We really enjoyed our stay at HI City of Knowledge. The hotel was immaculate, the service great, the pool area small but adequate for enjoying the gorgeous weather. We also enjoyed the views from our Canal side windows, I spent hours watching ships like the Queen Elizabeth go through the locks.
Make sure you ask for a room on the 5th or 6th floor, canal side. We had them change our room and are happy we did. There may be a little more noise, but the views are amazing (and let's face it, you are going to have the AC going anyway).
Some noise from the hall way as there is a training room on the 6th floor.
Lovely staff, especially Yarileth at the front desk. She cheerfully changed our room and acted as concierge for us the entire stay. She arranged taxis and negotiated fares for us as well as setting up trips to the Parque Municipal for bird watching (although early morning birding from beside the pool brought us parrots, tanagers, etc with our morning coffee).
It is a ways out of Panama City, but closer to many other attractions that Panama has to offer. Cabs are cheap if you are sharing with another person, we were a group of 4 and never paid more than a few bucks each.
We never ate in the hotel, just used the coffee shop and bar. Great pub with Irish food and hamburgers less than a block away (Mick's), and a wonderful Italian place next door.
kudos to the manager of the hotel, also, who greeted us when we checked in and gave us free wifi when she saw we were Priority Club members with HI. It was appreciated as we had our IPads and not a laptop (there is free connection in the rooms to cable).
- Panama City Holiday Inn
