast is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Amador Causeway and 2.7 mi (4.3 km) from Cinta Costera.Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as bicycles to rent or take in the view from a terrace and a garden. Additional features at this bed & breakfast include complimentary wireless internet access, a television in a common area, and tour/ticket assistance. Guests can catch a ride to nearby destinations on the area shuttle (surcharge).At The Balboa Inn, enjoy a satisfying meal at the restaurant. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available daily from 7 AM to 10 AM for a fee.Featured amenities include express check-in, express check-out, and a 24-hour front desk. Guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle for a surcharge, and free self parking is available onsite.Make yourself at home in one of the 7 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include safes and desks, and housekeeping is provided daily.

Temporarily intent to live for one day. The location is nearly 20 kilometers away from the airport. This time, Panama needs to remind everyone that when you check-in, you will be asked why you are going to Panama, and you will be required to show the ticket and the domestic accommodation certificate. At that time, I thought that I needed a yellow book when I bought a ticket on Ctrip. Therefore, I only bought the flight ticket and did not buy the flight ticket from the country. As a result, I was not allowed to board the plane when I checked in. I said that there are regulations. Fortunately, I contacted Ctrip SOS customer service urgently and asked for a flight ticket from Panama to Canada, which was completed within one hour, because it was only one hour away from the boarding time. Finally, through Ctrip English customer service and Panama Airlines, they finally agreed to register. The Yellow Book did not ask, a false alarm. After arriving in the Panamanian state, don't stay for 15 minutes when entering the customs to confirm whether there is any suspicion of staying in the country.

1) First 3 nights, pool was closed for renovation. Reception said ”No pool available”. Only this, I thought, the pool was completely closed. On the forth day, I saw, guests were swimming. I asked the reception. ”Yes, you can swim”. Why the reception could not inform us only 3 days closed? 2) No towel after cleaning. Also first 3 nights. I thought that the clean team forgot to leave it, but it was not forgetting, but not ready. Towels were delivered around 19:00 first 3 nights. I called the reception every night and they said ”We inform the responsible staff” and waited for hours. Why reception didn't answer ”Towels will be delivered around 19:00 today” or advised us for delay delivering in advance? Then I didn't have to call the reception every day. Anyway, I had to wait to take shower till 19:00. Outside was 30degrees, and I wanted to take a shower immediately. 3) Weak WIFI. WIFI at Reception was with 96 Mbps, however, room at the door was 14 Mbps and at bed, no signal anymore. At desk also 2 Mbps or no signal. It's impossible to watch streaming like Netflix or web meeting. Also no smart TV. 4) My room card key was invalided every day. I had to go to the reception after back to the hotel (Elevator works with valid room card key). If no guests are at the reception, it takes soon, but one day, big group was there, and I had to wait more than 10min or more. I had a take away food, and it was no more warm when I was back to the room. 5) They asked me an advance payment even flex rate booking. They need cash? 6) No refrigerator in a room.

Location was perfect, front desk was exceptionally fast and friendly for checking in, checking out and helping me with with printing, transportation service from the PTY airport and back was fast, secure and comfortable, the servers at the restaurants were very attentive, and I was extremely grateful how the front desk personnel called me and arrange to get to me what I left behind in my room. They took really good care of me!!