My PTY MR - Hotel and Things to do
Jan 26, 2009, 10:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NJ/NYC
Programs: UA and HH
Posts: 4,346
My PTY MR - Hotel and Things to do
I just returned to NYC from my weekend Mileage Run down to PTY. I know there were a few of you that were asking where I was staying and the condition so here is a brief write up of that and some things I did.
I stayed at the CentroAmericano Hotel on Ecuador st. There is no postal system in Panama and not a lot of cab drivers knew of the specific hotel but they know the area well if you give them the cross streets of where you are staying. I paid $44 a/i for my stay and would say that I don’t regret it but my standards are not that high when staying overnight on a MR. The room was about 10x10 and had an old full size bed, 9" TV w/ cable, and a mini a/c that cooled the room fine. I would compare this hotel to a low level $30/night super 8 or the equivalent. The area seemed safe as the policia patrolled regularly and I didn't feel threatened at any time.
Things to do:
I asked the lady at the hotel which casino she recommended and she said the "Royal Crown Casino" next to the Marriott. It had $2 minimum black jack which I played for a few hours winning a whopping $10. The casino wasn't that crowded but the didn’t allow smoking so I asked the casino host where I could get a Cuban cigar. He told me about this place across from the Marriott called "Havana's." This place wasn’t just a cigar bar but a "wh
re house" too. I smoked my cigar and got a few drinks on the patio and left. Cigars were $7-$20 and Coronas were $3.50. Not sure how much the women were as I declined each one that approached and tried to talk to me.
On Sunday morning I asked the lady at the hotel what I could do for about 3 hours and she arranged a tour of the city with a local taxi driver. He charged $10 an hour and drove me around the city for a few hours speaking broken English trying to explain the history.
Taxi Information:
Taxi's to/from airport ran $20 and you must pay toll's ($1.25 and $1.40). Taxi's inside the city ran from $3-$5 where I went and the tour was $10/hour.
Hope this helps some of you doing the weekend runs down there and if you have any other questions feel free to post or PM me.
I stayed at the CentroAmericano Hotel on Ecuador st. There is no postal system in Panama and not a lot of cab drivers knew of the specific hotel but they know the area well if you give them the cross streets of where you are staying. I paid $44 a/i for my stay and would say that I don’t regret it but my standards are not that high when staying overnight on a MR. The room was about 10x10 and had an old full size bed, 9" TV w/ cable, and a mini a/c that cooled the room fine. I would compare this hotel to a low level $30/night super 8 or the equivalent. The area seemed safe as the policia patrolled regularly and I didn't feel threatened at any time.
Things to do:
I asked the lady at the hotel which casino she recommended and she said the "Royal Crown Casino" next to the Marriott. It had $2 minimum black jack which I played for a few hours winning a whopping $10. The casino wasn't that crowded but the didn’t allow smoking so I asked the casino host where I could get a Cuban cigar. He told me about this place across from the Marriott called "Havana's." This place wasn’t just a cigar bar but a "wh
re house" too. I smoked my cigar and got a few drinks on the patio and left. Cigars were $7-$20 and Coronas were $3.50. Not sure how much the women were as I declined each one that approached and tried to talk to me.On Sunday morning I asked the lady at the hotel what I could do for about 3 hours and she arranged a tour of the city with a local taxi driver. He charged $10 an hour and drove me around the city for a few hours speaking broken English trying to explain the history.
Taxi Information:
Taxi's to/from airport ran $20 and you must pay toll's ($1.25 and $1.40). Taxi's inside the city ran from $3-$5 where I went and the tour was $10/hour.
Hope this helps some of you doing the weekend runs down there and if you have any other questions feel free to post or PM me.
Jan 26, 2009, 10:43 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,423
I'm headed to PTY on one of these mileagerun fares, too, but there's no way my trip will be as interesting. thanks for sharing.
BTW, if others are headed that way, look at some of the threads discussing price match deals and such at PTY hotels.