Are you looking for a relaxing getaway but still want to experience amazing nightlife? Then travel to Panama and stay at the Westin Playa Bonita for not only a resort mood and feel, but proximity to the Panama City and all the tourist sites.
Why Panama?
I was at work one day and my husband sent me a text about going on a quick vacation to Central America. Since our son was away at pre-college and our daughter is grown I figured this is just what the doctor ordered.
We were craving a destination that offered both lush tropical beauty and rich cultural experiences—and Panama delivered in every way. Plus my father’s family is from Panama and I figured I could use the opportunity to visit some family members who still live there.
It ended up being the perfect choice because there was a lot to see and do from the iconic Panama Canal to the vibrant streets of Casco Viejo, this gem was fully of beauty and history. And just 20 minutes from Panama City, we found our oasis: The Westin Playa Bonita.
First Impressions of The Westin Playa Bonita
Our driver met and picked us up from the Tocumen International Airport in Panama and drove us to the resort. It was a nice and scenic drive in through Panama City. We even saw a party bus.
As soon as we arrived on the property the bell hop assisted us with our luggage. We were immediately directed to the front desk and greeted by the staff member checking us in. Initially they had us in a double room. My husband immediately alerted them of the error, and they upgraded us to a King Oceanview Deluxe room at no extra charge.
The lobby was airy, elegant and spacious. It smelled like a spa and immediately sent me to relaxation mode.
The only thing missing was being greeted by drinks and a warm hand towel which is what we typically experience at other resorts.
Our Room: Ocean Views & Ultimate Comfort
We stayed in a Deluxe King Ocean View Room, and waking up to the sight of the Pacific Ocean each morning was simply amazing. Every morning at 7 am I would sit out on the balcony and watch the sun rise, listen to the tide start to roll in and just sit quietly in nature meditating.
When we first arrived to the room which was on the 7th floor, we were instructed to use our key in the room key pad to be able to turn the lights on in the room. Immediately on the left is the closet which included 3 drawers, a safe, the closet, more empty shelves and the refrigerator (unstocked).
To the right is the bathroom which included a deep tub, a single sink, shelving, the toilet closet and spacious shower with the rainfall showerhead. I really enjoyed the space in the shower. There was a window between the bathroom and main room with blinds. If you pull the blinds up you can then see between the bathroom and the room.
Coming out of the bathroom and to your right was the main room with a king-size bed, end tables, lamps, a flat screen television, floor lamp, bench, desk and a single chair with an ottoman. There was no dresser which I found odd and had me slightly in panic mode but I was able to pack away all of my clothes in the 3 drawers provided in the closet.
The room was basic yet very clean. We did have to tell the front desk the toilet was leaking but there was a drain near the commode so I wonder if that were expected?
Resort Grounds
I always take the first day to explore the resort grounds and the beach. My tradition is to stick my feet in the water on Day 1. When you enter the resort you are greeted by staff and a spacious lobby. If you continue walking forward you get a view of the pools and the beach and Pacific Ocean. If you stare hard enough you can see the silhouette of the ships in the distance waiting to go through the Panama Canal.
To the left is the Pacifico Restaurant which is buffet style. We ate there for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They had typical all-inclusive resort food which was well prepared. There was plenty of seating. They also had outdoor seating on the balcony.
To the right of that restaurant are stairs taking you to pool level as well as the Panamazing desk which is where you can book all of your excursions.
If you walk down the hall past the front desk you will see the bar on your left and a café on your right. Continue down the hall and you also pass a gift shop. There were plenty of restrooms off of the lobby so you wouldn’t need to go back to your room if you didn’t want to.
The lobby furniture was comfortable and plentiful.
Dining Delights
Most of the restaurants were located on the pool level one after the other on the property. Only the Pacifica was upstairs.
The resort offers several dining options but due to the time of year we arrived, only a few of the restaurants were actually open and serving food.
Pacifica
As mentioned above, it was located off the main lobby and was buffet style. It opened around 8 am and closed around midnight. They did close between breakfast, lunch and dinner for a few hours.
They offered basic all-inclusive resort food such as made-to-order omelettes, bacon, turkey sausage, pancakes, cereal, fresh fruit, etc. There was something for everyone.
