This was my wife’s and my second trip to Volcan and our first stay at the Bambito Resort. We were there for three nights (Tuesday to Friday).
On our first trip we had driven by and even stopped at the hotel to look around so when a special offer came up we jumped on it. We always try to stay during the weekdays when we travel in Panama. There are fewer crowds and you can enjoy the facilities. This proved to be true on our trip.
We arrived around 2 pm on Tuesday and there were only one or two others at the hotel. We were checked in promptly and efficiently by a very friendly staff person and a bell man took our bags up to our room. We were on the upper level all the way right (as you face the road from the hotel.) We were in the very end room (322) and our friends were in the room next door (321). This was great. Only the end rooms have balconies. We also had a connecting door inside the room. We opened it up and it allowed all of us to use the balcony.
The room was very big and had a large comfortable king size bed (321 had two doubles). The bedding was clean and comfortable and there were four pillows. We slept exceptionally well each night. The storage was fine but there were only three hangers so you may wish to bring some with you if you plan on hanging a lot up. There was a small refrigerator inside the storage closet. It is stocked with a few drinks that they sell. We just bought our own from town and stored them in there. That was easier and cheaper. Room 321 had a larger refrigerator in the room and it was in the room itself. The room also had a round table and two chairs that were comfortable. The balcony had a round table and two chairs. The room was well lit but there are not night stand lights so you have to have the entire room lights on. This is an issue if one person wants to read and the other wants to sleep. This seems to be a common problem in Panama. The floors are hard wood instead of tile. It added a nice touch and the room didn’t seem as cool as it can be at night in Volcan.
The bathroom is small. There is a sink, toilet that works great and a good size shower with plenty of pressure. The main issue is there is no place to put anything. There is no drawers or cabinet. We kept our toilet items in the closet in the room and you have to take them with you.
The room also had a nice flat panel TV and cable. We didn’t use it but it looked fine.
The grounds are beautiful. We enjoyed watching the birds, ducks, and fish from our balcony. There are plenty of places to walk. There are two tennis courts and an indoor pool that is heated. It looked cloudy. We didn’t use it (not because it was cloudy) mainly because we didn’t have time. There are also trails that you can hike on that take you up in the woods. We didn’t know that until the day we were leaving. One isn’t marked and the other is up by the rental house they have kind of hidden. They won’t tell you about them.
Our stay included breakfast at their restaurant. It was great Wednesday and Thursday since there were so few guests. They open at 7:30am. They do have a menu. Our stay included the a fruit plate (watermelon, cantaloupe, papaya, pineapple) which were all fresh and excellent, two pieces of white toast with an excellent local strawberry spread and butter, and choice of 2 eggs (scrambled, over easy, or fried), one side (ham, bacon, or sausage), along with hot tea/hot chocolate/coffee and a glass of real, fresh squeezed orange juice (excellent!!!). On Friday morning it was different. The hotel was pretty full Thursday night so everything was out buffet style. You could order your eggs but most things were out and you had to get it your self. It was fine. It just didn’t have that cozy, enjoyable feel to it that the first two mornings had. The wait staff was very friendly and efficient. We enjoyed their service.
We did not eat any other meals at the dinning room. The prices are a little high and there are a lot of excellent places to eat around the Volcan area. If you don’t want to leave the property, the restaurant is there and my bet is the food quality will be fine.
The rooms were quite. We did not hear much noise outside from other guests and we didn’t hear any noise from the road. There is no AC or heat in the room but we found that we did not need it. Note if you are used to the beach area and hot temperatures, it will be chilly for you. Still, we were never too cold or too hot. One feature they do lack are safe’s in the rooms. Nothing was stolen. I know that many people like and want safe’s in their room. Just know they don’t have them.
We really enjoyed our stay and would go back in the future.