Boardwalk Beach Hotel in Panama City

We had a stay with several highlights, but also a few areas that definitely need improvement.
The Good:
Location & Amenities: Excellent location with direct beach access. The beachfront bar and restaurant are great, and our lunch (nachos, sliders, and chicken nuggets) was delicious!
Family Fun: The two pools are smaller than they look in photos, but my kids still had a blast. Having Thursday Bingo, weekend live music, and soda/ice cream/ice machines on-site was a nice touch. There is also a small arcade area with about 6 claw/prize machines (we didn't end up using them, but it's an option).
Room Size: The main bedroom area was quite spacious.
Areas for Improvement:
Service Professionalism: My check-in went smoothly, but the two girls working at the lobby counter were openly discussing and laughing about other guests whose reservations had been canceled, right in front of me and another customer. Having worked in customer service for years, I found this very unprofessional.
Room & Maintenance: It’s an older property with great potential, but it needs updates. When we walked into our room, a broom had been left behind. Additionally, the bathrooms are very small, and the bed sheets are paper-thin.
Property Appearance: A detail that lowers the overall quality and look of the hotel is that guests frequently hang their wet clothes and towels over the balcony railings, giving the building an unkempt appearance.

The smell of marijuana in the area of ​​the two pools was terrible

Overall, it's a fun spot for families because of the beach and entertainment, but management should focus on property updates, guidelines for guests, and staff professionalism.

If you’re seeking an affordable beachside accommodation and you can handle a bit of rough edges, this place might be your ideal spot.

We were looking for a budget-friendly option for a short 3-night stay, right on the beach, with basic amenities like sleeping and showering facilities.

While the beds weren’t particularly luxurious, they were a significant improvement over sleeping on the floor. The bedding consisted of a fitted and flat sheet, a thin blanket, and a sheer covering on top. However, we did notice some mold in the bathroom, particularly on the bottom of the door and the side of the dresser. This was to be expected given the high humidity and wet conditions.

One aspect that bothered me was the housekeeping. There was a sticker on the bathroom mirror stating that linens and trash would be updated daily, with a full clean on the fourth night. Unfortunately, neither the trash nor the linens were ever taken out or replaced. I had to personally request new towels.

They advertised having two pools, but I only ever saw one. The arcade was also out of commission, as the token machine was broken, making all the games inaccessible.

They sell 7lb bags of ice for $5. There’s also a small cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, and offers happy hour specials.

Additionally, there’s a restaurant and bar, but I never saw anyone actually dining there. It seemed like most people were just hanging out at the bar.

We got the 2 full size beds & a bunk bed in the one room. That part was great as we had 3 out of our 4 kids on this trip & my sick mother that I did not want her in her own room. Well the top bunk bed was great but the bottom one that a "so called mattress" which in reality was just a mattress topper. Not sure if it has to do that it can also be turned into a futo or "day bed". It was honestly no thicker then an inch to an inch & a half. Also the bathroom had a cloth curtain & it smelled awful!! As the day went on, it was more pungent. After we all took a shower it was disguised by the nice smell of our shampoos. It was overall clean but would be nice if they switched out the bottom bunk bed " so called mattress" to an actual bunk bed mattress & the curtain in the bathroom after every use, it would be a GREAT place to book!! No questions asked!

The first night there the pool was left unlocked and some people had a party and kept us awake. The bathroom was extremely small but other than that it was a very good stay.