Hotel is nicely priced, so no complaints there. However, I am not planning to return.

A/C in the room was very loud, kept me awake the first night, but it was too hot to turn it off. During the week I stayed the carpet under the A/C unit got wetter and wetter. Halfway through the week I started spreading newspapers on the floor to soak up the moisture. Housekeeping did not pick them up each day, for some odd reason. I heard from people who have stayed in the hotel before that they had the same issue with the carpet. As a result the room had an unpleasant damp smell.

Breakfast was OK. The staff kept speaking Spanish to me even though I clearly was not understanding.

The gym only had one sad mat for streching and yoga. Treadmills kept stopping. But there were plenty of towels and the gym certainly was not crowded.

The mall next door is convenient and gives plenty of eating options at the food court. The stores are expensive though. Taxi drivers were totally taking an advantage of the tourist, it did not matter whether I took the taxi from the hotel or the mall, I got overcharged both times.

This hotel is ideally located next to the MultiPlaza which is nice, clean, modern mall. The mall has a food court and two restaurants including a Tony Romas. The hotel is relatively new and has modern decor. The rooms are average and it included a safe deposit box, a small refrigerator, and a normal size bathroom.

Taxi fare from the airport to hotel is approximately $25. The hotel has a shuttle which operates three times a day from the hotel to the airport for a $10 per person fee. If you'd like the shuttle to take you to the airport at another time not previously designated by the hotel the shuttle fee is higher. This hotel is also within walking distance (about 15 minute walk) to another mall called MultiCenter where there is a Hard Rock Cafe. However, the mall at the Multiplaza is better in my opinion.

The hotel staff all seemed to speak English. There was a misunderstanding about our room rate, but the staff member resolved the problem to our satifisfaction. The hotel breakfast is sometimes included in your room rate and it includes a buffet style breakfast and ready to order omelett service. The hotel also charges for local telephone calls made from your room.

During our 3-night stay we did not use the gym, but it looked liked it was fully equiped. The only complain was the pool area which is really small and I did not see a jacuzzi.

Pros:

- Hotel felt rather new. Room was nice, roomy and modern. Staff was nice. Location was next to probably the most expensive mall in Panama (others = Multicentro and Albrook, whereby Albrook was much more for the average Panamanian).
- Nearby restaurants = Palidar (good food, reasonably priced, outdoor patio seating) and Tony Romas (not very good in my book, with so-so service and average food). In-hotel restaurant was actually pretty good (tried the Panamanian version of chicken soup & liked it).

Cons:

- Hard to get a good feel for Panama at this hotel. Panamanians earn significantly less than people do in the USA.
- Taxi mafia! City taxi from airport to hotel (they piled me in with 2 other people) cost $12 for me. Seemed reasonable. The "hotel shuttle" (driver works for hotel) for transfer from the hotel to the aiport (17mi/15min) cost me $25. People at the airport claim that I should have been charged $20, but I used taxis to get around Panama city and it never cost more than $5 to cross the entire city (twice this distance or $10 would be app. same distance from hotel to the airport). I even hired a driver for a 2hr tour of the city & Panama canal on Sunday and paid him $30.

While most people I met were nice (I speak little/no Spanish, I really hate it when such people take advantage of tourists. I called from the airport and complained to the hotel manager who insisted that this was the "correct rate" for airport transfer.

I am likely never to voluntarily visit Panama again. I would also recommend staying in other hotels/locations and never using a hotel "shuttle".

I have stayed here twice. The rooms are spacious, definitely up to USA standards in decor, very bright and fresh. The design scheme incorporates some colorful patterns of the Kuna tribe, which give a uniquely Panamanian feel.

The staff speak English, are very polite and professional. I had no problems when I decided to check out earlier than I registered for. I actually left to go try out a new hotel, the Veneto Hotel and Casino. Overall I preferred the rooms at the Courtyard! Larger,brighter and better appointed.
I have booked on Expedia and found a deal that include the full buffet breakfast ( $10 per person otherwise). The food was delicious, with made to order omlettes.

The hotel is attached to a large modern mall, with a great selection of stores and restaurants, including a Tony Roma's. The hotel is located in the newly developed Punta Pacifica area of Panama City, a 5 minute cab ride from the livlier El Canrejo area.

I have not stayed at any other Courtyard Hotel, but based on this experience I will have high expectations for others.

Great Job Courtyard Panama!