Ramada Panama Centro Via Argentina

The location made getting around easy, with restaurants, pubs, drugstores and plenty of other places on the street. Uber came almost instantly for the airport and other trips. Just be aware that people honk a lot, so I'd avoid a street-facing room. The bed was big and comfortable, though the pillows were a bit too big for me. The main room had plenty of space for two people, luggage and shoes, plus one luggage rack, a wardrobe with an iron and ironing board, a small safe and a mini fridge. The outlets work for North and South America, so bring an adapter if you're coming from Europe. The bathroom was spacious, with a great shower and lots of hot and cold water, but the faucet was loose and the toilet seat wouldn't stay up because it didn't fit properly, I guess. The exhaust fan was a little loud. The AC was quiet and worked very well. There was a TV, but I never turned it on, so I can't say what channels it had. Breakfast was underwhelming. There was little fruit, scrambled eggs, some fried items I didn't recognize, cinnamon buns and regular buns, plus fruit punch and orange juice. The coffee machine reservoir was empty, but when I asked, the attendant brought me coffee right away. In the room, though, the coffee machine was dirty and used, and its filter looked like it hadn't been changed in a while. That was a big red flag and made me wonder what else might not have been cleaned or changed. The lobby smelled like wet carpet and mold when we came in, noticeable but not overwhelming. It had lots of couches and tables, fast Wi-Fi, and the receptionist and other employees were kind, attentive and respectful. I didn't use the pool or gym, so can't comment on those. In general, the hotel needs some maintenance. A few floor tiles were misaligned, some MDF had swollen from water spills, and there were paint stains from water infiltration. The hotel is fine if you mainly want a good shower and a night's sleep. Beyond that, not so much. Still, good value for the money.

We'd booked seven nights but left after just one. Our flight was delayed, so my girlfriend and I got to the hotel after 11:30 pm, exhausted. The air in the room felt stuffy, the floor was dusty, and the sheets were stained, stale-smelling and didn't seem fresh. Dust came pouring off the window shades when we pulled them back. We tried to sleep in our clothes, but kept coughing and had throat and sinus irritation. By morning, the bottoms of our feet were black from walking barefoot. Management said we'd get a refund through our travel agent. Two weeks later, she says they won't answer her calls or emails, after she first tried to get our money back. These people are very dishonest too. Not a good experience.

During a layover on my way to Istanbul, I spent one night at this centrally located hotel in the Via Argentina area. It was neat and in a nice neighborhood, with a pretty good breakfast buffet. The room felt humid and had a slight bathroom odor. Most staff didn't speak English, but one woman did and was very helpful, which I appreciated. A convenient, decent place for a night in Panama.

The staff were friendly, but the hotel is run down and in poor shape. My toilet seat cover was broken when I first went into the bathroom, and even after I told the staff that first night, it was still broken a week later. The rooms feel ancient and badly need updating, with a moldy smell. Towels were old and smelly and should be replaced. The pool was dirty and had mold, and the elevator broke three times during my stay, so I had to use the stairs. I don't recommend this hotel. I forgot to take pictures.