Room at Decameron Golf Course

The staff were outstanding throughout the resort, friendly, polite and helpful. That was one of the best parts of my stay. The Grand Decameron is also in a handy spot, under a 10-minute shuttle ride from the small local airport, which made arrival quick after a long trip. My second-floor ocean-view room was clean, comfortable and well kept. It had two double beds, a newer TV, a working blow dryer, plenty of hot water and a lovely balcony view. Housekeeping was especially attentive, leaving fresh bottled water every day. The building numbers can be confusing, though. The buffet was excellent, with lots of fresh salads, fruit, hot dishes, seafood, fish, eggs, yogurt and granola, plus gluten-free meringue cookies now and then. Service there was friendly and efficient. The smaller Pacifico buffet was a nice, quieter choice. The beach was beautiful, with calm, shallow water that was good for swimming. Pools and beach were clean and cared for, and lifeguards were attentive. There are several pools, including quieter infinity pools on the upper levels. At the main pools and beach, chairs get taken early, so it’s best to claim a spot in the morning. The bars were clean and well run. I don’t drink alcohol, but the virgin mojitos were excellent. The place may be a challenge for anyone with mobility issues. It covers a large area on different levels, with steep stone stairs and uneven paths. We carried our luggage down to the beach level instead of taking the shuttle. We arrived late because of flight delays. Check-in staff were pleasant, but there were no welcome drinks, the open-air lobby was warm, and registration could have been quicker, though it was acceptable. The à la carte restaurants weren’t as good as the buffet. Portions were small, choice was limited, and the flavours didn’t measure up. With my gluten and dairy restrictions, I couldn’t have dessert there. My other concern was some local guests, whose behaviour in the walkways and queues sometimes felt unwelcoming. Resort staff remained kind and respectful. I’d rate this 4 out of 5 and would consider coming back for a relaxing beach trip close to the airport.

I came back from this trip feeling recharged, with lasting memories, and Panama’s natural beauty and hospitality have earned a special place in my heart. I’d return without hesitation. The resort was peaceful, whether I was by the pool, at the beach or just walking around. It was surrounded by lush tropical scenery and looked out over unbelievably clear water. Mornings brought the sound of the ocean and beautiful views that made it easy to switch off from daily life. From arrival, the welcome and service felt warm and genuine. My room was comfortable, nicely designed and thoughtfully equipped. The food was fresh, varied and full of flavour, with local Panamanian and international options. The staff went out of their way to make the stay enjoyable.

I’d never taken a resort vacation before, so this was my first, and honestly, it was phenomenal. The room was comfortable, with beds I found really cozy, and the A/C temperature was easy to control. I fell asleep almost as soon as I got there. Our room was made up with care every day. The workers even arranged our shoes, which they didn’t need to do. From housekeeping to bar and restaurant servers and security, everyone was friendly and worked hard to look after guests. English isn’t their strongest language, but they all understood at least a little. Translators work around the resort, and the Wi-Fi reaches everywhere, so we had no trouble. We had some loud neighbours. Security understood right away, filed a report, and I had a good, funny chat with the two guys. The pools and lounge areas stayed clean, with someone always sweeping. Most bars seemed to close around 9 or 11, but I was told there’s a club open until 2. Food isn’t available around the clock like on a cruise, but there’s usually a buffet for snacks and an open buffet for the main meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s a lot more I could say about the resort. I really recommend giving it a try.

I paid for an upgrade, but everything still felt standard and it didn’t do anything for me. There aren’t enough chairs for guests, so if a spot is gone, that’s it. You’re left to get your own towel and drinks and find somewhere to sit wherever you are. The floors were dusty and hadn’t been swept, and there were bugs in the rooms. Service was poor too. If you’re not one of them, you get skipped, but flash some money and they’ll come serve you. We had one good service experience, and tipped that person $40. It’s not worth the price unless the cost and service work for you.