Starfish Grill
This is located on the pool level and serves poolside food like tacos, burgers, nachos, pizza, etc. They have a small buffet or you can order food off the menu.
I ordered plain cheese personal pizza and it was tasty. My sister-in-law ordered a pepperoni pizza and she said it was one of the better tasting foods at the resort.
They also have a bomb ceviche! That was my personal favorite of all the food they offered.
Asiana
This is their version of Asian food. It requires a reservation. We didn’t dine here so unsure of the food.
Tierra Y Fuego
This is a surf and turf style restaurant. It requires a reservation. I had the scallops which were ok. Can’t go wrong with scallops.
Soleo Sports Bar
This is a bar and they have televisions, music and drinks. We hung out here the first night at the resort.
Oregano Italian Deli
This was closed during our stay and never opened so there is no review for this location.
La Micaela Café
This is the little coffee shop located on the lobby level in front of the lobby bar. While you can purchase the all-inclusive package which includes all food and beverages at all of the restaurants, café and bars, if you order room service that is an extra charge. What we did is get some of the smoothie bowls, bowls of fruit and pastries from the café before they closed and took that back to the room in the event we wanted a midnight snack.
Tidal Bar
This is a poolside bar. Due to the low volume season, it wasn’t occupied during pool hours.
The Pool Scene
There are several pools on the property that are oceanside. There is a single kiddie pool that is very shallow for the children. That is on the far end of the property. There is also a little kiddie playground with slides and swings just past the trees as well.
Next you have two additional pools. They were for both adults and children. There was a medium sized pool which went up to 5 feet and had lounge chairs around it.
The third pool was a main attracting and located on the other side of the towel counter. That pool went up to about 4 feet. The next pool I believe went up to 6 feet and wrapped around the swim up bar. It was very long and on the other extreme end of the property.
The pool area contained a towel counter where you pick up and drop off your towels, lounge chairs in the sun or shaded all around all of the pools, picnic tables in the grassy area before accessing the beach at all pools and constant music coming out of the huge speakers next to the towel counter.
There wasn’t a lot of entertainment in the pool area. Every day they posted activities for the day (primarily located around the pool) in the elevators and right outside the Pacifica restaurant.
I participated in a 30-minute stretch at 10 am one morning. I skipped the water aerobics at 11 am and also skipped the dance lessons at 2 pm. Those were the typical activities they offered daily at the pool.
Beach Side
When I go on vacation I am one of those people who enjoys going into the ocean and spending time on the beach. Unfortunately the beach at this resort was lackluster. The “sand” is simply crushed up shells which means wear water shoes when strolling on the beach or you might cut the bottom of your foot.
It doesn’t appear to be for full occupation because there are no lounge chairs, tables or umbrellas on the beach. I went to the beach to dip my feet then washed them off before settling down at the pool.
Since it is so close to the city, the water isn’t crystal clear that we are used to which was disappointing since the last time I came to Panama 24 years ago the water was crystal clear. In the distance you can see the ships lined up to go through the Panama Canal so I attributed it to that.
The most interesting observation about the beach is that when it’s low tide the water recedes all the way out and the beach practically vanishes.
The Gym
I did venture over to the gym to check it out and it’s located on the extreme end of the property next to the spa. The gym was a very nice size and filled with all types of cardio equipment such as ellipticals, treadmills, and rowers. It was also outfitted with fitness balls, workout mats, BOSU balls and TRX equipment.
They offered towel service and had infused water available for gymgoers. They also had a complete rack of hand weights and kettlebells. Last but not least they had machines to work the upper and lower body.
I did a quick 10-minute upper body workout there and it felt good to get at least some resistance training in.
Adventures Beyond the Resort
We got off the resort multiple times. On tour day we went to the following memorable places:
The Amador Causeway
This led us to the marina but before you get there you see walking and bike paths along the water. You can see a lot of green open park space. It’s also lined with restaurants and activities such as paddle boating and kayaking. A really cool Biomuseo is also located there and showcases the unique environment of Panama.
Casco Viejo
The historic aspect of this part of Panama City was amazing. We toured multiple cathedrals and admired the French influenced architecture. There were multiple statues of the explorers and/or leaders. There were street vendors with all types of things to purchase. They don’t hassle you which I loved. One of the best features of Casco Viejo is the Street Of Hats. It was really cool and a handmade Panama hat store is also located there.
