Date of review: Mar 16, 2011 http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294480-d1486355-Reviews-Hostal_Casa_Margarita-Panama_City.html
My spouse and I stayed here for two nights, on the last part of our trip to Panama. We had begun and then ended in Panama City. This B&B, in the heart of the city, was very clean, very quiet, very pleasant and very accommodating! The room with bathroom was spotless, the t.v. worked well, the air conditioning was some of the best in Panama and the wi-fi worked well everywhere on the property.
The best part were the owners and their staff. Margarita and her husband Donato, Andres, and Liz, were absolutely charming, kind, helpful, Also, their daughter, Ida, who did all of the e-mailing to me before our visit was very helpful and she doesn't even live in Panama City! She connected me with the Taxi Driver--who actually had a great SUV in good condition--Edgar. She even helped me arrange to have him pick us up on arrival when we weren't staying at her B&B on arrival. Amazing.
Her mother, Margarita, speaks limited English but has a smile the size of the panama canal and a heart as big as gold in weight, you can tell by looking at her. She made the best breakfasts for us. They advertise a continental breakfast--but, that is not true, they give you that plus a hot breakfast cooked to your liking. Our second morning my husband had eggs which they cooked to his desire.
I just cannot say enough about the graciousness, kindness, hospitality, and helpfulness of the family and staff. Liz and Andres deserve medals for their smiles and their attempt to communicate and be helpful. Margarita and Donato were funny and helpful even though we had communication problems. She had such a sense of humor, on our morning of departure when we asked to take pictures of her in her kitchen, which smelled delicious as she was preparing something for lunch or dinner, she said "if you'd stayed longer I would have served you Spaghetti" in broken English with the help of Andres--(her husband is Italian-thus, the spaghetti reference). She had such a twinkle in her eyes...I trusted her and wanted to hug her like a daughter hugs her mother. If you are not looking for the Ritz or the Fairmont and want clean, very affordable, lodgings and service this is the place. If I ever return to Panama, I will stay here if it is still available! Thanks to all of you at Hostal Casa Margarita!!
Tip: take a printout of the website in Spanish (for directions to the B&B) for the cab drivers!
The best part were the owners and their staff. Margarita and her husband Donato, Andres, and Liz, were absolutely charming, kind, helpful, Also, their daughter, Ida, who did all of the e-mailing to me before our visit was very helpful and she doesn't even live in Panama City! She connected me with the Taxi Driver--who actually had a great SUV in good condition--Edgar. She even helped me arrange to have him pick us up on arrival when we weren't staying at her B&B on arrival. Amazing.
Her mother, Margarita, speaks limited English but has a smile the size of the panama canal and a heart as big as gold in weight, you can tell by looking at her. She made the best breakfasts for us. They advertise a continental breakfast--but, that is not true, they give you that plus a hot breakfast cooked to your liking. Our second morning my husband had eggs which they cooked to his desire.
I just cannot say enough about the graciousness, kindness, hospitality, and helpfulness of the family and staff. Liz and Andres deserve medals for their smiles and their attempt to communicate and be helpful. Margarita and Donato were funny and helpful even though we had communication problems. She had such a sense of humor, on our morning of departure when we asked to take pictures of her in her kitchen, which smelled delicious as she was preparing something for lunch or dinner, she said "if you'd stayed longer I would have served you Spaghetti" in broken English with the help of Andres--(her husband is Italian-thus, the spaghetti reference). She had such a twinkle in her eyes...I trusted her and wanted to hug her like a daughter hugs her mother. If you are not looking for the Ritz or the Fairmont and want clean, very affordable, lodgings and service this is the place. If I ever return to Panama, I will stay here if it is still available! Thanks to all of you at Hostal Casa Margarita!!
Tip: take a printout of the website in Spanish (for directions to the B&B) for the cab drivers!
