I had high expectations for my stay at Bristol Panama, but unfortunately the experience fell short—primarily due to service.
To start with the positives, the rooms themselves were very nice—clean, comfortable, and well-appointed. The hotel has a solid physical product, and from that standpoint, it feels like a 5-star property. Breakfast was okay—nothing bad, but nothing particularly memorable either.
Where things really broke down was in the service, especially leading up to the stay. I was planning a special weekend and reached out in advance for some assistance. Since there is no U.S. phone number, I tried contacting the hotel via WhatsApp but never received a response. I then emailed—initially I did get a reply, but when I followed up with a more detailed message explaining my situation and asking a few questions, I never heard back. I sent another follow-up specifically calling out the lack of response… and still nothing.
For a hotel that positions itself as 5-star, this level of communication is disappointing. When guests take the time to plan something special and reach out proactively, responsiveness should be a given.
Overall, while the rooms are strong, the service—particularly communication—did not meet expectations, and that ultimately defined the experience for me.
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