Bristol Panama

Our experience at this hotel was awful. We stayed from April 2nd–6th and accidentally left our passports and cash locked inside the in-room safe when we checked out. The safe required our personal 4-digit code, so this should have been secure. When we contacted the hotel, we were given inconsistent and concerning information. First, we were told the passports were simply left in the room — which is impossible because they were locked inside the safe. Then we were later told the passports were found on top of the safe, but the cash was missing. This raises serious concerns about how the safe was accessed and who entered the room. We called multiple times and were repeatedly told the situation was “being investigated,” but no one gave us clear or honest information. Instead, we ended up driving 3 hours across Panama to the hotel, only to then be told they had our passports but not the cash. This could have easily been communicated over the phone and would have saved us an unnecessary and stressful trip. To their credit, they comped us a room and bought us lunch — however, we ultimately paid for that ourselves since approximately $420 in cash is still missing. We have also filed a police report regarding the missing cash. There was no clear explanation of what happened, who cleaned the room, or how items secured in a safe were removed. This is extremely disappointing. A hotel safe is supposed to protect your valuables — not be the place where they go missing. We are still waiting for accountability and a proper explanation. Based on this experience, I would not trust this hotel with personal belongings.

Excellent service by staff. No complaints.

I had high expectations for my stay at Bristol Panama, but unfortunately the experience fell short—primarily due to service. To start with the positives, the rooms themselves were very nice—clean, comfortable, and well-appointed. The hotel has a solid physical product, and from that standpoint, it feels like a 5-star property. Breakfast was okay—nothing bad, but nothing particularly memorable either. Where things really broke down was in the service, especially leading up to the stay. I was planning a special weekend and reached out in advance for some assistance. Since there is no U.S. phone number, I tried contacting the hotel via WhatsApp but never received a response. I then emailed—initially I did get a reply, but when I followed up with a more detailed message explaining my situation and asking a few questions, I never heard back. I sent another follow-up specifically calling out the lack of response… and still nothing. For a hotel that positions itself as 5-star, this level of communication is disappointing. When guests take the time to plan something special and reach out proactively, responsiveness should be a given. Overall, while the rooms are strong, the service—particularly communication—did not meet expectations, and that ultimately defined the experience for me.

My stay at Bristol Hotel Panama was very comfortable and enjoyable. The hotel was clean, well maintained, and in a convenient location. The staff were courteous, professional, and helpful throughout my stay, which made the experience even better. I appreciated the smooth check-in process and the overall quality of service. I would be happy to stay here again and would recommend the hotel to others.

The Bristol Panama is a luxurious hotel with all the amenities . The staff is very welcoming and cheerful, the bar and restaurant are both very high quality . The food in the restaurant is superior to other hotel dining I have experienced . High quality ingredients expertly prepared . The service everywhere I have been in Panama is on the slow side but I remind myself that not everyone is a hyper East coaster . A large , well appointed room with an especially comfortable bed and lovely sheets . The bathroom is spacious and very clean . The lap pool area is very small with only 2 chaises and no shade therefore we did not use it at all. The car service offered is excellent and UBER is very convenient, secure and timely. All in all it deserves a 5 star rating .