Calle 50 With 53rd Street East, Marbella Neighborhood, Panama City Panama
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US$115
Fully refundable before 10/06/23
No prepayment needed
US$121
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Fully refundable before 09/06/23
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#13 of 135 hotels in Panama City
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2023 Travellers' Choice Best of the Best
TThe Hotel Riu Plaza Panama is located in the heart of the banking and business district of Panama City and very close to most attractive entertainment and shopping centers. Only 250m from the luxurious "Soho Mall" Panama and Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is approx. 21 km away. This hotel is ideal for both leisure and business travel. The 644 modern and elegant decorated rooms with free Wi-Fi offer maximum comfort and in our 23 stylish and modern conference rooms you can successfully organize your events and meetings. Relax at the Renova Spa or get in shape in the gym. You can also unwind in our outdoor pool. For gastronomy lovers, we offer a live cooking station at our buffet restaurant, an á la carte restaurant, as well as 2 bars. Crown Level Executive lounge service free for guests staying in Executive rooms and Suites as well as hotel guests holding RIU Class Gold and RIU Class Diamond cards.
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Property amenities
Valet parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Airport transportation
Business Centre with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Fitness / spa changing rooms
Sauna
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Swimup bar
Poolside bar
Car hire
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Facial treatments
Full body massage
Massage
Baggage storage
Concierge
Currency exchange
Non-smoking hotel
Sun umbrellas
Butler service
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Ironing service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Safe
VIP room facilities
Minibar
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Value
Trendy
Languages Spoken
Spanish
Location
90Good for walkers
Grade: 90 out of 100
104Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
21Attractionswithin 0.5 km
Calle 50 With 53rd Street East, Marbella Neighborhood, Panama City Panama
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3722Reviews86Q+A100Room tips
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Should be in Spanish/English food in the hotel need improvement and should have entertainment for guest’s and have gift shops so guest can get souvenirs and a restaurant that guest can have a choice to eat in are to out to eat
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Hotel's Favourite
The staff made this hotel awesome! They were extremely helpful and catered to our every need. They help personalize the experience and were very friendly. Envy, at the front desk made our birthdays special. The concierge Frank is a great as well! Breakfast was pretty good as well. I wish the pool was a rooftop setting instead but it is what it is. I’d definitely stay here again!
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
+1
My husband and I stayed at the Riu Plaza Panama for 2 glorious weeks in April. We had one of the senior suites and it was honestly as big as a 1-bedroom condo! There was both an ensuite bathroom and a powder room (so convenient!). There was also a dining room with a dining table and 4 chairs and a living room with a couch and chair. Our view wasn't spectacular, but it was fine. We could see the pool and from the bedroom we could see a little bit of the beach (from very much afar). Our room was very clean when we arrived and the housekeeping ladies did an amazing job of keeping it clean the whole time we were there. The lobby is absolutely stunning! There is a bar on the ground floor, a 24-hour convenience store and 2 restaurants. We visited the bar for cocktails one evening and they were delicious. We ate at the buffet restaurant every morning and were blown away by the selection of food. There was always lots of lovely, fresh fruit (the passionfruit was to die for), a huge salad bar, a cold meat and cheese bar, a dessert table, soooo many varieties of bread and buns, an omelette station, several different kinds of eggs, bacon, sausage, Panamanian delicacies, etc... The choices were endless. The staff were sometimes a bit slow to get our tea/coffee/water, but that was the only real complaint. The pool was our favourite place to be other than our suite. The water was always a tiny bit cool in the morning, which was wonderful as the temperature outside was 34C-35C every single day we were there. By later in the afternoon the pool felt like a warm bath. The pool attendants were really great and very attentive. The pool bar was always pretty busy. We tried the 2-for-1 mojitos one day but they were FAR too sweet for us. We ate in the other restaurant one evening and the food was pretty good, but nothing really outstanding. If there hadn't been plenty of restaurants in the vicinity, we probably would have eaten there again. We spent the odd hour or so in the Crown level lounge. It's available to those in Crown level rooms and (I think) Riu members. They always had a few snacks/pastries and a fridge with wine, beer and cold non-alcoholic beverages. The hotel is within walking distance to lots of restaurants (highly recommend La Vespa and Chivita). There's a Starbucks directly next door, which was really handy for a cool drink in the middle of the day. If you're planning to travel by taxi/Uber, I'd highly recommend Uber. Taxis in Panama don't have meters, so they can basically charge you whatever they like. Oh, and one funny thing we found out is that it's illegal to sell alcohol on good Friday in Panama. This means you can't order it at a restaurant (most licensed restaurants were closed that day) and you can't buy it in any stores. However, the Crown level lounge did have it because it's a free perk and not for sale. We would 100% go back to the Riu Plaza Panama in a heartbeat. …
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
I visited for 5 days to enjoy my birthday weekend. This was my first RIU property- it was very clean with the staff being kind and super helpful. I loved the location (near shopping and attractions), and overall upkeep of the property. I stayed in a junior suite-which had an amazing view of the islands; I will be most definitely booking a penthouse room next time just for the experience. The breakfast was convenient- definitely worth adding onto your accommodation. I will most likely stay at this property again on my return. Uber is pretty cheap in Panama, so the location makes it very economical to travel around the city.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: The earlier you get to breakfast the better because it gets very busy with children running around.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama
Responded 1 week ago
Dear madamcash, Thank you very much for giving us your kind comment and sharing it with the users of this channel. We are very happy to hear that you felt at home in our accommodation. For our part, we will continue to try to improve and welcome you back very soon. Yours faithfully, Hotel Riu Plaza Panama Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The food here is not the typical "hotel food" which we all try to stay away from. It's quite stunning and always impecably prepared. This applies to each on-site establishment (including the pool lounge from where I'm writing this). Kudos to not only the chef and staff but also to the hotel Management for ensuring this level of quality!
