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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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At The Westin Playa Bonita Panama, guests often commend the pristine rooms and stunning views, though opinions on value for money are mixed, with some citing unexpected costs. The vibrant atmosphere is a hit for those seeking lively music and events, but travelers looking for peace may find it lacking.
While the location earns high marks for its scenic proximity to the beach and Panama City, reviews of the service and cleanliness are polarized, noting both commendable staff interactions and areas for improvement.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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I recently stayed for 5 nights at the Westin with a friend, we arrived early (around 10am) so Iris (really kind) suggested we should have breakfast. We went and the food was great! We came back an hour later and our room was ready (17th floor) and recently cleaned, the view was just amazing during the day and night, we could see the ocean, islands and all the ships. It was spacious, neat and had a hot jacuzzi with a minibar so you could have your drinks available.
We went out to the canal and when we returned they left us a welcome note along with a sparkling wine and a Ron Abuelo, thanks for the detail Linda, we really appreciate it.
That night we had dinner at Tierra y Fuego, let me tell you the food was 100/10 (we asked for ribs and rib eye) and Roberto the restaurant manager greeted us from that day to the next at each restaurant. There were two waiters at that restaurant who were also amazing, I'm Mexican so we had a great chat over tequila and mezcal.
We also had lunch at Starfish and guess what, the food was delicious again! You have to try the shrimps and salmon. Our favorite waitress was also there, unfortunately I don't remember her name but I'm sure Roberto will know it because we told him that we left her a tip on the table but since the wind was a bit strong we wanted her to be careful.
The other two members who also did a great job were Yahir and the lady from the pool bar. Yahir went out of his way to make mexican micheladas for us and made some mixed shots as well. If you are lucky enough to meet them, be sure to tip them appropriately.
Last but not least we want to thank Mr. Oliver and Mr. Miguel for the hospitality, their work is amazing and it is certainly reflected in the attitude of their staff and the property.
There may be some comments about how ''long'' they had to wait for the elevators, but I mean, they were a group of 600 pax, of course it would take a couple more minutes to go to their room. Come on, you're already in this great hotel, make the best of it instead of complaining. Before them, we never had that problem.
In summary, it is a beautiful hotel, well maintained, with top notch food and staff. Important to mention that the location is excellent, you can take an uber and be in the city in 20 minutes or you can spend the day at the beach. We also scheduled our transportation with Panamazing and both trips were great and punctual, the drivers explained details about the country and the city to us, as well as being very kind.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A nice property but somewhat remote. Transportation to the city is easy to book at the lobby. Rooms are comfortable and the service in the hotel is above average. Pools are well tended and the pool bars are well stocked. The breakfast buffet is very good with a wide selection of hot and cold offerings. Multiple afternoon and evening dining restaurants are on the property offering multiple food type selections, these were somewhat expensive but better than a ride into the city for lunch or dinner. The property seems to cater in large part to company meetings and conventions but does host singles and families well while catering to large business gatherings. Overall a very good choice for a family vacation.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
The Westin Playa Bonita Panama has become one of my truly favorite hotels. This was my fourth visit and I anticipate more in the future. The staff is wonderfully helpful and gracious. The facilities are absolutely outstanding. The view is unbeatable. I love the several swimming pools and thoroughly enjoy relaxing in the sun, reading a book and sipping on a margarita. Even when there are many people there, there is always room for more. You never feel too crowded. And, on weekdays, you can have to yourself just about all the space you could want. The rooms are clean, pristine, luxurious, and completely comfortable. My favorite feature of the hotel is The Westin Lounge on the 19th floor. They serve breakfast in the mornings and heavy hors d'oeurves and drinks in the evening, often sufficient for an evening meal. The view out over the Pacific and the nearby islands and the dozens of ships waiting to enter the Panama Canal is unforgettable. This property has become my perfect place for a quiet, lazy getaway. Yet, for $10 or less, it is very easy to catch a 20-minute Uber ride into the city to enjoy dinner at one of the many fine restaurants in Panama City and especially Casco Viejo, the old city, or to tour the impressive Panama Canal. Special mention is deserved for Linda, who heads up customer service and who could not have been more friendly and helpful with a minor problem I had that required some assistance, or with Miguel and Marilyn in The Westin Lounge who absolutely spoiled me, or with Joel and Billie Jean in the lobby lounge/bar who make stopping by for a drink special and fun. It is wonderful people like these individuals who most make me want to go back. A couple of suggestions: getting an ocean view room is worth the extra price; and, if somewhat loud music and occasional DJ's down at the pool might bother you, get a room on one of the higher floors where you will only hear the party by the pool if you are out on your balcony (this is only during daytime hours, not during evenings). Also, the gym and spa facilities and services are excellent.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel, rated five stars, does not truly meet expectations; at best, it deserves a four-star rating.
The location is good, situated right on the beach. However, cleanliness is a concern: plastic caps, cans, and other trash are scattered around, indicating the beach is not cleaned regularly. The swimming pool also appeared dirty due to debris brought in from the patchy grassy areas surrounding it.
The all-inclusive option does not cover all restaurants. At the coffee shop, we were told on the first day that only coffee and ice cream were included—not pastries. Two days later, ice cream was no longer included, and on the third day, we were informed that the coffee shop wasn’t part of the all-inclusive package at all. This inconsistent information was both confusing and frustrating.
At the Starfish Grill à la carte restaurant, we reserved a table for dinner, but the manager insisted we had to pay. The front desk confirmed that the restaurant was included in our package, but we got the impression the manager was trying to take advantage of us. It’s hard to believe he didn’t know the restaurant was part of the all-inclusive plan.
The TV in our room didn’t work, and we repeatedly asked the front desk to have it fixed over six days. Initially, they neglected to mention that we needed to be present when maintenance came. Even when we stayed in the room waiting, no one showed up.
The bathroom sink was another issue; it took four days of daily complaints before maintenance finally resolved the problem.
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Valeria Smith, Guest Services / Front Office at The Westin Playa Bonita Panama
Responded 9 Jan 2025
Dear Mrs. Irina; Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. I’m really sorry to hear that your stay didn’t meet your expectations. I can imagine how frustrating it must have been to deal with issues like cleanliness, inconsistent service, and delays with maintenance. I completely understand your concerns about the beach and pool areas not being properly cleaned. That’s definitely something we need to improve, and I’ll make sure the team is made aware so they can stay on top of these things moving forward. The confusion with the all-inclusive package is also disappointing to hear. You should have received clear and consistent information from the start, and I can see how frustrating it must have been to get different answers each day. I’ll address this with the team to ensure this doesn’t happen again. As for the issues with the Starfish Grill and the maintenance delays in your room, I’m truly sorry. No one wants to feel like they’re being ignored, and I understand how frustrating it must have been to wait so long for things to be fixed. I’ll make sure this feedback reaches the right people so we can provide a more timely and reliable service in the future. I really appreciate your honesty, and I’m sorry that your stay wasn’t the positive experience it should have been. I truly hope we can make it right and provide you with a much better stay next time. Best regards, Guest Relations Team.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This hotel has a lot going for it: spectacular views, very clean rooms furnished to a high (but spare) standard, and decent food in the buffet restaurant. The outdoor spaces are as lovely as the indoor areas, with gorgeous pools and lounge areas, and a pool bar with music playing through most of the day. The staff was also universally friendly and, for the most part, responsive to my needs and requests. Where things fell apart was with the constant problems I had with basic room functionality: my door lock, iron and coffee maker all didn't work, and because of the lock issue, I ended up locked out of my room at one point, requiring several trips to the front desk to finally get transferred to a new room. Worst of all, the wifi was absolutely terrible throughout the hotel, including the meeting rooms: it was slow and disconnected constantly. If it weren't for these issues, I'd give this hotel 4 or even 5 stars, especially because of the excellent and helpful staff, who deserve much credit for their positive attitude.
As others have noted, the hotel is in a remote location and there are no other restaurants around. While the beach is pretty, it's not large or stunning enough (and there aren't enough activities on offer) to merit a longer stay unless your idea of a tropical vacation is to hang out by the pool all day. If that's what you're after, this is the spot for you.
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Relations, Owner at The Westin Playa Bonita Panama
Responded 23 Jun 2024
Dear snic09, Thank you very much for your review about your recent stay at our hotel. Your feedback is very valuable to us as we strive to improve each and every stay. I appreciate you bringing these comments to my attention about room replacements and our deficiency in internet connectivity. At the same time, I want to thank you for the wonderful comment about outdoor spaces are as lovely as the indoor areas, with gorgeous pools and lounge areas, and a pool bar with music playing through most of the day and that the staff was also universally friendly. Our main priority is to be able to offer a very well-kept and comfortable environment. Rest assured that our team will know your opinion. Besides. I have shared your feedback with the management leadership team to ensure that necessary guidelines are implemented and reviewed to prevent deficiencies in basic room functionality from occurring in the future. I hope I can convince you to change your mind to visit us again. Sincerely, Guest Relations Staff
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is completely without charm. It is basically a convention center. We stayed for 8 days as part of our planned tour of Panama. The hotel is dissapointing in so many ways. some issues: Several restaurants were permanently closed and other only open on weekends the restaurants looked more like a preschool cafeteria The main dining room we were pointet to on arrival suddenly changed without warning. We complained that no advise had been given after which we received a letter daily where to dine- but it was wrong several times. The cafeteria where we were supposed to dine changed the theme daily - but the food remained the same- very booring food. The beef tenderloin was cooked so it was bone dry and same with all port. The fish casserole did not look appetising at all. we lived on saladbar basically for lunch and dinner Several bars are permanently closed incl. the swim up bar there is only one bar open in the daytime and it is closed at lunch from 12 noon until 2;30 pm. There are no cushions on the tanning beds which are very uncomfortable.
