One of the newest hotels in Panama, the Westin Playa Bonita is located about 20 minutes outside of Panama City, just across the Panama Canal. While staying as a guest, I checked out what the hotel has to offer.
THE STYLE: Contemporary but not overpowering, the 611-room Westin Playa Bonita Panama is a luxurious, resort-style hotel with extensive meeting and event facilities. It’s located adjacent to the InterContinental Playa Bonita, which is also owned by Panama-based Bern Hotels & Resorts.
The hotel enjoys a picturesque view of the Pacific Ocean. In the distance, like a painting, are tiny islets and ships queuing to enter the Panama Canal. I first visited the Westin Playa Bonita hotel during a hard-hat tour while it was still under construction, so it was a pleasure to see the finished product (you can also check out my video of the hotel during construction).
THE ROOMS: Guest rooms at the Westin Playa Bonita are handsome and comfortable, with 42” LCD televisions, iPod docking stations and the Westin Heavenly Bed. I stayed in a Renewal Suite, which is essentially a large, one-bedroom apartment with one and a half baths, two balconies, two televisions and a bathtub located close to the bed (making it a great choice for romantic couples’ escapes). Unlike many hotels, which call their rooms suites when they are really just one over-sized room, this was really a large, multi-room suite — a distinction I appreciated.
HOTEL FEATURES: The most striking feature of the hotel, in addition to its soaring height and soothing views, is the array of attractive swimming pools, which hug the small beach.
I enjoyed the all-inclusive option, which included three meals a day (when the inclusive restaurants were closed, snacks were served poolside). Eight dining venues offer a variety of cuisine; I especially enjoyed the upscale international fare at Tierra y Fuego and the pan-Asian creations at Asiana. Much of the food served is prepared with produce grown on site, inside two greenhouses that sit near the entrance to the property.
The hotel has a well-equipped fitness center as well as a beautiful and spacious Aquabella Sensory Spa by Clarins, which was to open just after my departure (I did enjoy a good massage treatment on the spectacular balcony in the presidential suite, which they had repurposed temporarily to treat our small group).
The Westin Kids Club offers activities on a daily basis, including arts and crafts, beach sports and family-friendly movie screenings.
Meetings and events are a big market for this property. The hotel has 66,000 square feet/6.200 square meters of meeting space, making it a popular choice for groups and meetings (it’s billed as having more meeting space than any other hotel in Panama).
BEST FOR: Families and couples interested in luxurious accommodations with a view, as well as groups interested in meeting and event space in a scenic location, not far from the excitement of Panama City and the Panama Canal. The all-inclusive option provides additional flexibility for groups and individuals.