Bocas Ridge Hotel and Residences

We only stayed one night and hadn’t booked ahead. They were out of small rooms, but offered us a lovely large apartment at a really good price, with generous welcome drinks and snacks. The grounds are beautiful, with flowers and all kinds of birds. I’d never seen so many hummingbirds together before. There’s a nice pool too, and all the staff made us feel very welcome.

I slept well, and the view was spectacular, but the stay didn’t feel worth US$250 for the two of us. The patio restaurant looked fantastic, and after a long day traveling through the Costa Rica-Panama border, we were thrilled by the view. I upgraded to a Casa because it faced the jungle and felt like a good way to treat ourselves. Dinner went downhill: one dish was palatable, but my food was frozen in the middle even though the plate was flaming hot. They apologized and brought two desserts. Getting settled was a struggle too. There were no AC remotes in the room, and I had to go back up the hill to get them. I also had to return for the Wi-Fi code. The receptionist hadn’t mentioned that it was on the key beside the room number, and a phone system would have helped. We got up early for the ferry, but the water was really cold. That would have been fine if we weren’t paying three-star prices. When I went to return the keys and quietly leave disappointed, the receptionist wanted to inspect my room for damage. That was the last straw. Nobody checked that everything was there when we checked in, or that the hot water worked the night before. Nobody stuck a thermometer in my lasagna either. I would come back, but I wouldn’t upgrade or eat there again. The compassionate morning receptionist in training and the great male waiter deserve credit. The night receptionist and the chef, who seemed not to care about my business or the fact that I upgraded, do not.

The views of the islands and Panama’s nature are outstanding. The air is cool and clean, such a refreshing change. The owner has created gorgeous plantings that attract huge numbers of hummingbirds and plenty of other birds. A lot of work has gone into making this a truly professional resort setting.

The rooms were spacious, comfortable, and clean, and the pool area has three separate pools and lounge chairs. The restaurant served great food and drinks at reasonable prices, and the place has a beautiful view. But our shower had no hot water, and the disinfectant smell was so strong it made my eyes water and gave me a terrible headache. Our room was also down the hill from reception, with no phone, so getting help meant walking back up.