Chiriquí Chatter

Jun 26th, 2006 by Don Ray

Here is a copy of the hotel’s brochure.

A reader wrote me that the 774-5262 number has been removed and that the email should be inmisa@cwp.net/pa.
There is now a website for this hotel. http://www.hotelcastillapanama.com/

NOTE: Verify all rates prior to check in. The rates quoted below are a best effort by me to get rates.

This nice lady provided me with the brochure and the prices which are $27.00 one double bed, $37.00 for two double beds, and $47 to handle three people. The Internet is $1/30 minutes.

For other David hotels go here.

Tags: Hotels

Posted in Hotels, Panama Journal

40 Responses to “David Hotel Castilla”

on 27 Jun 2006 at 8:12 am1Linda

Hi Don Ray,

We have also stayed at the Castilla, while setting up our rental in David.

The Castilla’s rooms are also very clean, and the staff very friendly and helpful. The basic room we rented was larger than we’d expected, with a separate sitting area. Also, very important (to us), there were coffee makers in every room. Lots of stairs. Internet connection in the lobby was a little pricey, considering the number of internet cafes in the immediate area. Location-wise, you can’t really get more central than this - pretty much everything is a short walk away.
on 27 Jun 2006 at 8:20 am2Don Ray

Thanks for leaving a comment.

The hotel that is out of sight on Internet pricing is the Gran Nacional ($6.30/hr). Talk about a ripoff.
on 27 Jun 2006 at 2:00 pm3Susan Hahn

I’ve stayed there about three times. Nothing fancy, but usually clean. The last time I stayed about a month ago, the bathroom obviously hadn’t been cleaned. Watch out because if they give you a room with a 200 number (which they always did for me), it is actually on the third floor. By the time I crawl up the last few steps, there’s no way I’m going back down (and up again). So be warned. Eat dinner, do your shopping or check your internet before you go upstairs for the night. There’s a good buffet restaurant next door. They gave me pensionado benefits. Nice people. By the way, they do not speak English.
on 27 Jun 2006 at 2:07 pm4Don Ray

Thanks for leaving a comment. Good tip about the 200 numbered rooms.
on 28 Jun 2006 at 12:06 am5Robert Webster

This is the hotel that my wife and I always stay at when we are in David. I have always found it to be an excellent place to stay when visiting relatives. The rooms have always been clean and comfortable. The staff has always been very nice and helpfull. We always plan to stay here when in David.
on 28 Jun 2006 at 7:02 am6Don Ray

It is certainly centrally placed in down town.
on 01 Dec 2006 at 10:47 pm7elizabeth allen

What is the most comfortable place to stay in David?
Do you know the dates of the David Fair in 2007?
Is there a B and B in David? We heard the the Lamb B and B is now closed.
Thanks,
Elizabeth and Don
on 02 Dec 2006 at 6:30 am8Don Ray

The only hotel I have stayed in is the Hotel National and that was because I didn’t know about any others. Comfortable is a personal preference. I understand th new Hotel Cervantes is nice for the price. Hotel National is the largest and has the most accommodations, but is also the most expensive.

I understand that the Lambs Inn is closed too. I don’t know of any others.
on 19 Dec 2006 at 10:09 am9Gretchen Gringley

I’ve stayed at Hotel Castilla on two occassions and was pleased both times. The rooms are large and air conditioned. There is cable TV, the beds are comfortable and the restaurant serves great breakfast. You can’t ask for much more in this price range. It also provides a central location, which is ideal if you are staying in David or just passing through.
on 24 Jan 2007 at 1:56 pm10joe c

This hotel is OK…only pain is if that they dont have an elevator…

watch out for the fat hotel manager..she needs to work on her customer service skills..
on 04 Mar 2007 at 1:34 pm11Alvin and Simone Deveau

In the past two months,we have stayed at least 4 times at the Hotel Castiila and we have always found the staff tc be very very nice.In fact,it is for this reason that we kept going there.Alvin and Simone from Canada.
on 04 Mar 2007 at 1:40 pm12Don Ray

Alvin and Simone - Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
on 04 Mar 2007 at 1:55 pm13Alvin and Simone Deveau

Hello Don Ray,
Thank you for mentionning Cafe Don Siu next to hotel Panama Rey.We have eaten there 4 times each time we were in David
and we were never disappointed.Churrasco for cheap breakfasts was good and Panama Bill serves delicious American and Panamanian food.
After two wonderful months in Panama,we are off to Honduras tomorrow.Alvin and Simone
on 04 Mar 2007 at 1:58 pm14Don Ray

