Stephen H.
Google
An Utter Disappointment – It claims 3 stars but doesn¿t deserve ONE!
Our recent stay at Hotel Valle Verde in Valle de Antón, Panama, was nothing short of a complete letdown. Despite its listing as a 3-star establishment, this place falls drastically short of even the most modest expectations. In truth, calling it a "hotel" is a disservice to the hospitality industry.
From the moment we arrived, it became painfully clear that this property is poorly managed and lacks even the most basic standard of guest service. Although we arrived early and our room was visibly ready for occupancy, we were inexplicably denied access until after 2 PM. A rigid and inhospitable policy, especially when no other guests appeared to be present.
We had specifically booked a room with a balcony—a reasonable expectation for enjoying the lush surroundings of Valle de Antón. Instead, we were given a room facing a common passageway. This was not a private balcony, but a shared access walkway used by all guests on the floor. Misleading and unacceptable.
The so-called bar and restaurant were abandoned throughout our stay. At no point could we find a single staff member to offer even a glass of water or a cup of coffee. Inquiries to the receptionist about local attractions and hikes were met with a blank stare—she admitted she wasn’t from the area and had no information to offer. A front desk staff without local knowledge is a serious flaw in any hospitality setting, especially in a town known for outdoor activities.
Dinner was allegedly served from 5 to 7 PM. We attempted to dine at 6 PM, only to find no one available to serve or assist. At 7:30 PM, a request for coffee was curtly denied as being "too late." This absurd restriction on something as simple as coffee service reflects a shocking disregard for guest comfort.
Breakfast was another disappointment. Not served until 8 AM, it is inconveniently timed for guests hoping to begin their day with early hikes—one of the key reasons people visit the region. The breakfast itself was meager: a choice of either eggs or sausages (but not both), a piece of toast, and bottled juice—not even freshly squeezed. The bare minimum, and not nearly acceptable for a property claiming three stars.
To make matters worse, the walls in the room were so paper-thin that we could clearly hear conversations from adjacent rooms. There is no phone in the room to contact reception—yet another oversight in basic hotel infrastructure.
In short, Hotel Valle Verde is poorly staffed, misrepresents its amenities, and utterly fails to deliver anything resembling a comfortable or professional hospitality experience. I would not recommend this place to anyone under any circumstances. In fact, I wouldn’t even rate it one star.
We will absolutely not be returning, and strongly advise others to look elsewhere.
