Radisson Colon 2000 Hotel & Casino at Cruise Port & Duty Free Mall

At this price, I think they could do better. The woman who checked us in was nice and was training someone new. The gym was clean and had what we needed, though the hand sanitizer pump didn't work. There weren't many chairs by the pool and no towels, but it was raining on and off for two days. The food was inedible in my opinion. We sat with a drink watching TV for about 40 minutes, and the $17.99 dinner buffet was never replenished while we were there. We had to pay extra in advance for breakfast. If I'd known how bad it was, I'd have bought something at the grocery store the day before. The coffee was undrinkable. The room was 28°C when we arrived, and the air conditioning hadn't been turned on. I understand they may be trying to save energy, but in a tropical climate it seems to let mold build up in the vents and filters. The room humidity was 68%, and I slept only three hours because of allergies from the poor air quality. I'm now sneezing and having trouble breathing. Maintenance needs to clean the filters or change them more often for the health of guests and staff. Our clothes and paperwork felt damp. We chose this place because we were taking a cruise the next day, but we still had to walk all the way to the terminal instead of boarding our Wind Star ship, which was 100 meters from the hotel. If we did it again, we'd stay in a better hotel in Panama City and drive here in the morning. The shower worked, though the warm water took a while. Shampoo and conditioner were provided, and there was a mini fridge and coffee machine in the room. The mall was an easy walk.

The business-class room was larger than average, bright, and had a workspace and satisfactory Wi-Fi. The important amenities were there, including an iron. I didn't have time or a chance to check out the pool. With days of constant rain and humidity, there was sometimes a particular smell, but it wasn't alarming and went away when the AC was on. This is in the better, safer part of town and is definitely the best hotel in the area, though there's nothing special about it. It's near the passenger terminal, where the better shops and places to eat are, and there's a supermarket beside the hotel. A decent place, but it can't be compared with the options in Panama City.

The staff were very cooperative, and the gym was good. I also liked the sauna and steam bath. The pool was okay, but there's no jacuzzi. I asked for a wake-up call at 8:30 a.m. and was woken at 6 instead. If they're hosting international clients, staff should have a better command of English.

Diana was so helpful and accommodating throughout our month-long work stay. I can't say enough good things about her or the rest of the fantastic staff. Highly recommend!