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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Looking for a place to stay in Panama City? Then look no further than Hotel California, a budget friendly hotel that brings the best of Panama City to your doorstep.
The rooms offer air conditioning, and getting online is possible, as free wifi is available, allowing you to rest and refresh with ease.
Hotel California features 24 hour front desk and baggage storage. In addition, as a valued Hotel California guest, you can enjoy a pool with a view and an on-site restaurant that are available on-site. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to free parking.
While staying at Hotel California, visitors can check out Plaza Bolivar (1.3 mi) and Habla Ya Spanish for Travelers - Day Classes (1.4 mi), some of Panama City's top attractions.
Travellers looking to enjoy some shrimp can head to Mercado de Mariscos, Restaurante Tinajas, or El Trapiche. Otherwise, you may want to check out a Thai restaurant such as Chin Chin, Sukhi, or NacionSushi.
Panama City is also home to Palacio de las Garzas, a popular government building that is not too far from Hotel California.
We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Hotel California as you experience everything Panama City has to offer.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Great View
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
Via Espana & Calle 43, Panama City Panama
Hotel California
3.7 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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My room was satisfactory, but I booked here because the listing said fitness center and pool. The equipment in the "fitness center" didn't work. They obviously used trick photography with the pool. It was only as big as a hot hub. Impossible to swim.
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hotel California is centrally located, on Via Espana, if you like to go shopping at the in-city malls, you could take a taxi for only $ 1.25. The hotel is very clean, the staff very helpful, speak english & the bartenders and waitresses (all female) at the bar-restaurant are really nice. The food was presentable, tasty and abundant. My daughter and I ordered the chicken salad and we could only complete half of the dish. Service is relatively speedy and its interior design was pretty colorful & well kept. The rooms were small but decent for the budget, change of the linen daily, a/c, cold & hot water--all functional. I recommend it very much and if you need a tour guide contact Eliana at: elianacollado20@yahoo.com, very pleasant and decent person.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We found this to be a very pleasant, clean, and affordable hotel for our one-night layover in Panama City. The staff were friendly and the service was great. Even though we speak Spanish, they switched easily to English when needed. Oh - and a HOT shower... wonderful. Much nicer than many hotels we have used in Central America. Tip - talk to your taxi driver from the airport about picking you up the next morning for the return trip. He was eager to do it and showed up at the hotel 30 minutes early. Great service.
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Date of stay: April 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Ask for a room not on the front street side if traffic noise is an issue for you.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Staff was very friendly, the hotel was extremely clean. Very basic but clean. My only caveat is that I wish they had blankets. Excellent location. There's a chino, a bakery and a convenience store nearby.
Also, there's a small fonda with delicious food almost next to it.
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Front desk staff were friendly, professional. Check-in was smooth. Room was clean, spacious, comfortable, hot shower, good AC. Convenient location, close walk to ocean, near Central Avenue to go anywhere in the city. Awesome value. RECOMMEND!
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tiny room, couldn’t get around the bed. Bathroom so small had to sit sideways. We booked two days as a starting g point to our trip. Got the worst room in the place. Only redeeming factor was the rooftop pool deck. Fantastic city view. Asked for a mini fridge, no. Asked for a different room, no.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you can get a room on the 3rd or higher floor Hotel CA is a fantastic bargain, however you MUST be in a back room. If you have a room in the front or even the sides of the building, traffiic will wake you up at 0530 every business day. There is a school on the right side oif the buliding. It is also noisy. Maybe you think you're a sound sleeper and the traffic won't bother you-WRONG! Panamanians love to use their horns constantly and when the bus drivers do, it will wake you. Did I mention the horns are constant? Usually to get a back room you have to be there a day or two and move when one comes open. Avoid floors 1 and 2 becuase the windows are the old fasioned louvered frosted glass (horizontal glass slats) that do not seal closed so that hot air enters and so does noise. And when they are closed you have no view. You probably won't want to open them due to the heat and lack of screens.