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Bring industrial-grade ear plugs if you plan to eat at the hotel's sushi bar during live music.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear HeviiGuy, Thank you for taking the time to write a great review of our hotel. It was our pleasure hosting you and we are looking forward to welcoming you again very soon! We wish you all the best, Hotel Riu Plaza Panama Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RIU Plaza Panama is an older Hotel with very standard, older Rooms, and very standard Services. We expected a very luxury Hotel, but for all standards it is OK and priced correctly. Also the Restaurants are fair with acceptable Food, but nothing special
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Upgrade Rooms and change Manue in Restaurants
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear josefb5, Thank you for choosing RIU and for sharing your concerns with us! We regret that your stay at our hotel did not fulfill your expectations in some aspects, as our priority is to provide a professional service at all times and to ensure a relaxing stay to all of our visitors. We truly hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back again soon in one of our Worldwide premises to regain your trust in our brand and services. Please receive our warmest regards, Hotel Riu Plaza Panama Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I'm currently staying at this hotel, and I'm above and beyond disappointed. Upon walking in, I had high expectations, but this quickly changed after walking into the room. The room is HORRIBLE. Not only is it filthy, but the smell of mold/humidity is unbearable. The worst part, is that they try to cover this all up with a perfume smell, which only makes it worse. I've stayed in other Riu resorts throughout the world, and they are normally all good hotels. This, on the other hand, is a dump. Bed sheets are dirty, no housekeeping, air conditioning doesn't work, mold everywhere in the bathroom, bed/pillows are horrendous, gym equipment is a joke.... the list goes on and on. I come to panama at least once a year, and there is a plethora of beautiful hotels in the city. Unfortunately, this is not one of then, and I will NEVER return. I cannot wait to check out of the hellhole in a couple of days…
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip: Find another hotel
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama
Responded 19 Apr 2023
Dear Alexandra and J... F, Thank you very much for taking the time to provide feedback about your current stay with us. We are so sorry to hear that your first impression of Hotel Riu Plaza Panama is not a positive one, when the majority of our guests do appear to be satisfied with our standards of quality and service. However, it is remarkable that the dissatisfaction you are describing did not come to our attention up to now, so we would love nothing more than to have a chance to regain your trust before your departure, and we always encourage guests who are still at the hotel to contact our Front Desk staff in order to resolve any issues during the stay. It is our hope that your stay gets turned around for you and encourage you to let us know if there is anything else, we can do to make things right. With our best wishes we remain, Hotel Riu Plaza Panama Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I loved my experience at this hotel, the stay was terrific. The food was great as well. This is an A-class hotel that I would love to visit again very soon. The hotel is spotless and sanitary. The people there were very nice and friendly.
