Casa Areka
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Summary of reviewsCasa Areka enjoys a stellar reputation for its excellent location in Panama City. Situated in a safe and central neighborhood, it provides guests with easy access to essential amenities like supermarkets, restaurants, ATMs and cafes, along with proximity to bus stops and major sightseeing spots such as Casco Viejo. The atmosphere of the hostel is cozy and welcoming with friendly and helpful staff enhancing the overall experience. Amenities such as a well-equipped kitchen and a nice pool area add to the comfort and encourage social interaction among travelers.
While breakfast at Casa Areka draws mixed reviews—self-made pancakes and bananas are seen as sociable but somewhat repetitive—the overall vibe is positive due to the friendly staff and well-maintained common areas. The accommodation varies with spacious and clean private rooms receiving high praise for their comfort and functional amenities like air conditioning. Dormitories, however, are less favored due to overcrowding and limited storage space, though cleanliness is consistently noted as a strong point throughout the hostel.
The exceptional staff is a cornerstone of Casa Areka's appeal. Team members like Jesús, Mati, Matias, Sara and Juan are frequently mentioned for their kind, welcoming and helpful nature. They go out of their way to ensure that guests have a pleasant stay, from providing local advice to assisting with errands. Their genuine hospitality significantly contributes to the warm atmosphere of the hostel.
Casa Areka's Wi-Fi generally meets guests' expectations with good quality and strong signals, particularly in the rooms. However, connectivity can become inconsistent when more guests are online. The delightful pool area is another highlight, offering a clean, well-maintained spot to relax and escape the city's heat with outdoor seating further enhancing its appeal.
Lastly, the beds at Casa Areka receive mixed feedback. While many find them comfortable and appreciate the spacious arrangement and privacy, others note issues with noisiness, fragility and worn-out mattresses. Despite these concerns, the common areas remain comfortable and inviting.
In summary, Casa Areka excels in providing a clean, convenient and welcoming environment, making it an attractive choice for travelers in Panama City. The exceptional staff and well-maintained common areas, particularly the pool, add to the overall positive experience. With minor improvements, particularly in bed quality, Casa Areka could enhance the guest experience further.
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While breakfast at Casa Areka draws mixed reviews—self-made pancakes and bananas are seen as sociable but somewhat repetitive—the overall vibe is positive due to the friendly staff and well-maintained common areas. The accommodation varies with spacious and clean private rooms receiving high praise for their comfort and functional amenities like air conditioning. Dormitories, however, are less favored due to overcrowding and limited storage space, though cleanliness is consistently noted as a strong point throughout the hostel.
The exceptional staff is a cornerstone of Casa Areka's appeal. Team members like Jesús, Mati, Matias, Sara and Juan are frequently mentioned for their kind, welcoming and helpful nature. They go out of their way to ensure that guests have a pleasant stay, from providing local advice to assisting with errands. Their genuine hospitality significantly contributes to the warm atmosphere of the hostel.
Casa Areka's Wi-Fi generally meets guests' expectations with good quality and strong signals, particularly in the rooms. However, connectivity can become inconsistent when more guests are online. The delightful pool area is another highlight, offering a clean, well-maintained spot to relax and escape the city's heat with outdoor seating further enhancing its appeal.
Lastly, the beds at Casa Areka receive mixed feedback. While many find them comfortable and appreciate the spacious arrangement and privacy, others note issues with noisiness, fragility and worn-out mattresses. Despite these concerns, the common areas remain comfortable and inviting.
In summary, Casa Areka excels in providing a clean, convenient and welcoming environment, making it an attractive choice for travelers in Panama City. The exceptional staff and well-maintained common areas, particularly the pool, add to the overall positive experience. With minor improvements, particularly in bed quality, Casa Areka could enhance the guest experience further.
Cheap Hostel
This hostel offers budget-friendly accommodation. It is suitable for budget-conscious travelers and backpackers.
