If you want an upscale nice hotel with a casino, gym, pool, and other nice amenities, Caesar Park is a good choice.

Its not for the cheap mongerer. Rooms run $100 a night but the beds are nice, the staff speaks english, and the casino has really cool rules on the tables.

I've actually made money on this trip so far.

Here is an interesting article from the Panama-Guide...a non-profit internet site updated by Americans (gringos) who live in or frequently visit Panama. The topic is gringo pricing. Realize if you are a white gringo most Panamanians will automatically try to charge you the highest rate...same strategy applies with the chicas...you should always haggle in Panama to get the best prices.

For those of you who have stayed at Caesar Park...how much did you pay?

AJ

Panama-Guide Article:

The 5-star Ceasar Park hotel fell victim to part #2 of our gringo pricing sting. It will cost you $86.00 more to stay there for two nights this weekend if you're an English speaking gringo tourist from the states. And no free breakfast buffet for you, gringo... Hands-up!

Our first visitor called from the US to the reservations number for the Ceasar Park hotel in Panama (507-270-6960) and asked how much it would cost to stay there this weekend. He was going to be coming down for just the weekend, and staying Friday and Saturday nights, leaving Sunday morning. How much would that cost?

He was quoted a price of $122.00 per night, and there would be an additional 10% tax added on, for a total of $134.20 per night, or $268.40 for the weekend. The reservations clerk also made a special point to tell the caller that this room was a "deluxe" room at a discounted rate. She said that the normal rate for this room was much higher, and since the caller was getting such a great discount, the room did not include the breakfast buffet.

Our second caller was a Panamanian female who called the exact same reservations number, but this time from a local Panama number, five minutes after the first call. She explained that this upcoming weekend she was going to be celebrating her 10-year anniversary with her husband, and wanted to do something special. She asked for the most economical rate available, and fought to get the best price.

She was quoted a rate of $91.00 per night, and at that price all taxes were included. In addition, as a special weekend rate, that price included a free (deluxe) breakfast buffet for up to two people. Grand total = $186.00 all included, and breakfast buffet for two people on both Saturday and Sunday morning. And, Happy Anniversary!

So, the first (gringo) caller would be charged $86.40 more for the exact same room on the exact same days. In addition, on the weekend the breakfast buffet costs $13.00 per person plus 15% tax, for a total of $14.95 per person. Assuming two people for two days, that comes to an additional $59.80 for the gringo.

The grand gringo ripoff total for our unsuspecting traveler comes to $346.20, or $146.20 more than the local, representing a gringo markup of 86%. Thanks for playing, Ceasar Park.

For all you English speaking expatriates out there, once again, if you're going to make a reservation at a hotel in Panama, do it from a local phone, speak fluent Spanish with a Panamanian accent, and make sure to tell them you're broke...

Now, who's next?

I was on the same website and read many of the same posts. Remember that a large number of gringos retiring and moving to Panama have never left the US and have no interest in learning or conversing in Spanish. They are asking for problems. If you had street smarts you would book a hotel online or make your reservation by phone; never as a walkin. Just look at the variety of pricing you get in the US booking online, over the phone or walking in the door. Using hotel pricing is a poor example of gringo pricing. Yes it exists but in Panama it can take many forms. For example the locals go to the Palace Stripclub 10 minutes before closing and line up their afterwork companion. The gringo arrives at 7PM spends a fortune on ladies drinks or pays a couple of hundred bucks for takeout. If you have streetsmarts you won't get fucked over.

I was on the same website and read many of the same posts. Remember that a large number of gringos retiring and moving to Panama have never left the US and have no interest in learning or conversing in Spanish. They are asking for problems. If you had street smarts you would book a hotel online or make your reservation by phone; never as a walkin. Just look at the variety of pricing you get in the US booking online, over the phone or walking in the door. Using hotel pricing is a poor example of gringo pricing. Yes it exists but in Panama it can take many forms. For example the locals go to the Palace Stripclub 10 minutes before closing and line up their afterwork companion. The gringo arrives at 7PM spends a fortune on ladies drinks or pays a couple of hundred bucks for takeout. If you have streetsmarts you won't get fucked over.

I paid $100 a night and that included the buffet. I only got half fucked. I booked online.

I loved this hotel but it isn't convenient and I'm not sure how chica friendly it is.

If I were going alone, I would probably not stay here. I think if you don't mind the traffic, there are parts in town that are better since you are closer to everything.

We'll see, I'm going in a week. I'm staying at the Panama Hotel. I like their bar!

Guys,

I was back in Panama for a week (just came back on July 9th).

I stayed at this hotel for $80 per night. Probably because I stayed there before.

But I have another story. Funny thing happened at the airport! I'll post a report