Thanks for leaving a comment. Don Sui is a favorite of mine as well. Very nice people there. If you get to L Cieba, look up La Gringa. http://lagringasblogicito.blogspot.com/index.html
on 09 Jun 2007 at 8:24 am15ellen munday

dear don-ray & followers,

we stayed at hotel castilla for two or three nights in feb 2006

very clean and comfortable but seemed to cater to the business

client.

met a wonderfully helpful person ide a maid on another floor a true

friend-she speaks english so well.

discovered chiriqui chatter upon our return thank you don-ray

ellen
on 09 Jun 2007 at 9:06 am16Don Ray

You are welcome Ellen. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
on 12 Jul 2007 at 9:39 pm17Sandra

The Castilla is very nice hotel for the price. The staff is friendly and the place is well kept. The restaurant has good food and the waitresses are more than friendly.

The one draw back in the place is, as Joe C. comments, the fat manager who is named Maria. She has a rather cold and frosty personality and is lacking in social skills. I speak Spanish and from what I have learned none of the employees like her. She is kind of like the Dick Cheney of Panama. She has been with the hotel for many years.
on 31 Aug 2007 at 8:04 pm18Cliff Gieseke

My wife and I stayed at the Hotel Castilla in May and June this year (07), after a disappointing experience at La Puerta del Sol. (A couple of years earlier, our experience there was fine.) … My wife has chronic asthma and an elevator would have helped, but our room was always clean, and service was always pleasant. We enjoyed the hotel restaurant but more often went to the cafeteria next door, where we often brought back pan de queso (pan de bono) made by a Colombian somewhere in David. (My wife is Colombian,) We also appreciated the senior discounts as retirees and are hoping to move to David or nearby, from San Antonio, TX. The location of the Hotel Castilla is excellent.
on 31 Aug 2007 at 8:08 pm19Don Ray

Hi Cliff. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
on 28 Sep 2007 at 8:51 pm20Alex

Your Hotel is really beautiful but there’s something that I still can not believe and is the fact that the pictures on you web page are truly not showing what this place really have to offer, You have a really nice place, get better quality pictures on your web page.
Thank you.
on 28 Sep 2007 at 8:57 pm21Don Ray

Hi Alex. I am sorry that you don’t like the photos that are in this post. I am not associated with the hotel and have listed the David hotels as a courtesy to people wanting to visit David, Chiriqui. The first photo in this post is one that I took. The rest of the photos shown here are from the hotel’s brochure.
on 29 Dec 2007 at 11:06 pm22yima

thank Mrs. Ray for information the best hotel in chirqui is castilla
the rate is diferent is single room 28 in low season in high season 38
doble rooms 38 in low season and high season 44
triple room is 48 in low season and high season 56
junior suite is 45 in low season in high season 55
suite room is 66 in low season in igh season is 77 all rate included tax.
THIS HAVE ALL THE SERVICE IN THE ROOM:CABLE TV, HOT WATER, BEAUTIFUL AND CONFORTABLE ROOMS, AIR CONDITION. THE RESTAURANT IS OPEN 7:00 A.M UNTIL 3:00 P.M AFTER 4:30 P.M- 11:00 P.M. THE LAUNDRY SERVICE 7:00 A.M. INTERNET SERVICE 24 HOURS. THE AREA NEAR AT HOTEL IS VERY SAFE ALSO ENJOYED THE NEW PARK CERVANTES IS VERY NICE. THE STAFF THE HOTEL CASTILLA IS POLITE.
CASTILLA HOTEL WAIT FOR YOU.
HAPPY NEW YEARS.
on 30 Dec 2007 at 7:41 am23Don Ray

