The Riande Airport Hotel, located in Playa Bonita, Panama, positions itself primarily as a casino venue. However, feedback from recent guests predominantly focuses on its performance as an airport hotel, highlighting a range of experiences from highly satisfactory to considerably disappointing. Its main appeal seems to be its undeniable convenience for travelers needing quick access to the airport.
While the establishment's primary type is listed as a casino, the provided guest reviews offer no insights into its casino offerings. Instead, they paint a picture of a hotel with significant variability in guest experience. The overall sentiment is mixed, leaning towards a functional, yet imperfect, overnight stay option for transit travelers rather than a holiday destination.
A consistent strong point across almost all reviews is the hotel's proximity to the airport and its reliable shuttle service. Guests frequently praised the convenient 5-minute drive to the airport, making it an ideal choice for early flights or late arrivals. This aspect is undoubtedly its greatest strength for its target audience.
The pool area received positive remarks from guests. It was described as clean, nice-looking, big, and warm. One reviewer appreciated its "dark" quality, finding it made them feel less self-conscious and more relaxed. This offers a pleasant spot for unwinding, despite other hotel shortcomings.
One guest highly recommended the hotel for its "delicious breakfast," highlighting "fresh fruits" and "great coffee." Furthermore, the pricing was considered "great" by the same reviewer, suggesting good value for money, at least for the breakfast experience.
Room cleanliness was generally acknowledged positively, with some guests finding their rooms "clean," "spacious," and equipped with "comfy beds," suitable for catching sleep between flights. One reviewer noted it was "perfect" for an airport hotel, emphasizing its functional purpose.
While some experiences with staff were less than ideal, several guests highlighted the positive interactions. The "restaurant staff and the rest of the hotel staff" were described as "very nice and friendly," and overall, some found the staff "so helpful."
A significant point of concern for some guests was the condition of the rooms. Descriptions included "run down," "bare bones," and "very warm," with "ac barely works." Issues like a "shower didn't drain properly" and "not enough towels" were also reported. The absence of a kettle for early morning tea was a minor but notable amenity miss for one traveler.
The dining experience, particularly dinner service, received strong criticism. One guest reported waiting 20 minutes just to get someone to take an order and another 20 minutes for water. A waitress was described as "rude" for insisting on Spanish communication, creating a less than welcoming environment. Food options were also described as "very limited," leading one guest to order delivery.
Noise proved to be a major disturbance for one guest, who reported "loudly on the phone" neighbors starting at 2 AM due to "thin walls." Furthermore, "workers were using very loud power tools in the pool / garden area until 7pm," making relaxation difficult.
A recurring minor complaint from some guests was the lack of sufficiently hot water for showers. While not a deal-breaker for everyone, it was noted as an area for improvement.
The Riande Airport Hotel appears to be a practical choice primarily for its unbeatable proximity to the airport and efficient shuttle service. If your priority is a quick, convenient overnight stay for a transit flight, and you manage your expectations regarding room quality and dining service, it might suffice. However, guests seeking modern amenities, consistent comfort, a peaceful environment, or excellent dining experiences may find it falls short. The hotel presents a mixed bag, with some aspects warranting praise and others needing considerable attention to enhance the overall guest experience.
I would not stay in this spot again. It is run down. The rooms are bare bones and very warm. The ac barely works. Shower didn't drain properly. Walls are very thin. We had to leave at 5am for our flight and the room next to us was loudly on the phone starting at 2am. Not much sleep for us. Workers were using very loud power tools in the pool / garden area until 7pm. Not at all relaxing. Food very limited so we ordered delivery. Pool was clean and nice looking. Shuttle to airport was easy and good, airport is only about 5 min away. That said, there must be better options in the area.
We had a great experience staying at this hotel. I recommend it, everyone was so helpful and the breakfast was delicious. Fresh fruits, great coffee and the food was delicious. The price was great as well. The only thing I didn't like. The water was not very hot to shower. But it was good. If I ever go back they will be my first choice.
Our room was clean and in a nice spot. After a day of travel we’re happy to habe comfy beds. However we were super hungry. Came to dinner and it was barely packed. It took us 20 minutes just to get someone to ask if we ready to order. We then waited another twenty minutes for two cups of water. We started ordering and she said speak in spanish. It’s a good think i know some spanish to get by but waitress was rude about it. Service is not great but room is good. It’s good though it’s 5 min away from Airport.
The rooms were cleaned but did not have enough towels. The receptionist was a bit cold but the restaurant staff and the rest of the hotel staff were very nice and friendly. The pool was big and warm, a bit dark but I liked that since I felt less self-conscious and more relaxed. All in all it was a good experience. Great airport shuttle service.
It's an airport hotel, and perfect for that. I wouldn't want to spend a holiday here, but that's not the purpose of an airport hotel. The room was clean, spacious and great to catch some sleep in between flights.What I missed in the room was a kettle. Since I had to leave for the airport very early in the morning, the restaurant wasn't open yet, and I just love to have a cup of tea when waking up. Otherwise it was just fine.