Novotel · Suite (upgrade) · Central America›Panama›Panama City

Novotel Panama City

Name: Novotel Panama City Review
Item: Novotel Panama City
Rating: 2.8
Author: Janko Zehe

Price / night€152.74 (about $181; I stayed one night)Check current rates →
ALL StatusPlatinum. Suite upgrade, welcome drink in the bar
WalkabilityRestaurants and pubs within walking distance
Airport / TrainUber from the airport, about 20 to 25 minutes (evening rush hour)

The skyline of Panama City from high up in my suite. This view blew me away and was easily the best thing about the stay.

The glass entrance doors with Novotel lettering. The hotel is an ageing high-rise in a lively district, and I felt fine walking around it.

The lobby lounge with a grey sofa, armchair and a computer desk. A tidy corner, though like the rest of the hotel it shows its age.

Lobby seating with orange armchairs, next to the bar. The bar is where I had my welcome drink, a glass of wine, but it was not really cosy.

The breakfast room with a colourful Diablo Rojo bus mural. Fun to look at, although the breakfast itself was not good: coffee and an omelette.

The corridor on the guest floor. My suite was on the 10th floor, quite high up, with a small living room and a separate bedroom.

The big bed in front of a floor-to-ceiling window with the city beyond. The suite was huge, a bit cluttered and colourful, but I slept very well.

The granite vanity in the bathroom. It was very big, but not 100 percent clean, and the shower was just okay.

A welcome brownie on a Novotel tray. A sweet touch after the slow check-in.

Towers of Panama City from my window in the daytime. I really enjoyed just sitting and looking out from up here.

The same skyline at dusk, when the city lights come on. Spectacular, and a big reason why I would call this a good place for one night.

A pepperoni pizza at a place near the hotel, and it was very tasty. The area has restaurants and a few pubs with some party atmosphere.

The street corner at the hotel entrance in Bella Vista. It is a lively district that is great for a walk, a pizza and a drink.

The Novotel Panama City has seen better days, but it has a big advantage: it is a high-rise. My suite was huge, and the view over the Panama skyline blew me away. The check-in was slow and the bathroom was not quite clean, yet I slept very well, and the area around the hotel is great for a walk, a pizza and a drink.

Quick verdict: An ageing high-rise hotel with a huge suite upgrade, a spectacular skyline view, a very good night's sleep and a lively walkable area. The check-in was slow, the breakfast poor, the bathroom not fully clean and the style colourful and cluttered. JCI Score 2.8 out of 5.

Location

I took an Uber from the airport. It took about 20 to 25 minutes, even though I arrived in the evening when rush hour had already started.

The area around the hotel is good for walking. There are restaurants within walking distance. I went to a pizza place and got a pizza, which was very tasty. There were also a few pubs around with a bit of party atmosphere, which was very nice.

Getting There & First Impression

The hotel is a high-rise, and it is showing its age. It is in a lively district, and I felt fine walking around it.

Check-In & Loyalty Experience

When I arrived, a group was just checking in, so it was a bit hectic. There was not much staff, and so the check-in took a while.

I got an upgrade to a suite, with a small living room and a separate bedroom. My room was quite high up, on the 10th floor.

In the bar I had my welcome drink, a glass of wine. The bar was not really cosy.

The Room

The suite was big, and so was the room. It was all okay and tidy, but a bit cluttered, and a little Latin American. Everything was colourful, but not the noblest Novotel chic. All the elements of the Novotel branding are probably there, but somehow they managed to mix everything up even more.

Working in the room was not really great.

The view was fantastic. From up high, I looked out over the skyline of Panama City and the sky. It blew me away, and I really enjoyed it.

I slept very well.

The bathroom was very big, but not 100 percent clean. The shower was okay. Overall, the standard has aged quite a bit.

Food & Drink

I had booked breakfast. It was not good, and not really tasty. You get coffee and an omelette. Overall, it cannot be compared with the continental breakfast we picture.

Digital Customer Experience

Nothing digital to report.

The Bill & Value

One night cost €152.74 (about $181). I earned 542 Reward points and 308 Status points. For a suite with that view, that is fair, though the hotel shows its age. You can check current rates and availability on the official Accor page for the Novotel Panama City.

Verdict

What I particularly liked

The suite upgrade with its living room, the huge room, the fantastic view over the skyline, the very good sleep, and the area with restaurants and pubs within walking distance.

What I didn't like

The slow check-in with too little staff, the ageing standard, the cluttered and colourful style, the not very comfortable room and the weak workspace, the bathroom that was not fully clean, the poor breakfast and the not very cosy bar.

Would I come back? I would look at other hotels in Panama first. This one is not the ideal spot for a holiday in Panama, and it is not really luxurious. For me it was a good place for one night between the airport and my onward trip, and that was it.

Things to do near Novotel Panama City

Restaurants

walking distance

There are several restaurants around the hotel. I had a very tasty pizza at a pizza place nearby.
Pubs

walking distance

A few pubs around the hotel with some party atmosphere, which was fun.