Reviews for Panama City Vacation Rental - VRBO 179378 - 1 BR Panama Apartment, Exec Aprtmt. Paitilla, Balcony, Bay Views! Now Accepting Long Term

Panoramic Views in the Heart of Panama City!

Guest wandalust4ever
Date of stay 12/08/12
Review Submitted 12/21/12

Sarah’s condominium in Posada del Rey was a delightful place to stay to explore Panama City. We loved the fantastic city and water views from her 17th floor oversized balcony! Her spacious one bedroom apartment is modern, clean, comfortable and equipped with everything we needed, even a computer with internet access and wi-fi! The condominium building is well situated and has a beautiful large outdoor swimming pool and garage parking facilities if you have a rental car. The central location of her apartment was perfect for exploring Panama City’s attractions and was situated conveniently across the street from the new, modern Multi Centro Shopping Mall which has a multiplex cinema, supermarket and drugstore in addition to many of the chain store brand retail shops. Entertainment options such as restaurants, bars and nightlife on Calle Uruguay are within walking distance. Sarah arranged for her driver Jose to meet us and provide transportation from the airport which is a bonus when staying at her properties. . He was waiting for us as soon as we arrived at 10pm! Since it was our very first trip to Panama, we were relieved that we didn’t have to deal with a taxi and a language barrier to find her property. In addition Jose was a knowledgeable tour guide, bringing our attention to points of interest along the drive on the way to the apartment! Jose was friendly and accommodating, we requested to stop at a grocery store for provisions along the way and he took us to a 24hr supermarket and waited for us patiently while we stocked up! Once we arrived at the apartment, he familiarized us with the property and suggested some great restaurants and things to do. Jose is also available to give private tours of attractions in and around Panama City at reasonable fees. Unfortunately he was booked on the day we wanted to tour the Panama Canal but Sarah, who always stayed in contact with us, arranged for another driver named Wellington to provide his tour guide services and he also did a fantastic job showing us around! Sarah even referred us to an excellent dentist in town for us to contact so we could have dental work completed! Speaking of service, what more can I say about Sarah? Her motto is “Everyone deserves a warm welcome.” Sarah’s professionalism and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that her guests are pleased demonstrates the exemplary customer service that she provides to her guests. The entire process of dealing with Sarah was a seamless

Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Better Than We Expected!

Guest Phyllis
Date of stay 10/29/12
Review Submitted 02/04/13

Having stayed in a so-so place in Madrid my husband was reluctant to stay at another VRBO. I convinced him to try again after staying in the Wyndham Veneto (a colorful hotel complete with a casino and working girls) for approximately the same price per night plus an amazing view of the water and bay. Jose showed us in and we were so happy to be a one-bedroom plus the beautiful view including a balcony. We sat outside in the evening having a glass of wine or dinner on the patio. The sunsets were superb, the flat is very spacious and comfortable. Kitchen was well stocked with almost everything needed to make the stay extra special. Free wi-fi was also an added bonus as we brought our pcs and we could enjoy ourselves while surfing. The location is very close to everything and before going out we could see what the traffic looked like and whether or not to wait. The pool was very nice and not crowded at all. Parking was also a bonus as we rented a car for our stay. There were a few glitches which were immediately handled first thru Sarah and then Jose. Even though we never met Sarah she was very responsive. The photos and listing description was dead on. I would definitely stay there again and would recommend it to friends. In fact, we are going back soon and will be contacting Sarah to see if available.

Recommended for: Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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WONDERFUL VACATION IN PANAMA, CENTRAL AMERICA & THE BEST VALUE IN ACCOMMODATIONS!!!