Thanks for updating the information, Yima.
on 04 Jan 2008 at 3:17 pm24yima

Hello the Change the Rate in the Hotel Catilla
ALL THE ROOMS HAVE AIR CONDITION, HOT WATER, CABLE TV, ROOMS SERVICE. THE CASTILLA HOTEL HAVE A RESTURANT OPEN 7:00 A:M UNTIL 3:00 P.M AFTER OPEN 4:30P.M UNTIL 11:00 P.M. ONLY CLOSE THE SUNDAY IN THE AFTERNON. THE INTERNET IS OPEN 24 HOURS.
Single Rooms :38 dollar more tax, regular rate, 29 dollar included tax, especial rate or frequent client. this room have a one bed doble.
Doble Rooms: 41 dollar more tax, regular rate, 39 dollar included tax especial rate or frequent client.this room have a one doble bed and one single room.
Junior doble rooms: 55 dollar whit tax regular rate, 45 dollar included tax especial rate or frequent client. This rooms have one doble bed and one single bed and have a balcony, and good view in the park and city.
Junior Suite rooms second floor: 56 dollar whit tax, regular rate, 60 dollar whit tax in especial rate or frequent client. is similar at junior doble.
Triple Rooms: 66 dollar with tax, regular rate, 49 dollar whit tax especial rate or frequent client. this rooms have a one bed doble and two bed single. also have a balcony and excelent view.
Junior Triple Rooms: 61 dollar with tax, regular rate, 56 dollar whit tax especial rate or frequent client. only rooms 202 in second floor. is similar a triple rooms. this rooms have a one bed doble and two bed single.
Suite Rooms: 100.00 dollar whit tax , regular rate, 70 dollar whit tax especial rate or frequent client. is the best rooms in the hotel. this rooms have one bed doble an one bed single and sofacama,mini living room, and balcony and excelent view.
CASTILLA HOTEL WAIT FOR YOU.

FOR RESERVATION BY E-MAIL : otelcastilla@cwpanama.net.
castilladavi@cwpanama.net
BY THE TELEPHONE: (507)774-52-36
774-52-60
774-52-61.
on 07 Jan 2008 at 10:28 am25Pearl

I have booked to stay at the Hotel Castilla from the 16th January 2008 for 7 days. So thank you Yima for the information about the hotel as I did not know what to expect.

I have been to David 3 times before and usually stay at the Gran Nacional but thought it was a bit expensive for this time of year.
on 01 Mar 2008 at 2:09 pm26Susan Loberg

We recently stayed at Hotel Castilla and found it to be an excellent place. Very clean throughout, excellent staff. good restaurant and good beds.

We met a maid named Ida who speaks very good English. Her talents are wasted cleaning rooms. She made our stay there much easier as she helped us on her own time after work The main drawback staying there was the language barrier.
on 01 Mar 2008 at 3:52 pm27Don Ray

Hi Susan. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
on 02 Mar 2008 at 9:38 pm28corbin poh

Yes
don I too stayed at the hotel and found that Ida’s talents are wasted. This person should be on the front desk, not making beds. But Ida is a very good employe, and an asset to the hotel. And when I return in April I will be staying there agin Have a great day Corbin
on 03 Mar 2008 at 7:04 am29Don Ray

Hi Corbin. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
on 10 Apr 2008 at 2:57 pm30yima

if in my opinion all the personnel is excellent congratulation hotel castilla. thank a all the people that visit ours hotel welcome the people that not know this hotel.
IN Chiriqui exist a special place the name is
HOTEL CASTILLA
WAIT FOR YOU

BYE.
on 10 Apr 2008 at 2:58 pm31Don Ray

Hi Yima. Thanks for stopping in.
on 10 Apr 2008 at 6:10 pm32ellen munday

dear corbin & susan,

you are both so right about ida! she is a panamanian blessing!

so beautiful inside & out i am now”pinning” for ida & panama. i hope

her children & grandaughter are well. thanks don-ray. ellen
on 28 Apr 2008 at 7:50 pm33corbin poh

dear ellen, I will tell you that ida and her family are well. she had her grandaughter this last weekend and the sunday before she and her family had a wonderfull day at the beach. Ida sends out a warm hello to all of her friends that she has made at the hotel and I hope to see her agin in may Corbin
on 29 Apr 2008 at 8:38 am34ellen munday

dear corbin & don ray,

thank you for the update on ide & her family. she was so kind to us

as i am sure she is to everyone! i hope to see her again soon.

thank you again. ellen
on 13 Jun 2008 at 3:09 pm35Kayra

Don Ray
Just wanted to let you know Hotel Castilla has a new website, it includes a secure reservation form.
http://www.hotelcastillapanama.com/
I found it while searching for lodging in Chiriqui for my upcoming trip
Kayra
on 13 Jun 2008 at 4:58 pm36Don Ray

Hi Kayra. Thanks for taking the time to leave that information.
on 27 Jun 2008 at 7:55 pm37Kimmy

Hi This will be my very first trip to Panama in July. I will be going with two of my girlfriends and we’ve booked the triple room. I was wondering, does anyone know if they have a blow dryer in the bathroom?
on 27 Jun 2008 at 8:09 pm38Don Ray

I would be very surprised if any hotels here have a hairdryer, but I could be wrong. It would be better to contact the hotel.
on 01 Aug 2008 at 9:38 pm39yima

Mr Kimmy was a problem in the castilla hotel
on 01 Aug 2008 at 9:57 pm40Don Ray

Yima, I am not sure I understand what you are saying.