Hostel with Swimming Pool
Outdoor Pool
Hostel for Adults Only
Small Hostel
Hostel with Outdoor Pool
Guest Reviews
Casa Areka stands out primarily for its excellent location in Panama City, offering guests convenience and accessibility. Situated in a central, safe neighborhood, the hostel is surrounded by an array of essential amenities such as supermarkets with one directly across the street, as well as various restaurants, ATMs, cafes and yoga studios. The hostel's strategic positioning also provides easy access to the city's financial district and major shopping centers.
Guests appreciate the proximity to bus stops that connect to key areas, including the airport, enhancing the overall ease of travel. The property's central location allows guests to reach significant sightseeing spots, including the Casco Viejo (Old Town) with a short taxi or Uber ride.
In addition to its prime location, Casa Areka features a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The friendly and helpful staff receive consistent praise, adding to the positive experience. The hostel's amenities, such as a well-equipped kitchen and a nice pool area, contribute to a pleasant stay. The vibe is described as good with common areas encouraging social interaction among travelers.
While the location brings the occasional city noise, the overall feedback highlights a comfortable and convenient base for exploring Panama City.
Guests at Casa Areka have mixed feelings about the breakfast experience. The breakfast offering comprises self-made pancakes and bananas, described by some as delicious, while others see it as unvaried and basic. The concept of preparing pancakes yourself fosters a sociable environment, yet the repetitiveness of pancake breakfasts might leave some wishing for more variety. There are mentions of powder pancakes and sliced bananas with some guests noting that the ingredients could be more appealing. Despite these criticisms, the breakfast setup is generally seen as decent if simple. On a positive note, the friendly and helpful staff, well-equipped kitchen and beautiful pool add to the overall appeal of the stay, making Casa Areka a recommended spot in Panama despite its breakfast limitations.
Casa Areka offers a mix of accommodations that range from private rooms to dormitories, each with its unique set of characteristics. Guests frequently mention the spaciousness of the rooms, noting that both private and shared spaces are generally large and come with beneficial amenities like air conditioning, which is a significant plus in a warm climate. Cleanliness is another strong point with bedrooms and common areas, including bathrooms, being well-maintained.
The private bathrooms receive high praise for their size and functionality, offering good storage and hanging options. Despite some negative remarks about room furnishings being run down and the occasional room smelling musty, many guests found the private rooms to be comfortable, describing them as big and cozy.
However, the dormitories appear less favorable due to overcrowding and limited storage space, while upper bunks have been flagged as shaky and potentially unsafe. Shared bathrooms are a downside for some, particularly due to the lack of hot water.
There is room for improvement in terms of bed comfort and the overall quality of linens, as highlighted by comments about polyester sheets and torn bedding. Breakfast offerings did not impress with some describing it as negligible.
Despite these drawbacks, the overall impression is that Casa Areka provides a spacious and clean environment, especially appreciated for its air conditioning and effective maintenance of common areas.
Casa Areka offers a mixed experience when it comes to the quality of their beds. Many guests appreciated the comfortable beds, particularly the loft beds and those in the air-conditioned rooms, which seemed to provide a cozy night's sleep. The spacious arrangement of the beds, along with adequate privacy, also received praise. However, several guests indicated that some beds were a bit noisy and felt old or fragile. Issues such as worn-out mattresses and missing woodcovers under the mattresses were mentioned and a few guests even reported beds falling apart. While the common areas were highlighted as comfortable, the beds may benefit from some improvements to ensure a consistently restful stay for all guests.
Casa Areka shines with its commendable cleanliness and inviting common areas, making it a top choice for travelers who prioritize hygiene and comfort. Guests frequently noted that the hostel is very clean, highlighting spotless bathrooms, a tidy kitchen and well-kept communal spaces like the pool, terraces and lounging areas. The hostel also offers great value for money and a friendly atmosphere with helpful staff contributing to an enjoyable stay. However, there were mentions of shared bathrooms occasionally needing more frequent cleaning and some private rooms showing signs of wear. Overall, Casa Areka provides a clean and comfortable environment with excellent common facilities, though attention to maintaining private spaces and addressing occasional issues with pests and moisture could enhance the experience further.
