- Introduction: Two Trips To The Southern Hemisphere
- Review: Copa Airlines Business Class 737 (MIA-PTY)
- Review: Crowne Plaza Panama Airport
- New Panama Airport Terminal 2: Impressive(ish)
- Review: Copa Club Panama Airport Terminal 2
- Review: Copa Business Class 737-800 (PTY-LIM)
- Review: Sumaq Lounge Lima Airport (LIM)
- Review: Priority Pass Restaurants Lima Airport
- Review: LATAM Business Class 767 (LIM-MIA)
- Review: Hyatt House & Hyatt Place LAX
- Review: Qantas First Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
- Review: Oneworld Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
- Review: Alaska Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
- Review: Amex Centurion Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
- Gorgeous: LAX Midfield Satellite Concourse
- Review: Fiji Airways Business Class A350 (LAX-NAN)
- Review: Fiji Airways Lounge Nadi Airport (NAN)
- Review: Fiji Airways Business Class A330 (NAN-AKL)
- Review: Park Hyatt Auckland, New Zealand
- Review: Air New Zealand Lounge Auckland (AKL)
- Review: Strata Lounge Auckland (AKL)
- Review: Air New Zealand Business Class 787-9 (AKL-LAX)
After kicking off my two trips to the Southern Hemisphere and flying Copa Airlines from Miami to Panama City, I spent the night at the Crowne Plaza Panama Airport. This hotel did the trick for me, given that I just wanted somewhere decent near the airport to sleep.
In this post:
Booking the Crowne Plaza Panama Airport
I booked the Crowne Plaza Panama Airport because it’s the only “international” hotel at Panama Airport with a shuttle service. Admittedly I had a pretty long layover in Panama, as I was there for around 19 hours.
So why didn’t I stay at a nicer hotel in the city? There are lots of hotels there I still wanted to check out. Well, unfortunately that gets at the less glamorous part of these review trips. Even though my flight only departed Panama at 3:43PM the following day, I got to the airport shortly after 4AM.
That was so I could review the new Copa Club and Terminal 2 at the airport — there was simply no way I was going to get decent pictures of the lounge unless I was there right as it opened, given how crowded so many lounges tend to be nowadays. So I ended up getting to the airport that early, and just working from there for the entire day, until it was time to fly.
Anyway, the Crowne Plaza Panama Airport was charging either $120 or 18,000 IHG One Rewards points for the night. I value IHG points at 0.5 cents each, so I decided to redeem points for the stay.
Crowne Plaza Panama Airport location & shuttle service
The Crowne Plaza is less than a mile from Panama’s Tocumen International Airport (PTY), so it has a convenient location. The airport offers shuttle service from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. You can find the schedule below — it runs once per hour.
My flight arrived at Terminal 1, so on the arrivals level I went to Zone 4, which is where I was told the shuttle departed from.
The timing worked out pretty well, as the shuttle arrived within 15 minutes, and it was only a very short drive to the hotel. I will say that the shuttle has possibly the worst suspension of any vehicle I’ve been in, and that’s saying a lot.
On the return I was departing from Terminal 2 (where check-in occurs for all Copa Airlines flights), and that took a bit longer. That’s because the shuttle first stops at Terminal 1, so it was a roughly 15 minute drive, as it’s quite a maze for the shuttle to drive between terminals.
Crowne Plaza Panama Airport check-in & lobby
The Crowne Plaza had a nice and modern lobby, with plenty of seating.
Reception was located inside the entrance and to the left, and there was also a little grab & go market, where you could purchase drinks, snacks, and even hats.
I had to wait a few minutes before I was helped, though once it was my turn, the associate was really friendly. She thanked me for being an IHG One Rewards Platinum member, and gave me a voucher for a free drink or snack to use during my stay.
Since I was checking in at around 9PM and leaving at 4AM, I didn’t actually have a chance to use it, as I wasn’t hungry or thirsty.
Crowne Plaza Panama Airport king room
With room key in hand, I headed to my room. The elevators were located right behind reception.
I was assigned room 402, on the fourth floor (the hotel has five floors). Once out of the elevators, I turned right and then my room was at the end of the hall on the right.
I’d say the room was pretty basic, but also clean and functional. The room had a king size bed, though I found the bedding to be rather scratchy. One of the two lamps by the bed was also out (I always make a point of turning on lights prior to taking pictures, so I don’t want anyone thinking I wasn’t paying attention). 😉
The walls were pretty bare, aside from the piece of art over the bed.
There was a wall-mounted TV opposite the bed, plus a desk with a rolling chair.
The console underneath the TV also had the in-room coffee machine.
There was a further chair near the back corner of the room. My room just faced the parking lot, so there was nothing in the way of airport views.
The room had its own wall-mounted air conditioning unit, right by the window.
The bathroom was back near the entrance, and had a toilet, a sink, and a walk-in shower, with wall-mounted toiletries.
Wi-Fi in the room was free and quite fast. My one real complaint about the room was that the sound insulation at this hotel isn’t good at all. You could hear every single door in the hallway slam. Fortunately I was pretty tired, so slept without issue.
Crowne Plaza Panama Airport gym & pool
While I didn’t have a chance to actually use any of the hotel’s amenities, the Crowne Plaza did have an outdoor pool right behind the lobby. It looked pretty nice and was large, especially for an airport hotel.
The hotel had a gym on the basement level, which had a variety of weight and cardio equipment.
Crowne Plaza Panama Airport restaurant
The Crowne Plaza Panama Airport has Jetstream Grill, an all-day dining restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s located in the lobby opposite reception. I was hoping to snap a few pictures of it prior to leaving the hotel in the morning, though all the lights were shut off.
