Panama City Hotels

[JBoarman]

Thanks StudB. There is not free cancellation on my booking. Even if there is a cancellation option, there is going to be fee. It may workout the same. Pay in cancellation fees or pay $30 per chica. I'll take my chances at the hotel. After I have booked a hotel with double occupancy and I could argue and ask them provide some rule book which states that $30 is applicable with every new guest. Or I'll try to the use entry thru Casino. Some members have stated that it works.

Mr JB,

Yes you are screwed unless you can cancel the reservation. For now, I would recommend an AirBnB condo that is guest friendly; got this tip from some fellow mongers I met while in Panama. Apparently, there are some good options. Your other choice would be to roll the dice and call AC Marriott and see if they are indeed fully guest friendly; this would literally mean that you would need to ask if there is a charge for bringing in different girls daily as visitors. At the Panama Marriott, management keeps at least 2 doorman that double as security, and will tell your guest to give them her passport wherein at the end of your stay you will be hit with charges of $30 per guest for each time you bring a female visitor after your first girl. If AC is totally guest friendly (allowing changing of guests at anytime with no fee) perhaps Panama Marriott would transfer your reservation over there. Not sure if they will accomodate you as most Marriott's are franchises. Good luck, and post on what you did.

[StudBucket]

Am I screwed? I had a reservation at AC Marriott before and I cancelled that reservation because there was no intel on whether that new hotel has any chica fees. Booked 4 nights at Marriott instead with no allowed cancellation after one member on this forum assured that there is no chica fees at Marriott if the reservation is double occupancy. No I see myself paying $90 per day for 3 chicas. Thats just ridiculous. I should have kept my reservation at AC Marriott. .

Mr JB,

Yes you are screwed unless you can cancel the reservation. For now, I would recommend an AirBnB condo that is guest friendly; got this tip from some fellow mongers I met while in Panama. Apparently, there are some good options. Your other choice would be to roll the dice and call AC Marriott and see if they are indeed fully guest friendly; this would literally mean that you would need to ask if there is a charge for bringing in different girls daily as visitors. At the Panama Marriott, management keeps at least 2 doorman that double as security, and will tell your guest to give them her passport wherein at the end of your stay you will be hit with charges of $30 per guest for each time you bring a female visitor after your first girl. If AC is totally guest friendly (allowing changing of guests at anytime with no fee) perhaps Panama Marriott would transfer your reservation over there. Not sure if they will accomodate you as most Marriott's are franchises. Good luck, and post on what you did.

[JBoarman]

Am I screwed? I had a reservation at AC Marriott before and I cancelled that reservation because there was no intel on whether that new hotel has any chica fees. Booked 4 nights at Marriott instead with no allowed cancellation after one member on this forum assured that there is no chica fees at Marriott if the reservation is double occupancy. No I see myself paying $90 per day for 3 chicas. Thats just ridiculous. I should have kept my reservation at AC Marriott. .

Hello Gents.

A group of 5 of us went to Panama 2 weeks ago and stayed at the Marriott Panama which is across from Habano's. We stayed there a total of 5 nights. All of us were charged for our guests a fee of $30 per girl; other than the first girls we stayed with the first night of the trip. So there guest policy is that even if you book for 2 people the same girl must stay with you the entire nights stay (which none of us will really do) in order to avoid the guest fee. Once you take a different girl into the room, they jot down her cedula/passport number and name, log it in the system and will present a guest fee charge of $30 with the date and name of the girl on your bill. Again, the first girl of the first night is no charge but once you change girls you will be charged. They will not make exceptions as we all tried to talk our way out of it with no success. So, they are now on par with Hyatt's guest policy. All things being equal, the Hyatt has nicer rooms, so we may stay there next time or there is a nice hotel called AC Marriott (around the corner from Habanos about 2 short blocks) and they claim they did not charge a guest fee when we toured the hotel; but I would not trust them as Panama Marriott told us there would be no charge for guests when I called a few weeks before the trip. I would wait until one of the mongers on the board stays there multiple nights at the AC Marriott and posts their experience with the guest policy and any billing.

