NorthOrSouth

We're staying here from next Friday and would like to contact the concierge. Has anyone got an email address for the hotel? I can't see one on the Hilton site.

Thanks in advance for any help.

shonky

Stayed at this hotel from Saturday-Tuesday. Overall it's "okay" but nothing I would race back to. A little more style than substance.

The good:

- Large suite upgrade (Diamond). Seriously bedroom + living room.
- Offered comp breakfast in the restaurant (rather than the continental breakfast in the lounge)
- Great pool deck overlooking the water

The bad:

- The service is a bit variable. i.e. I asked for a toothbrush from the room attendant - she radioed it in straight away. It didn't ever come. No big deal.
- Water was luke warm in all the taps. Plus no pressure - the bath tub took 30 minutes to half fill.
- Some taps didn't work at all.
- Lots of tiles missing in the pool - they're piled up on the outside.

Would I rush back here? No. Would I recommend it? Maybe. The room was pretty fab (particularly for the cost) although it seemed a very empty hotel.

brewdog11

Does anybody have any thoughts on this property vs. the Waldorf Astoria, particularly concerning location?

Trying to decide between the two.

fozziedoggie

They are one block apart from each other, so location is the same.
Hilton has unobstructed views of the ocean, WA doesn't really.
Hilton has an on-site casino and Executive Lounge. Hilton is very new, where WA is older.

I stayed at the Hilton just after it opened, stay was nice as were the rooms. I visited the WA while there, it seemed nice too.

Joebellstaff

Ok not so much a party since we are old and tired but as a Diamond, got a jr ex. suite corner room. Enjoyed red wine and a different variety of food in the lounge on B level every evening. Rafael took very good care of us in the evening in the Ex. Lounge.

dilbertsdaddy

This is a great hotel in a perfect location.

Lounge is small but staff is great. Although they have continental breakfast in the lounge as a Gold we were offered to eat the breakfast buffet which was extensive. Lounge was good for evening snacks and drinks.

Upgraded to a great large room (not a suite) with a huge balcony with ocean view.

Great value for points redemption (I have never said that about a Hilton property before)

The only problem is the cable TV is horrible. Everything else was stellar.

Princess fiona

Staying here now, 3 night paid stay. Upgraded to Oceanview Executive.
The staff are adamant that I don’t have access to breakfast in the restaurant, only the Exec Lounge. Every report I’ve seen on here says otherwise.
Seems unlikely but not much I can do really. The Exec Lounge is pretty small, moved from its previous location to a different floor.

Thunderroad

My wife and I are considering staying at the Hilton Panama City next February. I'd welcome any recent reviews/impressions. Also, for any Diamonds or Golds, how were the perks in terms of upgrades, executive lounge access and quality, etc? Finally, any comparisons between this and other Hilton properties in Panama City?

MIAFlyer

I have always enjoyed the Panama Hilton. I am Diamond so always have lounge access. I have heard from one of the staff they were only going to allow Diamonds in the lounge now, but I can not verify that, and sometimes waitstaff are not the most informed. As I Diamond, I would stay nowhere else in Panama. The Waldorf may be nicer, but no lounge. The Doubletree is half the price, but has no lounge and is further from the Cinta Costera and the restaurants I like (but closer to the Metro, if that's your thing). The Hilton Garden was nice when the Veneto was open (great casino, music, night time scene) but not so great now. The Hampton Inn in the city is ok, but the area has certainly gotten more 'seedy' over time.

Lounge is still great, with soda/water all day (they do have a sign saying you're supposed to pay if you take it out of the lounge, but no one does). There is wine/beer and rum/vodka from 6-8p each evening, and often the food is enough to make a dinner if you don't want to go out. Lounge does lock the doors at 10p, so no water/soda after that.

Breakfast for Diamonds is in the lounge only (I specifically asked) which is too bad since the omelette station at the main restaurant was great! I will be back in a couple weeks and will update if anything changes.

As for transport, there are at least 3 different ways to get from the airport to the Hilton, depending on your level of patience and cheapness.

1 - Metrobus - will need to follow the signs to leave the airport, walk behind the buildings, cross the street and wait for the bus marked "Albrook - Corridor Sur". It will be a 10-15 minute uncovered walk, so wouldn't do this in the rain. You will need a prepaid bus card (MetroCard), don't think they are sold at the airport, but if you give a local person $2, they will "tap" in for you. It can be hot waiting for the bus, and probably not worth doing with luggage. The bus stop to get off the bus is literally across the side street from the Hilton. I have done this mainly to prove to myself it could be done.

2 - Once at the bus stop, or even on the way, yellow taxis will often honk at you and offer to take you to the city. I have paid anywhere from $10-20 this way.

3 - Regular taxi from the airport - fixed rate, $30 (at least that's what they charge me).

4 - Uber is the best way TO the airport, but don't think they are allowed to pick up from there (yet). Yes, you can walk outside and have them pick you up there, but by that time you're better off just taking the next yellow taxi and giving them $20.

Hope this helps!

Thunderroad

Thanks very much, MIAflyer!

Any sense of whether and to what extent the hotel might extend Diamond perks such as complimentary breakfasts and lounge access to friends for whom I'd be booking a second room there?

MIAFlyer

I can speak from personal experience:

I had no problem getting a work colleague who was staying in the hotel in the lounge in the evening, I had no problem with another friend meeting in the lounge before we went out to dinner. They do lock the door so you will need to open the lounge door for them. I also added my work friends' name to my room in case the lounge folks got picky, but they never even asked for either friends' room number. However, I have been staying there 3-4 times/yr for the last 5 years (I even have a post from 2015 in this very thread!) so the lounge staff knows me well and your experience may vary.

flyme2

Actually you can take Uber FROM the airport as well. If you don't have local data on your phone, log into the free airport wifi after you have cleared customs and immigration. Order your Uber and choose your pick up spot from rows 15 to 18 in the parking lot. It doesn't matter which one you select, they are all very close to one another. Exit the airport and cross the street to the parking area. It's very straightforward and the parking area row numbers are clear and visible. Sometimes the Uber driver will not enter the parking area, but instead stop at the terminal opposite your chosen parking row. He will call out to you and you will just cross the street and catch him curb side opposite where you had been waiting. It's all pretty simple, and prepare to ignore all the taxi touts, with some actually impersonating Uber drivers when they see your smartphone in hand. Too funny. Cost to the Hilton is in the $20 range, and almost always in a clean late model Hyundai with cold A/C.

I too prefer the Hilton over the Waldorf. However the Waldorf can be very attractive when booked through the Amex Plat FHR as well as the Virtuoso programs. The Waldorf will often provide a condo type unit, whereas the Hilton's Corner Executive Oceanview Junior Suites really are my favourite.

SKYEG

Having a hard time between deciding on the Hilton or Waldorf ugh. I need the views but a Waldorf for 140usd a night is unheard of. Might need to extend my stay to stay at both … but if I had to pick one, a rare time where I’d choose Hilton over Waldorf lol.

JW is even cheaper… so many choices in Panama

SKYEG

Hotel just messaged me after making a booking at HIlton saying pool will be closed for renovations a few days before I arrive. That sucks... Waldorf pool doesn't look great. Probably JW time

tinkerbell78

any recent trip reports? thinking of heading down for 5 nights in a week or so...
because theres no lounge at WA, i think Hilton is the best choice...if I make it ill provide a trip report, hoping the service is as good as the TA (!!) reviews!