Spanish by the River - Boquete

It is a great hostel. The rooms and beds were clean and comfortable. The facility was clean and comfortable. The staff was also very friendly. Definitely going back when back in the area if there is availability.

There isn't much for parking. We had to park out on the street, however, there were no problems.

The two person dorm room is good value. Multiple bathrooms to use. Access to a kitchen although matches/lighter not always available for lighting the stove. The property is relaxing with hammocks present and quiet atmosphere.

Check in instructions were not sent until the day of check in, in the afternoon and since I had no sim card, I never received the instructions and was left stranded outside the guesthouse with my luggage until another guest heard my banging on the gate (doorbell did not work). No staff was present but the other guest showed me where my key was hanging and showed me where to find my room etc.

Nice place to socialize with other guests and relax if you want to be outside of the town. Access to Spanish language lessons and nearby restaurants (Sabroson is great). Bus stop for the town and also David is right at the main road. Easy to get to and from the center with a shared taxi for $1. Size of bathroom in the private room was great.

I have travelled to 80+ countries and this is the first time I was ever given a room that was not cleaned at all, filthy disgusting bathroom and floors. I tried to understand what happened but it was unclear. It seems the fulltime cleaner was away that day and so another staff gave me the room very shortly after other guests checked out of that room - I was wondering how it could have been cleaned so quickly. I saw her change the linens and the bathroom smelled of cleaning product but when I checked, there was visible urine and blood, feces, hair on the inside of the toilet and on the seat, the sink ,soap dispenser and countertop had dust and hair, the foot towel was visibly dirty and was unchanged, leftover soap I'm the shower from previous guests, the floor in the bedroom and bathroom was not cleaned at all, residue on the walls near the bed from smashed flies that come out at night. I asked the staff to clean and she came back and cleaned the toilet sink and countertop in the bathroom- she never said anything like she forgot to clean, nothing. The floors remained unclean. I took videos and sent the owner a message and one video but there was not much of a follow up. Upon speaking with another guest (who was leaving due to disappointment) it was made clear the property is being neglected by staff in the owners absence as she is busy with her guesthouse in Bocas del toro (also dirty unkempt unstocked kitchen during my stay until the day the owner came back and that day the cleaner was seen thoroughly cleaning everything). The staff are attentive when it comes to collecting payments but that's it.

Clean quiet and comfortable

We had a really great experience at Spanish by the River! It's a sweet, relaxing environment. It was just far enough from town to be nice and quiet, but close enough to catch a quick taxi ride. All the best!

Clean, organized, well maintained, great kitchen , spacious longing areas, good WiFi

Nothing

Very pleasant, kind, helpful staff and the beautiful grounds

manipulating the faucet handle (in the shower) to get hot water