Hostel Loco Coco Loco

I’d reserved a first-floor single room with a private bathroom for three nights, booking ten days ahead over WhatsApp with Dayanna. She was charming and showed me Room 5, outside and overlooking the pool. When I arrived, though, I was told that room wasn’t available and that Dayanna no longer worked there. They offered me Room 6 on the ground floor. It was like a shoebox with no window, though they said there was one hidden behind the shower, and it smelled of mold. The man at the desk was rude and didn’t seem interested in helping. My Spanish is limited, but the handyman spoke English and kindly helped me find a room at the hostal next door. I had to pay twice as much there, but at least I had a window. On principle, I can’t recommend a place that won’t honor confirmations made over WhatsApp. I’m editing this because I don’t know how to respond to the owner’s reply. There’s no mistake about the location or the room description. Hostal Loco Coco Loco in Marbella Panama WhatsApp message: our accommodation is located in CALLE MARGARITA DE VALLARINO, CASA 5B, AV 6BCALLE 55 DE MARBELLA, BEHIND THE HOTEL RIU PLAZA. We will wait for you!!

You get what you pay for, and I’ve adjusted my rating for the price. The location is great: a quiet street close to the city center, restaurants, a mall, and transport. I stayed seven days in a private room with its own bathroom. It was comfortable enough for my needs, with hot water and good WiFi. There were some drawbacks. The bathroom is very exposed to the room, with practically no door, so it wouldn’t suit two people unless they’re very comfortable together or can work out an arrangement. The walls and doors don’t block noise, so noisy neighbors would be a problem even though the street is quiet. There’s no furniture besides the bed, which meant using my bag as a closet. The stairs looked a bit sketchy, and I’m not sure whether there’s a ground-floor option. Food left out gets covered in ants. I didn’t find the service especially warm or welcoming. Staff helped when I needed them, but they could be hard to find. Communication was also tricky since I don’t know Spanish and their English isn’t good. To get out, you have to ask staff to open the gate, which can be inconvenient when they’re hard to locate.

The pool is really nice, and the owners and staff are kind and helpful. They can arrange tours to San Blas and other attractions. It’s away from the bars and party areas, which keeps things quiet. The dorms felt small and crowded, so after my first night I paid to upgrade to a “mini private.” It cost more than a dorm but less than a private room, and had a bunk bed plus a bathroom shared with the rest of the hostel. The bathroom was clean and nice.

At check-in, the receptionist didn’t speak English or show me the common areas, and he didn’t seem interested when I asked questions. I tried to buy a tour package while the male receptionist was on the phone, but he didn’t even look over. In the morning, they wanted extra money to store my luggage in the safe deposit box, then said they didn’t understand. They didn’t speak English either. The room’s bed light wasn’t working. I moved to another hotel, and I can’t recommend this place to two friends who were due to arrive next week. I’ve stayed in hostels for a month and a half, and unfortunately this was a bad experience.