Coming for a visit - any recommendations on hotels?

I think you can will get better answers if you join my Delphi group, http://forums.delphiforums.com/panamaexpats/start

It all depends on how close you need to be for good medical facilities, what kind of weather suits you,  whether you want to be near a beach, etc. Just about all of Panama is humid, but some parts in the Chiriqui province (the highlands) have the perfect temperature in my opinion...while just down the hill to almost sea level, David is way too hot for me. But some people live there comfortably without even using AC. It all depends on your preferences.
I've lived in Volcan for 10 years but having been busy with MANY projects, I've been to very few places in Panama myself.
I go to Panama City only when absolutely necessary and I hate to go there. It's hot, smoggy, crowded, and the traffic is horrendous. I do have a wonderful, reliable English-speaking taxi driver there when I need to go. I'll be glad to give you his contact information.
I've  heard that Air Panama is not all too reliable (canceling flights without notice, etc.) and their prices are ridiculously expensive. If you want to get to David from PC, the big buses (mostly double deckers) run almost every hour and the cost without pensionado discount is approximately $15.00. The bus trip takes about 7 hours from PC to David, which includes a stop about half way in Santiago for a cafeteria meal and a bathroom break. (The buses have bathrooms, of sorts, but always, always take toilet paper with you which is a good idea for bathrooms you encounter everywhere, just in case.)
For more information, contact me at my personal email address, muffiemae at gmail.com.
Better to rent a car in David if you want a rental, but bus service in Panama is excellent. If you're interested in Pedasi, Las Tablas, Chitre, etc. (very hot there), I can probably get you in touch with people who live in that area.
This time of year (supposedly the rainy season) is not "tourist season" so you probably won't have any trouble finding a hotel without booking in advance.

Public transport is pretty good and cheap. There is a national transport center next door to the Albrook Mall in Panama City. From there you can catch comfortable air-conditioned buses to most Panamanian cities. You could fly into Panama city and spend a day or two at the Milan Hotel in El Cangrejo. It is in the heart of the city and from there you can walk to a lot of places like the Venetto Casino and Via Argentina which is a restaurant row. A taxi from the airport to El Cangrejo is about $30 and the Milan Hotel gives a good discount if you pay cash. Check it out on tripadvisor.com. For about $10 by taxi you can get from Milan to the Albrook transport center. From there you can get buses to David, Chitre, Pedasi etc. Some of these buses are very luxurious and have DVD, two decks etc.

Driving in Panama, outside of Panama city is easy, so rent your car in David, Chitre etc.  After a day or two in P city you can decide if you are comfortable driving in that city. Look at maps on the internet and most of the smartphones with navigation seem to work pretty well. The car rental people will give you maps.

Enjoy you stay in Panama

Thank you for your valuable information! I looked at the bus schedule and it showed only one trip on Friday, Sept 26, to Pedasi leaving at 2:00. Our flight gets in at 1:00 and we'd like to find someway that same day to get to Pedasi. Flying has been ruled out. I was under the assumption we'd have more than one time chance to catch a bus that day but it doesn't show. Is there more than one bus company? If not, are there shuttle companies that can be hired for that long drive?
Appreciate the help 

Having visited Pedasi I am not surprised that there is only one trip per day. It is a tiny town with about 500 people (my estimate). On the other hand, there would be multiple daily trips to David, Chitre, Las Tablas etc. Why not catch a bus to Las Tablas or Chitre and rent a car there. The road to Pedasi is very good and straightforward. It is only one road so you cannot get lost. It is four lanes to Las Tablas and then two lanes. Nicely asphalted and not busy!!! It is about 45 minutes from Las Tablas to Pedasi. For your first trip avoid night driving.

There are no shuttles of the type you are describing. The Albrook transport center is like a small airport (two street levels and constant activity). There are several ticket windows with one or more for each destination. Walk up to the appropriate one, buy your ticket and go. A shuttle service would be redundant and too expensive considering the fact that most of these bus trips are between $10-20 or less.

The buses to the interior, the city buses and the new subway all meet at the National transport center at Albrook.

Hope this helps.

Fantastic help! I searched the bus schedule as you recommended and you are correct - I can get us as close as Las Tablas that evening.

Recommend Casa de Campo hotel in Pedasi. It is a converted old Spanish colonial house and run by one of the original families of yesteryear. It is a bed and breakfast type, with very large rooms and is adjacent to a very good restaurant (Smiley's) where all the amerians in Pedasi like to hangout. There are less than ten rooms. Nice atmospherics and a clean pool.  You can call me at my MagicJack (Voice over internet) number for more detailed info on your trip 951-846-9320.

If you are arriving late I would recommend booking in advance. Many of the hostels close after 6-7 pm. Casa de Campo is very nice, but expensive. Many other hostels I could recommend in Pedasi (Hostal Dona Maria, Casita Margarita, Casa Lajagua, Sports Club, Casa Loma, Dim's). Most you have to contact by email; find on TripAdvisor or their website.
Also, you can rent a car in Chitre; Hertz is across from the bus station inside the Nissan dealership, but again they may be closed at night as well as most people do not like to drive at night here.
Just my opinion from someone who lives in Pedasi.

Thanks for the advice and recommendations. We'll be arriving in Las Tablas early Friday evening but decided against renting a car. Do you think finding a taxi ride to Pedasi will be easy?
Bernice

There are taxis out at the road of the bus station in Las Tablas.

Sorry but I have one more quick question: how much should we expect to pay for ride into Pedasi? I don't want our ignorance to cost us 

$20-$30. The bus to Pedasi is $2.50, but again most taxis and buses do not run after 6pm. Las Tablas is a small country town, Pedasi is even smaller. Hopefully you stay overnight in Panama City, then you will have all the next day to get to Pedasi and be able to see the country as well.

hotel "milan" is located in a bad area very expensive now

nfoote wrote:

Public transport is pretty good and cheap. There is a national transport center next door to the Albrook Mall in Panama City. From there you can catch comfortable air-conditioned buses to most Panamanian cities. You could fly into Panama city and spend a day or two at the Milan Hotel in El Cangrejo. It is in the heart of the city and from there you can walk to a lot of places like the Venetto Casino and Via Argentina which is a restaurant row. A taxi from the airport to El Cangrejo is about $30 and the Milan Hotel gives a good discount if you pay cash. Check it out on tripadvisor.com. For about $10 by taxi you can get from Milan to the Albrook transport center. From there you can get buses to David, Chitre, Pedasi etc. Some of these buses are very luxurious and have DVD, two decks etc.

Driving in Panama, outside of Panama city is easy, so rent your car in David, Chitre etc.  After a day or two in P city you can decide if you are comfortable driving in that city. Look at maps on the internet and most of the smartphones with navigation seem to work pretty well. The car rental people will give you maps.

Enjoy you stay in Panama

Hi
If you are going to David, there is a place called Las Lajas near the coast there...it has a 20km unspoilt beach and it is stunning :-)
We stayed at a B & B called Finca Buena Vista which was fantastic and we would highly recommend it!