Le Meridien Panama, Panama City [Master Thread]
Sep 3, 2010, 2:47 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,771
So, where is this hotel? I cannot find it on the map and SPG.com has it no where near a real location.
Is it near the Intercontinental hotel?
How is the location for the city?
Is it near the Intercontinental hotel?
How is the location for the city?
Nov 25, 2010, 8:56 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,771
It is across the street from the IC. Stayed here the first week in November. Small property. The club lounge was never open, but it was the week of holidays (All Saints, Independence Day, Flag Day, Colon Day). They did not tell us that.
Seems like the staff tries really hard, but just aren't good. The concierge is useless (when actually there). Sent us to a closed restaurant, then told us another one was closed when in fact it was open. Arranged a $20 taxi ride to the train station. Oh yeah, the train station was closed that day. The dirver didn't bother to tell us that and drove off. We took a $3 cab ride back.
The restaurant has a mediocre breakfast buffet, with a staff that speaks no engligh. In fact, most of the staff does not speak english.
The room was nice enough. See through glass to the bathroom, including the toilet. While I can perhaps see the allure of see through shower, I am not so sure that the majority of folks enjoy a see through toilet. I know that my father and I did not.
Marriott seemed a better choice in this area.
Seems like the staff tries really hard, but just aren't good. The concierge is useless (when actually there). Sent us to a closed restaurant, then told us another one was closed when in fact it was open. Arranged a $20 taxi ride to the train station. Oh yeah, the train station was closed that day. The dirver didn't bother to tell us that and drove off. We took a $3 cab ride back.
The restaurant has a mediocre breakfast buffet, with a staff that speaks no engligh. In fact, most of the staff does not speak english.
The room was nice enough. See through glass to the bathroom, including the toilet. While I can perhaps see the allure of see through shower, I am not so sure that the majority of folks enjoy a see through toilet. I know that my father and I did not.
Marriott seemed a better choice in this area.
Apr 5, 2011, 11:32 am
#19
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: CO Plat
Posts: 149
I am booked to be there at the end of this month but I would like to get some advise about getting to the hotel. Should I call this hotel to send a car to pick me up? are the taxis safe to be at the airport? Any estimated costs? Thanks!
Apr 5, 2011, 8:01 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: New York City
Programs: AA EXP, DL DM, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,127
The hotel is fine, nothing spectacular but certainly solid. Pool is TINY and in the shade most of the time. Club Lounge is nice - good food in the AM and PM and tons of free booze. Agree the concierge is so-so at best. Was upgraded to a nice suite as a Plat member.
Apr 10, 2011, 11:10 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
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Posts: 17,475
Will be here in a couple of weeks and thinking of renting a car. How's the parking situation at the hotel?
Looking at the map it looks like it should be an easy and pretty direct drive from the airport to Le Meridien. I'd probably leave the car at the hotel for sightseeing right in the city and take cabs but I'd assume that access to a car is preferred for excursions to places farther out of town (i.e. Canal, beaches up the coast, etc.).
Looking at the map it looks like it should be an easy and pretty direct drive from the airport to Le Meridien. I'd probably leave the car at the hotel for sightseeing right in the city and take cabs but I'd assume that access to a car is preferred for excursions to places farther out of town (i.e. Canal, beaches up the coast, etc.).
Apr 11, 2011, 11:02 am
#23
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
According to the hotel's web site:
Parking Information
Self and Valet Parking (Complimentary)
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
Parking Information
Self and Valet Parking (Complimentary)
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
[email protected]
May 4, 2011, 11:16 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Posts: 17,475
Back from a nice stay at this property. The hotel's website and Starwood Lurker's post below are incorrect - there is only valet parking, no self parking. But the valet parking is free and they bring the car around quite quickly so no issues there other than my general dislike of forced valet parking.
Overall I am very glad that I had a rental car. If I was back in PTY on leisure I would definitely rent a car again and stay at the LM.
There's probably no easier hotel to get to from the airport than the Le Meridien (or the IC across the street). Leaving the airport and getting on the toll highway (Corredor Sur), you can follow signs that feed directly on to Ave Balboa, the wide bayfront highway on which the LM is situated. I was a little nervous about having a car in Panama (this trip was my first time driving in Central or South America) but I think it offered great convenience and saved a lot of money in cab/bus fare.
