Panama City Luxury: Marriott Finisterre Executive Apartments Await!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the shimmering, sometimes-a-bit-gritty world of Panama City Luxury: Marriott Finisterre Executive Apartments. "Luxury"? Yeah, we'll see about that. "Executive Apartments"? Now that sounds promising. Let's get this review real.
First, the Rundown: (Or, How to Survive a Week in Panama City)
This place is… well, it’s a Marriott. You know the drill. Location, Location, Location. Finisterre's location is pretty clutch. Smack dab in the heart of everything, easy to walk to a million places. The price? Let's just say my wallet is still recovering. But hey, gotta treat yourself, right? Or at least, I tried to.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Like a Tourist's Outfit
Okay, so accessibility is important. And honestly, it’s… patchy. There are elevators (thank GOD), and they claim to have facilities for disabled guests. But digging deep, I couldn't find a ton of specific details. Call ahead, ask the right questions, and don't assume anything. I have seen this sort of thing go the wrong way more than it goes right and that's just facts.
On-Site Grub & Booze: Fueling the Adventures (and the Hangovers)
- Restaurants, Restaurants, Everywhere! They boast restaurants, which is great. There are Restaurants (plural!). A la carte, buffet, Asian, international…sounds like they're trying to cover all the bases. Did I try everything? Absolutely not. Did I wander around the city for some street food one day? Absolutely.
- The Poolside Bar: Ah, the poolside bar. You expect it to be your best friend in Panama. And it was, until the rain hit. It's pretty standard, really. Cocktails were kinda pricey but they did the trick.
- Room Service is King: 24/7. This is a win. Especially when you're jet-lagged and just want someone to bring you a burger at 3 am. (Yes, I may have done this.)
- Coffee Shop Craving: The coffee shop was… good. Very, very good. I had to force myself away from the cappuccinos, but the convenience was excellent.
- Breakfast's the Thing: Okay, the breakfast buffet. That's where things can get a little… chaotic. The buffet itself was the usual spread. The staff…well, let's just say their enthusiasm varied. One day I got a smile and a charming quip, the next I felt like an inconvenience just for existing. But hey, it's a buffet. You win some, you lose some.
Relaxation & Pampering: Did I Find Paradise?
- The Pool with a View: Yeah, the view is pretty stellar, overlooking the city. Good spot for a sunset Insta pic, but it can get crowded. The "pool with a view" is a definite highlight.
- The Spa: Okay, I'm a sucker for a massage. Was it the best massage of my life? No. Was it a welcome dose of chill amid the city madness? Absolutely. I went for the "Relaxation" massage and boy did I need it.
- The Gym/Fitness Center: I intended to use the gym. I genuinely believed I would. Did I? Nope. Too busy eating empanadas and exploring. But it looked well-equipped.
Cleanliness & Safety: Pandemic Edition
Look, we’re still in a pandemic world, and I'M always a little freaked out, truth be told. Finisterre seems to be trying. They've got the basics covered: hand sanitizer everywhere, staff in masks, and claims of anti-viral cleaning products. They do a daily disinfection. I didn't see them scrubbing down the walls in front of me, but I trusted they were doing something. I'm sure. Right? Right?!
Rooms: My Temporary Fortress
- The Apartment Vibe: They call these "Executive Apartments," and they're… roomy. You get a kitchen (which I barely used – see above), a separate living area, and a bedroom. Space to spread out is key when you're away from home for a spell.
- The Blackout Curtains: Lifesavers. Essential. Thank. God. For. Dark. Rooms.
- The Internet: My Constant Companion: Free Wi-Fi, thank the gods. Because let’s be real, I need my Instagram fix and to check if my cat has burned my house down.
- The View: The view from the room was awesome. High floors are the way to go. You get the city vibes without feeling like you're right IN the chaos.
Services & Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter (and the Ones That Don’t)
- Concierge: Yay or Nay? The concierge? Hit or miss. Sometimes super helpful, other times… not so much. Depends on the shift, I guess.
- The Elevator: Crucial.
- Business Facilities: Didn't use 'em. Probably there.
- The Souvenir Shop: There’s a gift shop too!
For the Kids: Are They Welcome?
Family-friendly, they say. Babysitting service available. I don’t have kids, so I can’t vouch for specifics. But I saw a few families there.
Getting Around: How to Escape or Explore
- Airport Transfer: They offer it. Book it. Trust me.
- Taxi Service: Available. Easy.
- The Car Park: They have free parking!
The Overall Vibe: A Mix of Pros and "Meh"
Here's the thing: The Marriott Finisterre is reliable. It’s a decent choice, a safe bet. It will be great if you like Marriotts. It is not going to blow your socks off. It is not going to make you weep with joy. But it's a good base camp for exploring Panama City.
