New Panama City, Panama hotel

When I traveled to Panama last year, one of the disappointments/frustrations of the trip was the dearth of good hotel options in Panama City. However, Starwood has just opened a chic new Le Meridien in the city! While early reviews are mixed, the property's location, views, and amenities will likely help it become the premier luxury and business hotel in the city. The Le Meridien will definitely be my first choice the next time I'm in Panama City!

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3259

Panama reviews and photos

Bob and I always take a trip over Labor Day week, to take advantage of the "free" day off (anything to use less vacation time!) This year, Panama was the chosen destination for two reasons. First, we (Bob especially) had been talking about going there for awhile. We're big fans of Central America, but had already been to Belize and Costa Rica, and wanted something a bit "beachier" than Guatemala or El Salvador. Honduras and Nicaragua were the other options we considered for this trip, but the fact that we were able to get business class seats with Skymiles to Panama sealed the deal!

Itinerary:
1 night Panama City at the Albrook Inn(our flight landed at 9PM and our flight to the San Blas left the next morning at 6AM, so this was a very short stay) http://albrookinn.com/index.php/en/

3 nights San Blas Islands (aka Comarca Kuna Yala)at Yandup http://www.yandupisland.com/yeng/plans.htm

1 night Panama City at the Veneto
http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/PTYWV/main.wnt

4 nights Bocas Del Toro at Popa Paradise
http://www.popaparadisebeachresort.com/

Photos: http://tinyurl.com/ag99ez

Looking for an overwater bungalow?

The two areas in which these types of accommodations are most prevalent are French Polynesia (aka Tahiti) and the Maldives. In general, if you want the stereotypical OWB with all the bells and whistles--including crystal clear water and glass floor or coffee table, and more upscale building materials and furnishings--these 2 areas will have the most options.

There are a few exceptions, of course, one of which is a brand new resort in Fiji called LikuLiku (http://www.likulikulagoon.com/)

Another gorgeous place for an OWB is Aitutaki Lagoon Resort, in the Cook Islands http://www.aitutakilagoonresort.com/

In the Phillipines: http://www.elnidoresorts.com/

Other resorts with OWBs do exist throughout the world--just be aware that these may not all be at the same level of luxury or in as tropical of a setting as the OWBs mentioned above. Not to say they would not still be wonderful places to vacation--just perhaps somewhat different from the commonly seen French Polynesian overwater bungalow. Here are a few to consider:

Coral Lodge-- San Blas Islands, Panama http://www.corallodge.com/

Punta Caracol Aqua Lodge-- Bocas del Toro, Panama http://www.puntacaracol.com/

9 Beaches--Bermuda http://www.9beaches.com/

Hotelito Desconocido-- near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico http://www.hotelito.com/

Anthony's Key-- Roatan, Honduras http://www.anthonyskey.com/

Coconuts Beach Club--Samoa http://www.coconutsbeachclub.com/

Glover's Atoll Resort--Belize http://www.glovers.com.bz/

St. George's Caye Lodge--Belize http://www.gooddiving.com/