Guest Haydee
Date of stay 06/02/12
Review Submitted 06/12/12

This was our first visit to Panama and also the first time that we booked a property through VRBO instead of reserving a room or suite at a resort or hotel. Although we had done extensive research about this destination and also were recommended to VRBO by a a friend who is an avid world traveler, has been using this website and booking through them for years, we were still apprehensive and venturing into unknown territory. Since the service in USA airlines has deteriorated so much, we also decided to fly on COPA, Panama's airline. The service was superb! They offer a full meal (either breakfast, lunch or dinner), complimentary cocktails, beer or wine, free earphones for the movie and the airplanes are practically new, extra clean! We selected this high-rise condo in Panama City for the first 5 nights of our vacation. Jose, Sarah's Partner & the Property Manager was waiting for us at the airport when we arrived. He is totally bilingual in English / Spanish, very professional, courteous, friendly and also very accomodating! He was even willing to stop at the Supermarket on the way to the apartment so we could get some basic foods and beverages to stock the kitchen with. When we arrived at the apartment he did not just hand us the key and leave. He took the time to accompany us upstairs and gave us a complete tour of the interior. He also showed us how to operate everything (sign-on of PC, connection to Internet, microwave, gas stove & oven, a/c remote control, TV remote, how to find all English channels, cell phone, etc.) This lovely 17th FL apartment is exactly what we wanted! It is in an upscale and yet centrally located residential neighborhood named Punta Paitilla! Sarah has done a great job on the remodeling, decor and stocking it with everything needed. Jose makes sure the apartment stays clean and in good repair. Although the building is not brand new, it is well maintained, clean, lit and has security 24 hours. The fact that the rental includes internet, a computer and the use of a local cell phone is an awesome value! Its balcony offered us such breath-taking and panoramic views of Panama City's bay and its modern sky line that we started each day with coffee on the balcony, rested after our day adventures with cocktails on the balcony and after going out for dinner and dancing we enjoyed cordials on the balcony. Panama is a paradise! We plan to go back as soon as possible. We will only fly on COPA and always book with Sarah in Paitilla.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Haydee thank you for taking time out of your valuable schedule to not only comment on my and Jose's service and property amenities and location, but to inform travelers of airlines such as Copa (I heartily agree and use them often!) I am delighted you enjoyed the fruits of Panama from the scenery, the friendliness of the locals and your overall experience. Testimonials like this keep us so happy to continuing to offer thorough and personalized service and keep my properties updated often. I have copied your comments over to Jose who will be very happy to know about your experience. He's come a long way from merely taxi driving (that's how I met him 6 years ago on the roadside!) to property management, service and tours. He is an invaluable part of my team and I trust him explicitly with my personal properties and everything that goes along with the responsibility. Thank you again! Sarah

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Not as good as the reviews would indicate

Guest coldy
Date of stay 03/16/12
Review Submitted 06/18/12

I do not know who writes the reviews that every thing is just wonderfull. Either they are not used to travelling or they just accept anything and say its wonderfull. First the good items. The location, the balcony, the pool and the bed all excellent. The bad parts. The furniture looks like it came from a dumpster. It is worse than a freshmans apt on campus. The apartment is under decorated, the sofa and the bed spread has cigarette burns, the fridge is an antique and the table and chairs for dining are so flimsy I thought they would collapse every time I sat on the chairs. The apt is in serious need of painting and there are lots of grease stains on the wall behind the stove.When we arrived we found that there were no working lights in the bathroom, the blinds on the windows were broken and the TV in the living room did not work . There is no light on the balcony so we had to move one of the lights from the living room . One of the very first items I asked about was could we get the international news on TV and was advised , yes. We could not get any news channels on the living room TV but we could get them on the bedroom TV. To their credit Sarah did get the lights and the blinds fixed within 2 days but the TV remained not working for the whole week. Jose did show us how things worked but he did not give us the keys to the front door or the access to the parking. He forgot. The bathroom does not have a door from the large closet so if you are using the facilities you are in full view of anyone that walks into the closet. This apt is not worth what Sarah charges as there are many apts with the same view in newer bldgs available for less. Her profile indicates Sarah has been in the real estate management business for 24 years. To me that is very astonishing considering the condition and price that she charges for this unit. The kitchen is only partially equiped with mismatched dishes and equipment. No vegatable peeler which I had to purchase. So Sarah you owe me $5 dollars. awould I stay here again? NO. This apt has the ability to be a very cute, wonderfull place to rent but only after being redecorated with new furniture, and a complete refurbishment.

Owner response: Thank you very much for your comments. Since your departure 3 months ago, all was noted and fixed, based on our conversations at the time (supported by more recent reviews) I would like to take the time to respond to the following issues: Regarding the television in the living room, the Panamanian cable supplier changed their system without warning. As soon as we were aware we made many lengthy calls to the supplier in order to get an updated box, luckily the one furnished in the bedroom was fine and allowed viewing of all the channels, including the news channels. This has since been corrected. Unfortunately a mistake was made and Jose did forget to hand over the key and card access but we immediately called the guest to apologize and made alternate arrangements with the front desk clerk to let them in and out until Jose could return the next day with this item. Jose felt terrible and apologized numerous times and followed up promptly The design of the washroom is a little unique, in fact there are 2 entrances to this en suite to the master. One door opens into a closet which has a door and the other is in the bedroom, therefore quite private if the person thinks of closing both doors. Re: furnishings. We believe in the less is more approach and do not furnish to the extreme. The apartment is spacious, bright and yes, the views are amazing. Thank you for the 3 stars considering. We take all guest feedback seriously and are quick to refurbish, replace and paint. Unfortunately this apartment was very busy with back to back bookings and did not have a chance to redecorate before this guest arrived. Since been corrected. Often guest do not inform us of burned out bulbs or if they broke the blind cord. The dining chairs will be replaced as they are of a delicate design that may not always accommodate larger people. Dishes were replaced at the beginning of the season but do get broken. We have since trained the maids better to check for this type of items and to advise about these small things that make a difference in one’s stay, Upon checking email exchange with this guest (over 40). mostly initially to organize service,make recommendations,offer personalized service. We called this guest immediately upon check in and when advised, followed up with calls to fix the issues We appreciate all feedback and take all quite seriously and initiate action. We believe in personalized guest service and well maintained and fresh apartments.

