Hotel Vereda Tropical

I liked the Vereda Tropical Hotel enough that I hope to return, and I'm giving it 3 stars. It's pretty, cozy, and nicely decorated, and the room was comfortable with a great view. The bed was comfortable too. I was warmly welcomed by the owner and her assistant, who quickly got me into an air-conditioned room. It was small but laid out well, and the bathroom was similar. I needed a shower badly, but the water never got hot. It wasn't cold, either, and in Panama I've gotten used to that happening about half the time. Later I heard fantastic mid-century lounge music downstairs, and the owner and I even danced to one of the songs. The next morning there was no water in the sink or shower, and the toilet tank wouldn't refill. The island has serious water distribution problems, so this isn't just an issue at this hotel. The restaurant is another surprise. I usually don't eat cheeseburgers, but the one I had may have been the best of my life. The veranda and restaurant really should be packed. I'm sorry I didn't take a picture. I also had a wonderful omelette and toast for breakfast, and the coffee was good. It's beautiful here, and it's Panama, so I dealt with the water situation. I think these problems can be resolved, and suggest calling first to check. I have hope and want to come back.

The terrace is a wonderful spot to unwind, with what I think is the best view on Taboga island. The hotel is very close to the main beach. The owner is great and the staff are kind. The restaurant is good, too, with delicious food. One staff member took my order in English, which was really helpful.

My wife and I spent one night here. It's not a noisy place, and if you're looking for fun and lots of action, this isn't the spot. The hotel isn't luxurious, though the island doesn't offer many luxuries in general, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. The food at the hotel wasn't good. Breakfast was just two eggs, a slice of bread, and a cup of coffee, so we ate elsewhere. The best part for us was the beach, especially the stretch between Taboga and El Morro. All in all, we had a very enjoyable stay.

If you want to spend your stay battling bedbugs and not sleeping, ask for room No. 5. Seriously, it was full of them. After several hours of killing bedbugs, we went to reception, but nobody was there and the hotel was locked. They moved us to another room the next day, without any discount. The staff don't speak English. Some rooms have no air-conditioning and get unbearably hot, and even the air-conditioning doesn't help much. It looks like it was installed before Noriega became president. Breakfast is terrible, as many others have said. I can't recommend this hotel. I'd advise staying anywhere else on the island, even if it costs a little more. In this case, money really isn't the main thing.