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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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Nestled close to Panama City, The Westin Playa Bonita Panama is celebrated for its clean, spacious rooms and a vibrant atmosphere that some guests find a bit too lively. Its cleanliness is generally applauded, and the array of amenities, including pools and restaurants, is a hit among travelers, even as occasional maintenance issues arise.
While the service receives mixed feedback, the staff's friendliness stands out. However, the hotel's value is questioned due to unexpected charges, and despite its scenic location, the remoteness is a concern for some visitors.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Well-appointed
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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.
But the people who did an outstanding job were definitely Maria, Reynaldo and I think his name is Michael in the lobby bar. Every night when we were there they already knew what we were going to have and had it ready! They were just great and tipping will never be enough to show them how much we appreciate their passion for their job. María, amiga, te espero en México!
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.
Until next time!
-Claudia & Andrés
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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.
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.
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The hotel is a formidable experience, the attention of the staff that attends from those who guard the security to enter the area, we continue with the bellboys, who receive you almost like a family, when you arrive at the reception, you find their staff ready to help you and quality hospitality, both Ms. Darling, Luz, Gloria, and the supervisor Edgar, special thanks to Ms. Edilsa, who was attentive at all times to ensure our stay was the best, the room was clean, with everything we needed and very comfortable, in the pool area, there was no time when I was without drinks since both Mr. Miguel, the young Kina, were in charge of supplying what we wanted, in the bar Messrs. Carlos and Cesar, the attention of those who offer us the pool towels, the Starfish restaurant, Miss Karina and the others whose names I couldn't catch (I apologize for that) thank you all, at the Pacific restaurant, Mrs. Elsi, was attentive to offer us the desserts After our dinner, when we arrived at the lobby bar, the live music was pleasant and varied, we were attended by the young women Maria Tejada and Billy Jean, in general I am grateful that each of them contributed to celebrate my son's birthday in such a way. pleasant, so I can without a doubt recommend to everyone who reads these comments, so that they have a pleasant and cozy experience in this hotel
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:It is a convenience resort due to its proximity to the city, very comfortable and good price
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 4 weeks ago
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 Jun 23, 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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These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
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.
Do not be catfished by the beach pictures you see online. The beach sucks. It has periods of low tide where there is no beach. It’s rocky and dirty. The hotel itself had dirty swimming pools full of leaves and debris and sunscreen oil floating on top. We asked staff if they could please clean up the swimming pools and showed them videos of the pools. They said they would ask someone to clean the pool but it is obvious the pools are not cleaned regularly. So basically there’s no beach and the pool is dirty.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip 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.
Response from Valeria Smith, Guest Services / Front Office at The Westin Playa Bonita Panama
Responded Dec 24, 2024
Dear Lanah; Thank you for sharing your feedback, and we sincerely apologize for the experience you had during your stay with us. We truly regret that we did not meet your expectations regarding the beach and pool areas. The beach conditions can vary, especially during low tide, and we understand how disappointing this must have been for you. We are also sorry to hear about the state of the swimming pools, as this does not reflect the high standards we strive to maintain. Please rest assured that your comments have been shared with our housekeeping and maintenance teams, and we are taking immediate steps to ensure the pools are cleaned more frequently and properly. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, as it helps us improve our services for future guests. We hope that you were still able to enjoy some aspects of your stay, and if there’s anything we can do to make things right, please don't hesitate to reach out. Your satisfaction is very important to us, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future for a much better experience. Best regards, Guest Relations Coordinator
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From previous reviews I did see that some mentioned it was more of a business hotel rather than your bog standard all inclusive hotel. The hotel was extremely busy with various conferences happening from groups all across South America but it did not affect us except that we were unable to get a room with a sea view. The rooms are spacious, the shower works great compared to the other hotels we stayed in at in Panama. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful which makes your stay. A big shout out to all the bar staff, Gloria in reception and Carolina in the Pacifica restaurant. It was not automatically offered by reception, but when asked we were offered 2 tickets to use the a la carte restaurants. The chicken lollipops at the Asiana restaurant were delicious. If you are going to use the spa and are taking advantage of one of the packages which offers access to the thermal area, just check if the amenities are working. The hot pool was scorching hot and there was no way you could put your foot in it without getting burnt, a safety concern for sure. The steam rooms were not working and the sauna was not so hot so bit of a waste. we did complain and got a 10% discount of the spa package. The only real complaint I have about this hotel is the interpretation of "all inclusive". If you wanted to order an americano or latte it was included, however if you wanted a macchiato you had to pay for it! Same ingredients? Also there was a separate coffee shop with an ice cream parlour, again not part of the all inclusive The beach is a disappointing but great to see all the ships lined up in the canal, i counted 28 at one point. Overall a lovely hotel, just wished everything was included in the all inclusive deal.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
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.
We did a number of excursions and did not eat all of our meals at the resort, so we did not purchase the all-inclusive package. The meals we did eat at the Westin were very good. Based on our Marriott status, we had access to the lounge.
There are more places to choose from in the Panama City area.
PRICE RANGE
C$235 - C$401 (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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