Nomada Container Hotel Panama City

For the price, this worked really well for us. The bed was quite good, and the room came with Wi-Fi, two A/C units, a TV, a medium-sized fridge, an induction stove, and a few cooking things. These are shipping containers, so expect a long, narrow room.

I’ve stayed here three times and had a good stay every time. I chose a full-size container so I’d have the fridge and stove, and it makes a nice home base. Balboa is about a 20-minute walk away.

Kind, helpful staff and a great shower, with strong pressure and lots of hot water. They always replied quickly on WhatsApp, which added to the value. The place is lovely and felt safe to walk around. Groceries, cafés, and restaurants are just steps away, and MultiPlaza is walkable too. I’d absolutely stay again if I return to Panama.

I’ve got mixed feelings after two nights in two different rooms, so I’m giving it 3 stars. On my first stay, room 4 surprised me in a good way. It looked modern and was thoughtfully set up, with a plug and reading light by the bed and a shelf under the bathroom mirror. I didn’t use the kitchen or have breakfast. The listed patio was near reception, so it wasn’t private outdoor space like I’d expected. Room 6, on my later stay, felt more worn. The sofa bed had been made up even though I was alone and would have preferred it as a sofa. The container walls were bumpy, the floor looked tired, and there was no bathroom shelf or bedside reading light. The nearest plug was either far away or awkwardly halfway up the wall, about 1.5 meters off the floor. The worst part happened when I first arrived after a long, sweaty day of travel and there was no water for a few hours. I understand it was a city cutoff, but they didn’t offer a workaround, such as bottled water to flush the toilet or clean up. They only offered a refund and suggested another hotel, which wasn’t practical since my tours picked me up there and I needed to leave my luggage and collect it during my second stay. The staff were generally nice, and while it’s a bit far from the metro, I think it’s still a good option at the right price.