Central America - Need Panama Canal hotel tip

Hi -

I'm looking for a recommendation for a hotel near the Panama canal (3 nights in July). We have 2 boys (age 4 & 5). Ideal it would be close or walking distance to Miraflores Locks (or some other excellent viewing location where the kids could watch for hours!)

Nice, but not essential alternative would be close or walking distance to the PC railway station (southern end).


Thoughts include:
- Country Inn & Suites (but it seems right at the southern tip, away from things)
- Gamboa Rainforest Resort (obviously in the middle, seems pricey)

There's also Meliá Panamá Canal - how long does it take to drive there from PTY airport?

Any other useful tips?

Check out the newly opened Holiday Inn Panama Canal at Clayton - City of Knowledge. Hotel has been opened for just a couple of weeks. It's literally in front of the Miraflores locks.

This is as close as you get to the locks; but really, not much around the area.

I think a better option would be the Country Inn at the Panama Canal/Amador area. Be sure to reserve a room that faces the Panama Canal itself. It's awesome sitting in your balcony or pool and watching the super ships passing by. It's also next to a park area with great views, you can rent bikes, grab a ball and play sports around, tons of different restaurants within walking distance. You can even take ferries to outlying islands for some beach action.

The Gamboa Resort is in a spectacular setting but a bit overpriced. It's self-enclosed so you're basically stuck with activities organized by the hotel. It's great as a daytrip which can be easily arranged by just driving there or any tour company.

Hi -

Thanks for the info.

The new Holiday Inn doesn't even seem to show up yet on:
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com

Does it have a booking website?

The Holiday Inn is now available online. The official press release appeared today.

Check it out

Hi again -

I booked the Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Panama Canal.

I'm picking up a rental car at PTY. What's the best route to drive from PTY to Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Panama Canal please? (It'll be a Thursday around 5pm.)

Looks like Av Domingo Diaz and then Via Simon Bolivar, but I'm not sure.

It's my first time driving in Central America - so any tips are welcome.

I was there about two weeks ago and discovered the interesting aspects of driving in the city.

1. If you are arriving after dark, take a taxi.
2. If you are arriving in the daylight, take a taxi
3. Since rereading your post says you are arriving at 5 p.m., take a taxi, it is rush hour which means the high volume of traffic is higher.
4. Since you have never driven in Panama City, take a taxi.
5. Car rental rates appear very cheap, but do not include $12 per day for liability insurance.
6. In general the advice from people living there to visitors is take a taxi.
7. Gasoline was running about $4.30 per gallon
8. The currency of the country is the U.S. dollar, although you will receive Bilboas in change (coins)
9. The tourist counter at the airport has a limited map of Panama City showing the major streets. This will be of limited help as there are very few street signs. Alamo has a better map also of limited help.
10. In the area near the Bridge of Americas, there is construction after the Corredor Sur. The advice of the hotel desk clerk to just get in the right lane and follow the buses worked until the buses went in 5 different directions. I was on the way to El Valle and despite being able to see the bridge, it took me 1.5 hours to get on the bridge after visiting some of the most depressing Barrios of the city. Corredor Sur is a toll road. Be sure to not get in the "Tarjeta" lane. It is a real pleasure backing up in traffic to get to the manned toll booth 2 or 3 lanes over.
The guy at Alamo suggested that I use I use the free road, Avenida Domingo Diaz to get to the other bridge and on to El Valle, be sure to turn before the landmark you cannot see until you pass the turnoff. I used it on the way back to the airport
11. Reminder, there are no street signs in Panama City. The few directional signs seem to normally be missing the essential portions showing the pictorial route.
12. Be sure to go to Northern New Jersey to practice your driving skills before going to Panama City. It is best to wear noise-cancelling headphones so that you will not be distracted by the bus on your bumper continually blowing its horn while you sit at an intersection trying to figure out where you are. If you are not near NJ, then go to Bangkok and practice there.
13. Traffic lights may be advisory only in nature. Frankly, I did not see this problem but was told about it. Oh, yes, one way streets do not have one way signs so direction is determined by guessing.
14. Panamanians are very friendly and helpful people and often will pull up beside you and point the way to the Airport. Helpful if one is going there, but not so helpful if one is not.
15. Building numbers are somewhat meaningless. Apparantly one must give the taxi driver directions using three landmarks at least one of which was demolished sometime in the last 20 years.
16. Miraflores is really quiet and it is easy to find the locks if one is lucky enough to find the right road. From the Puente Centario it is really easy. Take the exit in the opposite direction from the sign saying Gamboa.
17. If you really want to have a car in the city, perhaps you should consider hiring a taxi and follow it to your destination. Or better yet, a tow truck.
18. Parking per the locals is problematic. Best to park in a guarded lot if you can find one.
19. Cops are underpaid and extract money from your pocket. Roll your bribe in to a small cylinder to hide the fact that it is a couple of dollars rather than $20. Be sure to wear your seat belt. Do not speed. I saw three radar guns manned by cops on the Corredor Sur.
20. A car is the best way to travel outside the city, IMHO. Road infrastructure is pretty good. Four lanes from the two canal bridges to the West and north. Random vehicle document checks may be encountered. Just hand them an international driving license. A usurious $15 from AAA plus two passport photos. Back roads may be challenging.

BTW: I rented a Toyota Yaris 2 wheel drive from Alamo for about $80 per week and an additional $12 per day for insurance. I got about 30 mpg and negotiated some short stretches of poor road off the main ones.

Enjoy.

You will probably pick-up your car in front of the terminal opposite the car rental counters. Drive straight following the road out of the airport. You will come to a traffic circle sort of thing, (there presently is a billboard advertising Samsung). Do not take the first right that goes to cargo and a gas station. Turn after the sign on the four lane road. I believe there actually is a sign pointing toward Panama. About 2 km (a little over a mile) you will encounter a sign for Panama "Cuota" which is Spanish for toll road. Take this on ramp onto the Corredor Sur. You will eventually reach the end of the toll road and end up on a 6 lane boulevard (probably Avenida Balboa). You will reach the detour, after this, your guess is as good as mine. I seem to remember a sign saying "Amador" along this stretch. The Amador Causeway is off to the left before the Bridge of the Americas according to my Alamo Map. Remember Amador is a section of Panama City, kinda like Brooklyn is part of New York or Maestre is part of Venice.

Now that I have figured out that you are from near London, perhaps you may not realize that Panama is like the Continent, the steering wheel is on the left and one drives right there. Therefore my advice about practicing is unnecessary, just go to Central London at 5p.m.

Oh, and from my research and discussion with visitors to Panama, The canal view from the Country Suites is the thing to do. The Causeway area has all sorts of shopping and restaurants. It seems the right place to stay for your visit. Panama is a great country with great friendly people. Many speak unaccented to us English.

Good luck.:)

Your guess as to how to go the free way is correct. Should you choose this route, turn left rather than right at the street before the landmark that occurs after the street onto Avenida Simon Bolivar as described in post 6 above, item 10. I can guarantee that there are no street signs at this intersection. When I passed through, there was one over-worked cop trying to control the intersection.

Thanks for the info.