Grand Decameron Panama, A Trademark

“truly all inclusive”

We spent a week at this resort as part of a package tour with WestJet, flying out of Montreal. Part of the appeal was that it included a direct flight to a small airport just five minutes away. Panama City is infamous for its traffic, so being spared that was part of the appeal. I normally have m… more

We spent a week at this resort as part of a package tour with WestJet, flying out of Montreal. Part of the appeal was that it included a direct flight to a small airport just five minutes away. Panama City is infamous for its traffic, so being spared that was part of the appeal. I normally have misgivings about the chaos and depersonalization of all-inclusives, but this one was a pleasant surprise. It is a sprawling, hilly development, but we found this a positive as it helped off the calories from the generous, diverse buffets and à la carte restaurants! If you have mobility issues, they have a van service to transport you around the property. I believe there were eight restaurants to choose from, and pools everywhere, including three waterslides for kids of all ages. Refereshingly, there are more than enough chairs and loungers for everyone, and many palapa-covered ones on the beach. Just be aware that the ocean can be a little rough at times, hence the many pools, but the beach is magnificent. We found the food variety and quality to be excellent. It's true there could be a waiting line for made-to-order items, but the buffet trays were duplicated for efficiency, clean and always kept freshly stocked. There was never a problem finding a table at the buffet restaurants, and you are able to make reservations in advance for the à la carte ones. Beverages were served at the table by a mobile team, and were cheerfully refilled. One of the most pleasant aspects was that it was truly all-inclusive: there were no hidden charges for food or services, and absolutely no pressure to tip, although it is of course appreciated. This was part of the charm of the low-key but efficient and friendly staff, who seemed to be on top of everything and always available. The rooms and grounds were kept immaculate. Part of the reason we chose Panama was to practice our Spanish, but everyone we encountered could speak some English. There are already many reviews, but I thought I'd add mine to at least counter some of the more negative ones. In summary, I would say this resort compares well to a Club Med, at a fraction of the price!

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“Pleasantly surprised.”

We stayed at this hotel for a week. Saw the bad reviews and I had some aprehensions and frankly I was expecting the worst. But we had a great time all week. Employes were helpful and kind. We always had a good service. We booked the à la carte each morning at 7 am thrue the website and it work… more

We stayed at this hotel for a week. Saw the bad reviews and I had some aprehensions and frankly I was expecting the worst. But we had a great time all week. Employes were helpful and kind. We always had a good service. We booked the à la carte each morning at 7 am thrue the website and it worked every time. We had one every night of our stay, never had to wait in line in the lobby to book like other reviews stated. Food was good. Nothing super fancy but it was tasty and we ate well. Buffet and Snack bar were good. Asian was really good, we were surprised. Cowboy didn't disapoint (went twice). Mexicain was also great (did it twice also). Panamean wasn't to my taste but my gf loved it. Room was clean, bed is comfy. AC worked great. Only down side is that you do hear your neighbours. We were there at the end of the season so it was easy to get chairs and shade on the beach. Water slides are surprisingly fun. Shade is pretty much inexistant around the pools. Be prepare to walk a lot, but for us it wasn't a problem. We'll return for sure.

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