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Review collected in partnership with riu.com
Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama
Responded 20 Apr 2023
Dear cameil2023, Thank you for your review, It is a pleasure to hear your feedback as we strive daily to provide exceptional service to all our guests. We are really glad to hear that the hotel and services lived up to your expectations. We hope, you will visit us again soon! Yours faithfully, Hotel Riu Plaza Panama Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pool is too small to accommodate all the guests. Housekeeping did not provide enough washcloths for double occupancy. Had to call the reception everyday for additional towels. Bag was stolen at breakfast and security did nothing about it. They didn't even call the cops after I demanded it. They said they will look at the cameras. They do not keep the guest and there belongings safe. Please do not stay here. There are other hotel in the area that are so much better.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama
Responded 18 Apr 2023
Dear Cduncan84, Thank you for evaluating your stay with us. We are truly disappointed to learn that we did not live up to the standards you expected from us, as we are committed to provide excellent services to all our guests. Unfortunately, we have not been able to track your case with the information provided. In case you wish to follow up or to raise a formal complaint, you can share your concerns with our After Travel department via email (in case of a direct booking using the following e-mail address: complaints@riu.com or through your travel agency). Our colleagues will be happy to attend you. Your comments have been shared with our management team as we understand that there is always room for improvement and despite your inconveniences, we hope that you will give us another chance to serve you again in the near future. Best wishes, Hotel Riu Plaza Panama Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Riu review What an AMAZING stay if 10 stars was an option they would get it. What can I say from the time of arrival the check in process was seamless. Franklin at the front desk for check in provided such great customer service. He explained everything the hotel had to offer. Gym hours, free breakfast Buffett, night restaurants hours, pool time etc. We arrived at 7am and had to wait for our room to be ready. Check in was at 3pm. So we hung out in the lobby. Franklin did say if they could get us a room sooner they would. We were so grateful we had a room by 12pm. We were exhausted from a red eye flight. The bellboy held our bags and he was so nice. He brough the bags up to the room. Everyone at the hotel was extremely friendly. We were originally scheduled to stay 5 nights but we were so pleased that the RIU location was so close to everything we wanted to do we cancelled our second hotel and stayed 9 nights at the RIU. We took the bus a block away to destinations we wanted to visit. Look up places in google maps. The Metro tren was a 7 minute walk. .35 a ride. Even takes you to the airport for .50 cents a ride. Definitely a way to travel since cabs can be pricey. Take an Uber use the app. Rey Supermarket close by to buy waters & drinks. The hotel will charge you $4 for a water you can get for .35 cents at el Rey or the dollar store around the corner. Theres a dollar store as you walk out of the hotel to the right that is well stocked also. A bunch of local restaurants as you walk left out of the RIU CHEAP FOOD & delicious. They are only open from 5am-4pm. A meal will cost you $4 at most. The level of customer service at the Riu was EXCEPTIONAL..Jesus & Julio took very good care of us at the breakfast buffet. The free breakfast buffet is included in the hotel stay. It was very good. Everything you can imagine for breakfast eggs, bacon, sausage, breads, all kinds of fruits, yogurt, chips, pico, nacho cheese, even lunch options for breakfast such as pork, chicken, soups rice, french fries, all different desserts, juices everyday its a different variety. You wont get bored. The workers are extremely nice and attentive to your needs. Some days you have to be patient as there aren’t enough waiters. The pool guy Horatio was out of this world. He always checked up on is and made sure we were good. Opened our umbrella so we were comfortable. Made sure we had towels. The pool side bar opens at 11:30am for drinks and lunch at 12pm. The night Restaurant by the pool side also exceptional service and delicious inexpensive food. We ate here 4 nights and had different dinners. The total costs for dinner for $25-$30 big portions for two people. We had the The grilled chicken platter, chicken wings w french fries, fettuccine with chicken (menu shows with shrimp but my husband has allergy so they did chicken instead) Ketsia and Diana were the hostess they were very welcoming and provided great service always checked back to see how we were. We had a few different waiters but Samuel was the BEST.. we enjoyed being given a level of customer service and he exceeded our expectations. Samuel recommended foods we were unsure what to eat. His recommendations were on point. His drink recommendations also. We will definitely be back to Riu centrally located for all walking and touring needs. For tours look them up online the hotel booth outside we found that they are about $75-$150 USD more pricey than other companies around. All tour companies pick you up and drop off at hotel. Panama is my second home and I truly loved the RIU.. On a last note managers were also around all day checking in with guests to make sure everything was good. I appreciated that also. Before you needed something they were there. VERY ATTENTIVE…
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from RIU Hotels and Resorts, Owner at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama
Responded 20 Apr 2023
Dear chriistinah525, Thank you for your review, We were very pleased to read your kind comments and to know that you have rated so positively different aspects of the hotel that have contributed to a very good experience. We hope that you will visit us again soon and that we will be able to offer you another unforgettable experience with us. We look forward to seeing you! Yours faithfully, Hotel Riu Plaza Panama Online Reputation Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
US$103 - US$131 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
PanamaPanama ProvincePanama City
NUMBER OF ROOMS
644
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Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Riu Plaza Panama
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Riu Plaza Panama?
Nearby attractions include Soho (0.3 km), Brew Stop Marbella (0.3 km), and Nina Concept Store (0.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, free wifi, and a pool.
Which room amenities are available at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama?
Top room amenities include a minibar, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama?
Yes, a parking garage and valet parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Hotel Riu Plaza Panama?
Conveniently located restaurants include La Vespa, Coffee Max, and Ciao Bella Gourmet.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama?
Yes, guests have access to a pool, a fitness centre, and a sauna during their stay.
Does Hotel Riu Plaza Panama have airport transportation?
Yes, Hotel Riu Plaza Panama offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Hotel Riu Plaza Panama?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Does Hotel Riu Plaza Panama offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business centre, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.
Are there any historical sites close to Hotel Riu Plaza Panama?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Capilla San Jose (4.8 km), Plaza de Francia (7.6 km), and Panamá Viejo (4.8 km).