Riu Playa Blanca: Great time at Riu Playa Blanca

This was our 3rd time at Riu Playa Blanca in Rio Hato The room was lovely with a king size bed and large bathroom with shower The entertainment was the same for the last 3 years, except they now added a lip sync and dancing show including Bruno Mars, Marc Anthony, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, as well as an Abba show. Both of these were a welcome addition and very well received.

Riu Playa Blanca: Great value for Money

I'm not sure of the full facilities of this hotel, but notwithstanding the hotel rates five star. I do have one complaint and I'll get to that, but first let me tell you why I think this is a five star hotel. The hotel management is first class and this shows everywhere. The hotel is super clean. Public spaces, gardens and beach are immaculate. Everything works. We did have a problem with our room safe but maintenance was in the room and the problem fixed within minutes of the issue b [... read more]eing reported to the hotel switchboard. Without exception staff were well turned out, polite, friendly and helpful. Our room was large, bright and airy, with no sign of mildew, so common in the tropics. The air-conditioning worked well and was quiet, as was the ceiling fan. The hotel is located only about 7 minutes from the airport, and travel between the airport and hotel was well organized, as was our reception at the hotel. There is no portering service but this isn't an issue as there are four small elevators in the main building and room signage and directions are good. During our visit the elevators were in service all the time, to the best of my knowledge. We did not use any of the pools, so I'm not going to comment on them. We swam in the blue sea which was very warm and completely safe, but not really suitable for snorkeling as the ocean is murky. The hotel is located on a beach about 4 kms long. The beach is deep and shallow, and while we were at the hotel there was no surf and only wavelet. The sand is very hard below high water and great for walking, but grey in colour and not particularly attractive. We had all but three meals in the main dining area. This large space is divided into a core air-conditioned area, where the food is self service, and an outer area which is covered but open to the gardens. We preferred to eat in this latter area, but there a couple of cats around, and various mynah birds, intent on stealing food, particularly fruit and packets of sugar. The quality and variety of the food was excellent at all times, and there were several different items each day. My only regret was that it wasn't mango season, but the pineapple was the best I have ever had. Salads, mains, veggies were all great. Desserts were sometimes quite gaudy [some had gold leaf] but all were very tasty. The four house wines were all very pleasant. Bar drinks were very nice, and the staff were very smart in keeping the amount of alcohol in the drinks low, unless you wished for more, in which case it was freely given. My only complaint relates to the three specialty restaurants, my partner didn’t really have any issues with her food but I did. At the Italian Restaurant the minestrone soup was so salty it was inedible. There was a major problem with noise on the evening we attended the Italian Restaurant, two large groups of a certain ethnicity were shouting and screaming at one another across the room – we got up and left it was so bad. At the Asian Restaurant the soggy heavy “tempura” bore no resemblance to light super crispy tempura batter. At the steak house, the Caesar salad was very poor and so were the pork ribs, which was surprising as the pork was excellent in the main dining room. I suggest that Hotel management take a close look at these restaurants as, in my opinion, the food is not up to the standards of the main dining room, and the staff in the Italian restaurant made no attempt to control the rowdy diners . We traveled on a Sunwing holiday, and the local staff were very friendly and helpful. We only had one 5 hour excursion to the local town of Penonome, which at USD $ 20 per person was great value for money and led by a very informative helpful guide. This was an excellent vacation, good flights, transportation and a five star hotel, what more could you ask for.

Bijao Beach Resort: Nice resort

Nice hotel, room had minor issues. No working bathroom fan, no hot water in shower AC made a lot of noise but worked great. Hotel provided complementary toiletries but if not used taken away and not replaced. Issue getting bottled water. Rooms only allotted 2 small bottles a day. Not enough staff to accommodate the number of people, but the staff were great. Only 2 bars at times on resort other than the pool bar which was always full . And long waits to get drinks. Sometimes no tables available  [... read more]at the buffet. The size of resort was perfect. Getting change for tips on resort was an issue , especially money to leave country.

Grand Decameron Panama: Not for English speaking people

Very disappointing. Food was disgusting, rooms had mold in the washrooms. No live music entertainment other than only spanish(no interpreters) for one nightly show which was not worth going to. It would be nice to have options for different age groups and at least a small amount of staff or people to provide french and english to some others that paid a large sum to be there. No water sports at all. Pools we being cleaned during our stay so shut down rather than at night. One pool closed at 530 [... read more]pm. Sunwing was not available. Fly air transat if you go they have a live person. Take the public bus not offered to town and hire a private driver to canal etc so your not disappointed when sunwing cancels for off resort trips 3 days in a row.

