Panamá Experience Hostel

The breakfast was delicious, and the coffee actually tasted good, not like stale brown water. I slept in a top-floor room last night and had one of the best nights of sleep I’ve had in ages. The bed and pillows were really comfortable, it was quiet, and the AC was set just right, neither too warm nor too cold. They seem to have made a lot of changes in the past few months. Some work is still going on, but I can imagine the place getting even better.

Carlos, the owner, is very nice, and the location is central in a safe neighborhood. Those are the only real positives for me. I stayed a week because I was waiting for money and had nowhere else to go. I work in hospitality, so I know how hard it can be, and I’m always looking for places to recommend. This one has lost even the potential it might have had. It feels like a black hole that drains the happiness out of people. The volunteers looked like zombies, nobody seemed glad to be there, and guests who arrived upbeat soon became miserable. Several people left after a night, and some after only a few hours. Cleaning was either buckets of chemicals dumped in the halls or barely any cleaning at all. The dorm AC didn’t work, so sleeping was impossible. Lots of people complained about bedbugs. The breakfast was poor too. One day the pancakes were almost edible, and the other days it was two very dry eggs and a piece of dry toast. At this point, I think the place needs to be torn down and rebuilt, with a new group of volunteers brought in to start again.

The people here made a big difference for me. The new owner, Eduardo, is improving the grounds, and Rafael leads a polite, knowledgeable, and very helpful staff. They helped me with directions, rides, and recommendations for local supplies and businesses. After more than two weeks exploring Panama City and staying in four hostels, I found Hostal Panamá Experience the most comfortable and affordable, with especially good value for a solo traveler. The rooms aren’t spacious, but the beds are comfortable. There’s a little lounge, a bar, a snack counter, a full kitchen, laundry, showers, and a pool that’s nice for cooling off before bed or starting the day before the sun gets high. Breakfast and coffee are included daily from 8-9am. It’s a chance to chat with other guests, and the kitchen is also open around the clock if you want to cook your own meals. I’ll definitely come back, and I’ve already recommended The Panama Experience to other travelers.

The showers only had cold water. The hostel is really run down, and the pods have neither a light nor a fan. AC only runs at night, so the daytime summer heat was unbearable for me without it.