Fodor's Expert Review JW Marriott Panama Golf & Beach Resort

Formerly the Bristol Buenaventura, Panama's loveliest beach resort combines elegant rooms and Spanish colonial architecture with an 18-hole golf course and a splendid stretch of sand. The lobby and main buildings resemble a colonial palace, with a chapel across the plaza. The sumptuous guest rooms have hardwood floors, four-poster beds, marble bathrooms with a shower and a tub, and the amenities you expect from a luxury hotel. Garden rooms open onto terraces lined with tropical greenery; the rest have balconies with ocean views past the canal, pool area, and residential nieghborhood. It's a short walk or golf-cart ride to the handsome El Faro Club House, with a restaurant and pool on the wide, palm-lined beach. Outdoor activities include the par-72 golf course ($115 for guests playing 18 holes or $70 for 9 holes on weekdays, $135/$80 weekends), tennis, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, horesback riding, and various other tours. The Tamarindo Restaurant ($$$–$$$$) serves excellent Latin American-Mediterranean fusion cuisine.