Lodge La Compania del Valle offered TPG with a complimentary two-night keep in order that we might get an inside have a look at the resort and its facilities. The opinions expressed beneath are totally these of the writer and weren’t topic to evaluation by the resort or any exterior entity.
Simply two hours from Panama Metropolis, the city of El Valle de Anton, a well-liked weekend getaway spot amongst locals, sits inside a volcanic crater. The luxurious valley is residence to dashing waterfalls, mountaineering trails, chirping birds — and now a brand-new resort with a large spa. The most effective half? It is bookable on factors.
Hotel La Compania De Valle’s stone buildings and tile roofs appear to be they’ve at all times been there, nestled beneath the encompassing mountains. However a stroll across the resort’s grounds reveals trendy sculptures and curated artwork installations of all totally different types, in addition to three eating places that spotlight well being and native elements. And, as soon as development on the greater than 18,000-square-foot spa finishes in July, this Hyatt resort is certain to place Panama on the map as a nature-centric wellness vacation spot like its northern neighbor, Costa Rica.
First impressions
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MACKENZIE ROCHE/THE POINTS GUY
As quickly as I entered the foyer, I knew the resort could be a deal with by way of design and distinction. The area is serene: suppose pure mild, calming instrumental music, an off-the-cuff eating space and home windows overlooking a pond stuffed with geese and lily pads. But it surely’s additionally funky, with shiny patterned flooring and ceilings, deep blue velvet furnishings and an enormous picket sculpture of human faces.
The entrance desk sits proper beside a espresso bar, so a employees member took my order and ready an iced latte for me whereas I checked in. I then headed for my room, strolling leisurely by the halls, sipping my espresso and analyzing all of the paintings alongside the way in which.
The rooms
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MACKENZIE ROCHE/THE POINTS GUY
The resort’s 70 visitor rooms and suites spotlight outside area and provide views of both the mountains or the swimming pools. So, upon getting into my mountain-view king room, I breezed straight previous the trendy rest room and four-poster mattress to achieve the balcony, the place I discovered an enormous daybed in addition to a picket desk with chairs. It was separated from my neighbors’ balconies with picket partitions, providing a pleasant non-public place to benefit from the sundown. (The balconies are lined, which is a key function in the event you’re visiting in the course of the wet season.)
Again inside my 375-square-foot room, I discovered a chair with a small desk, a well-stocked minifridge, a Nespresso espresso machine and loads of locations to retailer my baggage and hold my garments. The mattress and its linens had been luxurious, and when paired with the room-darkening window shades, allowed for an incredible evening of sleep.
The lavatory was mild and shiny and had all of the facilities I anticipated, together with a hair dryer, bathrobes, slippers, tons of towels and Molton Brown merchandise. It additionally had some further particular touches I did not anticipate, similar to a towel hotter, a jetted bathtub and a window that I might flip from opaque to clear with the flip of a change.
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There have been a couple of small issues I felt had been lacking from the room, specifically an iron and a few type of deadbolt on the door — a security function I at all times search for as a solo feminine traveler. These straightforward updates would take the room from nice to glorious.
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MACKENZIE ROCHE/THE POINTS GUY
Throughout my go to, I additionally had the chance to tour one of many resort’s suites (photos above). I can affirm that they provide an elevated expertise with a European aptitude, due to plush furnishings, massive residing areas, chandeliers and considerate paintings.
Eating at La Compania del Valle
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MACKENZIE ROCHE/THE POINTS GUY
The three resort eating places — Tiempo, Terra and Fuego — serve creative dishes that draw inspiration from nature.
Tiempo
The open-air restaurant Tiempo is connected to the foyer and is open from 6:30 a.m. till 10:30 p.m. Friends can come right here to sip espresso, watch birds float within the adjoining pond and luxuriate in a breakfast buffet brimming with eggs, fruits, pastries, juices and a few Panamanian classics. They’ll return later for dishes with worldwide flavors like ceviche ($14), pork pad Thai ($22), rooster tikka masala ($19), prawn pasta ($24) or a tremendous creme brulee ($10).
Terra
Terra sits in the course of all of the resort’s motion, and it serves a full vegetarian menu alongside views of the resort’s massive outside gathering area. Its creative, Mediterranean-inspired dishes — similar to tomato tartare, mushroom risotto and basil panna cotta — will certainly impress even essentially the most hesitant vegetable-eaters. Notice: There could also be some modifications to the menu because the restaurant remains to be within the first phases of opening, however you possibly can at present choose a three-course eating expertise for $39 or a four-course expertise for $46. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. till 10:30 p.m.
