panama :: reviews.

i thought it'd be helpful to any future low-budget travelers to share my experience of the places we stayed, approximately how much it cost, and links (if available).

hospedaje casco viejo - panama city
the vibe: quiet, keep to yourself; not the friendliest place i've been, but i could imagine you'd like it if you've been traveling for a while and want some peace and quiet for a budget price. not sure it's the best entry place to stay if you're new to the country.
the cost: $9/person/night for the 6-person dorm room
the cleanliness: the place is very modest so it's easy to keep things tidy. my pillow sham smelled like dirty rag, so i didn't use it. my travel buddy's didn't - i suppose it's a hit or miss.
the location: in the casco viejo neighborhood, which is undergoing quite a bit of transformation. you'll see ruins next to completely renovated buildings. it's fascinating to see how the town will be gentrified in a few years. not too far from the city, but there isn't a ton going on in the actual town. there is a fish market that's definitely worth checking out!

hostel mamallena - boquete
the vibe: really friendly, great community feel; the staff are not pushy with excursions and such, but are super helpful if you ask questions. the kitchen is super well taken care of, so
the cost: $13.75/person/night for a private 2-bed room with private bath
the cleanliness: very clean and organized; they are on top of it! clean sheets and towels available. (although, if you're there long enough, you're bound to see some cockroaches.)
the location: right next to a major bus stop and close to everything. if you want to be in town and have that convenience, mamallena is the place to stay

hostel mamallena - panama city
the vibe: stayed less than 24 hours (11pm-5am) so didn't see it during the day. it's not as communal feeling as mamallena in boquete, but i think it still attracts friendly people. the staff were helpful and they even came in to wake us up at 4:30am so we wouldn't miss our ride to san blas.
the cost: $11/person/night for an 8-person dorm
the cleanliness: relatively clean; the shared bathroom was kinda grody with the shower being the worst part; the kitchen was clean and tidy
the location: the neighborhood seemed a little shady, as indicated by the locked doors and "security." i wouldn't stay there if i were to visit panama again.

iron's place - san blas
the vibe: to get a better sense of the san blas island, i think this guy did a really good job with his write-up.
the cost: $42.50/person/night for a private shack - it's absurdly expensive and it's not worth staying here for the upgraded option of having wood floors (versus sand).
the location: the island is great, and there are four places you can stay on the tourist side, that are all placed side-by-side. i would suggest you stay at any of the other cheaper options instead of iron's place.

eco inn - panama city
the vibe: boutique hotel with a business vibe; it's a bit more 'upscale' and by far the fanciest place we stayed before heading back to the states. we wanted a clean, bright room and we got it. the blanket was down, the sheets were creamy nice, and overall it was super comfortable.
the cost: $77/night for a private room
the cleanliness: excellent! sparkling clean, soft sheets, AC'ed, delightfully pleasant hotel
the location: great location in the city, in a neighborhood called bella vista. there were a row of street food stalls about a block away that we went to a couple times. it seemed like a very local spot where they're open until post lunch. some men let us cut maize b/c he made it look so easy. and for our effort, he gave us some fresh maize empanada with white cheese. it was absolutely delicious!