Much of what follows is from an article I wrote for another website a while ago. There are more pictures with this article and we’ve added the ‘Our Personal Take’ section at the bottom. The Royal Decameron is where Angie and I were married in November of 2009, so it holds a special place in both our hearts.
Location:
The Royal Decameron Beach resort is located 90 minutes Northwest of Panama
City, in the country of Panama on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The closest
towns are Fallaron, Playa Blanca and Rio Hato. The resort is large with 820
rooms scattered through an expansive property. The upper and lower portions of
the resort are separated by a steep incline that can be an arduous task for
some to ascend.
Rooms: As
mentioned, there are 820 rooms in the resort. The resort is very spread out and
a fair amount of walking is required between your room and the restaurants,
bars and pools. The rooms are roomy, safe and secure. Each room offers a
balcony and air conditioning as well as cable television. There are three
classes of room depending on location: beachfront, ocean view and garden view.
Restaurants and
Bars: For breakfast and lunch there are three buffet restaurants
offering a wide selection of food with a something for everyone. For dinner,
there are two large buffets and seven a la carte restaurants serving a variety
of foods including: Fish & Seafood, Thai, Japanese, Fusion, Italian,
Mediterranean, Grill and Catch of the day. It should be noted that booking for
the a la carte restaurants should be done early as they fill up fast.
Snacks are available throughout the day at 4 locations
serving fries, burgers, pasta and pizza. There are two snack bars that stay
open until 2am.
There are 11 bars to ensure that no one goes dry. Only 6 are
open during the day starting at 10am. Closing time is staggered from 5pm until
3am. It should be noted that there are no 24 hour bars, even the casino on site
is not 24 hour. The bars serve Balboa, a local Panamanian beer as well as
several different kinds of mixed drinks.
Beach/Pool/Grounds:
The beach is wide with somewhat gritty sand. The waters of the Pacific are
quite warm, however caution should be the order of the day as the undertow can
be quite strong. The water at the beach is not quite as clear as one would
expect from the Caribbean side so don’t expect to do a lot of snorkelling.
There are several pools with clean warm water. There is an
adults-only pool available for those looking for a quieter experience. The
lifeguards take safety to the extreme and do not allow swimming during the
rain, even if there is not a lightning bolt to be found. The pools have
staggered closing times, with most closing at 5pm. However, after the lifeguard
has left the area, confident that the pool is empty, swimmers may once again
jump in without being told to get out.
The grounds are expansive. The grounds are also lush and
beautiful with tropical shrubs, trees and flowers growing everywhere. This is
the ideal resort for a wedding as the sites for the ceremony and pictures are
unlimited. The resort is divided into an upper and lower section with a steep
incline between the two. There are several sets of steps and cemented paths to
make the traverse. Staff driven carts are available for those who cannot make
the climb.
Included within the property is a casino, a convention
centre, a Hard Rock Cafe, a health spa and a golf course.
Excursions:
There are many day trips that can be taken from the resort. Several evolve
around the Panama Canal, Panama City and the Gamboa Rainforest. These trips are
somewhat costly and make for a long day because of the travelling distance
involved.
Many excursions evolve around the Anton Valley region which
is much closer to the resort and a little more affordable. The region offers
zip-lining, eco-tourism and shopping.
Other trips include visiting the indigenous people,
horseback riding, golfing, whitewater rafting, deep-sea fishing, SCUBA diving
and trips to the Caribbean side of the country.
As with any all-inclusive resort, all the excursions are
fairly costly. Remember, there is a long chain of people that need to be paid
off to get you from the resort to the destination. Panama is a very safe
country to venture out on your own in. Consider avoiding the many middle men
and rent a vehicle for the day. There is a rental agency right on site and the
prices are reasonable. The roads are a little rough and you will have to drive
a little slower, but the freedom is well worth it.
Common Complaints:
This resort comes with several common complaints. If you do your research, none
of these should come as a surprise but apparently they do for some.
The drive is so long from the airport to the resort. Yes, it
is. The question is, do you want to go somewhere spectacular or somewhere
convenient? Panama City has several resorts that are close to the airport but
you won’t find yourself on a beautiful beach surrounded by tropical plants and
animals. The best places in this world to visit are away from the main centres
and, unfortunately, the main centres are the only places where you will find
international airports.
No one speaks English. A number of the staff know little or
no English. A number of the guests also do not speak very much English. If this
is a problem, maybe you would rather go to Daytona Beach. This is a country
with an official language of Spanish. You are a guest at this hotel not the
other way around. What you will find is a people that are eager to learn and
will try their hardest to communicate with you. Take the time in advance to
learn a little of their language and you will find it goes a long way.
It is too hot and humid. Can you really file that as one of
your complaints? It is surprising how many people actually do complain after
the fact about the weather. Did they not do any homework? Did they not realize
that Panama is just a few degrees latitude from the equator? It is very hot and
humid. There are, however, pools and a really big ocean close by to cool off
in. A nice break from the elements is a trip to the Anton Valley where, up in
the mountains, the temperatures are a little cooler and the tropical rain is
quite refreshing.
There are too many Colombians and Panamanians. Once again,
was it Daytona Beach that you really wanted to be at? Yes, the majority of
customers are from Colombia with many Panamanians visiting for the day or over
the weekends. Don’t see this as a problem but as a chance to broaden your
cultural horizon and meet someone from a different part of the world.
The staff is unfriendly and rude. This complaint is truly
unwarranted. The staff is incredibly warm and friendly. If they seem a little
rude at times, try doing landscape work in those weather conditions and try to
be nice to every drunken Gringo that bumps into you.
Overall, the Decameron is a great destination for a week’s
escape from the wintery wonderland of more northern climates. Panama is
relatively new to the all-inclusive game and still has a lot to learn about
what northerners want from a vacation. In saying that, though, it’s hard to say
what effect the coming exponential growth to the tourism trade in that country
will have. It is a long trek from Canada with a 5 and a half hour flight from
Toronto and closer to a two hour bus ride from the airport to the resort.
Our personal take:
A ‘must-see’ when visiting the Decameron is the former beach house of Manuel Noriega. Going left down the beach from the resort, the ruins are just a handful of beach homes away. The property is fenced but is still accessible. Beach patrol is on a mission to stop people from entering – this is most likely for three reasons:
- The house is decaying badly and can be dangerous.
- The house is an embarrassing part of the country’s past.
- I believe there are paid tours to the house…
As mentioned above, rent a car and explore Panama on your own. This a safe country and there is a lot to see. Watch your speedometer – police are ambitious (bribes are accepted if caught).
We can’t stress enough that you must visit El Valle (Anton Valley). You will appreciate the beauty as well as the break from the tropical heat.
Snorkelers need not apply: This area is not a snorkeling paradise – plain and simple.
There is a small grocery store going left from the resort on the road in. Here you will find items at a much lower cost than at the resort.
