• Panama City is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal.Paso por el canal image by venecosta27 from Fotolia.com
  
  Panama City, Panama's largest city and capital, lies at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, which joins the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Although primarily known as a banking and commerce hub, Panama City also offers numerous historic tourist attractions in the city's Old Quarter. The Tocumen International Airport sits on the outskirts of the city. Several hotels are located within 15 miles of the airport, and offer convenient access to the city's amenities and attractions.
  
  

Crown Plaza Hotel

• Just 12 miles from the airport, the Crown Plaza Hotel offers 149 nonsmoking guest rooms, suites and executive suites in an 11-story building. Accommodations include the usual standard amenities, windows that open, stereo systems, high-speed Internet access and digital in-room safes. Suites and executive suites also offer a separate sitting area and fully equipped kitchenette.
  
  Hotel amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, fully equipped fitness center, business center with secretarial services, child care, laundry center, meeting facilities with audio/visual equipment, private limousine service and complimentary on-site parking.
  
  The Crown Plaza offers an on-site restaurant, sports bar and 24-hour room service. Guests also can enjoy a complimentary manager's reception.
  
  Downtown Panama City is two miles from the hotel, A 10-minute walk takes guests to the Multiplaza Shopping Center, the Multicentro Shopping Center, dozens of dining venues, nightclubs, bars, dance clubs and boutique shops.
  
  Nearby attractions include the Ruins of Old Panama, Las Bovedas Wall, Casco Antiguo historic monuments, the Panama Canal Museum and the Miraflores Locks.
  
  Other area amenities within walking distance include the Atlapa Convention Center, an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts and snorkeling and diving tours.
  
  

Sheraton Panama Hotel and Convention Center

• Set directly across from the Atlapa Convention Center and within 10 miles of the airport, the Sheraton Panama Hotel and Convention Center offers 361 nonsmoking guest rooms, including 18 suites. Accommodations offer the usual standard amenities, plus city or ocean views, down comforters and blankets, mini-bars, plasma televisions, laptop-size electronic safes and high-speed Internet access.
  
  Special hotel amenities and services include an outdoor swimming pool with large sun deck and loungers, a six-person hot tub, health club, sauna, steam room, full-service spa, fitness center with personal trainers, on-site casino, and tennis courts with tennis instructors. The hotel also provides a business center with an IT help desk, tour assistance, a wedding coordinator, free on-site parking and shuttle service to and from the airport, cruise terminals, ferry terminals, shopping centers and the downtown pedestrian mall.
  
  The Sheraton Panama offers three on-site restaurants (one is open 24 hours), a lobby bar/lounge and 24-hour room service.
  
  Three shopping malls are within five miles of the hotel. The downtown pedestrian mall, which features restaurants, souvenir shops, bars and nightclubs, is a five-minute drive from the hotel.
  
  Nearby points of interest include the Panama Canal Visitor Center, the United States Embassy, Soberania National Park, Metropolitan Nature Park and the Via Espana, which is similar to New York's Wall Street.
  
  

Courtyard Panama Real City Hotel

• Situated within walking distance of the main business district and 12 miles from the airport, the Courtyard Panama Real City Hotel offers 243 nonsmoking guest rooms, including five suites, in an eight-story building. Room amenities include the standard-issue features, plus a 32-inch LCD television with free movie channels, complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access and an electronic safe. Suites also have fully equipped kitchenettes.
  
  Hotel facilities and services include an outdoor plunge pool with complimentary towel service, a fitness facility with cardio machines and free weights, a full-service business center, complimentary on-site parking, limousine/town car service and a tour desk.
  
  The Courtyard offers two dining options: The Pacific Grill and The Corner Bar, which features cocktail and sandwich service and Wi-Fi.
  
  A five-minute walk takes guests to an entertainment, dining and shopping district where there are numerous dining options, bars, nightclubs and shops.
  
  Popular tourist attractions in the area include the Old Panama Cathedral and Bell Tower, the Plaza de Francia, the Santo Domingo Church, the Museum of Colonial Religious Art and the President's Palace.