Took some daytrips to beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts with my rental car using the LM PTY as a base. For sights closer to town (Canal visitors center at Miraflores Locks, ruins of Panama Viejo, Amador Causeway), the LM's location on a wide busy avenue with connections via viaduct to other important avenues was also very convenient for driving.
Only thing I would not suggest is driving from the LM to the colonial neighborhood Casco Viejo. Getting into Casco Viejo requires navigating a maze of chaotic one-way (not marked as such) streets in a very run-down and dirty neighborhood.
As for the hotel itself, I think other posts on this thread have covered it well. As a Plat on an award stay I was upgraded to a nice "Gold Suite" facing the bay. Nice, comfortable suite with great bathroom, plenty of space, separate closet. Wired high speed internet in the room worked fine. Club Lounge breakfast was adequate. I only made it to the Club Lounge's evening cocktails and food one night since most other nights I was getting back late from daytrips but I thought the evening Club Lounge spread was good: ceviche, canapes, two forms of hot fried appetizer (fish and fried mozzarella) and of course free self-serve booze!
So in summary: a really good stay and I highly recommend renting a car if staying here on vacation!
Overall I am very glad that I had a rental car. If I was back in PTY on leisure I would definitely rent a car again and stay at the LM.
There's probably no easier hotel to get to from the airport than the Le Meridien (or the IC across the street). Leaving the airport and getting on the toll highway (Corredor Sur), you can follow signs that feed directly on to Ave Balboa, the wide bayfront highway on which the LM is situated. I was a little nervous about having a car in Panama (this trip was my first time driving in Central or South America) but I think it offered great convenience and saved a lot of money in cab/bus fare.
Took some daytrips to beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts with my rental car using the LM PTY as a base. For sights closer to town (Canal visitors center at Miraflores Locks, ruins of Panama Viejo, Amador Causeway), the LM's location on a wide busy avenue with connections via viaduct to other important avenues was also very convenient for driving.
Only thing I would not suggest is driving from the LM to the colonial neighborhood Casco Viejo. Getting into Casco Viejo requires navigating a maze of chaotic one-way (not marked as such) streets in a very run-down and dirty neighborhood.
As for the hotel itself, I think other posts on this thread have covered it well. As a Plat on an award stay I was upgraded to a nice "Gold Suite" facing the bay. Nice, comfortable suite with great bathroom, plenty of space, separate closet. Wired high speed internet in the room worked fine. Club Lounge breakfast was adequate. I only made it to the Club Lounge's evening cocktails and food one night since most other nights I was getting back late from daytrips but I thought the evening Club Lounge spread was good: ceviche, canapes, two forms of hot fried appetizer (fish and fried mozzarella) and of course free self-serve booze!
So in summary: a really good stay and I highly recommend renting a car if staying here on vacation!
May 4, 2011, 11:20 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: CO Plat
Posts: 149
HERB687, I have to agree with your post. Excellent location for this hotel. Panama is not a very easy to navigate but the hotel location helped a lot to find your way to the airport, calle 50 (main avenue), Panama Canal, etc.
Service was great
Service was great
Jul 4, 2011, 9:46 am
#26
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,577
Just wrapping up a stay here. Agree with most of what has been posted.
The good:
Gold Suite for our Platinum status (ours, 218) faced the building next door so less street noise but some construction noise).
Lounge is great...booze and fried food at night (we slept thru the breakfast every day
). And the view from the lounge/pool is wonderful.
Best part of all is location, location, location in relation to being on Calle Uruguay and a short $3 taxi to any site in the city.
The niggles:
The doorman push you hard to take a hotel car to sites in town rather than hailing a yellow taxi for you. The difference: $15 vs. $3.
When I asked the front desk if they could post a postcard for me the told me no, that I'd have to take it to the post office. Admittedly this was the night staff, and I'll ask again this morning. Edited to add: the day front desk staff did take and mail my postcard for half a balboa after some consultation with each other.
Oh, as for airport transfer, taxi drivers approached us the moment we were out of customs. We were told $30 for a ride into town, but held out for $25. I had the feeling that if I had shopped around drivers a little longer or had better Spanish skills I could have gotten a ride for $20.
Based on our experience with the hotel car prices we just arranged our own yellow taxi driver that we liked the night before to pick us up at the Le at a designated hour to get us to the airport for $25.
All in all, the location and having the plat upgrade and the nice facilities more than make up for the niggles over the service.
The good:
Gold Suite for our Platinum status (ours, 218) faced the building next door so less street noise but some construction noise).
