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The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Panama

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Panama

Panama City, Panama Panama City, Panama

Visiting Panama for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to Panama, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in Panama based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting Panama for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to Panama before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting Panama for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in Panama for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Villa F&B

Bocas del Toro, Bocas del Toro
3-star Resort with prices starting at $167 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
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Located at Bocas, Solarte, Panama, Villa F&B has great rooms from $167 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling. It has a terrific 9.50 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only a short distance from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a bar, hiking, a game room, horse riding, and laundry facilities at this relaxing hotel. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Game room
  • Heated pool
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Hotel La Compañía Casco Antiguo

Panama City, Panama
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $271 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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A great place to stay is Hotel La Compañía Casco Antiguo which has nice rooms starting at $271. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant, it also has a great guest rating of 9.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Avenida A, Esquina Calle 8. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, a bar, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and city views which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. The pool bar here is a fun spot to relax while you unwind on your trip.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Gran Hotel Azuero

Chitré, Herrera
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $110 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Panama
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
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We found Gran Hotel Azuero to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $110. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a casino, a water park, and a restaurant, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Paseo Enrique Genzier,0. You'll also find a fitness center, a bar, laundry services, city views, and a game room which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. The water slides are especially fun!

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
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Aloft Panama

Panama City, Panama
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $98 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
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With terrific rooms from $98, Aloft Panama, at Via Israel & Calle 76 provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Its terrific guest rating is 8.30 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers parking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a pool table. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. The restaurant serves delicious food, too. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
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The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Autograph Collection

El Farallón del Chirú, Cocle
5-star Resort with prices starting at $201 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Panama
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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The Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort Panama, Autograph Collection has a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. The great rooms here start at $201 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 340 Calle 3ra Buenaventura. Furthermore, it also offers a bar, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and golf, which is nice for first time visitors. Just a short drive from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Being able to prepare food in the room is also very convenient.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
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Hotel Santa Catalina Panama

Santa Catalina, Veraguas
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $114 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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The great guest rating of Hotel Santa Catalina Panama is 9.10 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $114, and it's located at Provincia de Veraguas, Santa Catalina, Camino a Playa El Estero Calle Kenny. We also love the a bar, hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and pet-friendly rooms which are great for visitors. And since it's just a quick trip from the center of the town, the location is great, too. And with the ability to cook your own meals in the kitchen, you can save money and time.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Infinity pool
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Caracoral Hotel Boutique

El Valle de Anton, Cocle
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $177 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Panama
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
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Location on Map

A cool place is Caracoral Hotel Boutique because it has great rooms that start at $177. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at Avenida Los Millonarios Entrada De Las Medinas. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love pet-friendly rooms, a game room, a spa, free parking, and horse riding at this convenient hotel. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


Dolphin Bay Hideaway

Bocas del Toro, Bocas del Toro
Bed & Breakfast with prices starting at $121 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
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Location on Map

Dolphin Bay Hideaway offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a fitness center, and scuba diving which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $121 (before taxes). It's located at San Cristobal Island and has earned a guest rating of 9.90/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers snorkeling, a bar, hiking, rooms with kitchens, and child care which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Waldorf Astoria Panama

Panama City, Panama
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $249 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Family-Friendly
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Located at 47th Street & Uruguay Street, Waldorf Astoria Panama has great rooms from $249 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find a bar, parking, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, and city views which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


Hilton Panama

Panama City, Panama
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $232 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Panama
  • Heated pool
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Location on Map

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A great place to stay is Hilton Panama which has nice rooms starting at $232. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a casino, and a restaurant, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Balboa Ave. And Aquilino De La Guardia. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a fitness center, a bar, parking, rooms with kitchens, and laundry services. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


For more terrific hotel ideas in Panama, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Panama, Best Luxury Hotels in Panama, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Panama, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Panama, Best Hotels for One Week in Panama, Best Hotels for One Night in Panama, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Panama, Best Adults Only Hotels in Panama, Best Party Hotels in Panama, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Panama, or Best Business Hotels in Panama.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Panama?

Panama Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$104

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Panama. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Panama based on data from 190 hotels is an affordable $104. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Panama.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $177
  • 4-star hotels: $122
  • 3-star hotels: $89
  • 2-star hotels: $69


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