Hello,

I also have a question for you regarding hotels in Panama City. My soccer team from Columbus, Ohio is going to play a the team from Colon Panama, Deportivo Arabe Unido.

I do not know much about Colon. How far is that from Panama City and what is the best hotel to stay at in Panama City now. I used to stay at the Westin (but it is no longer a Westin) and I am addicted to frequent stay points. So what else can you recommend?

I look forward to your reply.

Hi there:

Regarding Colon, I know it's on the Atlantic side of the Canal. However, I'm not sure how long it takes to get there from the city. My educated guess would be 1 hour or perhaps a bit more.

Regarding Panama City, I believe the best hotels to stay at would be the Panama, Marriot, or Intercontinental. The El Panama and the Marriot are located on or near the Via Espana, which is the major commercial area of the city. The El Panama is run by Summit Resorts and has very competitive rates. The Marriot is also nearby and is a great hotel.
The Intercontinental is located right on the bay. It has great views and is also close to business and cultural locations. It is probably the most luxurious of the three. That's my experience anyway. I believe there's also a Radisson and a Holiday Inn in the city
Hope this helps.