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Champagne_travels
Vancouver, Canada

Pleasant surprise

5.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed 22 Feb 2024via mobile
What a Pleasant Surprise it was, coming back to JW after almost 10 years hiatus!! It was my 4 th stay at the property. Used to stay there when it still was Trump Ocean Club Hotel.

Last visit was in 2015 when JW just took over the property. it was looking shabby and run down. But not anymore ! Please, do keep in mind that building is 13 years old and salt air isn’t necessary gentle with metal or concrete , you can see some wear and tear, but Pools , hotel grounds, gym look well cared after and staff is amazing and helpful!

As a Marriott member I got upgraded to a nice spacious suite with a stunning views of the ocean. As a solo female traveler, hotel staff and management went above and beyond to make sure I have everything needed . Special thank you to the Azul staff!

Looking forward to my next stay with JW Panama
Date of stay: February 2024
Trip type: Travelled solo
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Edgar Rodriguez, Otro at Jw Marriott Panama, responded to this review
Responded 26 Feb 2024
Dear Mrs. Zhanna23,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that returning to JW after nearly a decade was such a pleasant surprise for you. It's wonderful to know that you found significant improvements and attentive care in the maintenance of our facilities. We're delighted that, as a Marriott member, you enjoyed an upgraded suite with breathtaking ocean views, and that our staff, especially at Azul, ensured your comfort as a solo female traveler.
We can't wait to welcome you back for your next stay at JW Panama!
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
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Reviewed 15 February 2024

Meh Meh… it’s Panama City and we are staying in some sort of converted apartment made into a hotel. Smells like a Trump Tower.

Cheap doors..
Bad wall paper

Meh meh meh

Ok so I have to write more cuz it’s trip advisor and not google. So I’ll
Just keep saying that this hotel is meh.

Date of stay: September 2023
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Service
1  Thank Stephan_Solano
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.
Edgar Rodriguez, Otro at Jw Marriott Panama, responded to this reviewResponded 26 February 2024

Dear Mr. Stephan_solano,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We understand that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we appreciate you bringing these issues to our attention. We take all guest feedback seriously and will address the issues you mentioned regarding the smell, quality of doors, and wallpaper. Our goal is to provide a comfortable and enjoyable stay for all our guests, and we regret that we fell short in this instance. We hope you'll consider giving us another chance in the future to provide you with a more positive experience. If you have any further concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to our management team.

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Reviewed 11 February 2024 via mobile

Comfortable bed, clean room and phenomenal breakfast buffet whose $25 cost was credited to us. As others have said, the bathtubs are silly and in the way; they’re actually too small for 2 people if that’s your thing. The building construct and the two elevator towers are so inconvenient and confusing - I never got used to it after 4 days. However, Marriott did not build the hotel: it was opened by a notorious hotelier whose properties are dwindling thankfully. The main bar didn’t have nearly the needed amount of seating and it wasn’t a place anyone would feel cozy in anyway. My goal on the trip was to relax and get a tan in the warm Panamanian sun. This was impossible for two reasons: in February, when we were there, the angle of the sun created complete shadows against the hotel building as early as 11:30. The pool area was in the shade. Plus, there are nowhere near enough lounges, which are all claimed with towels by breakfast time anyway. The seat hogs didn’t lay in them for hours and hours, if at all. Forget about sitting in the low gray chairs partially submerged in the pool - they’re never available. This was a huge disappointment showing a lack of policy enforcement on the part of the hotel. I’ll choose a different Panama City hotel next visit.

Date of stay: February 2024
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Thank impicky
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.
Edgar Rodriguez, Otro at Jw Marriott Panama, responded to this reviewResponded 15 February 2024

Dear Impicky,

Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the comfortable bed and breakfast buffet. We'll take note of your comments about the pool area and seating availability to make improvements. We appreciate your input and hope to have the chance to host you again in the future.
Thank you for choosing to stay with us in Panama City.

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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 8 February 2024

We enjoyed our stay at the JW Marriott and liked the hotel. First the positive: The hotel check in went smoothly for us. There are a few really nice staff to commend, Antony and Philip. Both were so friendly and gave us some good tips on things in the area to do. We really liked the breakfast buffet at Masai restaurant and the salad with really fresh greens and cashews was delicious for lunch. The pools on the 13th floor are fun and there are shady options available. And the bar has nice drinks available. The gym is great on the 13th floor with good equipment. Cleaning staff were very efficient and nice.

