Gamboa Rainforest Reserve

Great views poor service.

This was our first visit to Gamboa and we loved the jungle tours, both arial tram and boat tours were vey enjoyable and had great staff. 'However the staff in the hotel and restuarant were very lazy, inattentive and seemed untrained and lack the needed hospitality and services that one would expect from a hotel like Gamboa Resort. Especially since they are part of a larger hotel group , including Westin. I have been a starwoods member for many years and this hotel does not live up to the reputation of other hotels in this same class.

When we checked in they never asked for a credit card for incidentals. The room was prepaid for. When we went to sign up for our air tram excursion, because there was not CC on file and could not bill to the room, the tour staff at the tour desk took cash for our canal tour of $85. gave us a reciept and two stickers to wear and we went on the tour. Our guide was Yasir sp? He would remember us as we were the only two at the end of the day and spent time with him. When we checked out the next day, the front desk said we owed 85. for the air tram. We explained what happened but he billed us anyway because there was no record of it. We would NOT have been able to go on the tour IF we did not pay and have ticket/sticker to enter. CLearly a mistake by the staff because they do not think ahead, take CC at check in for incidental, do not communicate with eachother . I had a conversation with the front desk but they just looked at me like they did not know what to do . Please refund my Amex for $85. the remaining difference on the total $103 charge an remain. We would like to return and try it again in the future and bring our guests, but do expect that this hotel needs extensive training for its staff and how to NOT make mistakes such as this one. thanks

Not much to do!

The dinner and breakfast buffets were satisfying. There weren't a lot of different entree selections but the few that were there satisfied our palates.

I expected more activities and entertainment. We became bored relatively quickly. We expected to see more animals and be constantly reminded we were in the middle of the rainforest. Unfortunately, neither happened. The tourist desk staff were not as accommodatIng as I would have expected. The bathroom needed renovations but the shower head was new and worked well. The bed was comfortable. Being one of the few accommodations in the middle of the rainforest is a wonderful concept and I hope they expand this more. When they do, I hope to return.

June 2015

Beautiful location and views. Nice boat tour to money island. Front desk was very friendly and helpful. Loved the hammock on the balcony and vaulted ceilings on our 4th floor room.

The buffet both for breakfast and dinner were very overpriced. Wait staff at the restaurants were very slow.