Sheraton Grand Panama

Faithful to the Sheraton Grand brand, the decor is bright, modern, and vaguely sophisticated, but is devoid of spark. Bold colored upholstered seating, curvy, nightclub-style lounge chairs, polished marble flooring, and mirrored surfaces throughout cause the entire lobby to sparkle and shine. Although the casino is tiny relative to the hotel’s scale, the gaming space serves as a steady draw for non-guests and guests that ensure the hotel’s first floor is always bustling. Given the resort-like pool, the massive amount of event space, and the wide variation in room categories (and bed configurations), the clientele is a mix of families, couples, and business executives.

While it’s a taxi ride from the real downtown core of Panama City, the surrounding San Francisco neighborhood is popular with expats because it’s quiet, modern, and relatively upscale. There are numerous restaurants, shops, and bars within walking distance. For business travelers, the Atlapa Convention Center is just across the street. The Panama Canal Museum and the ruins at Panama Viejo are each reachable in about 20 minutes by car. Taxis and Uber rides are the cheapest, most convenient options for ground transportation and both are ubiquitous throughout the city. Panama City’s Tocumen International (PTY) Airport is 18 minutes away by car along a modern, well-traveled highway. Airport shuttle service is available for a fee.

Rooms are bright and mostly modern with a decor typical of the Sheraton brand. The dark wood furniture, beige-on-brown color palette, and generic artwork could be found in any of hundreds of other Sheraton properties. It’s modern and vaguely sophisticated but feels stiff and uninspiring. Room categories vary widely in size and appointments. At approximately 300 square feet (28 square meters), entry-level Standard Rooms are small, though not cramped. All feature large, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and coffee-making stations. Free Wi-Fi is only available to Starwood loyalty members (free to join the program). The smallest Executive Suites offer twice the square footage (600 square feet or 56 square meters) plus separate living areas, Club Lounge access, and free Wi-Fi. Flagship Imperial Suites and Presidential Suites include sprawling, multi-room floor plans plus luxury amenities like walk-in closets, bay-view whirlpool tubs, and separate dining rooms. Bathrooms in all categories are upscale with wall-to-wall tile, marble vanities, and glass and tile walk-in showers. Suites upgrade to whirlpool tubs.

The hotel offers a long list of resort-like amenities. By downtown Panama City standards, the outdoor pool is large and resort-like. Situated at the center of the property, the terrace features an outdoor bar, an a la carte restaurant, and ample lounge chairs and umbrellas. A small hot tub at the center of the pool can accommodate a dozen guests.

The hotel’s three restaurants are bright, airy, and casual, however, there's no available fine dining on-site. Adjacent the pool, Crostini Outdoor Grill serves simple snacks and finger foods on an outdoor terrace. Cafe Bahia Restaurant is the hotel’s main restaurant with buffet breakfast (not included) and a la carte lunch and dinner menus. Both provide a mix of Caribbean and Western-friendly fare. Just off the lobby, Las Hadas is a 24-hour bakery with pastries, specialty coffees, and desserts. Day and night, the space attracts a steady crowd of guests and locals.

For such a large, full-featured hotel, the casino is surprisingly -- it has slot machines and a few table games. The Ygia Spa is likewise tiny with only a handful of rooms. All are clean, intimate, and beautifully designed. The list of services is brief with only the most typical massage treatments available. The adjacent fitness center is massive, bright, and modern and includes cardio machines with their own televisions. A long list of specialty fitness programs and classes, including belly dancing, boxing, Pilates, and salsa dancing is also available with personal trainers.

Wi-Fi is free in all common areas, and we found the service fast and reliable. Self-parking is free in a connected garage. Valet parking is available for a fee.