Magnolia Inn

What a lovely place. The air conditioning is the best part, a real gift after a long day exploring. Walking into the lobby feels so refreshing. Thanks, magnolia! The common areas were great too. And I didn’t mind the kids running and making noise on the street at all. That’s life. I’d much rather hear that, even while having coffee on my balcony, than New York City traffic! The bed was comfortable, and the showers were clean with shampoo and soap. No elevator, though, and no strong panamenian butlers to haul your heavy bags, so get ready to carry them yourself. Haha, I loved this place. Casco Viejo gets busy, so expect plenty of walking. Ubers are around, but traffic is traffic.

We had a clean, comfortable four bed dorm and the location was good. The downside was that when we got back from San Blas on our first evening, hoping for a shower, there was no water. The receptionist told us to wait, first for an hour and a half, then until the next day, and said he couldn’t do anything. We felt the hotel should have sent someone to get water bottles. There were no blankets left either. He said he’d bring a towel instead, but never returned. Outside noise was also an issue, though expected for this location.

I stayed three nights in the top dorm. The hostel was clean, the staff were friendly, and there was a nice kitchen, communal area, and marble stairs. The mattress was clean but old and creaky. Still, I got no sleep. A nearby slum building had kids screaming during the day, then loud music, shouting, and drunk men and women out in the street at night, along with drug addicts. No room is safe from the noise, but the big dorm on the top floor gets it worst. Good luck.

The location is excellent, with lots of good restaurants and chic, reasonably priced shopping nearby. As a solo traveler, I felt pretty safe walking around until at least 10:30 pm, though nightlife noise went on until 3 am. I think I’ve reached the point where I need a more upscale place to sleep. I booked this on a friend’s recommendation after my other place fell through. The dorm is up a lot of stairs, really the third floor. It was sweltering when I arrived. The listing showed ceiling fans, but the fan and light use the same switch, so they can’t be used at night. The switches are outside the room, and the front desk didn’t know about that, only confirming they didn’t work. They did provide some personal fans. Lockers are advertised, but they’re tiny. My medium suitcase wouldn’t fit, and you need your own lock. I put my small bag in one, then the front desk suggested leaving it downstairs by the desk. I wish they’d looked at the room and explained the situation. Airflow is poor. The lounge on the actual second floor has air conditioning and lots of loungers, which was a saving grace. There are deluxe rooms too, and I wish I’d chosen one. I’ll have to get through these two nights. There are no refunds, probably because lots of people ask after seeing the place. Update: there was a cockroach on the blind, but it doesn’t seem to be a major issue. It’s funny that they pack so many beds into the dorm and make bank, but haven’t invested in it. Bunks with privacy curtains, lockers under or at the ends of the beds, and air conditioning would make it feel much safer and more private.