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best deal and stay in town

Guest Gaby
Date of stay 11/13/11
Review Submitted 11/21/11

We enjoyed staying in this wonderful apartment. Found it to be extremely clean and had all the necessary items in place. Very spacious and the view is to dream about in years to come. Better yet, the location is ideal for travelers to the city. Every important location is nearby. The staff is exceptionally polite and eager to please. We shall return often.

Recommended for: People with disabilities, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thank you so much Roger and Gaby, so wonderful to meet both of you.. we will be awaiting your return :) Sarah

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posada del Rey - just perfect

Guest Jos
Date of stay 05/02/11
Review Submitted 06/09/11

We actually stayed in the 16th floor apartment, also managed by Sarah. We stayed the first week of our 2 week trip in the city and this apartment was a welcome change compared to a hotel. Jose was on the airport right on time to pick us up. The view is just awesome from this building, even better than the next door hotel. The building is located in a good and safe neighborhood, close to a commercial center. It is also still a good location to visit the tourist attractions, since taxis are not too expensive. Thanks for a wonderful stay in Panama city! Jos and Oraina - Curacao

Recommended for: Tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Beautiful View

Guest Vegas Travelers
Date of stay 02/01/11
Review Submitted 04/06/11

This rental is handled by a team of very competent managers. Our stay would not have been one of the best monthly vacations we have ever engaged in without their care and professional attention to detail. The accommodations were suburb, the balcony is a wonderful place to relax and the location was the “best-of-the-best”. Jose’s introductions to the city and excellent transportation to and from our excursions were invaluable. We are looking forward to returning to this rental again.

Recommended for: Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

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Comfy and Great View

Guest HTP
Date of stay 12/05/10
Review Submitted 01/12/11

We liked the apartment location, decoration, cleaningness, space and the view. We also liked your "Manual" with the general information. It is very helpful. Even though I had troubel with the @ instructions. The wifi worked perfectly and is very fast. That was a plus to stay connected with the office. You are right, the A/C is hardly needed. The apartment is really airy and the breeze is great! The cel phone is a wonderful asset. We will go back to Panama and will contact you for our accommodations and will definately reccommend your property and services.

Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Thanks for your kind words Lourdes, we hope to see you back in Panama soon! Warm regards, Sarah

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Fantastic stay!

Guest Eva
Date of stay 10/26/10
Review Submitted 10/29/10

I stayed in this property for 3 nights and from the moment I arrived I loved it. The view is fantastic, the balcony makes the best out of it, to relax, read a book, or to just look at the traffic and buildings. The place was very clean and is well decorated, one of the best beds I have ever slept in. The shower is great and it is very nice to have internet and a cell phone available. The location of the apartment is very good. Close to the supermarket and a big shopping mall, on walking distance. Taxis are plenty here to get to wherever you want in the city. The surroundings are safe to walk day and night. A nice walk next to the water makes it even more perfect! Jose picked me up at the airport. His english is very good, which makes it comfortable to get to know things. He talked about the history of panama, very interesting. He showed me the best places to eat, where to go for things. What you can't miss out on. Jose was very helpful. I would recommend this property to anyone. I would rather stay in this place than in a hotel. Don't hesitate to book, the pictures reflect what the place looks like. Great! Thank you for the fantastic stay!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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FABULOUS VISIT! PANAMA SARAH AND JOSE ARE THE BEST!!

Guest Sandy
Date of stay 10/15/10
Review Submitted 01/25/12

All we can really say is AS GOOD AS IT GETS! Panama Sarah, the owner, and the manager, Jose, were just beyond expectations! LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!! Wow! Fabulous view...incredible view. Great LOCATION to everything! The balcony was just perfect..we used it everyday! the night city light views were postcard perfect. The condo is spacious. We used the kitchen a lot. We entertained our Panama friends, who were also very impressed with the location and the view! Very easy to get around town. Jose went way beyond the call of duty. He picked us up at the airport on time...also, dropped us off at the airport on our return back to Dallas. He was such a joy. If you want the STEAL OF THE YEAR, this is the ONLY condo you need to look at. It is simple and clean inside, but very nice. The bathroom has been remodeled, and was nice. It's just a really perfect place to stay while you enjoy lovely Panama, and it's beyond reasonable! Thank you Sarah and Jose! We both look forward to staying in your wonderful condo again soon! Best Wishes, Sandy & Henry

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Guest michaeL richards
Date of stay 09/09/08
Review Submitted 09/09/08

I stayed for 4 days, got a great deal, and a great view! For the price, it was def. better than staying in a hotel. Having the conveniences of home, a computer, kitchen, etc., was nice. Big master bath and shower. I'd do it again!!