[StudBucket]

Hello Gents.

A group of 5 of us went to Panama 2 weeks ago and stayed at the Marriott Panama which is across from Habano's. We stayed there a total of 5 nights. All of us were charged for our guests a fee of $30 per girl; other than the first girls we stayed with the first night of the trip. So there guest policy is that even if you book for 2 people the same girl must stay with you the entire nights stay (which none of us will really do) in order to avoid the guest fee. Once you take a different girl into the room, they jot down her cedula/passport number and name, log it in the system and will present a guest fee charge of $30 with the date and name of the girl on your bill. Again, the first girl of the first night is no charge but once you change girls you will be charged. They will not make exceptions as we all tried to talk our way out of it with no success. So, they are now on par with Hyatt's guest policy. All things being equal, the Hyatt has nicer rooms, so we may stay there next time or there is a nice hotel called AC Marriott (around the corner from Habanos about 2 short blocks) and they claim they did not charge a guest fee when we toured the hotel; but I would not trust them as Panama Marriott told us there would be no charge for guests when I called a few weeks before the trip. I would wait until one of the mongers on the board stays there multiple nights at the AC Marriott and posts their experience with the guest policy and any billing.

[AjkTony]

The Marriott has been going back and forth for years as to whether they charge a fee or not.

I really do not know what makes them change but they waffle back and forth every few months.

First time visitor to PTY, staying at Marriott I had no issues with bringing in a girl as long as I signed her in. Reception did say first one is free since I booked for two then there was a charge, I'm assuming he meant for that day, at least that's what I will tell him if they try to charge me.

Habanos was packed last night with chicas and there was quite the parade going into the Marriott. Guess Thursday had a special on trios that I was unaware of.

[Mfins]

Marriott across from Habanos / Don Julios is catching guys going thru casino now. But they just have you sign the girl in. Guess the word is out! But they did not charge.

The Marriott has been going back and forth for years as to whether they charge a fee or not.

I really do not know what makes them change but they waffle back and forth every few months.

[Roebuck]

Seems I'm a bit late here for you but maybe someone else can benefit from my method. I have gone to Panama exclusively for Habanos for the past few years and stayed at the Marriott (right across), Holiday Inn Express and Continental Hotel. I should mention that I used to live in Panama when I was younger so I know how to handle myself and how to work the people there.

Panama Marriott:

The only time I had trouble getting a girl back to my room was the second night of my first trip. I stayed at the Marriott not even knowing about Habanos until my Taxi driver mentioned it on the way from the Airport. The first night I had no trouble just walking right to the front door and into the elevators. The second night, however, I was stopped and told that I could not bring a guest up because I did not register her during check-in. I tried to argue with the guy but decided to let him think he won and walked back out and told the girl to follow me through the Casino..

Marriott across from Habanos / Don Julios is catching guys going thru casino now. But they just have you sign the girl in. Guess the word is out! But they did not charge.

[JBoarman]

I cancelled my reservation at Hyatt Place and reserved AC Hotel by Marriott Panama City. One of the single traveler reviewers on Expedia mentioned that Hyatt is going downhill by charging not just $15 per guest, but $30 each time you bring someone over. Sounds like, they bumped up their guest fee recently. Its a ripoff. Same single traveler recommended AC Hotel by Marriott instead. I am assuming that they don't have chica fee or a low fee. Any idea? The hotel is new and looks very nice. Close to Habanos.

I booked 4 nights at Hyatt Place with free cancellation, breakfast included. This is for my trip end of Jun. Way in advance. I am a planner. In expedia or Priceline, you can put 1 guest, 2 guest, up to 4 guest and the room rates go up by $10. Example: $64 per person night for single person and then when you say 3 guests (1 + 2), price goes up to $84. I am not sure if that is a safer bet to book in advance with 3 or 4 guest if you are planning to bring over 2-3 different chicas in a day or just pay $15 as and when you want to bring new chicas to your room.