The Panama Canal
I don’t care what you do this is a must see while you are in Panama. When you pull in you purchase your tickets which is about $17.50 for adult non-residents per person. It includes a 45-minute IMAX film of the history and creation of the Panama Canal.
We first went on the platform to see a cruise ship come through the canal. It was such a vibe and very fun.
Then they ushered us into the IMAX theater where we learned of the awesome history of how the Panama Canal was created. After you walk through a gift shop to pick up any souvenirs.
Mercado De Los Mariscos
This is the wildly popular fish market that we passed Day 1 of our arrival in Panama City. It is set up with a bunch of different food booths offering fresh fish meals that were caught earlier that same day. Now that’s FRESH! I had fried snapper with platanos and it filled me up. I wasn’t hungry for the rest of the night.
Just be aware, as soon as you step foot in there each vendor is going to hound you and offer either free ceviche or Balboa beer (national beer) to sit at their station. We depended on our tour guide to suggest a booth and that is where we ate.
Nightlife
Nightlife on the resort resided at the Soleo Bar and we did that the first night. The next night we went to a few of the rooftop bars. Our favorite was The Point. The bar is on the roof 34 floors up. It was huge and includes ziplining. It was an amazing view of Panama City at night. I highly recommend it. If you like hookahs they have that there too.
The next night we went to a jazz bar which was packed. I forget the name but the music, people and vibe were cool. They were a little slow serving drinks but then again, the establishment was crowded.
The last night we went to another bar where they were hosting a game night. They served appetizers and drinks. We had a fun playing spades and Bid Whist. They also allowed for hookahs in a separate room. The energy was fun and the crowd was very friendly.
Tips for Future Travelers
Best time to visit
We stayed from July 6 to July 10 and the resort appeared to be about half full. The more popular day to arrive is Wednesday and like clockwork Wednesday was our last day and saw more people around the pool. The popular time of year to visit Panama is Dry Season between December–April. Even though we visited during Wet Season we never had rain. Some overcast days but no rain.
Currency
Panama makes it very easy, they accept USD 1 for 1. Try to give exact change because they will try and give you back balboas if they have to issue change. Many of the souvenir shops accepted credit cards as well. We took Ubers from the resort into the city so we didn’t have to exchange money for that since everything goes through the app.
Language
Spanish is the official language but many of the street and building signs are in both Spanish and English. The hotel staff at the Westin Playa Bonita only spoke Spanish. Michael at the resort bar spoke English along with the front desk staff. The restaurant staff and cleaning ladies only spoke Spanish so brush up on your Spanish or bring a live translator device.
What to Wear
The weather was surprisingly mild considering the time of year and distance from the equator. Wear light and airy clothing. If you burn easily definitely wear longer sleeves in light material. Bring your sandals, dress sandals for the nightlight and comfortable walking shoes especially if you go on an excursion.
As far as accessories be sure to bring bug spray (Westin Playa Bonita had bug spray wipes in the rooms), sunscreen, sun hat, fanny pack and can’t forget your camera!
Airline
We traveled from Baltimore to Panama via American Airlines. We had a connecting flight in Miami, Florida. We have since learned Copa Airlines has a direct flight from Baltimore, Maryland to Panama so we plan to use that airline next time.
Final Thoughts
Our stay at The Westin Playa Bonita was the perfect blend of luxury, nature, and nightlife. It’s very close to Panama City and there was something for everyone. If you want to stay poolside and peer out over the Pacific Ocean you can do that. If you want to hang out in the city, you can do that. If you want to go on an all-day excursion, that’s an option too. This is a family-friendly property.
The property is vast and big for hosting business conferences. They also have private residences next door if you would like to purchase a second home. You can learn more about their residential property from a representative who sits in the lobby daily next to the check-in desk.
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family vacation, a destination wedding or a solo retreat, this resort is a fantastic base for exploring the best of Panama.
Would We Go Back
Absolutely!
Resort Information
Westin Playa Bonita
Km 6 Camino a Veracruz
Panama City, Panama
ROOM RESERVATIONS PHONE NUMBER: +507 -6670-2523
Fax: +507 304-6601
Will you be booking a stay there?
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