Stayed 1 week at Decameron, Jan 28-Feb 4, 2013. Booked on a golf package, (2 couples) in a Villa on the Golf Course. Nice and quiet there, away from party Beachfront rooms. An extra 3 minute walk to Main Lobbies or Shuttle service is quite quick. Golf course very pretty, challenging, NOT on the ocean. A la Carte Kontiky and El Cayuco very good and they all book up quickly. Buffet food tasty, limited selection. All staff not very warm and chatty, not too smiley though not impolite either.
Unless you are physically challenged, don't let the steps deter you. I expected something horrible, not so. Stairs at Lobby 1 are easy, the hill at Lobby 2 and 3 will give a bit of a workout each time! Use Shuttle service instead if you want.
All pools are glorious, the lounge chair in the shallow pools were my favorite! Beach is great for walking and seeing the large homes and Public Beach with shopping. I did not go right in, we had 8 people get stung by Ray Fish buried in the sand in shallow water at low tide. Apparently excruciating pain! That along with the black lava mixed with the sand and strong waves was not so inviting. Pools were my first choice.
New airport being built for December 2013, 15 mins from resort. Currently everyone must travel 2-2.5 hours. VERY long.
Lastly, bring facecloths, lots sunscreen: Guaranteed hot sun from December-May. No rain.
We will return, beautiful vacation.

Visited the Royal Decameron Resort from 29 Jan - 6 Feb 2013. The weather was amazing everyday! I think it rained for 10 min over the 7 days.

Good points
1. Arrival - We landed at 430pm... Tour staff met us at the airport and gave us our hotel package. Once arrived at the airport check in was done in 20 min and we were off to our room. Luggage was delivered to the room within 60 min.

2. Food - lots of choices

3. Pools - clean, big, lots of location

4. Activities - Beach volleyball, ping pong, small gym with treadmill, pool aerobics, universal gym and elliptical.

5. Bars - Located close to every pool. I recommend the Banana Mamma Drink or Farrallon....purchase a Large Bubba Mug at Canadian Tire. This will keep your drinks cool and keep you from going back to the bar every 20 min for a drink

6. Casino - Went every night. Staff were friendly and most spoke english

7. Beach - Long and clean. If the life guards close the beach for swimming obey them.... most times it's because stingrays are close to shore.... if you step on one you will be stung and end up in the hospital.

8. General Noriega house. Just a short walk from the resort was an abandoned beach house once owned by General Manuel Noriega, former military dictator of Panama.

Bad points
1. The 2 hour bus ride to the resort is long. If you arrive during the day, stay awake through Panama City (about 20min outside the airport) to see the amazing buildings. After that there's not much to see until you arrive at the resort

2. There is lots of stairs and there is no elevators in the buildings. If you have mobility issues this resort might not be the best for you.

Comments from other travellers: I've read other reviews about staff not speaking english. I did not run into this problem.... In the past 3 years I've traveled to Cuba, Jamaica and Costa Rica and I found the staff to this resort as good as any other resort I've been to in the past 3 years.

My husband and I just returned from a fantastic golf vacation at the Royal Decameron, Panama. The flight was on time, and Nolitours staff were waiting to very efficiently whisk us off to our bus. The drive to the resort was a little long, but seeing the Panama City skyline at night was wonderful. Check in went smoothly & quickly.

Our luggage was delivered to our villa, and was waiting for us when we arrived.

This property is Huge, and we were surprised to discover that our villa was a LONG way from the main resort. As it turned out, this was no problem, as the shuttle service was good. That said, there was no popping from your room to the bar to refresh your drink, or grab a quick snack. We just picked up some refreshments from the little store across from the main resort, and kept them in our room in a small cooler with ice.

The golf course was awesome. Colourful flowers, lush vegetation, birds of all kinds, (even birdies), and immaculately manicured fairways, made this an exceptional golfing experience.

The beach was beautiful, but unfortunately, the flags were red due to jellyfish in the water.
Woody's bar is a short walk up the beach, and a great hangout for a change from the resort.
You can walk to the ruins of General Noreaga's beachouse, as well, and contemplate the terrible effects this dictator had on this beautiful country.

We also went para sailing. I would recommend this to anyone! Really fun!!

We enjoyed a tour going through the locks on the Pacific side of the canal, and would also recommend this tour, as opposed to the ones that view the canal from the land.

The only drawback we found at the resort is that the buffet was disappointing, and the al a carts book quickly. That said, there was enough to scrape by on, and there are very good restaurants off the resort, particularly one little seafood restaurant, across from the resort.

All in all, a great trip.

Just returned from Panama and the Royal Decameron... Very pleased with the resort... We traveled with another couple so there was 4 of us (we booked with Apple Vacations great way to go they took care of transfers,and everything went like clock work) We was in building 12 ground floor great location close to pool and bar and buffet..3 days into the vacation our friends had to be moved at the resorts request because aircondition was not working they ended up in building 30 and 3rd floor still very nice location.. a few helpful hints: bring your insulated cups for drinks everyone does, also your own wash cloth as they do not have.. The only down side was the steps so bring you walking shoes no elevators... From ground floor to Lobby 1 there is 67 stair steps there are NO elevators... shows was good.. Andrean in activies is Awesome, Davon bartender great also...We booked 3 nights in Panama City before going to resort since the distance was so far this was a very good idea. Beach was good but sand was so hot we stayed most of the time at the pool. Get involved with the activites you will have a very good time... Weather was great >>>>