Casa Areka consistently receives praise for its exceptional staff, described as very kind, welcoming and always ready to assist. Guests frequently highlight the helpfulness and friendliness of specific team members, such as Jesús, Mati, Matias and Sara, as well as Juan, who goes out of his way to ensure guests have a pleasant experience. The staff's attentiveness to cleanliness order and guest needs contributes significantly to creating a comfortable and warm atmosphere, making travelers feel at home.
Notably, the team is often commended for their thoughtful, accommodating and super friendly nature. They are always available to answer questions, provide valuable advice and even assist with local errands, like Franco accompanying a guest to the barber to translate. The hosts' genuine hospitality and the personalized attention they offer, such as language assistance and breakfast arrangements, elevate the overall guest experience. The dedication and friendly demeanor of the employees at Casa Areka truly stand out, ensuring that every guest feels welcome and well taken care of throughout their stay.
Casa Areka features Wi-Fi that guests have generally found to be of good quality, especially in the rooms where the signal is noted to be strong and reliable. The free Wi-Fi service is appreciated by many, particularly for its good signal. However, there are some inconsistencies, particularly when more guests are using the network; some visitors pointed out that the Wi-Fi can become less reliable at these times. Guests have also experienced sporadic connectivity issues with mixed reliability in different parts of the hotel. Despite these occasional hiccups, the overall sentiment is that the Wi-Fi service at Casa Areka is satisfactory for most needs.
Casa Areka features a delightful swimming pool that continually receives praise from guests. The pool area, which is nicely maintained and clean, offers a lovely spot to relax and unwind, providing a much-needed escape from the heat of Panama City. The pool itself is described as a major attraction, contributing to the hotel's pleasant atmosphere. The outdoor seating around the pool further enhances the appeal, making it a perfect place to chill out. Guests appreciate the hotel's good and safe location, conveniently next to a supermarket and enjoy the friendly staff who contribute to the overall positive vibes of the hotel. The terrace and pool create a welcoming common area that many guests express a desire to return to.
Location Show Map
Location
Guests appreciate the proximity to bus stops that connect to key areas, including the airport, enhancing the overall ease of travel. The property's central location allows guests to reach significant sightseeing spots, including the Casco Viejo (Old Town) with a short taxi or Uber ride.
In addition to its prime location, Casa Areka features a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The friendly and helpful staff receive consistent praise, adding to the positive experience. The hostel's amenities, such as a well-equipped kitchen and a nice pool area, contribute to a pleasant stay. The vibe is described as good with common areas encouraging social interaction among travelers.
While the location brings the occasional city noise, the overall feedback highlights a comfortable and convenient base for exploring Panama City.
Breakfast
Rooms
The private bathrooms receive high praise for their size and functionality, offering good storage and hanging options. Despite some negative remarks about room furnishings being run down and the occasional room smelling musty, many guests found the private rooms to be comfortable, describing them as big and cozy.
However, the dormitories appear less favorable due to overcrowding and limited storage space, while upper bunks have been flagged as shaky and potentially unsafe. Shared bathrooms are a downside for some, particularly due to the lack of hot water.
There is room for improvement in terms of bed comfort and the overall quality of linens, as highlighted by comments about polyester sheets and torn bedding. Breakfast offerings did not impress with some describing it as negligible.
Despite these drawbacks, the overall impression is that Casa Areka provides a spacious and clean environment, especially appreciated for its air conditioning and effective maintenance of common areas.
Beds
Cleanliness
Staff
Notably, the team is often commended for their thoughtful, accommodating and super friendly nature. They are always available to answer questions, provide valuable advice and even assist with local errands, like Franco accompanying a guest to the barber to translate. The hosts' genuine hospitality and the personalized attention they offer, such as language assistance and breakfast arrangements, elevate the overall guest experience. The dedication and friendly demeanor of the employees at Casa Areka truly stand out, ensuring that every guest feels welcome and well taken care of throughout their stay.
Wi-Fi
Pool
Yes, Casa Areka has pool(s) that belong to one or more of the following categories: Outdoor Pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Casa Areka.
No, Casa Areka doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Casa Areka.
No, Casa Areka doesn't have a gym.
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