Bijao Beach Resort: Rooms have amazing views and the beds are comfortable.

Grounds are beautiful and the water slides are a lot of fun. They could use more bars. Buffet area is very hot. À la carts are very good! Staff is very friendly! The beach is beautiful just a few steps to get down there.

Dreams Playa Bonita Panama: Great Vacation

I was really concerned with all the negative reviews and even contemplated changing locations. I am glad I decided to give it a try. The resort is over an hour from the airport. The ride was okay and the driver even stopped for us to get some beers and go to the washroom. The check-in was easy. We had preferred club, and stayed at the adult only pool. It was easy getting a spot by the pool. Walked the beach and swam in the ocean. It was amazing seeing the tide going in and out. The fo [... read more]od was good. You will not starve. We had room service 3 times and ate at each of the specialty restaurants. The omelet station is only there on certain days, so make sure you get one while you can. The staff are friendly, the resort is dated but well cared for. My husband had trouble sleeping on the bed, but I found it okay. A vacation is what you make it. I am glad I didn't listen to all the negative reviews. One truth that must be stressed is the "Can't see ums". They have mosquito like bugs that are almost invisible and bite. I didn't get my first bite until days three. The bites are really itchy. Bring an after-bite cream or Benadryl for the itching. The resort does fumigate and provide little repellant wipes. I brought bug spray and spayed the sun beds. Overall, 7/10. Happy vacationing.

Bijao Beach Resort: Great value for monies spent

A family group of 17 went, all ages, all different wants and needs. No major concerns, the food excellent, staff great. Our travel agent Wendy Harrington met all of our needs, kept us up to date and was great to work with. We would recommend Bijao Beach resort in Panama.

Grand Decameron Panama: Disappointed

The best part of this trip was the weather which the resort had nothing to do with. There was a major language barrier and not good signage for English speaking people. Not many activities , the entertainment was not good,spoken almost entirely in Spanish and the food was not very appetizing. Staff was generally unhelpful once a major language barrier.

Grand Decameron Panama: Mediocre

Language is a problem here. Spanish is preferred and treated with priority. Rooms are ok but dated, there are no coffee machines in room have to go to lobby if you want in room. Food is not that great but eatable if you don’t mind lukewarm and small selection same six things on both sides of buffet table. Alacart food is ok but not fantastic. Servers kind of serve Spanish better. We were ignored several times. Beach is big need to be there early to get umbrella even pool looked like taken quic [... read more]kly. For the price there are all inclusive resorts all over Caribbean priced same or less with better quality food and rooms. On the hillside gets kinda tired walking up and down they lied to us about shuttle. It’s there but common to wait 45 min

Grand Decameron Panama: Royal Decameron

I was extremely disappointed with our trip to the Royal Decameron this time. We have booked there 3 times previously and enjoyed the resort. This time we found a rusted mini fridge in our room that was completely empty. It was advertised in you web site that there was a mini fridge in each room. It was fully stocked in our previous visits. Also there was no coffee making machines in the rooms. This was also a first. The site itself was very good and the staff very friendly. We won' [... read more]t be back here.

Westin Playa Bonita: Overrated and overpriced

The hotel, rated five stars, does not truly meet expectations; at best, it deserves a four-star rating. The location is good, situated right on the beach. However, cleanliness is a concern: plastic caps, cans, and other trash are scattered around, indicating the beach is not cleaned regularly. The swimming pool also appeared dirty due to debris brought in from the patchy grassy areas surrounding it. The all-inclusive option does not cover all restaurants. At the coffee shop, we were told o [... read more]n the first day that only coffee and ice cream were included—not pastries. Two days later, ice cream was no longer included, and on the third day, we were informed that the coffee shop wasn’t part of the all-inclusive package at all. This inconsistent information was both confusing and frustrating. At the Starfish Grill à la carte restaurant, we reserved a table for dinner, but the manager insisted we had to pay. The front desk confirmed that the restaurant was included in our package, but we got the impression the manager was trying to take advantage of us. It’s hard to believe he didn’t know the restaurant was part of the all-inclusive plan. The TV in our room didn’t work, and we repeatedly asked the front desk to have it fixed over six days. Initially, they neglected to mention that we needed to be present when maintenance came. Even when we stayed in the room waiting, no one showed up. The bathroom sink was another issue; it took four days of daily complaints before maintenance finally resolved the problem. Although the hotel has some redeeming qualities, the overall experience was disappointing and far from what one expects from a five-star establishment.

