Hotel La Compañia Review

Panama City is a vastly underrated travel destination and has quickly jumped to the ToP of my favorites list. Easily accessible from most major North American cities, this Central American getaway is both attainable and fun. Sitting just before the tip of South America, Panama offers access to both modern skyscrapers and lush rainforest. And fortunately for award travelers, Hyatt has a property ideally located in Panama City for your vacationing pleasures. In this Hotel La Compañia review, we share why this hotel offers the best of Panamanian excellence, and should be on the ToP of your radar for a getaway.

Location

Hotel La Compañia is ideally located in the Casco Viejo neighborhood. The Casco Viejo neighborhood is akin to the old town and historic district of Panama City. Marked by vibrant and colorful streets (a vibe that HLC seems to emulate both intentionally and successfully), the neighborhood is perfect for visitors hoping for a bit of respite. The location felt safe yet lively, with many wonderful food options making this a trip built for a foodie. There was a fair bit of everything to satisfy any visitor, from chic shopping options to nightlife; Casco Viejo seems to have all you need. Hotel La Compañia is located approximately a 45 minute drive away from the international airport, PTY. More on the airport in a second.

Getting There

Another reason I say that Panama City is worthy of a trip is the ease at which you can reach it. With Copa, the national carrier of Panama, aiming to position Panama as the gateway to the world from Central America – this city is accessible to many. With nonstop options from virtually all major cities in North America, Panama is just one plane away for many travelers. I was surprised by this as I didn't appreciate the full reach Copa had.

Copa operates the following nonstops from PTY:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Chicago O'Hare
• Denver
• Fort Lauderdale
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• Montreal
• New York JFK
• Orlando
• Raleigh Durham
• San Francisco
• Tampa
• Toronto
• Washington Dulles.

Hotel La Compañia Review: Booking

Hotel La Compañia participates in the World of Hyatt program under the Unbound Collection moniker. This property has 88 total rooms, 77 guest rooms and 11 suites. HLC is currently a category 5 property and provides excellent value for that rate, with many other comparable luxury properties ranked as a category 7 or 8. A standard room costs:

• 17,000 (off-peak),
• 20,000 (standard), or
• 23,000 (peak) Hyatt points per night.

A standard suite costs:

• 29,000 (off-peak),
• 32,000 (standard), or
• 35,000 (peak) Hyatt points per night.

Hotel La Compañia does accept Suite Upgrade Awards, which is what I did for this booking. I redeemed 60,000 Hyatt points for a three night stay, plus applied a SUA to bump myself up to a loft suite. I was able to further get upgraded complimentary to a One King Bed Suite due to Globalist status. With rates for these dates reaching $3,000 total – I felt quite pleased with the redemption value.

Facilities & Dining

It is worth mentioning that this property has a storied history. HLC is set in a building that was originally a Jesuit convent, built in 1688. Parts of the building were burned down however during a fire in the 1700s – the hotel is a beautiful blend of both old and new, with parts of the hotel featuring restorations of the buildings historical charm. The property is made up of three distinct wings, the Spanish, French and American wings. The age of the wings vary from 1688 to 1904. What's so special about this is that these wings closely resemble and emulate the mixing pot of Panamanian culture and serve as a representation of the countries past, current and future.

Dining

The dining scene at this property is a feature and amenity of the hotel perhaps standing alone. Despite being a relatively small hotel – HLC manages to house five restaurants and two full service bars, ensuring your taste buds stay tantalized. The offerings range from upscale French food, to Peruvian fusion, with many options in between. The hotel also boasts an impressive wine collection with over 1,800 bottles of differing varieties. Shhh – the hotel also has a vintage yet classy speakeasy that you will be invited to as a guest, Villa Ana 1928.

Besides just dining to keep you nice and plump, err I mean occupied, the hotel offers a spa, gym and rooftop pool. The rooftop pool was a favorite for its positioning over the city streets with a nice vantage point. The view of the courtyard is stunning on a sunny day, or any day really. The hotel gym is small yet adequate and enough to keep you moving during your stay. I also treated myself to a massage during my stay which was great! There is plenty to offer at this hotel to keep you satisfied and enjoy a nice vacation. I think a 3 or 4 night stay is perfect to indulge in all this hotel has to offer.

Hotel La Compañia Review: The Room

The layout and appearance of each room varies depending on what wing you are in. We stayed in the French wing which was bright and airy, and boasted fantastic street views. On this trip we came celebrating my birthday as a trio, with a close friend joining us. The hotel supplied a roller bed for the third person, which I arranged prior to arrival. The suite was sumptuous, modern, yet spacious as well. Some touches I appreciated were the massive wrap around balcony, the many windows appointed with power blinds (operated by a bed side button for your convenience), and the updated bathroom.

Elite Status Recognition

Perhaps one of the best parts of this hotel is its service and elite status recognition. Beyond just upgrading us to a premium suite from a standard suite, we found personalized touches. I have heard of a hotel offering a welcome gift, but has anyone ever heard of a mid-stay gift? I certainly have not – but found it here! As I briefly mentioned before, we came celebrating a birthday – birthday cake was left in the room upon arrival along with well wishes from the team. Additionally, we were greeted mid-stay in our room by a champaign celebration and some sweet treats. This service felt delightfully over the ToP in my opinion, and really shone through as one of the hotels superpowers.

Breakfast is of course complimentary for Globalists, and is served in the hotel's El Santuario restaurant just off of the main lobby. The breakfast is served via a buffet, where everyone found something that they enjoyed. The selection was wide enough, although I wouldn't go as far as to call it extensive – and had cuisine featuring both Panamanian tastes as well as traditional breakfast staples.

Finally, we also were invited for a number of complimentary offerings at the hotels bars/restaurants. We were invited to a complimentary welcome drink at the hotel's casual restaurant, Hari's. Further, we were given a complimentary drink ticket at the hotels separate speak easy which is located a few blocks from the hotels main facilities.

Hotel La Compañia: ToP Thoughts

This hotel soared above my expectations and landed as one of my favorite stays ever. Just a short hop away from most North American cities, Panama City is a great option for a long weekend getaway. Staying at HLC offers both luxurious accommodations but friendly service as well. The history and details that went into the hotels grounds make the stay all the more special. Offering fantastic value, Hotel La Compañia has got to be on your World of Hyatt property shortlist. Have you stayed at this property? Let us know over in the ToP Facebook group.