It’s hard to believe that it’s July and we haven’t traveled much this year. Especially because by now we would’ve at least taken two vacations and a few road trips. But instead of creating new travel memories, we have found ourselves reminiscing on our favorite vacations from the year before. Today I wanted to share one from the archives, because visiting Panama is always among my favorite vacays. This last vacation we explored the city as a family and had a blast.
Where to Stay
This is a big question and my answer is that it really depends on your preference. I would say I’m sort of a loyalist when it comes to hotels. So I stick to major brands like Marriott because I somewhat know what to expect. With that said, we did our research and decided to stay at the Sortis Casino and Hotel. We loved the location and the vibe, plus it had good reviews.
When we got there check-in was seamless, we were greeted promptly, the staff was bilingual and practiced good customer service. The entire hotel had a great vibe and seemed clean. It somewhat reminded me of casinos in Las Vegas. The room was clean and the decor super modern, which is something we liked. Our most favorite thing about the hotel were the views and the pool!
PIN FOR LATER
The food at the hotel was good too. In the morning I ordered a fresh juice with different fruits and it was amazing. The girls had a huge chocolate chip pancake and they enjoyed that a lot too. The food and drinks by the pool were also five star. We had a burger and pizza off the menu and there were zero complaints. The customer service at the pool was beyond great. 🙂 I make emphasis on this because outside of the U.S. customer service can be a tricky thing.
That morning we decided to make our day a pool day. So we just hung out poolside for few hours before heading out that night. This is hands down of the best pools we have been to while vacationing in Panama. Yes, including resorts! Maybe it was the lay out or the view; either way we ALL loved the pool!
Explore Panama at Night
Part of exploring the city meant leaving the hotel. The location of the Sortis hotel was perfect because it was within a good distance to points of interest. Our second night there, we left the girls with grandma, caught an Uber and headed to Casco Viejo (also known as Casco Antiguo). I shared a bit on this gem on this post with tips on four things to do when visiting Panama, in case that you want to give it a read. Though we had been before, this time we went at night because our goal was to experience the night life. We found a few restaurants, some with dress codes others without. But our favorite location was La Rana Dorada Brewpub. It had a great atmosphere and great beer. That’s one of my hidden traits, I’m a true craft beer lover and this place is a must try. Plus it has the cutest balcony which makes for some amazing Instagram photos. 😉
Venture Away from the City
Depending on how long you’re in Panama, I think venturing away from the city can also be fun. Most of the beautiful beaches, rivers, lakes and lagoons are in the outskirts or el interior (countryside) as many call it.
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If that’s not your thing there are many other things to explore in the city still. Shopping, restaurants, you name it. I hope to visit more places next time so that I can update this post and have more options for you, so STAY TUNED!
Saludos,
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