The Imperfections: The one major thing that I really disliked? The music. The music in the lobby. The music in the elevators. The music in the pool. It was… terrible. Like, elevator music on a loop, but with more bad remixes of classic 80s tunes. I swear, I had one tune stuck in my head for three days. It was enough to make me want to wear noise-canceling headphones everywhere, which, of course, only added to that "tourist-in-a-foreign-land" look.
The Anecdote: The Poolside Drama
Okay, I need to tell you about the incident at the pool. Picture this: sun, a cocktail, finally feeling relaxed. And then… a rogue pool noodle assault. Seriously. Some overly enthusiastic kids attacked me with a pool noodle. It was the most absurd thing. I, the sophisticated world traveler, battling a pool noodle. Now, in hindsight, it's hilarious. But in the moment, I was not impressed. And the lifeguard? Just watched. Sigh.
The Verdict: Worth the Price?
Look, the price is a factor, but it's Panama City. Everything is a little…pricey. It depends on your budget and priorities.
Final Recommendation:
If you want something dependable, centrally located, and with all the usual amenities, the Marriott Finisterre is a solid choice. Just BYO earplugs, and keep an eye out for those rogue pool noodles!
SEO Optimized Call to Action: (Here’s the sell!)
Tired of the mundane? Craving a Panamanian adventure? Then don't just dream it, BOOK IT! Panama City Luxury: Marriott Finisterre Executive Apartments Await! Experience stunning city views, relax at the spa, and savor delicious cuisine. From accessibility considerations to the convenience of on-site dining and the luxury of the rooms, the Finisterre offers the perfect blend of comfort and excitement.
Click here to book your escape to Panama City today! (Link to booking site)
Keywords (Because SEO is a beast): Panama City, Panama, luxury hotel, executive apartments, Finisterre, Marriott, accessibility, pool, spa, restaurant, city view, Central America, travel, vacation, things to do in Panama City, best hotels, where to stay in Panama City.
Escape to Manila: Luxury Green Living & Lightning-Fast WiFi!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to embark on a messy, emotional, and probably slightly caffeinated descent into my (attempted) blissful stay at the Marriott Executive Apartments Panama City, Finisterre. This isn't a perfectly polished travel brochure, it's more like… my brain dumped onto a page. Prepare for scatter-brained joy, existential dread at not knowing what to order for breakfast, and the distinct possibility of me accidentally getting lost in a parking garage. Here goes nothing!
The Panama City Pandemonium (and Potential Paradise): A Messy Marriott Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Adjustment (aka "Help, I'm Jetlagged and Hangry")
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Landed at Tocumen International Airport (PTY). Thank GOD for pre-booked airport transfer. Honestly, after a red-eye, the last thing I wanted was to wrangle a taxi. The driver, bless his heart, seemed to think I was a VIP. He was smiling so big, it felt like he was happy to be alive. I guess that's how people feel everyday in Panama?
- 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Check-in at Marriott Executive Apartments. Okay, first impressions: the lobby smells amazing. Like, clean laundry and a hint of expensive perfume. I'm pretty sure I spent ten minutes just wandering around, feeling utterly inadequate in my travel sweats. The front desk lady was incredibly polite, which soothed my grumpy jetlagged soul. They upgraded me to a suite. Yes! I feel so guilty for being so happy with the small things.
- 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Unpacking and Apartment Gawking. My suite! Okay, so, it's a bit sterile-looking. But hey, there's a kitchen! A real kitchen! I'm already dreaming of whipping up some (probably disastrous) Panamanian cuisine. The view from my window, however… holy moly. City skyline meets ocean. Okay, Panama, you're winning me over.
- 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: The Great Food Quest (and the existential dread that comes with it). Okay, the REAL problem. I'm STARVING. And I have no idea what to eat. Restaurant options overwhelm me. It's a recurring thing. I went to a restaurant downstairs that I had read has an amazing food, but there were no available seats and that made me cry.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Sunset stroll. Decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. The architecture is just…wow. There's this juxtaposition of gleaming skyscrapers and charming, older buildings. It's mesmerizing…until I got slightly lost and ended up in what appeared to be a residential area. Oops. Found my way back eventually, feeling a bit flustered but also strangely invigorated. Panama: You're unpredictable, and I kinda love it.
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner. Ate a terrible sandwich. Seriously, how can you mess up a sandwich?
- 9:00 PM - Bedtime: Passed out from jetlag.
Day 2: Exploring Casco Viejo & the Curse of the Coffee Shop (aka "Am I a Tourist or Just a Clumsy Idiot?")
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Attempted Breakfast. "Attempted" being the operative word here. The kitchen looked promising yesterday, but now I'm staring at the fridge like it's a riddle. Ended up eating instant oatmeal and wondering if I'm already failing at being a successful traveler.
