Facts on Panama

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• Cannot walk in the Panama City with Open Liquor in the streets

• Women and Men must be dressed appropriately on the street (men must have shirt, woman can’t wear bathing suits or bikini tops)

• Dry Season – DEC- APR (daily rain in the rainforest, the city and surrounding areas)

• Green Season – MAY – NOV

• The countries currency is Balboa, USD is used everywhere with change given is USD; you do not have to change your money to balboa.  ATM’s give USD and are available at all hotels, shopping malls, major credit cards accepted, and CDN dollars not accepted. 

• Albrook mall with 3000 shops 3 minutes from the Miraflores locks, Multi Plaza mall attached to the Radisson Decapolis hotel downtown. Miraflores locks observations tower is under renovations and closed for 1 year. Panama never goes on Daily Savings Time as all days are the same length.

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Why There Are Never Any Hurricanes in Panama?

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All hurricanes originating off the coast of Africa are moved by prevailing winds and steering currents westward and northward. A few brush the northern coast and islands of South America along 11 degrees latitude north of the Equator. But Panama is 'tucked away' at 9 degrees latitude below the reach of hurricanes.  

 

Radisson Decapolis Panama City

Almost All Inclusive 4 Star Property

 

• Located in downtown Panama City approximately 20 minutes from the Airport.

• Hotel built in 2004 and consists of 240 non smoking rooms.($250.00 fine is charged for smoking in room)

• Air conditioning

• Full Bathroom ( shower and bathtub)

• Coffee maker

• Complimentary high-speed Internet access

• Hair dryer

• Mini-bar

• Radio/CD alarm clock

• Room service

• Safe 

• 24-hour medical service

• Complimentary high-speed Internet access in guest rooms

• Free parking

• Playpens available

• Business Center Access:

• Free access (Mon-Sat 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m.)

• High-speed Internet access ($1.50 for 30 minutes, $3.50 for an hour)

• Spa & Gym Facilities

• Restaurants: Luxor, Fusion, Sushi Bar and The Martini Bar which is located in the main lobby ~ beautiful!

• 24hr room service, free parking, tour desk, spa, gym & business centre.

• The hotel does offer connecting rooms, no cribs or cots & handicapped rooms are not fully accessible.

• Hotel is attached to a Casino & the Metro Central Mall, local restaurants & local nightlife.

• Excellent location and highly recommend as this property is part of our Two Centre Holidays!

 

Crown Plaza Panama

4 Star property

 

• Daily Breakfast Included

• Great Location

• Close to Uruguay Street (similar to our Granville Street)

• Casino Near By

• Lots of Restaurants and Shops around

• Live Salsa Shows At the Casino

• They have Connection Rooms, Elevators

• Breakfast is Included

• They have handicap facilities

• Wi-Fi  all over resort at extra Cost, advised to ask for Promo’s for they have Promo rate days for WIFI

• Hotel is brightly colored very Clean

• They have a sports bar in the Lobby Area

 

Le Meridien Panama

5  Star property

 

• Daily Breakfast Included

• 18 year old +

• Hotel is Upscale, and it’s Based on your Senses, i.e. Smells, sounds, sight

• Part of Starwood Program

• High End

• Close to Uruguay Street (like our Granville)

• Fusion Foods

• They have Theme Nights

• They are 6 floors that are hotel rooms the rest of the rooms above are condos/apartments that people own in the Building

• Breakfast is Included Buffet

• Handicap facilities

  • They have Elevators.

 

Gamboa Rain Forest Resort

4 Star Property

 

Located 30 minutes from Panama City on the Chagres River and Panama Canal. 240 acres of lush, tropical forest for nature lovers alike with over 380 varieties of Birds.

 

• Hotel built in the year 2000 and consist of 200 non smoking rooms.

• Some handicapped rooms & connecting rooms available

• Spa, Gym, Golf course nearby, fishing & kayaking the Panama Canal

• And the Monkey Island Tour that is a must!

• Hotel Rooms ~ Deluxe River View rooms

• Two Double beds or one king bed

• Private Balcony with hammock & patio furniture overlooking the Chagres River

• Some connecting rooms

• Wireless Internet

• 24-hour room service

• Complimentary safe

 

Historic Villa Apartments ~ there are 4 one bedroom apartment units in one Building. Units are clean however the units have more of a “cabin” feel to them.

 

This property has much to offer for the client that wants to be a part of nature. Some of the tours offered are as follows: Bird Watching/Kayaking the Panama Canal/Aerial Tram Tour/Biking Tour/Golf/ Nature walks through the rainforest/Fresh water fishing

 

You are in the rainforest so it will rain!

 

Another great property offered in out Two Centre Holidays!

 

Westin Playa Bonita Resort

5 star property

 

Starwood is expanding and opened their 1st all-inclusive resort in Latin American.  Gorgeous 5 star property overlooking the Pacific Ocean with views of the Panama Canal and Punta Bruja nature reserve.  Modern cosmopolite décor in pearl and seashell colours.

 

• 611 luxurious accommodations, 64 suites & 3 distinguished Royale suites. Opened Nov 2011, 22 floors (240 rooms opened today Dec 5/11)

• 10 minutes to the Panama Canal, 20 minutes from downtown PTY, 20 mins from the Gamboa Rainforest. 2 km long beach, you can walk to the Intercontinental Playa Bonita which is on the same beach.

• 6 restaurants, 4 pools, swim up pool bar, kids club

• Air conditioned theatre for evening shows and conventions centres, air conditioned gym with state of the art exercise equipment and spa.

