Novotel Panama City

English and Spanish are spoken by the hotel team, so you can deal with the useful things without resorting to underwater hand signals. The Novotel Panama City is a practical four-star city base for divers who want Panama on the doorstep rather than a resort wrapped in palm trees.

The useful rhythm is easy to picture: breakfast, a day out in the city or towards the coast, then air conditioning, a shower and somewhere to sit. A restaurant, bar, snack bar and 24-hour reception keep the hotel functional when your own timetable has been rearranged by flights, traffic or an early start.

You are in Bella Vista, in the El Cangrejo sector of Panama City, next to Jap Jap and close to the Vía Argentina metro station, about 0.2 miles away. That puts you in a proper urban neighbourhood, with restaurants and cafés close enough to make eating out a realistic option rather than a daily expedition.

Panama Bay is about 1.9 miles away, while Metropolitan National Park is 1.4 miles from the hotel. The Canal Museum of Panama is 2.6 miles away and the Presidential Palace 2.7 miles, giving you straightforward city options between diving days. The Miraflores Visitor Centre is 4.6 miles away, and the Bridge of the Americas is 4.3 miles away.

For getting around, Vía Argentina is the nearest metro stop, with Fernández de Córdoba about 0.7 miles away. Albrook Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport is 2.1 miles away; Tocumen International Airport is 9 miles away.

The rooms are set up for the part of the day when you want the outside world turned down. Air conditioning deals with Panama's heat, while the minibar, refrigerator and coffee machine give you somewhere to keep a cold drink and make the first cup before anyone asks you a question. A city view puts you firmly in Panama City rather than pretending otherwise.

For two people, the Superior King Room is the simple choice, with a super-king bed and a seating area. If you are travelling as a small group, the room with two double beds gives you more workable sleeping arrangements; the Executive Room adds a sofa bed for larger parties. Family rooms are available, and children of any age are welcome.

A desk, sofa, flat-screen television with cable channels and streaming service give you somewhere to settle in when the legs have had enough. The private bathroom has a shower and hairdryer, and daily housekeeping keeps the practical side of the stay moving. Upper floors are reached by lift, with wheelchair-accessible facilities also available.

The hotel restaurant covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, which matters when you come back hungry and would rather not negotiate the city immediately. Breakfast is served as a buffet with American-style choices, and vegetarian special-diet options are available on request.

There is one bar, along with a snack bar and an on-site coffee house. Room service is available when the sensible decision is to eat in your own clothes, and packed lunches can be arranged for a day away from the hotel. A happy hour is also offered, because sometimes the first post-dive decision should involve a drink rather than a map.

If you prefer to eat outside, Jap Jap is just a few steps from the hotel, while Fonda Ideal is about 300 feet away. Mi Casita Deli & Café is roughly 0.7 miles away, with Mestizo Music Café about 0.3 miles away.

The fitness centre is the main option for keeping the body moving on a non-diving day, although nobody is forcing you to use it. A games room and a shared lounge with television provide less strenuous alternatives when the sensible plan is to sit down and stay there for a while.

The hotel can arrange a tour or class about local culture, and San Blas is among the excursions offered. That gives you something more substantial than simply counting the hours until dinner, especially if you are travelling with a partner who would like a day on land.

Families have access to a kids' club, indoor play area and children's playground, with children's meals available. For adults, the sun terrace and outdoor furniture offer somewhere to pause with a coffee or a drink, while Parque Urraca and Metropolitan National Park provide nearby urban green space.

A 24-hour reception, luggage storage and a tour desk make the hotel workable around flights and excursions. Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight, and check-out is from 06:00 to 12:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance.

An airport shuttle is available to arrange with the hotel. Free private parking is available on site without a reservation, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Laundry, ironing and dry-cleaning services are available when salt, dust and travel clothes have started to merge into one alarming category.

The minimum check-in age is 18. Pets are not allowed. The hotel has a lift, accessible upper floors, wheelchair-accessible facilities, toilets with grab rails and Braille visual aids.