smgapp

Are there any centrally located hotels in Panama city that have a view of the canal? I know the Country Inn overlooks the canal but it looks like it is far from shopping and restaurants.

JeanH

Actually, I think the Country Inn only overlooks the entrance to the canal. I may be wrong about this, but when the US 'owned' the canal, they also 'owned' a zone 10 miles on either side of it. There really isn't any development along the entire canal. We did a transit in January. There are a few older properties that used to house canal employees (for that matter, maybe they still do), but they aren't hotels.

You can get a view of passing ships from the lounge area of Canopy Tower, but it's quite a ways off. And you might be able to see ships from the restaurant at the marina at Gamboa (the restaurant was closed the day we were there.

Back to the Country Inn, it's on the causeway, and there are several fun restaurants there, but it can be quite a hike to some of them.

We stayed at Sevilla Suites in downtown Panama City and enjoyed it. It's a much more pleasant city than I was expecting.

ojoy

Jean is correct--the Country Inn is on the Amador Causeway and looks out at the Bridge of the Americas spanning the entrance to the Canal. It's about 15 minutes to downtown Panama City.

Panama City is not on the Canal. The only body of water nearby is the Gulf of Panama (Pacific Ocean), but there is nowhere to swim in that body of water--way too polluted.

There is a beautiful resort on the Chagres River (part of the Canal) called the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Their villas are the old canal employee housing that have been refurbished, as well as the hotel itself, a huge pool overlooking the canal, a tram tour and exhibits, lots of trails in the rainforest, a marina w/boat rentals, etc. This is a 30 minute drive to Panama City. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay there.

tmt

Is it the water view that you are looking for? Today, Intercontinental Miramar has a fabulous price of $105 with breakfast for the week before Easter. It wasn't on their website, I called the 800 number and had to specifically ask for it...I saw it on Orbitz.

Also, since the taxi's are so inexpensive, you can always hop a taxi if you find a hotel that you otherwise like.

T.

cmcfong

That is an amazing rate for the Miramar. When you called them how did you get them to give you the rate? As in, did you just tell them orbitz had it and ask them to match it?

tmt

The (800) rep offered me the rate of $185 and I asked about the "Easter" rate...that simple. The "Easter" rate is not on their website...or at least I couldn't get it to come up.

I have used Orbitz for hotels, and its worked out well before. Even to the extent that the hotel said that breakfast didn't come with the rate...I called Orbitz and was canceling the reservation, but Orbitz "forced" them to give me the rate since that is what the Hotel had given them as information.

Since I was going to CAmerica, I thought it best to deal directly with the hotel rather than through Orbitz IF I could get the same rate.

Easy Enough.