Lots of people have heard of Costa Rica’s appeal as a Central America vacation destination. Not as many people are familiar with Panama. But savvy travelers — as well as a decent number of expats — are well aware that, for a laid-back Caribbean vacation experience, it’s hard to beat Bocas del Toro, Panama.
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Located on Panama’s Caribbean coast near the Costa Rican border, Bocas del Toro is paradise for nature lovers. And it’s home to a bunch of cute, small hotels. During my most recent visit, my husband and I stayed at Hotel Bocas Town.
THE STYLE: Set in a four-story wood building on the waterfront, Hotel Bocas Town offers simple, clean, old-fashioned but clean style in the heart of the town of Bocas del Toro.
The small lobby is unimposing, with a small reception desk, wood floors and wicker furniture. A narrow hallway leads to the small, simply decorate restaurant, which is open to the water.
THE ROOMS: We stayed in room 301, which faces the street (not the water; water views are pricier and we had a tight budget) but was small and attractive, with wood floor, a double bed, white wicker furnishings and a wall-mounted flatscreen TV (note that the four flights of stairs won’t be appropriate for people with accessibility issues).
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The all-white bathroom has a shower stall. But the most attractive aspect of this Bocas del Toro hotel room was the balcony, which faced the town and had two built-in seats and a tiny table.
HOTEL FEATURES: Breakfast is included with the room rate, and it’s served in the open-air, waterfront restaurant. Breakfast consists of a fruit plate, followed by a hot meal of scrambled eggs, toast and Panamanian sausage (which is similar to hot dogs).
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A small deck extends out into the water, with chairs for sunbathing and a small natural pool for swimming.
BEST FOR: Budget-conscious travelers looking for clean, simple accommodations in the heart of Bocas del Toro.