We recommend that you stay in Panama City which we did for 5 days and that was great.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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They cancelled my late checkout even though it was declared on my reservation, the front-desk person simply said that "it depends on availability" ignoring my reservation. I have the extra $55 charge for the late checkout but the person insisted on "depends on availability" and had to vacate the room early. And they sent someone to clean the room while I was bathing to put pressure on.
The hotel is nice, the food is rich, the pools are spacious and the bed is spacious and comfortable. I just had the great detail of my last day.
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Worst all inclusive I have stayed at. When we arrived, we were treated very badly by “Guilhermo” or something like that because the employees don't even have identification tags. We arrived at the resort ahead of time (due to the flight). At any resort, when we arrived early, they would assist us and provide us with wristbands so we could move around the resort and inform us that only the rooms could not be used. They would be ready at check in time, however at this resort they did not allow this. He said that we could do an early check in for US$80, but that this would only allow us to enter the room and we would not be able to receive wristbands and move through the hotel. As we had a reservation for 3 rooms and we were with children, we paid for 1 room but it was of little use as the room was ready at a time close to the “official” entrance. When the arrival time arrived, it was more “busy”. He couldn't say that you had an “all inclusive” package, even though this was the amount paid, much less that the New Year's party was included. We waited for confirmation from who knows who until they released us. That done, we went to have the terrible welcome snack; cold coats (that should have been fried), bread that looked stale,,,, But come on, we're on vacation. We went to the pool and for this we went to get towels. Information received: We are out of pool towels. Like this??? We went to arrange dinner at the restaurants and they didn't let us in, because the 'ALL INCLUSIVE' didn't include this, as well as the cafeteria. They believe in this. Resort with ALL INCLUSIVE payment (all included) where we can enjoy almost nothing. Let's drink to forget then. No either, because in this all inclusive (with complete package) we were only allowed to drink soft drinks, beer and mojito, In short, it was the WORST stay we had in our lives. I advise against this resort
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My friends and I travelled to The Westin Playa Bonita -to celebrate our special Birthdays.
After a 2 hour bus ride from the airport to this hotel, we found our room to have the phone not working (3 days), the safe needed to be reset (24 hours), the fridge not working (3 days to replace), shower door did not close properly so water was all over the bathroom floor every time a shower was taken. Housekeeping never left enough towels, robes, water and coffee, for 3 people staying in the room (daily).
The first 3 days we had to report these problems at the front desk because the phone did not work. We requested to speak with a Manager but they were never available. The Sunwing Rep (Mr. Jorge) gave us his card and said to call him if we had a problem. The hotel charged 50 cents a call so we asked the other tour company to call him so we could ask what time was pick up to return home.
We kept asking the staff if we could be moved but they said there were no rooms available. Again we asked to speak with the Manager, but not available.
The icing on the cake was the hairdryer started to spout flames and almost singed our hair. Again, went to the front desk and they said they would send another one up and Manager still not available.
This property should be removed from the Sunwing list for Panama. The Sunwing Rep. does not even come out once or twice a week to check on customers.
Many of the employees do not speak english OR do not want to. No entertainment, other than 3 nights out of 7, at the bar.
Pool waiter service, 3 days out of 7. Two pools and hot tubs, were closed 3 days for maintenance out of the 7. The Steak House, took 2 hours to bring out our dinner. We did not even order coffee or dessert, since we had been there for 2 hours. The buffets are not eventful, and only warm food available.
This hotel does not cater to the weekly guests. It is more for daily customers and events and conferences.
We spoke with people that were staying at the Dreams next door and they said the service was impeccable and when they checked in, they were upgraded, without asking.
This hotel should be rated at 3, not a 5.
Sunwing, should be ashamed of themselves. Two hours to get to the airport, and it does not have anywhere to pick up water or a coffee and they cannot even give out a free bottle of water. Terrible service for a 5 hour flight.
As well, we purchased ElitePlus with priority baggage and it did not come out first, either way. Toronto, it took over an hour for the luggage to come out and our bags were almost last out.
Signed, disappointed and disheartened.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good service, just a detail that if you arrive before Check-in, they do not pass your room but yes, you have the right to use all the remaining services of the hotel, here not, they charge 55 dollars if you arrive before Check-in, to be able to use the hotel services, otherwise, you must wait. This in no other hotel has happened to us; lines like the RIU, BARCERLĂ“, IBEROSTAR, etc.
The service of Buffet, very good, exquisite food, little yes, but fair and necessary.
Most of the time at the buffet we were attended by Alan, a very friendly boy, concerned about good and excellent care.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Panama City area.
PRICE RANGE
HK$1,190 - HK$2,014 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the westin playa bonita panama hotel panama city
LOCATION
PanamaPanama ProvincePanama City
NUMBER OF ROOMS
611
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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