El Panama Hotel, Panama City

Advantages: Relaxing escape, stone's throw from Panama City
Disadvantages: No atmospheric beachside bar to enjoy a beer at sunset

...of Paul Gauguin's former house. The island itself has been popular with artists and pirates over the years, including Welsh pirate, Captain Henry Morgan, who destroyed a lot of Panama City, and Sir Francis Drake. The villagers are cheerful as you explore the island. The kids look like they're living the ideal childhood, and the pace of life is slow. There are a couple of crosses mounted up in the hills if you fancy a small hike. There is no longer a hostel on the island, so if you are shoestringing, you'd be out of luck. There is a hotel, but you might find a day trip would be enough anyway, especially as a lone traveller. So in short, a great place to escape the bustle of Panama City and grab a bit of sun without straying too far. Quiet, pretty and relaxed, but for absolute beauty or fab eating and drinking, you can't compare with other... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: beauty of the site, indian culture, non touristic
Disadvantages: no access by road, no phones (except aboard yachts)

...reef (Hollandes reef) a pearl .. coral, spoted eagle raies, dolphins, etc. etc.. whaou .. what a trip !!memorable .thank you the samll company coordinating my trip from Panama city (san blas sailing) : they even did reserve hotel and domestic flight for me . cheers Mike... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Very hot, youngsters resort
Disadvantages: Lacks something to make it a complete holiday venue

...Panama City Beach is famed for hosting Spring Break holidays of American students, and as I found from personal experience it is hot even at 9.30am! Sitting on the southside of the panhandle, Panama City Beach is actually so far west that it comes under the Central Time Zone instead of the Eastern Time Zone which most of Florida lies-in. The beach stretches for a good long while, with a string of small shops and eateries lining the road along the way. The sand looks welcoming, but for me I found it was stuck to and in everything, and it was also blindingly hot to attempt to walk on bare-footed. Panama City Beach’s attractions are obvious. It is a sun trap, but it is also very touristy, and as a result I left there feeling that there was something missing. Maybe it is a lack of history, a lack of famous attractions, or just... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful