Mamallena Backpackers Reviews

Hotel is good very close and easy to get to main bus station. From Airport take just any bus which sais Via Espania. Place is good and stuff helpfull.

Incredibly helpful staff, great hang out spaces in a variety of places throughout the hostel, sparse but very clean private rooms with awesome mattresses, met a ton of friendly people, would definitely recommend! *Be aware that if you book a private you should ask for one on the side of the building that faces away from the courtyard, in a hostel with "no rules" you can bet there are going to be some late nights in the garden/smoking area so the rooms facing the courtyard can be pretty loud.

Close to cheap markets, restaurants and bars, staff was really nice. Only one thing, in my room, the mosquito net at the window was broken.

Prior to this trip I was a little worried because of what I had heard of the area but with a little common sense it was not that bad. Very easy to get around on local transport and walkable to the ocean. Hostel was excellent, I can't praise it or the staff enough, everyone very helpful. Staff were constantly cleaning it. They have a lively dog and 2 cats, which is a very nice touch, really well cared for. Lots of nooks and crannies to hang out in.

It is a typical travellers hub dealing with all your needs in a competent and friendly manner. Very helpful staff. The location does not really matter as Panama City is not the nicest of towns and there is no real center. You need to take short-trip taxis( 3-4 $) to go anywhere. As there is no need to hang around in the city for long this place is a good option to get everything sorted for your further travels and get moving on.

We enjoyed our stay at Mamallena's. Although in a poor location of town, we felt safe and found it easy to catch local buses to anyplace we wanted to go. Easy access to street markets and grocery stores. It was our first stay in a hostel, and we wondered if at our age (retirees) we would fit in. We felt at home and there were people from all over the globe. We would highly recommend it. We loved the staff- helpful and enthusiastic. Randy and Joyce Edmonton,AB Canada

I really liked the hostel, I was nice and friendly, only the neighborhood isn´t great. It was a little sketcy to walk around in, but mostly it is a long way from many things. Eg. a bigger supermarket, a decent cop of coffee or a café to hang out it, etc. There were cheap dining available around, so it is more of a slight annoyance that I felt that nothing was really walkable/near. A few minor fixers: 1: VERY creaky beds, just oil them! 2: AC too cold in dorms (crazy, I know, but I was freezing!)

Very good location. Professional people running the place 24 by 7. Good WiFi access though it would be nice if they replaced completely worn out keyboards.

There is a lot of rubbish outside on the street all of the time, the neighborhood is not the best one. There was a cat sleeping in my bed, when I asked the guy at the reception to take it out he didn't do it. there is also a dog, if you have problems with animals this is not your place. The place is ok overall, came back once, wouldn't be back again

the staff was very friendly and accommodating to our needs.

Pros Lots of chill out spaces Lots of quiet rooms aways from noisy areas Lots of clean showers & toilets Cheap beer for sale Good kitchen & equipment Cons Area is a bit dodgy. I think its safe but we felt edgy all the time but I think that is Panama city in general You have to get taxis everywhere which aren't expensive so not to much of a problem

Mamallena is cool, but you won't get the location you get from Luna's or Panamerica if you want Casco Viejo. This hostel is in a residential neighborhood (the "real" Panama City?) in Perejil. Taxi drivers know it, and they charge you $3-4 to Casco Viejo and other areas. What do people do at this hostel? They chill out and watch movies. All the time. Everyone is watching movies. There are three computers, wifi, an indoor patio, outdoor patio, bathrooms galore and clean dorms with AC from 8pm-8am.

The dorms are suprisingly peaceful even though they're pretty big.