Panama City has a good hotel selection, with something for every taste and budget. Casco Viejo has stylish boutique hotels in historic settings, but they lack the facilities of the bigger hotels and can be noisy on weekends. There are various large hotels scattered around the city, but most are clustered in El Cangrejo and the Area Bancária, which are busy, but have plenty of restaurants and nightlife. For a quieter alternative (albeit farther removed from most activities and attractions), head to Balboa, Cerro Ancón, or one of the areas just outside the city, such as Summit, or Playa Kobbe.
Because of a recent boom in hotel construction, you won’t need to reserve too far ahead except for the small B&Bs and boutique hotels. Because of an oversupply of big hotels, you can often get a room for a fraction of the rack rate if you book online, especially on weekends.. The city's best hotels are quite nice and varied enough in what they offer to suit most tastes, but some can suffer from poor service. Travelers on a budget can find a variety of comfortable accommodations for less than $120, which often includes a swimming pool. All hotels listed here have private bathrooms with hot water, air-conditioning, and Wi-Fi; most have a telephone and cable TV in the room.