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Casco Viejo immersion! Took a taxi (finally figuring out the currency!) to the old city. The vibrant colors, the cobblestone streets, the colonial architecture…it's stunning. Found myself wandering down this little side street, captivated by a crumbling building that looked like it had a thousand stories to tell. I could almost hear the whispers of the past.
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The Coffee Shop Debacle. Needed caffeine, desperately. Popped into a cute little coffee shop with great reviews. Big mistake. Okay, let's just say I managed to spill my iced latte all over myself while trying to navigate the tiny, crowded space. Mortified. The barista was super nice about it, but I'm pretty sure I left a large coffee-colored stain on the floor. I'm officially a walking disaster.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch. Found a little restaurant with outdoor seating. Got some ceviche, which, thank god, was delicious. Ate it slowly, hoping to recover from the coffee shop incident.
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: More Casco Viejo exploring. Visited the Panama Canal Museum. Learned a lot, but felt a growing sense of historical guilt about the whole thing. Still, the ingenuity of the canal is undeniable. Did some souvenir shopping (bought way too many magnets, per usual).
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Relaxation and Reflection. Back to the apartment. Sat on my balcony, gazing at the city. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over everything. Panama City is a place of contrasts. It can be chaotic, it can be overwhelming, but it's also beautiful and captivating. I'm starting to get it, I think.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner at a fancy restaurant. I ordered something I couldn’t pronounce, didn’t understand, and it tasted awful.
- 9:00 PM - Bedtime: Watched some TV in Spanish and fell asleep.
Day 3: The Panama Canal (and the Persistent Feeling of Being Overwhelmed)
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Breakfast battle. Ended up ordering room service and it arrived cold.
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: The Panama Canal - Official Tour. Took a taxi to the Miraflores Locks Visitors Center. I was completely mesmerized. Watching those massive ships navigate the locks…it's a feat of engineering genius. The whole experience was a bit overwhelming (so much information!), but also incredibly impressive. I even managed to take a decent photo or two! I think I spent a good hour just staring in awe.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch. Got a burger. Needed something familiar for the sake of my sanity.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Trying out some more exploring. Walked through some of the parks near the canal.
- 3:00 PM - Home time.: Back to my apartment, feeling a mix of awe and exhaustion. I'm starting to realize that this "traveling" thing is a lot more tiring than it looks.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner and chill time in my room. Ordered delivery.
- 7:00 PM - Bedtime: Slept.
Day 4: A Bit of a Mess (aka "Running on Emotion and Coffee")
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Breakfast and journaling with my coffee.
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: A beautiful lunch spot, and I lost my phone.
- 2:00 PM - Bedtime: In the process of recovering my phone
- The Rest of the Trip:
- I'm planning on staying in Panama a couple of extra days.
- I will probably have a blast and make a lot of fun memories
- I will try to get better at Spanish.
Overall Observations/Ramblings:
- The Marriott: The apartment is great. The staff is lovely, but the whole place feels a bit…anonymous. Like a very comfortable, slightly sterile bubble. I'm torn.
- Panama City: What a city! It's a chaotic, beautiful, confusing, overwhelming, and utterly fascinating place. I'm still figuring it out.
- Me: I'm a mess. A clumsy, coffee-spilling, sometimes-lost-but-always-trying mess. But I'm also having fun, learning things, and experiencing something new. And that, my friends, is what it's all about. (Right?)
This "itinerary" is a living document. It's subject to change, whim, and the occasional existential crisis. Stay tuned. And wish me luck. I'll probably need it.
Yao Ming's Secret Hong Kong Hideaway: Unbelievable Single Room!
So, Panama City Luxury: Marriott Finisterre Executive Apartments... Are They *Really* Luxurious? (Because Let's Be Honest, 'Luxury' Gets Thrown Around Like Candy)
Okay, okay, let's cut the BS. I've stayed at places that call themselves "luxury" and felt more like I was camping indoors. Finisterre? Well, for the most part, yeah. It's definitely a step up from the cockroach-infested hostel I once accidentally booked in Medellin (shudders). The lobby is seriously impressive – marble, the whole shebang, and the staff actually smile at you. Like, genuinely smile, not that stiff hotel-employee grimace. But, and there's always a but, right? The "luxury" vibe can sometimes feel a little… sterile. Like they're trying *too* hard. You know? The perfectly placed orchids, the minimalist furniture… I'm more of a "lived-in, a bit messy, with personality" kind of person. (Think: a comfy armchair with a dog-eared book on the side table, not a chrome-and-glass sculpture you're terrified of touching.) Still, the apartment itself? Spacious. Huge windows. Killer views, especially if you snag a high floor. The kitchen was actually usable (unlike the 'kitchenettes' in some places, which are basically a microwave and a prayer). I cooked a proper meal, which, after months of eating street food, felt like a religious experience. So, yeah, luxurious-ish. But definitely not… *soulful*, you know?
