Fodor's Expert Review Gran Hotel Bahia
Calle 3 and Av. A, Bocas del Toro, Bocas del Toro, Panama
History abounds at the town's quaintest hotel, a two-story wooden building that was the headquarters of the United Fruit Company in the 1930s. The company's steel money vault is still beside the hotel lobby. The top floor served as guest rooms and still has the original veranda overlooking the bay, where mint juleps were probably the order of the hot tropical days. The spacious rooms have been completely refurbished, with shiny hardwood floors, double beds, cable TV, air-conditioning, and small tile bathrooms. There are two deluxe-plus rooms with king-size beds, sofa beds, mini-refrigerators, and 32″ flat screen TVs. If you've booked a room near the street, be sure to bring earplugs since noise from the neighboring disco can lead to sleepless nights.
PROS
- good value
- comfortable
- historic building
CONS
- off water
- small windows
- noise from neighboring disco
HOTEL INFO
HOTEL DETAILS
Rate Includes: Closed June, Free Breakfast, Credit cards accepted