Comfort Inn & Suites Panama City North

The pool kept us from giving this a five-star rating. Other guests left trash there, including a dirty diaper, and it took a couple of days to get cleaned up. Some furniture was broken and there were no umbrellas for shade. Since it was a holiday weekend, we figured maintenance might not have been working, so we mostly avoided the pool. Luckily, nearby beaches gave us another option. We stayed six days, from 7/4 thru 7/9, at the Comfort Inn and Suites on Jenks Ave. Room #322 was clean, the air conditioner kept it cool, the beds were comfortable, and the shower was nice. The front desk staff were super friendly and helpful, which meant a lot to me. Breakfast was good and convenient, especially the waffles, sausage patties, and fresh fruit. I'm not a fan of powdered eggs, so I only tried them once. I wish breakfast lasted longer, since weekday service ends at 9:00 a.m., around when I'm waking up. We'd definitely stay here again if we vacation in Panama City.

Ms. Sam helped a lot when my first room smelled like urine and wasn't properly cleaned. There was hair in the shower and something disgusting in the sink. She was patient and accommodating, moved me to another room, and offered sensible solutions. The general manager also came up to apologize, and they both made sure we were satisfied. Their kindness made parts of the stay pleasant, but the hotel itself was a no for me. It's dated and overdue for renovations, and the walls throughout need cleaning. Housekeepers were rude and unfriendly. Some rooms lacked the bolt latch, none had working telephones, and the pool was dirty with no shade or towels, so we didn't swim. We had to hand in towels to get replacements, and getting trash bags was like pulling teeth. It wasn't my best stay.

I appreciated how welcoming the staff were. Check-in was quick, and the front desk attendant helpfully explained which entrances and exits would make it easy to reach my room. The bed was fairly comfortable and the pillows were soft, but several things made it difficult to relax, especially while traveling alone. The musty odor, like damp air mixed with an old wet dog, stayed even after running the AC and using air freshener. My sheets were wrinkled but smelled clean and had no visible stains, though one had a small tear. A broken bolt lock made me uneasy, even with the staff's mention of surveillance cameras around the property. I also found a hard piece of a broken mattress-cover connector poking through the bedding. I moved it aside so I could sleep. There was a small hole in the wall by the TV and an empty wall plate in the bathroom where a hair dryer seemed to have been mounted. Someone knocked on my door around 8:30 p.m. the first night, and on the second night my "Do Not Disturb" sign had been removed, even though I always leave it up. I'd consider returning for the convenient location, friendly staff, and price of $540 for 4 nights, but not if I were traveling alone.

I'm in town every few weeks and this place is my hideaway. It's right in the center of Panama City, the city itself, not the Beach, with plenty of restaurants around, Gulf Coast Hospital across the street, and the beach about 10min away. The rates are good, the breakfast is wonderful, the staff are great, and they're remodeling and updating the hotel now. The main downside is that the entrance can be hard to find and get into.