Lounge is great...booze and fried food at night (we slept thru the breakfast every day
). And the view from the lounge/pool is wonderful.Best part of all is location, location, location in relation to being on Calle Uruguay and a short $3 taxi to any site in the city.
The niggles:
The doorman push you hard to take a hotel car to sites in town rather than hailing a yellow taxi for you. The difference: $15 vs. $3.
When I asked the front desk if they could post a postcard for me the told me no, that I'd have to take it to the post office.
Admittedly this was the night staff, and I'll ask again this morning. Edited to add: the day front desk staff did take and mail my postcard for half a balboa after some consultation with each other. Oh, as for airport transfer, taxi drivers approached us the moment we were out of customs. We were told $30 for a ride into town, but held out for $25. I had the feeling that if I had shopped around drivers a little longer or had better Spanish skills I could have gotten a ride for $20.
Based on our experience with the hotel car prices we just arranged our own yellow taxi driver that we liked the night before to pick us up at the Le at a designated hour to get us to the airport for $25.
All in all, the location and having the plat upgrade and the nice facilities more than make up for the niggles over the service.
Last edited by kokonutz; Jul 5, 2011 at 9:03 am
Oct 20, 2011, 5:47 pm
#27
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,516
Just completed my third stay at this property...and for the third straight time they billed a second charge for $2.94 post-checkout....for a Snickers bar from the minibar.
First time, I had something else from the minibar which was billed, second and third time I completely stayed away from it. Talked to a colleague who stayed here recently...and guess what? Same thing. I suspect there's a systemic fraud problem at this property.
File opened with Platinum Concierge, but curious if anyone else has seen this?
First time, I had something else from the minibar which was billed, second and third time I completely stayed away from it. Talked to a colleague who stayed here recently...and guess what? Same thing. I suspect there's a systemic fraud problem at this property.
File opened with Platinum Concierge, but curious if anyone else has seen this?
Dec 14, 2011, 6:36 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,516
I decided to give this property one more try, and was very glad I did.
I've posted a review at this link.
I've posted a review at this link.
Jun 20, 2012, 5:13 am
#29
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PMD-ORD-AZO-ILO-NRT
Programs: UA 1K, BD Silver, Amtrak Select, SPG & PCR Plat/ICH Amb, AA, AS, DL, PR
Posts: 744
Despite it's location, I'm currently leaning towards staying at the Sheraton for future visits.
Pretty much had a similar experience as kokonutz (even got the same Gold Suite!
), save for the fact that I stayed on the days that the club lounge was closed.
Coming off of kokonutz's experience with sending postcards, they were able to mail it...but it was a 20 cent difference to send per card vs. the Sheraton. Curious if they even mailed it though as none of the 30+ folks that I sent it to didn't receive it, but I guess that's another story.
Can't say I was impressed with the service overall, during my stay it seemed to be quite a downgrade from the Sheraton...but then again I had some fantastic agents that I've worked with in that property so I guess almost anything else would've seemed less.
Pretty much had a similar experience as kokonutz (even got the same Gold Suite!
), save for the fact that I stayed on the days that the club lounge was closed. Coming off of kokonutz's experience with sending postcards, they were able to mail it...but it was a 20 cent difference to send per card vs. the Sheraton. Curious if they even mailed it though as none of the 30+ folks that I sent it to didn't receive it, but I guess that's another story.
Can't say I was impressed with the service overall, during my stay it seemed to be quite a downgrade from the Sheraton...but then again I had some fantastic agents that I've worked with in that property so I guess almost anything else would've seemed less.
Jun 21, 2012, 6:04 am
#30
Join Date: Oct 2005
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I am here now and have had a pretty good experience. The front-desk staff speak English, and every time I had a question (albeit basic), they answered it effectively.
Granted, my expectations are low -- having previously experienced the InterContinental across the street, which is mediocre, and the InterContinental Playa Bonita, which is very poor.
The rooms (I also have the "Gold suite"), bar, and indoor public areas are nice -- much nicer than the IC -- but the pool is inferior. Rate was slightly less here, so, given the ideal location, I would probably stay here again.
Granted, my expectations are low -- having previously experienced the InterContinental across the street, which is mediocre, and the InterContinental Playa Bonita, which is very poor.
The rooms (I also have the "Gold suite"), bar, and indoor public areas are nice -- much nicer than the IC -- but the pool is inferior. Rate was slightly less here, so, given the ideal location, I would probably stay here again.