Fuego
After a lightweight lunch at Terra, these in want of a hearty dinner can discover it at Fuego. That is the spot for steak lovers, wine fanatics and anybody who enjoys an entertaining eating expertise. One of many rooms has an open kitchen idea, so diners can watch by the smoke because the cooks grill up every kind of meat and seafood. Grilled brief rib ($40), sirloin carpaccio ($12), provolone cheese dip ($16), grilled octopus ($24), salads ($10 to $14) and an array of worldwide wines spherical out the menu right here. It is open for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. till 10:30 p.m.
Facilities and companies
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- Service: Everybody I met in Panama was heat and pleasant, and the employees members at Lodge La Compania del Valle had been no totally different. As with every newly opened resort, it takes a little bit of time to discover a circulation, but when this valley resort is something like its sister property in Panama City, I do know all the things can be polished very quickly.
- Swimming pools: The resort has two massive swimming pools located beside one another, one heated and one not. There are many loungers across the swimming pools, in addition to attention-grabbing sculptures to have a look at whereas stress-free.
- Health: There’s a well-equipped health heart by the lake, subsequent to the spot the place the resort plans to put in pickleball courts. There are additionally some ways to remain lively exterior of the resort, similar to by mountaineering the well-known India Dormida path or taking a bicycle tour round city.
- Cultural occasions: The resort plans to carry dwell music and performances into its outside theater-esque occasion area someday sooner or later, in accordance with a consultant. I might additionally prefer to see the resort implement some form of informational tour for company to study extra concerning the paintings, which is such a draw.
Spa
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Rendering of the spa. HOTEL LA COMPANIA DEL VALLE
When it opens in July, the greater than 18,000-square-foot Elysium Spa can be a vacation spot in and of itself. It is set to supply state-of-the-art therapies, a saltwater pool, sound therapeutic therapies and sensory experiences. The within will provide a dimly lit, nearly cave-like ambiance, and the structure can be harking back to a Roman bathtub home, with its stone archways and marble columns; plus, the rooftop lounge space will present panoramic views of the encompassing mountains. You do not have to be a visitor to make use of the spa, so it is certain to grow to be a well-liked draw for metropolis dwellers or anybody within the space on the lookout for a little bit of leisure.
Location and logistics
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El Valle de Anton is a few two-hour drive (75 miles) from Panama Metropolis. The roads to get there are properly paved and could be advantageous to navigate in a rental automotive. In any other case, a personal switch from town to the valley will doubtless value between $75 and $100 one-way.
The closest airport is Tocumen Worldwide Airport (PTY), and Lodge La Compania del Valle can present transportation from the airport to the resort upon request. If you happen to’re focused on spending a couple of days Panama Metropolis earlier than heading to the valley, contemplate reserving La Compania’s “Experience Both Hotels” package: It gives most popular charges for a keep within the model’s metropolis resort and valley resort, and the bundle features a non-public switch between the 2 (along with different perks).
What it prices to remain at Lodge La Compania del Valle and find out how to ebook
Lodge La Compania del Valle is a part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, so you possibly can ebook this Class 5 World of Hyatt property instantly by Hyatt’s web site utilizing your factors. I stayed in a king room with a mountain view, which prices $300 to $350 per evening (or 17,000 to twenty,000 factors per evening), relying on the day of the week and time of yr you keep. If you happen to choose for a bigger suite, costs can climb to between $600 and $2,000 per evening. In the mean time, there aren’t any factors choices out there for reserving the suites.
In case you are a World of Hyatt member and also you keep right here earlier than September, you possibly can get pleasure from a “grand opening provide” which incorporates breakfast for 2 on the restaurant Tiempo.
When reserving a keep at Lodge La Compania del Valle, you will need to use a credit cards that earns points for Hyatt stays, in addition to one which presumably gives automated World of Hyatt elite status for value-added advantages. These embody:
Accessibility
The accessible room at Lodge La Compania del Valle has two queen beds, a roll-in bathe, emergency strobe lights, a strobe-light smoke detector, a cordless telephone, huge doorways, a lowered thermostat and light-weight switches, and a lowered peephole and door latch. Sadly, there is just one accessible room on the property, so discovering availability might show tough.
The property’s elevators are quick, and the hallways are huge. Nonetheless, there isn’t any pool raise, and a number of the stone pathways across the pool space could possibly be tough to maneuver if in case you have mobility points.
Backside line
El Valle de Anton has lengthy been a well-liked trip spot for Panamanians, however the opening of this new La Compania resort and spa is certain to draw wellness-seeking vacationers and Hyatt loyalists from across the globe. Though the spa, pickleball courts and some different facilities aren’t prepared fairly but, it is nonetheless price visiting for a calming rainforest getaway stuffed with artwork and scrumptious meals — simply you should definitely ebook one other keep as soon as all the things is open.
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