Where should we stay in Panama City?
 

We will be in Panama City for 4-5 days in July, flying in from Bocas del Toro and we will be 2 families-4 adults and 4 teenagers.
We need recommendations on where to stay in Panama City-should we get a hotel, B and B, rent an apartment, or some other option?
What area of Panama City would be good?
What could we do that teenagers would enjoy? (they are adventuresome teenagers)
The adults are not into doing group tours-they like to hike, bird, etc.
Any suggestions would help.

No dear i don't have any idea now. I'll get back to you with some info about it.

Just in the research stage myself but, La Estancia B & B gets top reviews:

http://www.bedandbreakfastpanama.com/

La Estancia is an excellent choice, If you stay there the owners are Gustavo & Tamy Lu, great Asian couple, tell them Lou said Hola. What you need to know is La Estancia is somewhat isolated on Ancon Hill, a car would help, but IF you've never driving in Panama LOL.
From my info on Panama hotel/B&B info below (there is much more if you email me [email protected] about 11 pages if you print it), also check my website http://panamalou.com/ for Panama information:
Louis Seldon
Keller, TX & Panama
Cell # 954-610-5121
Panama Cell # (011-507) 6649-9815
Website: http://panamalou.com/
Albrook Inn: Old U.S. Air Force base in the Visiting Offices' Quarters http://albrookinn.com (should have a car to stay here & be familiar with the area)
Balboa Inn B&B: Balboa [email protected] 314-1520
http://www.thebalboainn.com/index.php
Inn on the Canal B&B: La Boca/Balboa, [email protected] 314-0112
www.InnOnTheCanal.com
Esplenador Hotel, Banking District, http://www.esplendorpanama.com/site/home/en/the_hotel
Av. Samuel Lewis y Calle Gerardo Ortega ( NULL)
RESERVATION +507 209-9696
Front Desk 507 209-9600 [email protected]
### La Estencia B&B
: Ancon Hill-Quarry Heights (old Southern Command HQ)/Balboa
Office: 314-1417&1604 email:
[email protected] Website: www.bedandbreakfastpanama.com
www.panoramicpanama.com (should have a car to stay here & be familiar with the area)
***Hotel Las Vegas: El Cangrejo
[email protected] 507-300-2020
www.lasvegaspanama.com
***Hotel Marbella: El Cangrejo, see http://www.hmarbella.com/welcome.php 263-2220
***Hotel Milan: El Cangrejo, see http://www.frommers.com/destinations...ty/H56896.html [email protected] 263-6130 Fax 263-7723
***Torres de Alba Apartment Hotel, El Cangrejo see: http://www.torresdealba.com.pa/english.htm email: [email protected]
***My favorites in Panama City, El Cangrego area, convenient to good shopping, casino, restaurants/cafes, supermarket, drug stores, etc.
###My favorite Bed & Breakfast in the old Canal Area is located on the old U.S. military Southern Command Headquarters area on Ancon Hill. Owned by a great Asian couple in an old U.S Mil NCO quarters building converted to the best B&B in the area. Great animal watching at breakfast from their balcony.
Tantalo Hotel, Casco Viejo see: http://www.tantalohotel.com/contact.php

I would absoluteky stay in Casco Viejo - really lovely colonial part of town, friendly people, good restaurants, shops and night life can walk everywhere fun for the kids. We stayed in a fantastic apartment called Los Cuatros Tulipanes - I strongly reccommend it. Check out their website it's full of interesting info about Panama http://www.loscuatrotulipanes.com/

The person that we thought we would like to use for a private guided bird watching tour has not responded back except for our initial email. Therefore, we don't feel confident in using him. I need a recommendation for a person that could do a private bird watching tour that goes quite far off the beaten track. Any ideas?

Stay on Thomas Drive if you want peace and quiet. It is the quiet end of the beach. We usually stay down close to the state park at Treasure Island Beach Resort. It is pretty new and being near the end of the beach, hasn't been very crowded when we have gone. It is beautiful with granite counter tops etc. I love it because it is nice, new, beautiful and less crowded than a lot of other places. I love being near the park end. You can walk all the way down to the park end of the beach and it just gets less crowded as you go. So peaceful. We quit staying at another older place years ago that had a Tiki bar. I have no problem with a Tiki bar except that the resorts that have bars attract the livelier population that are drinking and it can be loud at night as well as in the day. I don't go to the beach for a party. I go to relax. So if you go to just be at the beach and relax, don't go to a place with a bar. You can bring your own wine, beer etc. and enjoy in peace.

I have other informacion where to stay outside Panama City, i.e., interior & beaches:
Panama Hotels & B&Bs
Panama City & Balboa:
Albrook Inn: Old U.S. Air Force base in the Visiting Offices' Quarters http://albrookinn.com (should have a car to stay here & be familiar with the area)
Balboa Inn B&B: Balboa [email protected] 314-1520
http://www.thebalboainn.com/index.php
Inn on the Canal B&B: La Boca/Balboa, [email protected] 314-0112
www.InnOnTheCanal.com
Esplenador Hotel, Banking District, http://www.esplendorpanama.com/site/home/en/the_hotel
Av. Samuel Lewis y Calle Gerardo Ortega ( NULL)
RESERVATION +507 209-9696
Front Desk 507 209-9600 [email protected]
###La Estencia B&B: La Estencia B&B, conveniently located to good shopping, casino, restaurants/cafes, supermarket, drug stores, etc. My favorite Bed & Breakfast in the old Canal Area is located on the old U.S. military Southern Command Headquarters area on Ancon Hill. Owned by a great Asian couple, Gastavo & Tammy Lu, it is an old U.S Military NCO quarters building converted to a B&B. Great animal watching at breakfast from their balcony. Office: 314-1417&1604 email: [email protected] Website: www.bedandbreakfastpanama.com , www.panoramicpanama.com
***Hotel Las Vegas: El Cangrejo
[email protected] 507-300-2020
www.lasvegaspanama.com
***Hotel Marbella: El Cangrejo, see http://www.hmarbella.com/welcome.php 263-2220
***Hotel Milan: El Cangrejo, see http://www.frommers.com/destinations...ty/H56896.html [email protected] 263-6130 Fax 263-7723
***Torres de Alba Apartment Hotel, El Cangrejo see: http://www.torresdealba.com.pa/english.htm email: [email protected]
Tantalo Hotel, Casco Viejo see: http://www.tantalohotel.com/contact.php

***My favorites in Panama City, El Cangrego area, convenient to good shopping, casino, restaurants/cafes, supermarket, drug stores, etc.
###My favorite Bed & Breakfast

isledon: The OPs trip was last July.