Waldorf Astoria Panama {PAN}
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Million Miler; UA-1K; Hilton Lifetime Diamond; Marriott Lifetime Platinum; SPG Platinum
Posts: 49
Waldorf Astoria Panama {PAN}
Has anyone stayed at Waldorf Astoria in Panama as a Diamond member? Did you get an upgrade? Is there an Executive Lounge? I have been reading the benefits on the Hilton website and it does not mention complimentary breakfast. Is that not a benefit at Waldorf properties?
Since this is a new hotel in Panama, any information would be appreciated. Thanks!
Since this is a new hotel in Panama, any information would be appreciated. Thanks!
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Million Miler; UA-1K; Hilton Lifetime Diamond; Marriott Lifetime Platinum; SPG Platinum
Posts: 49
I emailed the hotel and found out some information.
WIFI is complimentary for Diamond
Room upgrade is complimentary if available
The hotel does not have an Executive Lounge
And, as suspected, complimentary breakfast is not a benefit at Waldorf Panama.
WIFI is complimentary for Diamond
Room upgrade is complimentary if available
The hotel does not have an Executive Lounge
And, as suspected, complimentary breakfast is not a benefit at Waldorf Panama.
#4
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Waldorf=Astoria do not offer the same benefits as, say, Conrad, Hilton or DoubleTree. Be sure to have My Way preferences selected; some properties are hardnosed about this issue, and a few will try to imply you have selected other benefits. Edited down to relevant parts,
Code:
Diamond Elite Membership... Diamond Elite Members will receive the following during stays as a registered Diamond Elite Member: A 50% bonus on Base Points earned during the period they are Diamond Elite Members. Complimentary In-Room, High-Speed Internet Access during stays at Waldorf Astoria™ Hotels & Resorts, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton™, Embassy Suites Hotels™ and Hilton Grand Vacations™.* Complimentary access during your stay to health club or fitness center where available and where the health club or fitness center is owned or operated by the hotel.* Two complimentary bottles of water per stay at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton™, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn and Hilton Grand Vacations properties.* 5th Night Free: For every Standard Room Reward stay of five or more nights, one night is free. Members can utilize the 5th Night Free benefit on an unlimited number of stays annually. Applies only to five consecutive nights within the same Standard Room Reward stay at the same property, up to 20 nights, when confirmed at time of booking. No more than four free nights will be awarded per stay. If free night is declined, reservation is cancelled, or check-out occurs before fifth night, the free night is forfeited and has no cash, point, or Reward value. Point value of the free night is based on the average nightly point value during the stay calculated by dividing the total point value of all nights by the number of nights in the stay. A standard room is defined by each hotel and subject to availability at participating hotels within the Hilton HHonors portfolio of brands. Applies to Standard Room Reward stays only, not to paid stays. Does not apply when stay is booked as part of a Reward Stay offer, package, or promotion offered by Hilton or any of its partners, or at All-Inclusive properties or Distinctive properties. Choose a My Way On-Property benefit. (see below, please) At Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton™ properties, Diamond HHonors guests will receive upgrades to preferred rooms, based on availability at the time of check-in (excludes Napua Tower at Grand Wailea and Imperial Floor at Rome Cavalieri). Upgrades for Diamond HHonors guests may include the next-best available room from the room type booked. Upgrades may also be rooms with desirable views, corner rooms, rooms on high floors, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors, or suites, as identified by each property. Upgrades exclude executive suites, villas and specialty accommodations (which may include, but not limited to, "Vista" and "Villa" accommodation types), subject to the discretion of the hotel. Group reservations and certain rates are not eligible for suite accommodations and may not be eligible for complimentary upgrades. All upgrades are granted on a space- available basis for the entire stay, as determined at the time of check-in. Preferred rooms are identified by each individual property and may vary within each brand. Upgrades will be given only for one room for the member, regardless of additional rooms the member may have purchased at or after the time of booking. The following brands do not offer complimentary upgrades: Embassy Suites™, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Homewood Suites by Hilton®, Home2 Suites by Hilton®, and Hilton Grand Vacations®. *In-Room High-Speed Internet Access, Fitness Center / Health Club Access, In-Room Movie and Bottled Water benefits may not be complimentary at properties with a resort charge.