About the Views: Do They *Really* Deliver on Those Panoramic Promises? (Because Airport Runway Views Are NOT My Idea of a Vacation)
Alright, the views. Okay, *here* they deliver. Seriously. I opted for something facing the city and the ocean and… whoa. Breathtaking. Especially at sunset. I'm not even a sunset person, usually, but here? Magical. One evening, I poured myself a glass of Panamanian rum (don't judge, I was on vacation!) and just sat there, staring out the window, watching the sky explode with colors. It was… well, it was almost worth the price of the room just for that view alone. However! And this is a HUGE "however"… the first apartment they put me in? Total disaster. The air conditioning was making a noise that sounded like a dying walrus, and the view? Partially obscured by some incredibly ugly building. I complained (politely, at first – then, not so much), and they *did* move me. Which was good. But it took some serious persistence and a slightly frantic email. So, yeah, the views are incredible if you get the *right* apartment. Choose wisely, my friends, choose wisely.
Executive Apartments? What's the "Executive" Part, Exactly? Is There, Like, a Private Jet Parking? (A Girl Can Dream, Okay?)
"Executive." Ugh. That word. It usually screams "stuffy businessman in a suit, sipping lukewarm coffee, making important phone calls." And, let's be honest, I'm not exactly that. I'm more of a "jeans and a t-shirt, fueled by caffeine and the sheer thrill of adventure" kind of person. So, what does "executive" mean here? Well, spacious apartments (check). Fully equipped kitchens (check). Reliable Wi-Fi (mostly check – there were a few moments of internet-induced panic, which is always fun). Gym (meh, I prefer exploring the city on foot). Conference rooms? I didn't use them. Probably full of those aforementioned stuffy businessmen. The "executive" part, I think, is more about providing a seamless, comfortable experience for people who are traveling for business but want a home-away-from-home feel. And, let's be honest, it's nice to have a big space. I appreciated the separation between the living area and the bedroom. I could actually *relax* without feeling like I was tripping over my own suitcase. Also, having a proper washing machine and dryer? Major win.
The Pool: Instagrammable Paradise or Just a Wet Place? (Because I Need to Know if I Need to Pack My Tiny Bikini)
Okay, the pool. Listen, I'm a sucker for a good pool. And this one? Pretty darn good. Rooftop infinity pool. Views. Sun loungers. The works. It’s not the Ritz-Carlton Dubai levels of amazing, but it’s solid. And yes, Instagrammable. Very Instagrammable. I saw a couple of influencers (probably) taking, like, a thousand photos. I resisted the urge to photobomb them, which was a feat of sheer willpower. The water was clean, the temperature was perfect, and there was a bar nearby. I spent a solid afternoon there, alternating between swimming, sunbathing, and sipping fruity cocktails. Pure bliss. No complaints on the pool front. Pack your tiny bikini. You won't regret it. Just be prepared for the possibility of encountering a photo shoot. It comes with the territory, apparently. *Minor Gripe Alert:* The number of sun loungers seemed a bit… limited. On busy days, you might have to fight for a spot. But hey, that's what vacations are for, right? Building character through mild aggression.
Location, Location, Location! How's the Neighborhood? (Is It Safe? Can I Get Pizza Past Midnight?)
Location is key, and Finisterre is pretty darn good. It's in the El Cangrejo neighborhood, which is generally considered safe. I wandered around at night (with my street smarts on, of course), and I felt fine. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops within walking distance. You can definitely grab a pizza past midnight. Crisis averted! It's also close to the metro, which is a lifesaver for getting around Panama City. Traffic can be brutal, and the metro is fast, clean, and cheap. The area is lively, but not overwhelmingly so. You're not going to be kept up all night by noisy parties, which is a huge plus. I do, however, have a slightly embarrassing story about getting lost while trying to find a specific coffee shop. Let's just say I ended up wandering through a few less-touristy areas… and encountered some very curious stares. But hey, that's part of the adventure, right? And I eventually found my coffee. Victory!
The Service: Are the Staff Actually Helpful, or Do They Just Pretend to Be? (Because Passive-Aggressive "Help" Drives Me Nuts)
The service was, overall, pretty good. They were generally helpful, and most of the staff were genuinely friendly. They helped arrange a taxi, answered my millions of questions (I'm a terrible tourist in that regard, sorry!), and even helped me track down a lost phone charger (heroic!). But… and there's *always* a but… I did have one slightly frustrating experience. I needed help printing something, and it took a while to get it sorted. The staff seemed a bit… overwhelmed. There were a couple of times where I felt like I was waiting forever. minor detail, but it can be a little irritating, especially when you're trying to get some work done. But ultimately, the good outweighed the bad. And hey, everywhere has its off days, right?
