New Washington Hotel

Had booked and paid through travelocity and didn't even stay for a single night. Place is not what the pictures show. Truly disgusting and unsanitary. Dirty stained, sheets, garbage in the hallway and most squatters would not even consider it for a night. A total scam. That said, travelocity only made it worst with over 3 hrs to try to get my money back as they sold it to me and took my money on total false pretense and images, and still waiting for a fractional of my payment back from them. Let's just say I will not book that hotel again nor use travelocity again.

We only visited for about ten minutes during a taxi tour with our driver Riccardo. Although old and tired you can see that this building was a great place in its day. It still holds onto some of its grandeur and you can imagine what it was like in its heyday. You have to wonder though why the stone crest above the entrance is only partially painted and why a picture of dogs playing cards is in the reception area. A lot of the old furnishings remain here and the marble halls hark back to the past splendours. The front garden area looks well maintained but the rear area looks like a building site with an empty swimming pool. Good views to the canal entrance though and would be interesting views on a busy day. Like a lot of Colon this is still a work in progress and much still to be done to bring it up to par.

The roads leading to the hotel are very run down and scary but the hotel is a classic. The views of the ocean and the ships going into the canal are absolutely breathtaking. The hotel itself is in the process of being upgraded as it had been neglected for a while. Only one person in the hotel spoke English which was disappointing since I had booked it through expedia. The hotel recommends not to walk outside the hotel area in the dark and you can see why!

Stayed 1 1/2 days and overnight. The first impression was very good. Beautiful garden, nice location on the sea, amazing entry hall. Personnel barely speaks English and not all of them seem very enthusiastic about their work. The room where I stayed was acceptable, nothing more. If you're not the adventurous type, try something else. Wifi only worked in public places, bathroom was a useable construction site. Some of the other comments are still true: damp air, no windows for opening. Even the toilet paper was damp. Towels and bedsheets were old but acceptable. I was lucky to have the choice from 4 pillows and found one which was less in clumps. Most unpleasant was the noise. Birds outside, but they respect resting hours, personnel inside. The hall even increased the music and shouting. The place could be charming and with a bit of modernizing works even beautiful, let's hope they will do something about it! (Internet connection didn't allow uploading pictures)

Here is your unique chance to stay at a Colonial Grand Hotel at a true basement bargain rate! Mind you, don't expect a five-star Hilton, but this majestic hotel still shows shadows of her glorious past. Warning, located in not the best part of Colon, travel by taxi after dark.