Review: Luxury Panama Tour Review, Panaman City, Bocas Del Toro, Boquete

Review by traveler

Vijay R.

1.3.2015

General Info

Traveler Review

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Panama

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

This is probably more of a review and a reflection on Panama as a destination rather than the travel agent. We had high expectations for this trip to Panama based on what transpired with our Peru trip which was booked through Zicasso. However, there seemed to be a big difference with Panama where the country does not seem to be set up for luxury travel. The hotels where we stayed in Panama City, Boquete and Bocas Del Toro were all rated highly in TripAdvisor but they were quite disappointing in terms of amenities and service. Especially, Bocas Del Toro which seemed to be a haven for backpackers and as a result it was hard to find a decent place to eat dinner.

My disappointment with the hotels was quite real. Especially in Boquete where Palma Royale was clearly the best place in town and yet it felt like a 3-star place. I wish you had guided me away from Boquete given that good hotels are not there.

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

Boquete was nice but we only stayed there for a couple of days. I wish we had spent a lot more time here than in Bocas Del Toro which felt quite down-market. The Rock restaurant in Boquete was simply awesome. Unfortunately, we couldn't eat there again on our second night there as the restaurant had to close due to power outage.

On our last night in Panama City, we were treated to a dinner by the VP of the ground operations which was quite a treat. I was quite grateful to him and his family for hosting us. I did not want to spoil the evening by complaining about the trip when they were so gracious about inviting us to their home.

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

We made a mistake in insisting that we stay in hotels within walkable distance to restaurants and shopping. This meant that we ended up staying in Casco Viejo in Panama City (which felt like a bombed out Havana), Bocas Town (which was a student ghetto). The hotels in these places were very disappointing. If I visit Panama again, I would try to stay in a resort with excellent amenities.

Travel Company's Comments

Dear Vijay,

I am very glad you appreciated the services of our company, but I am disappointed to learn that you did not enjoy Panama as a destination. I try very hard to understand the expectations of all my clients and work to help them have the best vacations possible.

I thought you and I had communicated well, and I discussed with you a variety of options for accommodations. Indeed, you had reviewed all the hotels I suggested on Tripadvisor and seemed pleased with the reviews. The hotel we booked for you in Panama City is one of the most sought-after hotels in that city and has hosted many high-end and demanding clients. Being in the historic district of the city, it is not surrounded by modern buildings and businesses, and many people feel this adds to its charm.

I am glad you liked Boquete and The Rock restaurant there. I agree they are great places. I am also glad you enjoyed the dinner we arranged for you to have with the Vice President of our ground operations. He is very proud of his country and said he enjoyed dining and talking with you. These are the kinds of special experiences that are hard to replicate and we can provide through our special connections with Panama.

To us, Panama is a beautiful country with a lot to offer. If you ever go back, I hope you will see it that way.

Photos

Review: Luxury Panama Tour Review, Panaman City, Bocas Del Toro, Boquete

General Info

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

Real Customer Reviews

Other Reviews for Travel Agency 25298

Small Footer