Below is a picture from the hotel’s website that shows the restaurant.
Bottom line
The Crowne Plaza Panama Airport is a good option if you’re looking to spend a night near the airport. The hotel has a convenient location, friendly service, and pretty good amenities.
However, in general I’d avoid spending a night near Panama Airport. Panama is an interesting enough country that I tend to think it’s worth having a longer stopover and going into town if you can. Alternatively, Copa Airlines has an efficient route network, so you should almost always be able to connect same day. Of course in my situation this hotel did the trick, and sometimes passengers deal with irregular operations, where an airport hotel is useful.
If you’ve stayed at the Crowne Plaza Panama Airport, what was your experience like?
Panama has horrible roads so doesn't surprise me that the suspension was shoddy.
that has to be the most depressing hotel room ever. wow. $120/night for that? RIP OFF
The wall mounted AC is really substandard for a Crowne Plaza ... anyhow, for a layover like this, I would definitely go to the city, or at least to Costa del Este (e.g. Westin), which is fairly close to the airport.
for those readers who are apt to sleep early and sleep for long hours, this research published today may be of interest
Results from a population-based study of almost 2000 older adults, all of whom were free of dementia at baseline, showed that risk for dementia was 69% higher in those who slept more than 8 hours daily vs 7 to 8 hours daily; and it was twice as high for those who went to bed before 9 PM vs at 10 PM or later.
You’re the King Ben! Thanks for the detailed review, especially considering you checked in at 9pm and out at 3am. Many bloggers wouldn’t get as detailed pictures of the room, let alone the pool and gym. You absolutely deserve the next five star, non point hotel review (which will be equally as detailed)! Keep up the good work. This is precisely the reason why I always go to your blog for a referral link when applying for a new card/account.
Have flown Copa many times to Panama from El Salvador. Always have enjoyed Casco Viejo, walks along Cinta Costera, Carnival and excellent restaurants. Taxi's are not for faint of heart. Pencil in a couple days vs a layover visit to the city.
Panama City def has enough to see you fill a 1 or 2 day trip. It is much more interesting(and modern) than many central American cities.
Very useful information, especially regarding the suggestion to have a longer stopover in Panama City and go into town.
The relevance for me is that just yesterday I purchased a $600 package to spend 5 nights at a Hilton Grand Vacations resort in St. Maarten (SXM). When I checked how I would get to SXM flying with UA (points or cash), I found out that all options would involve a stopover of many hours at Panama City airport (PTY). Options that would work for me would be EWR-PTY on UA, and PTY-SXM on Copa. Therefore, I was wondering precisely whether it might not be best to just include Panama City as an actual stop before proceeding to St. Maarten, and maybe do the same on the way back if another long stopover would be necessary (I did not check). Maybe I should also check booking the flights directly with Copa...
I am leaning toward spending a day or two in Panama City, where I have never been and may enjoy doing limited sightseeing, going in or on the way back as well...
I was in Panama City once 15 years ago for a few days. I do not feel the need to return. I did hire a driver to get a mini tour of the city and see the canal. If you're interested in canals and locks that would be worthwhile.
@Rico: Panama has changed a lot over the last 15 years. If you get back now, you will find an entirely different place. I went there fpr the first time about 15 years ago. Back then it was a place I had to go to, now I sometimes go there for a vacation.
A couple of things stand out to me in Panama:
1. Modernity. The food scene is impressive by any standard. Really inspired restaurants and great cocktail bars.
2. The ghost towers. There are high rise towers all over the place. You'll think you're in Miami, and they're all mostly empty. Any hotel downtown is likely just taking up the bottom portion of a high rise that is mostly unoccupied.
It's 100% worth two nights. The...
A couple of things stand out to me in Panama:
1. Modernity. The food scene is impressive by any standard. Really inspired restaurants and great cocktail bars.
2. The ghost towers. There are high rise towers all over the place. You'll think you're in Miami, and they're all mostly empty. Any hotel downtown is likely just taking up the bottom portion of a high rise that is mostly unoccupied.
It's 100% worth two nights. The canal alone with worth the journey. Just visiting the Miraflores Locks is truly unforgettable (almost emotional) experience.
Panama City is a polarizing place: you love it or hate it. I'm a hater and would certainly prefer a bland airport hotel like this than repeat my misadventures in town, so thank you Ben for the write up.
I've been told that getting out of town into the countryside can be nice, but of course that means days rather than hours.
I tried to check into this airport once at 3AM and was treated horribly. The woman working was very irritated that someone would show up at that time. She didn't understand IHG loyalty program and was demanding payment despite the fact I had booked the room with points. The next day the staff was friendlier but the wait at the front desk is VERY long.
This is why IHG is such a frustrating loyalty program. Who really wants to stay 75 nights at a Crowne Plaza with rooms like that? Talk about basic. I'm pretty sure the average Best Western has a nicer room. IHG has some nice properties but, on the whole, so many of their brands are way past their prime.
Did you get elite welcome points AND the voucher or just the voucher?
@ DaninMCI -- Yep, also got the points. :-)
How about the upgrade? With the new loyalty program, I think you are eligible?
I made the mistake of trying to do some quick sightseeing during a ~7 hour layover there many years ago. I knew Panama City traffic was bad but wow did I underestimate it, especially as I arrived during rush hour. I got to see about 3 things and hardly stepped foot out of the car. Good to know there is a reliable hotel by the airport for any evening layovers.