Gran Evenia Bijao - All Inclusive

* red flags on: A. Customer service : not even close to a reasonable service by the value we paid for. B. Rooms: Entirely noisy hotel. High volume in everything they perform. Noisy doors, noisy air conditioner, wet floor areas all over the place, not hot water at reasonable hours. C. Safety: sea side is highly risked area. In our 5 nights, all the days was a red flag in place and 3 incidents involving different guests injured. Also, at the swimming pool area someone stole our personal items. D. Food: the supposed "restaurant experiences" are below the expected quality for a 5 stars hotel. Not even closer to a street food option to be honest. E. Snacks during the day, poorly offered as well as drinks. Street food quality too which is far beyond the expected. Overall, not a good experienced. We did our feedback internally to the management and they literally didn't care about, which was just confirming the poor quality of the "resort". We firmly recommend to avoid booking with them. We only save a 4 stars for the crew members, specially the ones involved on the kids activities. They do deserve best management as they slightly described.

1/5 Extremely disappointing stay – not a real 5-star hotel It is unclear how this hotel was ever rated 5 stars. Most of the expected standards of a five-star property are simply not present. This was the first time we have ever been charged for early check-in – $30 per person, just because we arrived earlier than check-in time. To make matters worse, our room number was written incorrectly, and it took us a long time to find it. I had read previous reviews, and management always responded promising improvements, but nothing has actually been fixed. Rooms: • No drawers • Extremely loud air conditioner with just one on/off button (no settings) • Only one bedside table • No slippers, no bathrobes • Plastic cups in the bathroom • No shampoo, toothbrushes, or toothpaste • Broken shower holders spraying water everywhere • Leaking shower cabin, broken curtains Food: • Tasteless, poor-quality meals • Meat is tough • “Snacks” during the day are basically a bun with meat, potato, and some vegetables Hotel in general: • Constantly dirty, wet floors • Very loud and chaotic – entertainers compete over who can be the loudest • Almost impossible to find a quiet spot • Old and uncomfortable beach loungers • Pool bar nearly impossible to access • Beach access is terrible – huge, steep steps (my pregnant wife struggled to go up and down) • The grounds are poorly lit Overall impression: Our experience was extremely negative. Some flaws could have been overlooked if the hotel didn’t market itself as a five-star property and charge accordingly. We have been living in Panama for over a year and know many cheaper hotels with fewer stars that are far more comfortable and truly “all-inclusive.” The staff does their best, but it’s clear the owners simply don’t care. We will not return and cannot recommend this hotel. Final note: This hotel does not meet even the minimum service standards for the price paid. Apologies mean nothing when nothing changes. At the very least, partial compensation should have been offered.

This resort is clearly geared toward locals and primarily Spanish-speaking guests. About 90% of the staff speak only Spanish, which made communication difficult—we had to rely on Google Translate for most interactions. There are only three restaurants on the property, and you can only make reservations at 9:30 AM each day, which is inconvenient and can be frustrating if you miss the window. That said, I highly recommend trying Los Olivos—it was by far the best dining experience there. Unfortunately, the resort lacks several amenities you might expect: there’s no spa and no top-shelf liquor available. The food is average, nothing special for a resort. On a positive note, the beach is absolutely stunning and the pool area is beautiful and relaxing. However, the rooms left much to be desired. Ours were not very clean, and there were clear signs of mold. My aunt even had to change rooms after discovering her door lock was broken—you didn’t need a key to enter, which was a huge safety concern. There’s not much to do on-site, and considering the resort is about 2.5 hours from the airport and nearly 2 hours from any major tourist attractions, I’d recommend skipping this resort entirely and staying in the city instead. It just didn’t live up to expectations.

This resort was very nice. Best part was the pools and the beach right in front. I felt the resort was compact and it didn’t feel crowded. The room was nice, but it seemed that it was always wet (the floors, probably due to the humidity). Food was tasty and they rotated the menu daily.

Ok location and friendly staff, kid friendly. Room faucet was old and dingy and no toiletries. Room check out at 12noon but the main food hall available until 3pm makes no sense. Having guests vacate the room at 12 is ok but should let us use the facilities until 2pm at least

Incredible place. The animation was fun, food incredible. Our room was very clean. Loved it

I'm a guest staying here, and I truly appreciate the spirit of your "For a Better World" message and the efforts you're already making, like offering reusable cups in the buffet restaurant. It's great to see your commitment to sustainability. However, I've also noticed a few inconsistencies, for example, the use of single-use cups at other bars (contrary to advertising images) despite your strong sustainability messaging. In addition, disposable cups and spoons are used for ice cream, even though alternatives are available. The dessert bar and coffee bar also only offer disposable spoons or individually wrapped disposable chopsticks, although I saw one evening that reusable spoons are available, even for small spoons. For Hot Chocolate also one way use dishes are used. This made me think about a significant opportunity for Gran Evenia Bijao. Have you considered pursuing a globally recognized sustainability certification like Green Key or Green Sign? I believe this would be an incredibly strategic and beneficial step for your hotel, especially considering your existing positive intentions. Here's why: Why a Sustainability Certification is a Smart Move for Gran Evenia Bijao 1. Attract the Growing Market of Conscious Travelers Today, a rapidly increasing number of guests actively seek hotels that genuinely commit to sustainability. A respected certification doesn't just show you're trying; it proves it. This transparency will make Gran Evenia Bijao a preferred choice for eco-conscious visitors, giving you a distinct competitive edge and attracting a loyal, growing customer base. 2. Strengthen Your Brand Image and Authenticity Consistency is key. When guests see "For a Better World" on napkins and reusable cups, but then encounter single-use items elsewhere, it can dilute your message. A certification helps you align all operations with your stated values. This authenticity will significantly boost your hotel's reputation, trust among guests, and overall brand prestige. It transforms a good intention into a verifiable, comprehensive commitment. 3. Unlock Operational Efficiencies and Cost Savings Certification processes aren't just about PR; they involve a thorough review of operations. By aiming for full compliance (e.g., 100% reusable options across all bars and for all food items like ice cream, and reusable cutlery at all stations), you'll identify areas for improvement. This often leads to significant long-term savings on waste disposal, purchasing of single-use items, and utility consumption, contributing directly to your bottom line. 4. Meet Evolving Industry Standards and Future-Proof Your Business The global tourism industry is increasingly moving towards stricter environmental regulations and higher guest expectations regarding sustainability. Proactively embracing a leading certification now positions Gran Evenia Bijao as a forward-thinking leader. This not only prepares you for future demands but also showcases your commitment to responsible tourism in the long run. I wanted to share this perspective as I believe Gran Evenia Bijao has immense potential to be a shining example of sustainable hospitality in the region. Pursuing such a certification would not only amplify your commendable efforts but also secure tangible business advantages. Finally, I would appreciate it if you could change these practices during my stay and commit to strictly avoiding single-use items in the future. Should Gran Evenia Bijao actively and visibly implement measures to reduce plastic waste (especially the consistent switch to reusable systems) during my stay and beyond, I would be keen to publish a positive article on these efforts. If you can do the mentioned changes during my stay I offer you aditional to clean the Beach around 1 h walking distance in both directions from all other plastic waste too, if you provide me a big waste colecting bag...