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Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort: Traveler Reviews

4.0 of 5
Isla Colon, Panama
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Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort
Ranked #9 of 24 hotels in Isla Colon
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238 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveler rating
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    88
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Date Rating
Phoenix, AZ
Top Contributor
53 reviews 53 reviews
25 hotel reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
36 helpful votes 36 helpful votes
“Good”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed November 12, 2012

Let me be clear, if you are expecting a luxurious resort, this is NOT it. The hotel is very run down, I would say it is a Motel 6 equivalent...from 2000. The rooms and bathrooms show A LOT of wear and tear and are in dire need of renovation. The food served at the restaurant is not great, but edible and the service in the restaurant is poor. Despite this, I still am willing to give this hotel a good review for these reasons.

Location: I liked that it was removed from the hustle and bustle, yet its just a few minutes from town. You could walk, but I would NOT recommend it. The cabbies drive like mad men there!
Free Shuttle: The hotel offers scheduled shuttle drop offs and pick ups to downtown. The shuttle driver even took us a couple times off schedule which was greatly appreciated.
Tour Desk: They have a tour desk where you can arrange all your tours. We arranged a tour the day of and had a water taxi headed to pick up within 5 minutes. It's very handy.
Staff: There are a lot of staff at Playa Tortuga and they all do a really good job of keeping the facility clean and orderly. The front desk staff were also very nice and helpful. The only service that was lacking was the service at the bar/restaurant on the pier.
Pool: The pool is not huge but its nice and clean and while we didn't spend a lot of time there, it did seem like a good place to relax.

While Playa Tortuga didn't knock my socks off, I think it was the best possible option for Bocas Del Toro and I would stay again if I returned to Bocas.

  • Stayed November 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Cinnam0n about Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“Stayed here in 2009”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed November 9, 2012

Stayed at Playa Tortuga for 4 nights in 2009 and LOVED it! It's accessible to all of the local attractions, either by a bumpy cab ride or by boat (one night we chartered a boat from a floating bar...wish I could remember the name!) The food was ok, if a little expensive to eat / drink in house for an evening but it was OK to bring our own food and alcohol in from the local businesses. The pools were clean and beautiful, the breeze floating in from the ocean was like a dream. All the rooms are ocean view and extremely clean and comfortable. I seem to recall some issues with our air conditioner but otherwise no trouble at all. Looking forward to another trip.

Stayed December 2011, traveled with friends
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Ask Laura H about Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Charleston, South Carolina
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Tranquility”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed November 1, 2012

Just returned from a 5 day stay at Playa Tortuga. It was a quiet, clean and peaceful environment which we were looking for. The service staff was very helpful. The only problem we had was the breakfast not being up to par. It was always cold. They didn't keep it hot. The mixed drinks and food at the restaurant across from the hotel was excellent. I also have to compliment Iveth Michelt who is the assistant Manager? She was very professional and accomodating and so was her staff. She made our stay delightful and because of her, we would definitely recommend your hotel to friends and if we should return to Boca, we would stay at your resort again.

  • Stayed October 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask PatMorgan828 about Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Tambor, Costa Rica
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“Does Not Deserve it's Rating”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed October 16, 2012

The front desk and Airport Pick Up was very good. The overall condition of the hotel, service staff, and restaurant are definately lacking. Rooms are tired. property is not well maintained and restaurant menu is poor. They say they have two restaurants, yet only one menu and it is a pub style menu. Location is a little far from town, but do able. I found bar prices quite high for Panama. No mini bar in room as advertised, no spa services, and overall very unattentive staff. Would not return.

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  • Stayed October 2012, traveled solo
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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Ask VistaHermosaBandB about Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Tucson, Arizona, United States
Senior Contributor
38 reviews 38 reviews
11 hotel reviews
Reviews in 17 cities Reviews in 17 cities
20 helpful votes 20 helpful votes
“Great getaway”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed October 15, 2012

Booked this place as a getaway while visiting Panama. A bit detached from central Bocastown, will be a long walk, short bike ride, or shorter taxi to town.

This is the luxury resort on Isla Colon. By local standards, that's true. If from North America, compare accommodations to a really nice Courtyard. Large bed, clean and cool-looking bathroom.

Decent bar food, though not spectacular. Cheap drinks and long happy hour.

Close to beach, but you're better off visiting Starfish Beach or another local beach if you want to see beauty. Close to nature though, each night here we saw crabs walking with us in hotel's exterior corridors.

Only complaint, room a bit musty, smelled of mildew . . . common in tropics. Hotel staff brought an ozone machine promptly and left it with us for the entire time.

  • Stayed May 2012, traveled with friends
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 2
Ask Darren D about Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
 
 
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Additional Information about Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort

Also Known As:
Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach
Playa Tortuga Hotel And Beach Resort
Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Isla Colon
Playa Tortuga Hotel Beach
Playa Tortuga Resort Beach
Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort Panama/Bocas Del Toro - Isla Colon
Address: Isla Colon, Panama
Phone Number:
Region: Panama > Bocas del Toro Province > Isla Colon
Amenities:
Business Center Fitness Center Free Breakfast Free Parking Restaurant Room Service Suites Swimming Pool Wheelchair access
Hotel Style:
#2 Luxury Hotels in Isla Colon
#3 Top resorts Hotels in Isla Colon
#5 Romantic Hotels in Isla Colon
Price Range: $$
Hotel Class:4 star (4*)
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
We are a relaxing 5-star hotel offering excellent service in a casual environment. Our hotel is located in front of the Caribbean beaches of Bocas del Toro. Enjoy our rooms with private balconies and spectacular seaside view. Room services and amenities include air-conditioning, cable TV, complimentary WIFI use, in room minibar. Hotel services and amenities include complimentary breakfast buffet, complimentary WIFI use, two restaurants, swimming pool for children and adults, newsstand, beach access, gym and two meeting rooms. ... more   less 
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Playa Tortuga Hotel & Beach Resort
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