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Guest Jimmy Halvardsson
Date of stay 08/01/08
Review Submitted 08/01/08

I've stayed in Panama many times, mostly in the hotels. Hotels are nice but this is definetely a superior way of enjoying your stay in Panama. The Posada del rey building is located in Paitilla which is the best area to live in P.C in mine opinion. Safe, really nice neighborhood and close to everything. Here you have the incredible view over the bay and over Via Balboa that you can enjoy from the wide open balcony, together with a drink and a very nice friend, - you can't do that in a same way in the hotels. - If you want the malls you got one just around the corner and the biggest and most exlusive a few minutes away. When you feel like going downtown to the bar area, you'll be there in a couple of minutes aswell. Like the previous writer said, it's all about location, and this is really a great location and a great place if you want to be in Panama city!

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Guest Austin and Phyllis
Date of stay 07/24/08
Review Submitted 07/24/08

Comment Rating: positive Comment Text: Thanks for the opportunity to share our fantastic experience at the Posada Del Rey condo. LOCATION, LOCATION,LOCATION! There is absolutely nothing that you desire that isn't within walking distance. And if you don't feel like walking you have a covered, secured parking space tambien (also)! We even picked up some Spanish from the folks who cater to your every need, especially Jose. From the moment he picked us up at the airport we knew we were fortunate. You ask for it, he knows where to send you to get it. One of us has been "a computer expert" for many years and we ran into a problem. Call Jose...he helped in 3 minutes and the expert blushed in shame. Having a computer and internet access is great. Please use Jose for a smooth stay while in Panama. It is his country and he'll make you think it is yours also. Hire him to pick you up after your flight, it makes everything so easy. The Posada has the best view in all of Panama. Even better that el Presidente has in Casco Viejo.(By the way Casco has yummy food and spectacular jazz.) The evening sunset is to "die for" right on your big, cozy balcony. So nice to watch the traffic on Balboa Avenue and not be in it. When others are struggling to get to their evening destinations you can have your wine, tapas and friends in your own space, while watching a big screen plasma T.V.! Get the idea? Then in the evening when you are quietly alone and falling asleep please leave the doors open and feel the bay breeze soothe you. Trust us, you'll be back soon. We are returning in 6 months and may never come back to Atlanta. We offer our thanks to Sarah for sharing her vision. Posada gives you a birdeye view of the splendid city called Panama.. Continued success and see ya soon, Panama!!! Regards, Austin and Phyllis

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Guest Tracey E.
Date of stay 07/17/08
Review Submitted 07/17/08

This was our very first time renting an apartment, and it was the BEST experience ever!!! The view from the balcony is amazing! The people in the building were so nice. This apartment is very close to the Multi Central Mall, there is a grocery store called Super 99 about a 10 min walk away. It is fantastic, we had no problems and the owner of the apartment even emailed us during our stay to see how we were doing. We were picked up by a driver named Jose that the owner uses to let us in to the apartment. He was very very nice, and he was there waiting for us at the airport. I felt completely at home and this was one of the first times where I wasn't home sick. I think that had a lot to do with the apartment and of course the people of Panama. I would HIGHLY recommend this apartment to anyone interested, it was clean, cozy and is in the perfect area to access everything! The Multi Plaza is about a 5 min Taxi drive from that area. :) This is much better then staying at a hotel, its like having your own home in Panama.

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Vacation Rentals by Owner

Exec Aprtmt. Paitilla, Balcony, Bay Views! Now Accepting Long Term [#179378] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (14)

Panoramic Views in the Heart of Panama City!

Panoramic Views in the Heart of Panama City!

Better Than We Expected!

Better Than We Expected!

WONDERFUL VACATION IN PANAMA, CENTRAL AMERICA & THE BEST VALUE IN ACCOMMODATIONS!!!

WONDERFUL VACATION IN PANAMA, CENTRAL AMERICA & THE BEST VALUE IN ACCOMMODATIONS!!!

Not as good as the reviews would indicate

Not as good as the reviews would indicate

best deal and stay in town

best deal and stay in town

posada del Rey - just perfect

posada del Rey - just perfect

Beautiful View

Beautiful View

Comfy and Great View

Comfy and Great View

Fantastic stay!

Fantastic stay!

FABULOUS VISIT! PANAMA SARAH AND JOSE ARE THE BEST!!

FABULOUS VISIT! PANAMA SARAH AND JOSE ARE THE BEST!!