Originally Posted by HHonors
Diamond Membership My Way Benefits
WALDORF ASTORIA Hotels & Resorts* Based on availability for the entire stay at the time of check-in. Upgrades for Diamond HHonors guests may include the next-best available room from the room type booked. Upgrades may also be rooms with desirable views, corner rooms, rooms on high floors, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors, as identified by each property. Some exclusions based on rate and room type may apply. See Terms & Conditions for details.
** Where locally available.
WALDORF ASTORIA Hotels & Resorts
- Space available upgrade to a preferred room or suite*
- Choose two out of the following three options (members receive all three if a room upgrade is not available):
- 1,000 Hilton HHonors Bonus Points per stay
- One in-room movie included with your stay *
- Discount at hotel/resort/facility – either spa, golf or restaurant as designated by the property.
** Where locally available.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Chicago Western Suburbs
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond, AA Lifetime Plat
Posts: 375
I'm staying there next week for 3 nights and will report back. Anxious to see this property. For the last two years, I've been at the Marriott. Stayed at the new Doubletree a few months ago and it was pretty nice.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Chicago Western Suburbs
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond, AA Lifetime Plat
Posts: 375
Just got back from a 3 night stay. Got the free water, got the 1,000 points. Didn't watch a movie. No fee for the gym. No room upgrade. I was disappointed with the no room upgrade since to hotel didn't seem that full. Every morning when I left my room, only half the rooms on my floor had newspapers in front of them.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Chicago Western Suburbs
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond, AA Lifetime Plat
Posts: 375
Waldorf Astoria - Panama City, Panama
Just got back from a 3 night stay. Sorry no pictures. So I got a pretty decent rate here ($184) so I decided to give the hotel a shot, rather than do the Doubletree again. Sorry no pictures. Good location, 1 block off Balboa Avenue and by a bunch of restaurants and nightclubs. Smallish hotel. Reminded me very much of a W brand property.
Very warm welcome as a Diamond member, with a long, handwritten note in my room. But no Diamond room upgrade which is how my preferences are set. The hotel didn't seem that full. One way I judge this is by how many rooms on my floor have newspapers out in the morning. On my floor, only about half. But on the other hand, I never asked for an upgrade. Room 1502, nice view through the many high rise buildings. Average size room with a large and very modern bathroom. Salvatore Ferragamo soaps and shampoos. Lots of little push buttons for the lights, Welcome button by the door turned everything on. Privacy button made the doorbell outside the room red in place of a do not disturb sign. Service button changed the doorbell to green for housekeeping. Good night button by the bed turned everything off. Nice big flatscreen on the wall. Controls on the remote so I could switch the source to my laptop so I could watch DVDs I brought. 50+ channels on the TV, several in English. Very little storage space for clothes. 4 very little drawers that barely held t-shirts and socks. Minifridge with soft drinks and beer. Several pint (I think) bottles of hard liquor as well.
Nice but small outdoor pool and hot tub with full bar. Didn't go into the spa, but it looked very nice. Better gym than most properties, but dumbells stopped at 50lbs. 6 new weight machines and lots of cardio machines. Free bottled water in the gym which I took advantage of every day.
Lobby bar was dead every night. Did lunch in the Bistro and had the small tacos al pastor (very good) and the tuna nicoise bruschetta (also good). Had sushi at the sushi restaurant. Good and a good value. But 4 pages of the menu was "coming soon!". Never hit the bar. Note to future guests: The elevator that takes you to your room DOES NOT make a stop at the restaurant or lounge. You need to use the other elevator by the front desk.
