Blue Venao

Ask for Tamir at Playa Property Management to arrange lodging. There are individual villas and condos with a guard gated entrance. Tamir is super helpful and communicative! He is quick to respond and truly cares about his guests experiences. 100% will come back. The grounds are peaceful and beautifully landscaped. Skokogi surfboard rentals is just to the right and they have many boards to choose from. The supermarket is a short walk away. The villa I stayed in had everything I needed to cook or grill. It was very clean with great air conditioning. There were 2 televisions which I didn't have much use for between surfing, swimming, and walking the beach. So bring your Hulu, Netflix, Amazon passwords in case you decide to watch.

Update as of July 8, 2025–security deposit hasn’t been refunded. — Original: Please note: if you don’t not agree to the terms of the agreement, need any changes, or want them to really do anything do not make initial deposits. They don’t sign their own contracts and will accept your deposit payment as agreement to any terms effectively nullifying any verbal or other written agreements PROTECT YOURSELF We hosted an event at blue venao. Unfortunately after a very good experience with there previous management it was taken over by another management company who failed to complete services as promised with no security, crappy plastic tables and not the wooden ones we were promised and threatening to involve my client after they failed to emit the final invoice on time (and can be proven in emails, video calls, and various photos) Now what I will say to start, since likely they will come to say this, is that you can not expect me to come in with a good attitude when I was lied to so many times. Just do the job you are supposed to do. If you say the space rental is private, make sure it is private . If you say you can help with chairs and such AFTER I have said I can provide them and you ASSURE me that you can help and would like to help and consistently lie about when you are getting things..then OF COURSE I’m going to be upset. It’s like kicking a dog and expecting it to give you cuddles. They will also likely mention how they “tried to help” …I would have loved help but unfortunately there was a great level of lack of Trust created when the staff ignoring messages and did not order things in a timely manner and things So let’s get into it: -excessive touching from bar manager on the first day - starting drinks too early when I asked to wait because of family photos - Incorrect tables (we confirmed tables available with the original management company and those no longer exist…it one of the reasons we were willing to pay the high rental fee) - Incorrect chairs after “confirming” correct ones - No bajo platos (incorrect number provided) - Poor communication and constantly being told things were already ordered when they weren’t. In numerous messages I told the staff that I could bring things no problem. If they couldn’t. I was reassured that they could help…this wasn’t the case - Room smelled like smoke - People passing though taking photos and saying they can when we paid for a private space -awnings were supposed to be hung at 7am..work didn’t start until 11am -taking the champagne we were told we could bring in as a courtesy and serving lower cost sparkling from bar (told directly too the groom and best man who can attest to this) -wait staff losing seating chart and pawning off dinners to guests -not being sent invoice on time when I asked for it 6 times>>>after the manager threatened to involve my client they consistently ignored the fact that I asked for the final invoice a month before the event. Not “yes we forgot to send it” it ended up becoming a “you didn’t pay before the event”—fun fact, I CANT PAY AN INVOICE THAT ISNT SENT (wild idea right) -the general manager will do everything in his power to make sure that your reality is completely ignored. He wants his peace so protected that his team can mess up 100 times and we will never admit to fault. Ever. Gaslighting at its finest. It’s funny because they expect you to have a good attitude…then do your job and answer your emails? You honestly can’t expect a guest to be happy when things aren’t done in a timely effective manner. You will get a “this is panama, relax” and that’s it. Although I’m sure the reply from the company will be about my attitude I can honestly say I expected more and ended up disappointed, gaslit, and underwhelmed. Wild to think someone should do their job correctly, right? Photos of my favorite party crasher who walked up mid event to say she could take photos and videos because she was staying there. Staff did nothing. One of the 6 times I asked for a final invoice. The verbal/text contract saying we would have security

I stayed at Blue Playa Venao in May 2025 with friends. We rented three apartments and left them all in excellent condition. The hotel is now refusing to return our $200 deposit for one unit (C22), claiming it was left in “poor conditions” — but they never provided any explanation, photos, or proof, even after multiple polite messages. The only issue was a clogged toilet (which we reported and asked them to fix multiple times). That’s a maintenance problem, not guest damage. Since we left, they’ve been ignoring our messages completely. This is unacceptable and dishonest behavior. I’ve filed a complaint with Panama’s consumer protection agency (ACODECO). If you’re thinking of staying here, be very careful with your deposit. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Don't bother coming here if you are over 40 and looking for a nice quiet spot and sleep at night. A good supermarkt and several restaurants. The beach is beautiful. But full of surfers and loud music 24/7 all over the resort.

A friend of mine stayed at Blue Playa Venao in May 2025 and they kept his $200 deposit, claiming “poor conditions” without any proof or explanation. He reported a clogged toilet (maintenance issue), but they ignored all follow‑up messages. Totally unprofessional. Be careful when booking — they may keep your deposit unfairly.

Bad service, no deposit refunds and the managers and receptionists are simply not helpful. Not recommended. There are better alternatives in the area.

Blue Venao, Villa 14 - old, damaged mattress. Does not match the price we pay for it. I asked to change it, the maintenance fixed the bed base but it does not solve the problem. It is still old and damaged. Garbage is picked up once per several days. I had to come to the reception and ask them to make it 2 times. The doors and skirting board are dirty, they do not wash during cleaning. But the worst thing is the mattress. Be careful: the reception does not answer to the calls after 18:00 - so if smth happens and you need help or maintenance - manage it yourself. We spent without electricity 4 hours in the evening. We could not reach anybody there.

Playa Venao: A Neglected Paradise on the Pacific Playa Venao, once a picturesque destination for surfers and travelers, now faces severe neglect and mismanagement. Despite initial enthusiasm and growth, fundamental issues are evident, with the area’s original charm giving way to decay. The lack of maintenance and sustainability is glaring. While the local architecture initially showcased creativity, the infrastructure suffers from poor planning, with weathering and deterioration already visible. High humidity, heavy rainfall, and salt-laden air—key environmental factors—were ignored during construction. Challenges like unstable soil were also overlooked, resulting in wasteful use of financial resources. The region's potential is being squandered due to the absence of local expertise and effective management. Basic upkeep has been neglected, threatening Playa Venao’s long-term prospects as a thriving travel destination. Visitors returning after just one year reported shocking levels of decline, with deterioration in infrastructure and cleanliness. Our recent stay highlighted these issues. Apartments were poorly cleaned upon arrival, with sticky floors, stained linens, broken windows, and malfunctioning fixtures. At $400 per night, guests endured ongoing construction, constant generator noise, and ignored complaints. The pool area was neglected, and beach cleaning nonexistent, with dogs allowed to roam freely. While the service staff remained warm and attentive, their efforts were limited by inadequate resources and lack of management support. Communication was handled digitally via WhatsApp but failed to address any concerns or queries, further emphasizing the lack of professionalism. Despite the region’s decline, the restaurants offered excellent service, and staff displayed commendable friendliness. However, this contrast made the overall decline into mediocrity even more frustrating. In summary, Playa Venao is a natural paradise with dedicated service staff, but it is being ruined by incompetent management and indifference. Without a drastic change, its tremendous potential risks being lost forever.