Misafir Kullanıcı
1 Ocak 2025
The locals refer to this hotel by several names, but it’s all the same place: Bijao, Gran Evenia Bijao Beach Resort, Gran Evenia Rio Hato, and The Old Sheraton. This can be confusing. The hotel is advertised as a 5-star establishment, but by North American standards, it would be closer to 3½ stars. It also feels more like a hotel than a true resort. The hotel has potential to be great, but there are significant issues that need attention. The buffet restaurant is open-air, and while the food was acceptable, the desserts were limited. The service, however, was good. Although there are nets to keep birds out, they still manage to get in, fly around, and eat the food. Additionally, there is no air conditioning, and the restaurant can become uncomfortably warm. When temperatures reached 30°C, it was extremely hot inside. In North America, a health authority might have shut it down due to these conditions. The beach is nice, and there were no horse droppings, but there is sewage flowing into the sea on one side of the hotel, where people swim. This could be hazardous, especially when it rains and the river water flows into the sea, increasing the bacteria levels. During our stay, it rained, but no warnings were issued about the potential dangers of swimming in the sea. There are several pools, but some of the small tiles were broken or missing. While there were plenty of chairs, the poolside entertainment during the day was minimal. The slides, though present, have low drops and were mostly unused. The room was clean, but the bathroom ceiling had mold, and the door was broken. The lobby needs repainting. The hotel caters primarily to Spanish-speaking guests. The staff spoke very little English, and most of the guests were local Panamanians or from other parts of Latin America. Entertainment was mostly in Spanish, and the performances were short and dull, with only three dancers. Spanish-speaking guests were getting better and quicker service in the bars. If you don’t speak Spanish and are concerned about food hygiene, you may want to consider another hotel. However, if the management addresses the issues mentioned, this hotel could become a great option.
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