Now for some odd quirks. Arrival on lower level and you have to take the elevator to the lobby for check in. Then you switch to a different elevator for your room. Takes getting used to so you take the right elevator. Our room safe stopped working after we had locked our passports and valuables in it. So required a call to Security and waiting for them to open it for us. The housecleaning staff had somehow opened our closet and the light wasn't going off when it closed. We didn't realize it until we were ready for bed. Then light coming in through the closet door so we had to call and get it fixed before we could go to sleep. The shower is really good. The large bathtub with the curtain around it in the middle of the room is definitely odd. Would prefer if they removed it and offered rooms with only showers for those that don't use the tub. The room is somewhat dated but loved that there are 2 sinks and wonderful sitting balcony with beautiful views and great breezes. The location is convenient and the hotel residence attached building has a small mall with several nice restaurants. Loved Bella and their vegetarian appetizers. Also if you go to the right when you exit the hotel and follow the road around the corner, there are a few restaurants on the right (past the pharmacy). Loved the Italian one. And across from that is a small market with lovely whole food and fruit options. We also found a good route to walk to the large American style mall with every store and restaurant you could imagine in it and a large grocery store as well. All in all, it is a very nice hotel, just be aware of the quirks. The weekday traffic by the hotel is really difficult, especially early morning and late afternoon. But mid-day seems to ease up a little and weekends are fairly light traffic.

Date of stay: January 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Service
Thank turtlelover22
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.
Edgar Rodriguez, Otro at Jw Marriott Panama, responded to this reviewResponded 15 February 2024

Dear turtlelover22,
Thank you for sharing your recent experience at JW Marriott. We're delighted that you enjoyed your stay overall, particularly the friendly staff, breakfast buffet, amenities, and convenient location. Your feedback regarding the quirks you encountered is valuable to us, and we'll address these to ensure a smoother experience for our guests.
We look forward to welcoming you back for another pleasant stay in the future.
Thank you for choosing JW Marriott.

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Reviewed 5 February 2024 via mobile

I stayed here on business and as usual, another Marriott property met my needs and exceeded my expectations. The staff are friendly, the amenities are great (pools were nice with amazing waterfront views), the room was large and comfortable, the execute lounge was nice with an assortment of offerings, and the breakfast was plentiful and fresh. I would recommend this property and plan to stay here again on my next visit to Panama City.

Date of stay: January 2024
Trip type: Travelled on business
Thank TravelingFamilyinSIN
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.
Edgar Rodriguez, Otro at Jw Marriott Panama, responded to this reviewResponded 15 February 2024

Dear TravelingFamilyinSIN,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that your stay with us exceeded your expectations and that our property met all your needs during your business trip. It's fantastic to know that you found our staff friendly, our amenities great, and our rooms spacious and comfortable. We're delighted that you enjoyed the stunning waterfront views from our pools and the variety of offerings at our executive lounge and breakfast.

We truly appreciate your recommendation and are honored that you plan to stay with us again on your next visit to Panama City. We look forward to welcoming you back and providing you with another exceptional experience. Thank you for choosing to stay with us at Marriott.

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Reviewed 17 January 2024 via mobile

This hotel is very welcoming. Every single staff member was friendly and helpful.
The pool areas, especially the infinity pool, were beautiful and relaxing.
The bathroom situation is a bit odd. Bathtub in middle of room with half a curtain around it. Shower and toilet do not have much privacy.
Hotel needs updating urgently! The rooms were not cleaned as well as they should be. When we arrived my bathtub had many hairs in it!

Date of stay: January 2024
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
1  Thank 4greatkds
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.
Edgar Rodriguez, Otro at Jw Marriott Panama, responded to this reviewResponded 15 February 2024

Dear 4greatkds,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on your recent stay with us. We're pleased to hear that you found our hotel welcoming and that our staff provided friendly and helpful service throughout your visit. It's great to know that you enjoyed the beautiful and relaxing pool areas, particularly the infinity pool.

We appreciate your feedback regarding the bathroom setup and the need for updates in the hotel. Your comments about the cleanliness of the rooms have been duly noted, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused during your stay.

We value your input as it helps us identify areas for improvement, and we will address these concerns to ensure a better experience for our guests in the future. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and provide you with an even more enjoyable stay. Thank you for choosing our hotel for your accommodation.

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