Panama Marriott, location wise is more convenient but pricier and no breakfast included. I read that now they charge $30 chica fee. How many of you have paid chica fees at Marriott. The hotel is much nice than Hyatt. Holiday Inn Express also looks good, but between Hyatt and Holiday Inn, I picked Hyatt.

Also read about the secret entrance to sneak in the chica via casino. That would be neat. Is Panama Marriott worth the extra $$? I am all about comfortable and convenient stay with great overall experience. I just don't want to pay $30 per chica. That's way too much.

JB.

[HectorPF]

I prefer the security of a hotel though some Airbnb condos have security and check IDs as well. I'm making my first and perhaps only trip to Panama City for three nights on my way to a month in Colombia. Just want to see the canal and get another passport stamp. Given it seems I'd just be overpaying in PTY for what will be more plentiful and inexpensive in Colombia. Still to check that box I will probably do something one night and will check the main forum for advise on that.

Booked Aparthotel Sevilla Suites which had good reviews on Trip Advisor. Not far from the Hyatt so assume location is good. Any insight or recommendations for some place better, I hate paying joiner fees on principle? I can cancel this reservation easily.

Yep. Many AirBnB rentals located in condos do have 24/7 security at the door and are allowing no guests that are not registered or an additional fee as well. AirBnB hosts have caught on.

[Oterri]

Trypp seems like a fine hotel and in the same area as habanos.

Is it girl friendly by any chance?

[JBoarman]

I booked 4 nights at Hyatt Place with free cancellation, breakfast included. This is for my trip end of Jun. Way in advance. I am a planner. In expedia or Priceline, you can put 1 guest, 2 guest, up to 4 guest and the room rates go up by $10. Example: $64 per person night for single person and then when you say 3 guests (1 + 2), price goes up to $84. I am not sure if that is a safer bet to book in advance with 3 or 4 guest if you are planning to bring over 2-3 different chicas in a day or just pay $15 as and when you want to bring new chicas to your room.

Panama Marriott, location wise is more convenient but pricier and no breakfast included. I read that now they charge $30 chica fee. How many of you have paid chica fees at Marriott. The hotel is much nice than Hyatt. Holiday Inn Express also looks good, but between Hyatt and Holiday Inn, I picked Hyatt.

Also read about the secret entrance to sneak in the chica via casino. That would be neat. Is Panama Marriott worth the extra $$? I am all about comfortable and convenient stay with great overall experience. I just don't want to pay $30 per chica. That's way too much.

JB.

[Charm City Dave]

Try Airbnb or VRBO. You can get an entire apartment for the same price as hotel.
If you strictly are looking for a hotel try the off name brands. Local hotels. Some are of excellent quality but, they will not charge a fee like the Worldwide name brands will.

I prefer the security of a hotel though some Airbnb condos have security and check IDs as well. I'm making my first and perhaps only trip to Panama City for three nights on my way to a month in Colombia. Just want to see the canal and get another passport stamp. Given it seems I'd just be overpaying in PTY for what will be more plentiful and inexpensive in Colombia. Still to check that box I will probably do something one night and will check the main forum for advise on that.

Booked Aparthotel Sevilla Suites which had good reviews on Trip Advisor. Not far from the Hyatt so assume location is good. Any insight or recommendations for some place better, I hate paying joiner fees on principle? I can cancel this reservation easily.

[Mfins]

Anyone stay here Lately? I come down 4/27 to 4/30. Prior visits I stayed at Hyatt place but the chica fee has me turned off despite the convenience of familiarity. What are the forums recommendations for the best place to stay / chica friendly / near Habanos?

Try Airbnb or VRBO. You can get an entire apartment for the same price as hotel.

If you strictly are looking for a hotel try the off name brands. Local hotels. Some are of excellent quality but, they will not charge a fee like the Worldwide name brands will.

[Jethro69]

Anyone stay here Lately? I come down 4/27 to 4/30. Prior visits I stayed at Hyatt place but the chica fee has me turned off despite the convenience of familiarity. What are the forums recommendations for the best place to stay / chica friendly / near Habanos?

[World Travel 69]

Be careful.

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