Hotel Royal Decameron Beach Resort and Casino

The Royal Decameron is located on the Pacific Coast, not far from the town of Farallon and one mile from the village of Rio Alto. Panama City is 85.6 mi away, or 1hr 45mins journey time.

The Royal Decameron can accommodate up to 3,000 people at maximum capacity, and its two conference centres 600 each. Wireless Internet access is installed in all lobby areas: it will cost you £5 for half an hour. Entertainment is organised at 8pm for children, and later for adults.

Built in 2000 and renovated in 2005, the Royal Decameron is so large that it has three separate receptions. At the heart of a vast garden planted with many species of flowers and trees, a total of 1,220 bedrooms are located largely in many low buildings. The 260 bedrooms located in villas do not have a sea view, though they are all located together slightly away from the resort next to a beautiful 18-hole golf course (the club house is of little interest). Not far away, a spa in a charmless but peaceful building offers 5 simple massage rooms and a Jacuzzi. From the vast lobbies, each overlooking a part of the resort, several flights of stairs and a series of paths lead down to the 7 swimming pools and the beach. It is indeed around the various swimming pools, facing the sea, that the hotel really comes alive by day, with no fewer than 5 beach bars, as well as a pool bar, so you can have a drink whenever you like! In the evening, most holiday-makers head for lobby n'1 to eat and watch the open-air entertainment in the adjacent brick amphitheatre.

Of the resort's 1,220 bedrooms, 260 are located in villas and 820 in red and yellow buildings. The latter, of which there are 24, each house 21 bedrooms, spread over two floors. Guests can choose between three types of room: a standard room with a sea view or garden view and a junior suite. Though not exceptional, the neat rooms at the Royal Decameron are large, simple, clean and pleasant, due to the dark wood and wicker furniture and the large photos showing the riches of Panama. The tiled bedrooms also include a firm bed, lots of storage, a television, a safe deposit box (£1.40 per night), individual air-conditioning and a direct dial telephone. The downside: the refrigerator placed on top of a plastic stool! Bathrooms are modest, with a shower, a hair-dryer and very basic hospitality products

For all tastes and all colours! The Royal Decameron has no fewer than 10 restaurants, including two which provide buffet service and eight other a la carte restaurants (by reservation). It can be hard to get your bearings at first, as the rooms are used for different things after the meals. For example, you could eat in the Italian or Thai restaurant one evening, then come back to the same place the following day for the breakfast (7am-10.30am) and lunch (12pm-2pm) buffets. This is why the a la carte restaurants, which are almost all located in the same area, are not very characteristic in terms of decor. For a change of scenery, head for the barbecue between swimming pool n°1 and the beach or even the Mediterranean restaurant, a long thatched roof over wooden boards, right on the beach. Diners are serenaded by a singer between 6pm and 8pm. Those who like air-conditioning will be best suited to the seafood restaurant! In summary, the Decameron offers a wide choice of restaurants and buffet options (e.g. 19 hot dishes for breakfast alone!). However, flavours are often missing from the plate!

Running the entire length of the resort, the pleasant and very large beach is often visible to holiday-makers at the resort. Opposite lobby n°1, it is even possible to make out the small island of Farallon. As with the swimming pools, the beach is supervised as much as possible. Everyone can enjoy the surroundings without being disturbed: many deckchairs and large palm parasols are provided and well spaced-out. The turquoise waters gently lap at the sand on the foreshore. A large water sports club will satisfy the sporty and the curious alike. Non-motorised sports are even included in your package. For those who like to walk, it is worth noting that almost a mile of unobstructed sand rolls along the Pacific Coast here.