Tower House Hotel, Panama City

A good value for money choice. Nothing special but nothing seriously wrong either. Staff on reception spoke some English and were very helpful to a non-Spanish speaker such as myself. My room was booked well in advance and turned out to be a suite with a small kitchen, fridge, lounge, dining table etc (anything ending 04 appears to be a suite). Not bad for a budget hotel. Hotel will pick you up from the airport. However do not use taxis parked outside for other journeys as double normal price. You say ´Taxi´to reception and someone in the reception area jumps up and leads you to his taxi outside. Flag one down instead. Several pass the hotel and the main roads are nearby where numerous taxis tour the streets. Hotel in road just off Avenue Frederico Boulevard and Calle 50. Near to part of Via Espana. Ignore the Lonely Planet advice about the Carnival starting in Via Espana. It has moved to further north of Bella Vista - a short cab ride away from the hotel. The hotel is well hidden and not all cab drivers at night seemed to know where the road was even when given the hotel card so quoting the nearby roads is helpful to them. Calle Uruguary is a walk away but didn´t look the great clubbing area it was advertised as, fairly run down, but admittedly I didn´t actually go in any of the places. Not a lot in the hotel road in the way of shops or bars although a couple of restaurants which always looked closed. Close enough to the main sights via a long walk or taxi. Be warned that although the hotel is five minutes from the sea front Avenue Balboa promenade, you cannot see anything as the front is boarded up and being redeveloped so the entire coast side of the Avenue is a building site. Hotel swimming pool was small but adequate. It does though get a little dirty because of the wind bringing in leaves etc. Hotel does have an internet point although not advertised on reception. Does not have a tour desk as such or any pamphlets for companies. Guests appear to be mainly non-

We stay here everytime we are in the City. There is always a room available. We find that our room is very quiet.

This hotel is an old hotel that is on a street with a very good German restaurant. I don't think many people know about this hotel, because we have no trouble getting a room there.