SAFETY: I lived in Panama for 14 months. I never had any problems. I believe the Hotel CA is in a reasonably safe area. At times I was out walking alone at 0200, 0400, and 0530 as well as many times late at night near midnight. Even if you stayed at the expensive hotels I don't think those areas are any safer. I always carried OC (pepper spray) and an expandable baton. You can get them from police supply catalogs/stores or military surplus stores.
Please tip the maids well. They all work very hard and are paid little. Say hello to Estela for me. She always took good care of me and even let me borrow her cooler. At the front desk: Yes, Oneiva is always friendly. Serie is also friendly if you aren't rude to her. The handyman, I'm sorry I can't think of his name, was always helpful and hardworking. Please give him a good tip.
I was working as an airplane pilot based out of Gelabert at the time I stayed here. I was permitted to leave some of my luggage in a locked area of the basement. When I returned from one trip I found out that my carry on bag was stolen. I asked what the owners would do about it and was told I was no longer permitted to keep my excess luggage there! I was not paid any compensation. This didn't really surprise me. I had always found the two brothers that owned the place to be unfriendly and not helpful in any way.
There is a grocerystore/cafeteria/sandwich-ice cream store within easy walking distance. There are 3 laundramats within 2 blocks. There is an excellent cafeteria nearby that has low prices for Panamanian business people. It is ordinary Panamanian food that any picky American would enjoy. Take a left out the front door. Walk past the closed theater. Cross the busy street. Walk one block. You will pass 3 chinese laundramats, at least one cafeteria and one small chinese owned store. Turn left. Walk 5-10m. Cross the street. You're there. It is open on business days only for breakfast and lunch. It is much, much better food than at the hotel and as good as anywhere.
The hotel claims to have a pool. This is an unheated jacuzzi.
MUST DO!: Day 1 in Panama(or before)-Call the Mire Flores restaurant and reserve a table overlooking the Panama Canal for dinner. Semi formal attire recommended. Tell them you want a table next to the railing. Food C+ to B+. View AAA+++ Our magnificent canal (that the peanut brain prez gave to a dictator) . Make sure you arrive after dark. It will still be hot with 99% humidity.
Floors 3 or higher, in the BACK are an excellent deal, otherwise avoid if you want to sleep past 0530. The back rooms are also larger. I lived in Panama 14 months. I was comfortable in the Hotel CA and saved big bucks staying there. The hotel CA is a better deal than most of the others in that price range.
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Date of stay: July 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We needed to be in Panama for a few days for business and Hotel California was perfect for our needs. It is centrally located in the city, near shopping and restaurants and is inexpensive, clean and friendly. There is a very nice rooftop patio with jacuzzi which is perfect for relaxing outside your room. There is good WiFi and the connected restaurant had delicious breakfast. We will return and recommend this hotel.
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Date of stay: January 2014Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Its a great deal right on Via Espana. Its walking distance from Budget rent a car , the Riba Smith ( great super market) and the real "Tailor of Panama" office is a stones throw. Nice relaxing tub on the roof to soak in and a great view of the skyline.
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Date of stay: March 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:get a room in the back - front is kind of noisy but fun to watch the road.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rooms were good for the price, good A/C and cable TV. Cleaned daily and most staff were friendly. Little disappointing that the upstairs rooftop had to be closed by 10pm, this was one of the best features of the hotel. Area is a little dodgy, but common sense dictates what you should do. Overall a good place to stay.
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Date of stay: April 2013
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:All similar, higher up the less traffic noise.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"1. Ask for a room away from the street if you want a more quiet atmosphere.
2. Try the restaurant for both breakfast and dinner.
3. Buy the local newspaper if you read spanish so you are in the know if the city."
There are more places to choose from in the Panama City area.
PRICE RANGE
$59 - $66 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
california hotel panama city
LOCATION
PanamaPanama ProvincePanama City
NUMBER OF ROOMS
60
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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