Bijao Beach Resort: Resort satisfactory

Enjoyed the resort. Food was very well presented and lots of selections. My only negative comment would be their lack of English, especially at the reception desk. The staff was pleasant and most helpful even though language barriers were evident.

Grand Decameron Panama: Fun in the sun. Solid family resort

Grounds well maintained. Daily room service. Wi-fi / internet is intermittent. Al a carte restaurants are a nice change from the buffet. Beach is nice and we had a spot every day. Overall would recommend

Grand Decameron Panama: Resort to be explored...

It can be a great experience if u choose this resort with more than 95 % Latino people....All the neighbors of Panama are there...Nothing to worry but my experience start on the wrong foot...37 degrees filling like 43, after 6 hours of pleasant flight, my room ready @ 3PM sharp...not like others before...NO towels in the room! After 45 minutes & a lot of effort on my part, problem solved... The villa I've been, with ocean view , is situated on the hill. The access to the restaurants, buffet &  [... read more]beach : 95 steps up & down! Stair to heaven... 4.5 stars resort? Not even close...Room with basic furniture , no iron board & iron, no toiletries to impress , nothing like this... The only good point was the Dehumidifier in the room! Worth all the money we spend for upgrading to Plus. Actually that was not the only Plus... We have had access to everywhere...Ocean ,amazing! Kind of rough in first 2 days, but worth it ! Food...amazing @ Cowboy, Ramon having all sort out every evening. Very dedicated guy! The other restaurants...food specific Latino... Swimming pools well maintained but with no washrooms around & a lot of people spending hours @ the swim up bar, I wonder if they even realize the issue!!? Housekeeping working hard after being tipped...Bell boys doing the hard work with the luggage to the third floor ... Trip to Panama city & Canal- AMAZING! All together , another nice experience.

Riu Playa Blanca: Great Hotel

Had a great time. Close to airport after a 5 1/2 hour flight. ✈️ Four pools so none of them were over crowded. No air conditioning in restaurants. The resort grounds are very well kept. The sand on the beach is black so bring water shoes as very hot.

Riu Playa Blanca: Superb Resort - Clean and Abundantly Entertaining

The RIU staff are fantastic. Always cleaning and servicing you with a smile and respect. The food was great at the buffet and especially the restaurants. Fruit, breads, salads, desserts are always in abundance and fresh. The variety of food is insane and there's something for everyone. The beach was great but water is not blue or aqua but still very clean. The Wellness Center (SPA) is great however it's located at the far end of the pool and you can hear the booming pool music rather than the ze [... read more]n sounds of the spa. Nonetheless, fantastic hidden gem of a resort.

Riu Playa Blanca: Worth Visiting

Hotel as a whole is very clean. There is always someone around cleaning every area, as an example around the pool area, there is always someone ensuring the floor is free of water thus avoiding someone from slipping. Staff in general are very friendly & polite & are always willing to help. Management are also present at all times to ensure that everything is running smoothly. Two things that could be improved to my opinion are: location of the massage center. It would be better to locate in a mo [... read more]re quiet area to maximize relaxation ambiance. The other one is, having some hut/shade in the beach areas. They will provide coverage from the sweltering heat & will entice people to stay around that area much longer.

Riu Playa Blanca: Great Resort!

The Hotel area is amazing with its spotless walkways and gardens. The staff were just courteous and friendly. There were a lot of choices when it came to dining and they were all fantastic. It was a great overall experience for us and my family and if I were to name a few to improve on, I'd say the entertainment and the beach area could be a bit more pleasant as there were no huts nor shades near the beach. But I would still recommend this resort to anyone.

Riu Playa Blanca: Amazing resort

We were at Riu Playa Blanca Aug 5-12 and have only good things to say. Beautiful resort, super clean, there is always a cleaning crew everywhere it seems at all times, even the outdoor grounds and pool areas. Food is amazing. Staff is friendly and hard working. The beaches are not like Cuba but resort is top notch.

Riu Playa Blanca: Exemplary Resort

Cleanliness is A1, fantastic and friendliness of staff, and an abundance choices of food. Pool setup is also great. Visibility and hands on care of hotel management is quite impressive. I would definitely recommend Riu Playa Blanca to many others. We’ll definitely go back.