They did have a free car service that took me to a restaurant a couple blocks away (I would have walked, but they couldn't figure out how to show me where to go) and to a supermarket for some wine and water. Tipped the driver. Late model town car and brand new Lincoln MKT.
Nice little bag of Panamanian ground coffee as a departure gift.
Was it worth the $$ premium over the Doubletree? Not sure. Probably if I got a room upgrade like I did at the Doubletree. Staff was great.
BTW, if you want a GREAT restaurant 3 blocks away, try La Trona. Fantastic!
Very warm welcome as a Diamond member, with a long, handwritten note in my room. But no Diamond room upgrade which is how my preferences are set. The hotel didn't seem that full. One way I judge this is by how many rooms on my floor have newspapers out in the morning. On my floor, only about half. But on the other hand, I never asked for an upgrade. Room 1502, nice view through the many high rise buildings. Average size room with a large and very modern bathroom. Salvatore Ferragamo soaps and shampoos. Lots of little push buttons for the lights, Welcome button by the door turned everything on. Privacy button made the doorbell outside the room red in place of a do not disturb sign. Service button changed the doorbell to green for housekeeping. Good night button by the bed turned everything off. Nice big flatscreen on the wall. Controls on the remote so I could switch the source to my laptop so I could watch DVDs I brought. 50+ channels on the TV, several in English. Very little storage space for clothes. 4 very little drawers that barely held t-shirts and socks. Minifridge with soft drinks and beer. Several pint (I think) bottles of hard liquor as well.
Nice but small outdoor pool and hot tub with full bar. Didn't go into the spa, but it looked very nice. Better gym than most properties, but dumbells stopped at 50lbs. 6 new weight machines and lots of cardio machines. Free bottled water in the gym which I took advantage of every day.
Lobby bar was dead every night. Did lunch in the Bistro and had the small tacos al pastor (very good) and the tuna nicoise bruschetta (also good). Had sushi at the sushi restaurant. Good and a good value. But 4 pages of the menu was "coming soon!". Never hit the bar. Note to future guests: The elevator that takes you to your room DOES NOT make a stop at the restaurant or lounge. You need to use the other elevator by the front desk.
They did have a free car service that took me to a restaurant a couple blocks away (I would have walked, but they couldn't figure out how to show me where to go) and to a supermarket for some wine and water. Tipped the driver. Late model town car and brand new Lincoln MKT.
Nice little bag of Panamanian ground coffee as a departure gift.
Was it worth the $$ premium over the Doubletree? Not sure. Probably if I got a room upgrade like I did at the Doubletree. Staff was great.
BTW, if you want a GREAT restaurant 3 blocks away, try La Trona. Fantastic!
Last edited by Chicago Wine Geek; Apr 26, 2013 at 12:54 pm Reason: Added restaurant info
#8
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: DL Diamond, HHonors Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,362
Thanks for the review.
Space-available room upgrades are now a standard perk for Gold and Diamond elites at Waldorf Astoria properties. Preferences only pertain to the other on-property benefits (1,000 bonus points, spa discounts, etc.).
Space-available room upgrades are now a standard perk for Gold and Diamond elites at Waldorf Astoria properties. Preferences only pertain to the other on-property benefits (1,000 bonus points, spa discounts, etc.).
#9
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Chicago Western Suburbs
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond, AA Lifetime Plat
Posts: 375
Yep, you are right MS...
BTW, I knocked it out of the park earning points here. Total bill was only $800 and I got 20K points.
7,325 base
Diamond bonus: 3,662
WA Panama 5000 PTS Offer: 5,000 (didn't know anything about that)
Q2 2013 HHonors Daily Grand Offer: 3,000
MyWay: 1,000
19,987 total. Cool.
BTW, I knocked it out of the park earning points here. Total bill was only $800 and I got 20K points.