• Separate check in for groups and conventions in the lobby

• Deluxe gdvw & ocvw rooms, completely sound proof all with full balcony, Westin heavenly beds and showers.  Extraordinary views, gdvw rooms over look the mangroves and tropical forest, ocvw rooms with stunning views.  Free laptop size in room safe, high speed internet, 40’ LCD TV, hair dryer, iron/ironing board, radio/alarm, separate tub and shower, mini bar. 

• Connecting rooms 1 king with 2 dble beds, fully handi cap rooms available

• Gift shop, ATM service, business centre

• Executive lounge on the 19 floor with panoramic views of the skyline

• A la carte dining: dress code

• Oceanica (International buffet and a la carte Seafood)

• Café Pacifica (Pacific Rim cuisine)

• Starfish Grill (Seafood)

• Soleo (Mediterranean tapas, wine and music)

• Asiana (Pan Asian Fusion cuisine)

• Tierra y Fuego (Latin American Steak House and other area recipes)

• Complete 24 hr room service ($)

• There are two 18 hole golf courses; One being the Summit Golf Course 5 minutes away

 

Contact: westinplayabonita.com (507) 304-6600

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Intercontinental Playa Bonita

4 ½ star property

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A beautiful tropical resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean and backing onto the Rain forest.  They share the same beach as the Westin (the same company has ownership of the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, Crowne Plaza, Meriden hotel and the Westin)   20 mins from downtown Panama City, 10 mins from the Miraflora locks & 20 mins from the Gamboa Rainforest. A great central location with a more casual setting

 

• 2 centre holiday with the Gamboa Rainforest Resort

• Connecting rooms available

• Fully handi cap rooms available and elevators in all buildings

 

Sheraton Bijoa Resort

4 Star property

 

• Built in 2009 by the Breezes resorts then sold to the Sheraton in Oct 2011

• 294 rooms, deluxe gdvw & ocvw rooms with French balcony only (4 Suites and 8 Jr suites with full balcony, 70 superior rooms with balcony).  Deluxe rooms are a good size with large bathrooms. All deluxe rooms are the same size with 1 king or 2 dble beds, 20 connecting room with 1 king bed connects to 2 dble beds. Coffee makers and daily stocked mini bar with 2 water and 2 pop, in room safe laptop size free, alarm clock, iron/ironing board.  Rooms have shower or tub only not both.

• Guest can pay to have the mini bar fully stocked.

• 4 partially handi cap rooms

•  24 hr room service with a $4.pp delivery fee, good variety of items including breakfast

• Hotel will fully renovated all bathrooms by the spring and have the Sheraton feather top beds in all rooms by fall 0f 2012.

• Elevators in all 3 buildings, free WIFI in the lobby area, WIFI in the rooms at a cost, business centre internet cost of $10. for 24 hours

• Piano bar opened until 4am, resort offers premium brand liquor and beer. Air conditioned lounge style disco opened 11pm-2am

• Teen’s club with air conditioned games rooms (2 pool tables and 3 video games), indoor air conditioned kids club, baby sitting done by the kid’s club activities staff $10. per hour per child.

• 5 cascading pools, 3 adults/2  children & kids water slide, 2 whirl pools

• Air conditioned Spa and gym (gym opened 24 hours)

• 3 a la carte restaurants:  Mediterranean, Japanese & Steak house (reservations required for the Japanese restaurant only.  Dress code for men long pants & close toe shoes.  Buffet restaurant open 7am-10pm daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Snack bar by the beach.

• 9 hole golf course next door, $55. Week days $65. Weekends for 18 holes cart included and is mandatory

 

Royal Decameron Golf, Beach Resort & Villas Panama

All Inclusive 4 Star Property

 

• Beach front property located 90 minutes from Panama City (Allow a 2hr drive from Airport to hotel)

• Not recommended for people with restricted mobility as the resorts

• Property is terraced from any one of the 3 lobby’s down to the beach.

• Highly recommend Ocean Front rooms as the location is same level as the beach,

• With the majority of restaurants and daily activities at easy walking distance.

• 820 non smoking rooms, 9 swimming pools (including one adults only),

• 8 speciality restaurants, 4 pool bars, 2 beach bars & 3 lobby bars

• 200 golf villa’s and rooms ~ no pools located in this section however guests have use of the resorts pools.

• Tour Desk, Casino, Hard Rock Café Store & Boutique, Water Sports Activities, Gift Shop, Spa, and Gym, 24hr Medical Assistance, Internet in each of the 3 lobby’s

• Wedding facilities & 1200 seat convention centre

• Nightly Entertainment & Disco

• 18 Hole 72 Par Golf Course

• Shuttle Service throughout the resort

• This resort offers something for everyone.

 

Monkey Island Tour

 

We took a boat tour through the Panama Canal into secret waterways to find hidden islands where Capuchin and Howler monkeys can be seen in the trees above. Occasionally they become curious of visitors and venture down to take a closer look especially when you your guide has banana’s to offer them! Other animals you might spot on this tour includes Two and Three-toed Sloths, Crocodiles, and turtles that are also native to Gatun Lake. The boat ride to and from the island gave us the chance to be up close to the Cruise Ships and Container Ships.

 

Anton Valley

The Worlds only inhabited volcanic crater. While the volcano has been dormant for around five million years, mineralized volcanic hot springs remain a sign of continuing volcanic activity below the surface. The rich volcanic soil and year-round spring-like climate make almost every species of plant and animal (including humans) thrive in this environment. As evidence of this, there are countless species of flowers and trees, and hundreds of species of mammals and reptiles, and an incredible 500 species of birds that live in Anton's Valley. Anton Valley offers 5 Wellness Spas, Legends of the Sleeping Indian Girl and The Three Maidens. Many unique restaurants, canopy rides, museums