7,325 base
Diamond bonus: 3,662
WA Panama 5000 PTS Offer: 5,000 (didn't know anything about that)
Q2 2013 HHonors Daily Grand Offer: 3,000
MyWay: 1,000
19,987 total. Cool.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
PANAMA CITY, REP OF PANAMA WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL - March 2015
From the moment the bellboy helped us with our luggage until the moment we checked out and the front desk arranged for a private transfer to the airport, the service was excellent.
We checked in at 9 am and with a couple of calls, Diana made sure we have an upgraded room with a nice view of the bay. I was walked to the elevators and the suitcases promptly followed.
Rooms are large, mine had a small balcony; absolutely great bathroom with rain shower and tub with very comfy bath robes. Rooms were serviced quickly and efficiently and bottled water and Nespresso coffee replenished (even though once I had to call because they forgot to leave coffee).
Happy hour in the lobby bar is fun; the bartender seems to be a local connoisseur about the history of drinks and everything else you may want to know. Gin tonic was well executed; chips were a little off but quickly changed to a nice mix of nuts.
The pool area is very nice, a little noisy, but then again you ARE in the center of town. Water was refreshingly warm and the hot tub bubbly. There is a steam room, very elegant spa and an exercise room.
Dinner at the restaurant was brilliantly executed. Our white wine was kept on ice and served it a little at a time (big pet peeve of mine). The food was nicely presented and the sushi fresh and the rice a little warm.
Summary: if you are in Panama City, I highly recommend staying at the Waldorf Astoria. Would recommend a higher floor with water views (although all views are partially blocked). Would recommend the restaurant for breakfast and for dinner and stop by the lobby bar for a happy hour drink. Try the Abuelo 12 year rum.
From the moment the bellboy helped us with our luggage until the moment we checked out and the front desk arranged for a private transfer to the airport, the service was excellent.
We checked in at 9 am and with a couple of calls, Diana made sure we have an upgraded room with a nice view of the bay. I was walked to the elevators and the suitcases promptly followed.
Rooms are large, mine had a small balcony; absolutely great bathroom with rain shower and tub with very comfy bath robes. Rooms were serviced quickly and efficiently and bottled water and Nespresso coffee replenished (even though once I had to call because they forgot to leave coffee).
Happy hour in the lobby bar is fun; the bartender seems to be a local connoisseur about the history of drinks and everything else you may want to know. Gin tonic was well executed; chips were a little off but quickly changed to a nice mix of nuts.
The pool area is very nice, a little noisy, but then again you ARE in the center of town. Water was refreshingly warm and the hot tub bubbly. There is a steam room, very elegant spa and an exercise room.
Dinner at the restaurant was brilliantly executed. Our white wine was kept on ice and served it a little at a time (big pet peeve of mine). The food was nicely presented and the sushi fresh and the rice a little warm.
Summary: if you are in Panama City, I highly recommend staying at the Waldorf Astoria. Would recommend a higher floor with water views (although all views are partially blocked). Would recommend the restaurant for breakfast and for dinner and stop by the lobby bar for a happy hour drink. Try the Abuelo 12 year rum.
#13
Join Date: May 2003
Location: DEL
Programs: Mucci du Miel d'Or
Posts: 2,374
Free breakfast
Stayed recently at the W-A Panama and was offered free breakfast as a HHD benefit. I mention as I know that absence of breakfast often dissuades HH members. I also received an upgrade to a junior suite, it's a very nice hotel and received great service.
#14
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Midwest USA
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 591
I wonder how consistent that is? I recently returned from Panama but like you said, I was dissuaded from staying at the WA because I know there is no comp breakfast. I opted for the HGI instead which, IMO, had a very nice breakfast.
#15
Join Date: May 2003
Location: DEL
Programs: Mucci du Miel d'Or
Posts: 2,374
I was surprised, as I know that breakfast is not a HH benefit at W-A hotels, so I asked and they said it was because I was HHD. If someone is relying on it, it may be worth an email to re-confirm (perhaps at least until others report similar experiences).